York mum’s children's subscription shortlisted for Best Small Business of the Year at the National 2025 Small Business Awards
A York mum’s idea to bring magic, learning, and adventure back through the letterbox has officially caught the attention of national judges — as My Pirate Pen Pal is named a finalist for “Best Small Business of the Year” at the Small Business Awards 2025.
Created by local mum, Antonia, My Pirate Pen Pal is a unique, screen-free subscription that delivers real letters from globe-trotting pirates to children across the UK.
Each month, Captain Blue Beard and his crew — including First Mate Rose, Roko the parrot, and Chip the dog — write from new destinations around the world, blending storytelling with fun facts, riddles, and geography.
The letters are beautifully designed, personalised to each child and tailored to three age groups — 3–4, 5–6, and 7–8 — encouraging reading, imagination, and curiosity in a playful, age-appropriate way.
“It's s exciting,” says Antonia. “What began as a small project during my son’s nap times has grown into something that reaches families all over the country.”
Antonia’s journey to launching My Pirate Pen Pal began in a deeply personal way. After a thriving marketing career, she fell pregnant unexpectedly and later suffered from Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) — a severe pregnancy condition that left her unable to work for months.
“That experience changed everything,” she explains. “I realised I needed to build something sustainable — something that would give me flexibility, joy, and the chance to still be there for my little boy. I also wanted to give him a world full of imagination without constant screen time — and to share that with other families too.”
Since launching, My Pirate Pen Pal has been praised for its educational value, its creativity, and its heart — offering families a refreshing antidote to digital overload.
Now, as Christmas approaches, Antonia hopes her story will inspire others to follow their own ideas and passions — even through life’s most unexpected challenges.
“I think that’s the magic of small business,” she says. “It’s not about size — it’s about heart, purpose, and creating something that genuinely makes people smile.”
The Small Business Awards 2025 winners will be announced in December this year, celebrating innovation, resilience, and creativity among the UK’s most inspiring independent businesses.