Regional ABCs: Island title is now Britain's biggest paid-for weekly

The Isle of Wight County Press is now the only mainstream weekly newspaper title selling more than 10,000 copies in the UK, according to the latest figures.

The Newsquest-owned County Press confirmed its status as the biggest-selling weekly paid-for news title with an average print circulation of 10,084 during 2023.

The only other title with a circulation of 10,000-plus was the specialist title The Scottish Farmer.

With one exception – the tiny Ellon Times in North-East Scotland – all paid-for weeklies saw their circulations fall during the year, some by as much as 40pc.

The full list of titles, in order percentage year-on-year change, is as follows:

Title	Jan-Dec 2023	% change

Ellon Times	138	35%
Dunoon Observer	2,330	−3%
Annandale Observer	2,615	−4%
Annandale Herald and Moffat News	1,801	−4%
Isle of Bute News	715	−4%
Campbeltown Courier / Argyllshire Advertiser	3,152	−5%
The Scottish Farmer	10,588	−6%
Crediton Courier	1,296	−6%
Morpeth Herald	421	−6%
East Lothian Courier	6,340	−7%
West Highland Free Press	3,227	−7%
Arran Banner	2,006	−7%
Whitchurch Herald	1,489	−7%
Wellington Weekly News	1,483	−7%
Southport Visiter	912	−7%
Impartial Reporter	6,245	−8%
County Times	6,187	−8%
Oban Times	5,642	−8%
Dunfermline Press & West of Fife Advertiser	5,408	−8%
Stroud News & Journal	3,483	−8%
The Oxford Times	3,482	−8%
Gloucestershire Gazette	3,012	−8%
Packet Series, Falmouth / Helston	2,824	−8%
Romsey Advertiser	2,439	−8%
Stornoway Gazette	2,405	−8%
Largs & Millport Weekly News	1,809	−8%
Peeblesshire News	1,729	−8%
Luton News	1,539	−8%
Darlington & Stockton Times	8,421	−9%
Hampshire Chronicle	4,481	−9%
Inverness Courier (Fri)	3,907	−9%
Basingstoke Gazette	3,772	−9%
Monmouthshire Beacon	1,928	−9%
Helensburgh Advertiser	1,665	−9%
Border Telegraph	1,329	−9%
Ilkley Gazette	1,311	−9%
Hereford Times	9,224	−10%
Warrington Guardian	6,732	−10%
Gazette & Herald, Yorkshire	3,626	−10%
Bridport & Lyme News	3,319	−10%
West Somerset Free Press	3,262	−10%
Cornish & Devon Post	2,626	−10%
Border Counties Advertiser	2,553	−10%
Knutsford Guardian / Wilmslow Guardian	1,875	−10%
Matlock Mercury	1,133	−10%
Essex County Standard	4,590	−11%
Brecon & Radnor Express	2,982	−11%
Bridgnorth Journal	2,039	−11%
Abergavenny Chronicle	1,986	−11%
Witney Gazette	1,964	−11%
Free Press Monmouthshire & Pontypool	1,614	−11%
Barry & District News	1,408	−11%
Bicester Advertiser	1,226	−11%
Dawlish Gazette	518	−11%
Midlothian Advertiser	509	−11%
Ormskirk Advertiser	388	−11%
Derbyshire Times	8,005	−12%
Cumberland News	7,112	−12%
Salisbury Journal	6,330	−12%
Falkirk Herald	6,169	−12%
Great Yarmouth Mercury	5,100	−12%
Northamptonshire Telegraph	4,383	−12%
Northampton Chronicle & Echo	4,380	−12%
Gazette & Herald	4,357	−12%
Lowestoft Journal	4,228	−12%
Peterborough Telegraph	4,062	−12%
Craven Herald & Pioneer	3,996	−12%
Halifax Courier	3,787	−12%
Bridgwater Mercury Series	3,387	−12%
Fife Free Press	2,908	−12%
Wiltshire Times	2,740	−12%
Northumberland Gazette	2,291	−12%
Alloa & Hillfoots Advertiser	2,143	−12%
Maldon & Burnham Standard	2,056	−12%
Sheffield Telegraph	1,931	−12%
Berwick Advertiser	970	−12%
Crawley Observer	808	−12%
Isle of Wight County Press	10,084	−13%
Greenock Telegraph	4,691	−13%
Bury Times	3,616	−13%
Guardian (Northwich, Winsford & Middlewich)	3,530	−13%
Tavistock Times	3,505	−13%
Andover Advertiser	3,392	−13%
Sussex Express	2,919	−13%
Wilts & Glos Standard	2,373	−13%
Ross-shire Journal	2,127	−13%
Newport Advertiser	1,611	−13%
Penarth Times	1,276	−13%
Paisley & Renfrewshire Gazette	1,272	−13%
