AN independent bookshop will open its doors in Old Town on Monday.

Alex Call aka 'Bert' set up the online bookshop ‘Bert’s Books’ in 2019 and is now achieving his long-term goal of opening a physical store.

The store will open in the old In House offices in Godwin Court.

Alex previously told The Adver: "It’s been a long-held dream to open a real-life bookshop and finally, after a few false starts, I’ve gotten my hands on the keys to my very own shop.

"I’m looking forward to swapping book recommendations with the people of Swindon! It’s a little daunting, but I’m determined to make it a success."

 

When Bert's Books first opened online in 2019, Alex offered book bundles that fit all types of readers.

Every month he looks through all the book new releases to pick out the very best for each of the bundles.

Customers can choose to get bundles one-off, or as a monthly subscription service.

They can pick a bundle by genre, but also by the author, such as Robin Hobb and Anne Rice.

He later started a GoFundMe page in a bid to generate the money to be able to open a physical version of his online store

He announced in February that he had picked up the keys to his new space in Old Town

Fans expressed their excitement for Alex and expressed how excited they were for him and to come to visit the store themselves when it opens.

Alex has shared the process of opening the store with his 15,000 Twitter followers, including when he received 60 bokes of books and two beanbags for his new store.

 

The store opens on Monday, May 2.