The Mysterious Bookcase Opens in Bournemouth on Bookshop Day
The Booksellers Association has welcomed The Mysterious Bookcase, a new independent bookshop located in the heart of Westbourne Arcade, Bournemouth. The shop will open its doors on Saturday 11th October 2025, coinciding with Bookshop Day, at 6 Westbourne Arcade, in a beautiful Grade II listed building.
The Mysterious Bookcase is an independent bookshop run by Ally and Matt, who have been operating online for three years. The shop features floor-to-ceiling bookcases, cosy seating for reading and conversation, and a carefully curated range of fiction titles for adults and young adults, specialising in fantasy and mystery. The shop will also continue to offer its signature ‘blind date with a book’ packages, including hand-selected books wrapped with treats such as tea, chocolate, and bookmarks—a concept that went viral on TikTok in April 2023.
Owned and operated by Ally and Matt, The Mysterious Bookcase is the culmination of their shared love of reading and community. Ally, originally from Canada, and Matt, a Bournemouth local, have travelled extensively together, worked in hospitality, social media management, finance, and executive support, and built a vibrant online bookshop community through livestreams and interactive book packages. Their expertise and passion for connecting readers with books have shaped the vision of this new physical bookshop.
Ally and Matt, owners of The Mysterious Bookcase, said:
"Our business started selling 'blind date with a book' packages on Etsy in 2022. We never expected to become booksellers, but when our packages went viral, we realised the incredible community of book lovers who wanted to connect with us. Opening a physical bookshop was a natural next step. Westbourne Arcade, with its beautiful Grade II listed building and vibrant community, felt like the perfect home for The Mysterious Bookcase. We’re excited to welcome our online community, as well as new visitors, to a space where they can discover curated books, enjoy cosy reading corners, and share in the magic of a carefully selected story."
Amy Bradley, Interim Membership Manager at the Booksellers Association, said:
"The Mysterious Bookcase is the latest example of how innovative booksellers are beginning their businesses online, using social media and creative bespoke services to build a loyal customer base before moving into physical premises. Ally and Matt’s viral ‘blind date with a book’ packages demonstrate the imaginative ways independent booksellers are engaging readers, fostering community, and expanding the reach of literature. Their new shop in Bournemouth, opening on Bookshop Day, is set to be a vibrant hub for local readers and an inspiration for other independent booksellers."
The Mysterious Bookcase officially opens on Saturday 11th October 2025, Bookshop Day. Opening hours will be Tuesday to Saturday, 10am–6pm.