Wharfedale & Aireborough Observer	1,129	−13%
Goole Times (Incorporating Selby Times)	6,287	−14%
Times & Star	3,560	−14%
Southern Reporter	3,352	−14%
John O’Groat Journal	2,593	−14%
Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald	2,502	−14%
Central Fife Times & Advertiser	1,405	−14%
Ludlow & Tenbury Advertiser	1,320	−14%
Halstead Gazette	1,243	−14%
Teignmouth Post	693	−14%
Westmorland Gazette	7,312	−15%
Bucks Free Press	6,447	−15%
The Herald (Farnham)	5,145	−15%
Hexham Courant	4,953	−15%
Dumfries & Galloway Standard	3,951	−15%
Scarborough News	3,234	−15%
Malvern Gazette & Ledbury Reporter	3,187	−15%
Cornish Times	2,601	−15%
Lancaster Guardian	2,584	−15%
Keighley News	2,535	−15%
The Herald (Oxfordshire)	2,497	−15%
Braintree & Witham Times	2,425	−15%
North Norfolk News	2,097	−15%
Harwich & Manningtree Standard	2,092	−15%
South Shropshire Journal	1,950	−15%
Beccles & Bungay Journal	1,739	−15%
Caithness Courier	1,495	−15%
Chard & Ilminster News	1,461	−15%
Strathspey & Badenoch Herald	1,362	−15%
Northern Times	1,328	−15%
Cumnock Chronicle	1,317	−15%
Clydebank Post	1,264	−15%
Berwickshire News	817	−15%
Dartmouth Chronicle	682	−15%
Deeside Piper	288	−15%
Eastbourne Herald	4,925	−16%
Western Telegraph	4,240	−16%
Doncaster Free Press	3,272	−16%
Leamington Courier	3,042	−16%
The Whitehaven News	2,864	−16%
Leighton Buzzard Observer	818	−16%
Milngavie & Bearsden Herald	768	−16%
Strathearn Herald	677	−16%
Totnes Times	671	−16%
Blairgowrie Advertiser	621	−16%
Chichester Observer	6,275	−17%
Cambrian News	5,685	−17%
Hastings Observer	5,273	−17%
Worthing Herald	4,789	−17%
Mansfield Chad	4,593	−17%
Clacton Gazette	3,927	−17%
Wakefield Express	3,846	−17%
West Sussex County Times	3,105	−17%
Mid Devon Advertiser	2,803	−17%
The Galloway News	2,455	−17%
Sidmouth Herald	1,776	−17%
Lanark & Carluke Gazette	1,350	−17%
Denbighshire Free Press	1,329	−17%
Ross Gazette	1,320	−17%
Lytham St. Annes Express	1,108	−17%
Linlithgow Gazette	1,010	−17%
Biggleswade Chronicle	876	−17%
Brighouse Echo	540	−17%
Cornishman	2,407	−18%
Buxton Advertiser	2,333	−18%
Mid Sussex Times	1,868	−18%
Durham Advertiser	1,629	−18%
South Wales Guardian	1,513	−18%
Rugby Advertiser	1,444	−18%
Fife Herald	1,387	−18%
Stirling Observer (Wed)	943	−18%
Birmingham Post	844	−18%
The Watford Observer	3,894	−19%
Gloucestershire Echo	2,927	−19%
Dewsbury Reporter	2,738	−19%
Wigan Observer	2,430	−19%
Banbury Guardian	2,123	−19%
Whitby Gazette	1,937	−19%
Inverness Courier (Tue)	1,636	−19%
Melton Times	1,527	−19%
East Fife Mail	855	−19%
Wigan Post	731	−19%
Eastwood & Kimberley Advertiser	555	−19%
Sleaford Standard	289	−19%
Pocklington Post	271	−19%
Leek and Cheadle Post and Times	2,422	−20%
Perthshire Advertiser (Fri)	2,313	−20%
Northern Scot	2,249	−20%
Stirling Observer (Wed)	2,097	−20%
Dumfries & Galloway Standard (Tue)	1,941	−20%
Burnley Express (Fri)	1,766	−20%
Nelson Leader	957	−20%
Gwent Gazette	279	−20%
Bath Chronicle	2,852	−21%
Gloucester Citizen	2,614	−21%
Ivybridge & Kingsbridge Gazettes	2,118	−21%
Market Harborough Mail	1,277	−21%
Worksop Guardian	1,095	−21%
Perthshire Advertiser (Tue)	968	−21%
Kirkintilloch & Bishopbriggs Herald	858	−21%
Horncastle News	716	−21%
Gainsborough Standard	682	−21%
Forres Gazette	663	−21%
Market Rasen Mail	643	−21%
Garstang Courier	401	−21%
Rhondda Leader	331	−21%
West Sussex Gazette	275	−21%
Harrogate Advertiser	3,823	−22%
West Briton	3,744	−22%
Weston, Worle & Somerset Mercury	3,348	−22%
Reading Chronicle	3,143	−22%
Surrey Advertiser	2,692	−22%
Macclesfield Express	2,368	−22%
Pontefract & Castleford Express	2,273	−22%
Tivy-Side Advertiser	2,037	−22%
