More than 450 guests have enjoyed accommodations in the “world’s only book shop Airbnb” where guests spend the night—and run the store during the day.
The village of Wigtown is known as Scotland’s National Book Town, and one of its charming bookshops—The Open Book—rents out its upstairs flat, giving literary-lovers the chance to ‘live their dream’ of having their very own shop by the sea.
Airbnb says it is ”the first ever bookshop residency experience” and is so popular it has a two year waiting list of guests coming from around the globe, from Hawaii to Beijing.
The shop, set up by The Wigtown Festival Company, aims ”to celebrate books, independent bookshops and welcome people from around the world”
Since welcoming its first visitors in August 2014, the nonprofit Open Book Airbnb has become a sensation with guests saying they’re delighted by the unusual experience of minding their own bookshop.
“There’s no better feeling than somebody buying a book that you put on display,” said one recent occupant from Austin, Texas, on the BBC.
The Airbnb page describes the property this way:
“Nestled in the pristine surroundings of Galloway, The Open Book is a charming bookshop and apartment, situated on the main street of Wigtown. A holiday home with a difference, it presents a unique opportunity for visitors to run a real bookshop at the heart of the town’s vibrant community.
“Booked through Airbnb, paying guests live in the self-catering apartment upstairs and run the bookshop below it for the duration of their stay.
During their stay, guests are free to change displays, price books, re-categorize them, and make inventive use of the blackboard that entices visitors inside to browse or chat. Some guests are happy to quietly run the bookshop, while others come with firmer plans and creative ideas!
“Come to Wigtown to experience the life of a second-hand bookshop owner in a remote Scottish town. Sea, highlands, native forests, amazing people, and bookshops are just on our doorstep.”
The guests this week are Daisy Yeung, who traveled from Hong Kong, and her longtime friend Lydia Man.
“So far we are enjoying it very, very much,” said Daisy, who said she heard about the interesting Airbnb in a blog online.
“My dream is to be a book seller one day, but since it is very hard to be a book seller and make enough money, we thought it would be fun to have a taste of it. The weather here is really excellent this week, and everybody here is just so nice.”
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Despite buying a few books in the area, Daisy admits she has been too busy with the shop to open a page.
The friends wanted to devise a theme for their week’s stay and, since September 18 is Mid Autumn Festival in China, they decided to celebrate their cultural celebration at the book shop.
“Traditionally we Chinese people gather with our family and friends on this day and light up lanterns and eat something called moon cakes, which is what we have brought and are sharing with people today,” said Daisy.
“We didn’t bring a lot of things but we did bring moon cakes!” joked Lydia.
The shop is the brainchild of author and filmmaker Jessica Fox, and proceeds from the annual rentals contribute over $10,000 to the Wigtown Festival Company’s charitable work.
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“I thought I couldn’t be the only crazy American who dreams of working in a bookshop by the sea in Scotland; there has to be more of us.
“I wanted to create the same experience for those book-curious people who had the same dream of running a book shop for a week, and living upstairs.
“It is a success because of Wigtown, the volunteers who make the guests so welcome, the owners of the building, who believed in my idea.”
Chief volunteer Joyce Cochrane is based in the nearby Old Bank Bookshop.
She said, “The Open Book has been a way of opening our doors to the world—and because of that the world has been coming to Wigtown, and they love it.”
One recent guest explained, “And there’s no strings attached, no real responsibilities, you can enjoy the time however you like.’”
Head to the seaside town in Scotland during the Wigtown Festival, which runs this year from September 27 to October 6.
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