The South West as an emerging publishing hub

Posted on July 6, 2026 in INTO, South West

There’s a commonly held myth that there are very few publishing opportunities in the South West in comparison to the rest of the country, but if you look closer, it’s clear that this is not the case. With plenty of thriving literary festivals, independent bookshops and both new and established publishers, there has never been a better time for the publishing industry in the South West. 

The South West has a rich and varied literary tradition. Historically, many authors have had strong links to areas in the South West, such as Agatha Christie in Devon, Daphne du Maurier in Cornwall or Jane Austen in Bath. In the present day, despite being frequently overlooked by companies in favour of London, there has been a flourishing of publishers and bookshops based in the region. 

With the drive to increase diversity in publishing, there has been a strong push in recent years to decentralise the industry away from London and into other regions of the UK, offering increased job opportunities for those who don’t live in London and a boost for regional economies. In 2021, Hachette opened a regional office in Bristol, demonstrating that attitudes in the publishing industry are beginning to change and large publishing companies are more open to expanding their reach beyond London. After the Covid pandemic, the rise in remote and hybrid working arrangements has meant that those wanting to break into the industry aren’t restricted to only working in London.

However, to ensure that the South West remains a publishing hub and that companies are encouraged to open offices here, it is important to show that there is an active literary scene and a desire for more opportunities in the area. This means supporting local libraries and independent bookshops and attending or volunteering at book festivals.  

There are thriving companies, big and small, across all types of publishing and around the South West region. For publishing hopefuls based outside of London, it is sometimes tricky to find opportunities and companies in local areas, but here is a helpful snapshot (and a very non-exhaustive list!) of publishers based across the South West.

Academic Publishing

There are a number of academic publishers based in the South West, with some of them based in Bristol, including:

Intellect Books, which was established 40 years ago and specialises in publishing research from the arts, media and creative industries, in particular the visual and performing arts. 

A subsidiary of the Institute of Physics, IOP Publishing has over 530 employees across eleven countries and publishes the latest research in the physical sciences and beyond. 

Bristol University Press, along with its imprint Policy Press, is a not-for-profit social science publisher widely celebrated for its research championing social justice and addressing global social challenges. 

Children’s Publishing

The South West is a renowned hub for children’s publishing and books, with a large number of children’s publishers based in the area, as well as literary festivals such as the Bath Children’s Literature Festival that takes place in September every year. 

Hungry Tomato specialises in non-fiction books aimed at ages 3-14 and is based in Cornwall. Their books focus on encouraging soft learning through fun and engaging topics, such as nature, science, history and technology. Their imprints include The Big Questions Answered and Beetle Books. 

Based in Bath, North Parade Publishing produces children’s books in a variety of formats, such as board books, sound books and lift-the-flap books. They are partnered with Robert Frederick, a creator of home gifts, stationery and children’s toys. 

Founded in Bath in 2017, Curious Universe publishes a range of children’s books, including picture books, sound books and activity books. They also specialise in arts and crafts products, with a wide variety of toy brands, and they are partnered with licensors such as Squishmallows, Mattel and Sanrio. 

Founded in 2000 by Barry Cunningham, Chicken House Publishing is based in Frome, Somerset and has published many bestsellers including James Dashner’s The Maze Runner series and Cornelia Funke’s Inkheart trilogy. In partnership with The Times, Chicken House runs its annual Children’s Fiction Competition, which awards a publishing contract and royalty advance, as well as the Broken Binding Prize for YA sci-fi, fantasy and speculative fiction. 

Magazine Publishing

The UK’s largest magazine publisher, Future, is based in Bath and has a portfolio spanning brands such as PC Gamer, Marie Claire and The Week. The company is a major employer in the local area and beyond, with over 3000 employees worldwide. 

Based in Bristol, Our Media is a magazine publisher, content agency and business consultancy. They specialise in sectors such as nature, travel, craft and music and publish a variety of titles including BBC Wildlife, BBC Music Magazine and Simply Knitting. Alongside publishing, Our Media is a content agency, building brands and enhancing audience engagement across digital and print channels. 

By Jane Bentham