Crewe and Nantwich Chronicle	1,962	−22%
Welwyn Hatfield Times	1,544	−22%
Dereham & Fakenham Times	1,542	−22%
Inverness Courier Nairnshire Edition	709	−22%
Brentwood Gazette	614	−22%
Ayr Advertiser	543	−22%
Hebden Bridge & Todmorden Times & News	526	−22%
Banffshire Journal	358	−22%
Bracknell News	1,022	−23%
Daventry Express	423	−23%
Cynon Valley Leader	260	−23%
The Buchanie	190	−23%
Mearns Leader and Kincardineshire Observer	149	−23%
Torquay Herald Express	3,193	−24%
The Forester	2,136	−24%
Lennox Herald	1,537	−24%
Louth Leader	1,036	−24%
Croydon Advertiser	1,018	−24%
Surrey Mirror	986	−24%
Boston Standard	828	−24%
Aldershot News & Mail	799	−24%
Hucknall Dispatch	655	−24%
Pontypridd & Llantrisant Observer	262	−24%
Ayrshire Post	4,059	−25%
Scunthorpe Telegraph	3,819	−25%
Exeter Express & Echo (Thu)	3,309	−25%
Carmarthen Journal	2,451	−25%
Cornish Guardian	2,052	−25%
Boston Target	1,848	−25%
Rossendale Free Press	1,834	−25%
Derry Journal (Tue)	1,703	−25%
Tenby Observer	1,505	−25%
Bridlington Free Press	1,281	−25%
Larne Times	1,000	−25%
Hemel Hempstead Gazette	850	−25%
Motherwell Times & Bellshill Speaker	698	−25%
The Huntly Express	577	−25%
The Banffshire Herald	227	−25%
Glenrothes Gazette	178	−25%
Lincolnshire Echo	3,903	−26%
North Devon Journal	2,580	−26%
Kent and Sussex Courier	2,424	−26%
Staffordshire Newsletter	2,169	−26%
Chester Chronicle	1,370	−26%
Ashbourne News Telegraph	1,366	−26%
The Mid Devon Gazette	1,353	−26%
Sevenoaks Chronicle	1,119	−26%
Petersfield Post	1,095	−26%
Chorley Guardian	1,066	−26%
Nuneaton News	988	−26%
Clitheroe Advertiser & Times	866	−26%
Sleaford Target	802	−26%
Skegness Standard	709	−26%
Angus County Press	539	−26%
Cumbernauld News & Kilsyth Chronicle	400	−26%
Fleetwood News	326	−26%
Essex Chronicle	2,298	−27%
Llanelli Star	1,923	−27%
Accrington Observer	1,474	−27%
Stockport Express	1,332	−27%
Bucks Herald	1,001	−27%
Slough Eton & Windsor Observer	991	−27%
Central Somerset and Cheddar Valley Gazette	983	−27%
East Coast and The Wolds Target	822	−27%
Dorking and Leatherhead Advertiser	688	−27%
Merthyr Express	388	−27%
News Post Leader	238	−27%
Hinckley Times	2,128	−28%
Derry Journal (Fri)	2,119	−28%
Hertfordshire Mercury	1,366	−28%
Portadown Times	1,048	−28%
Lurgan Mail	322	−28%
The West Lothian Courier	1,135	−29%
Rochdale Observer (Wed)	895	−29%
Wells and Shepton Mallet Journal	814	−29%
The Visitor – Morecambe	583	−29%
Buckingham & Winslow Advertiser	561	−29%
Londonderry Sentinel	110	−29%
Somerset County Gazette	5,157	−30%
Western Gazette	2,463	−30%
Glamorgan Gazette	870	−30%
Ulster Star	222	−30%
Loughborough Echo	1,851	−31%
Rochdale Observer (Sat)	1,706	−31%
Runcorn & Widnes Weekly News	1,057	−31%
Rutherglen Reformer	434	−31%
Somerset Guardian	309	−31%
Black Country Bugle	1,548	−32%
Isle of Thanet Gazette	596	−32%
Fraserburgh Herald	113	−32%
East Kilbride News	823	−33%
Mid Ulster Mail	448	−33%
Frome Standard	276	−33%
Hamilton Advertiser	1,325	−35%
The Banffshire Advertiser	373	−35%
Your Local Guardian (Epping Forest / Harlow)	2,691	−36%
Tamworth Herald	1,906	−36%
Retford Times	880	−36%
Maidenhead Advertiser	5,717	−37%
Wishaw Press	854	−37%
Folkestone Herald	544	−37%
Caernarfon & Denbigh Herald	270	−37%
Holyhead and Bangor Mail	220	−37%
Irvine Herald and Kilwinning Chronicle	542	−38%
Coleraine & Ballymoney Times	84	−38%
Kilmarnock Standard	1,533	−39%
North Wales Weekly News	439	−40%
Heywood & Middleton Guardian	320	−40%
Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser	909	−41%
Dover Express	336	−41%
Oldham Times	1,940	N/A

Regional ABCs: Island title is now Britain’s biggest paid-for weekly