Countryside Books is a publishing company that was established in 1976 by Nick and Suzanne Battle. The company started from humble beginnings, operating from the founders' dining room table. Their initial success came with the release of their first book, Walks Around The Downs, which featured a walk across Watership Down, a location made famous by Richard Adams' book about a family of rabbits. The subsequent release of Tales of Old Berkshire in 1977 further fueled their ambitions.
Following the positive reception of their initial titles, Nick Battle decided to leave his job at a London publishing firm in 1980 to focus on Countryside Books. Since its inception, the company has expanded from the Battles' home to a team comprising ten full-time staff and twelve part-time freelancers, with its headquarters located in close proximity to the center of Newbury. Their publications have also extended to collaborations with the County Federations of the Womens' Institutes and the Federation of Family History Societies.
Countryside Books operates within the EdTech, Education, Retail, and Publishing industries. Annually, the company releases approximately 60 new book titles, maintaining a catalogue of around 500 books at any given time. Despite its long-standing presence in the market since 1977, there are no records of any recent investments or involvement from external investors.
