Waterstones invites 10 guests to in-store sleepover

After a US tourist was trapped in a locked store, Waterstones has decided to extend the experience to 10 competition winners

Picture from the Instagram page of David Willis, who was locked inside a Waterstones in London
A picture from the Instagram page of David Willis, who was locked inside a Waterstones in London Credit: Photo: David Willis

Waterstones is offering 10 competition winners the chance to stay overnight in one of its shops, after a US tourist found himself locked inside the Trafalgar Square branch of the bookstore last Thursday.

Texan David Willis, who was trapped in the shop for several hours, was released by police at 11pm after broadcasting his predicament on Twitter.

Branch manager Matt Atkins said he was "mortified" by the incident. But after a string of Twitter-users professed that they would "love" to be locked inside a book shop, Waterstones decided to take them at their word.

The company is advertising the competition on the accommodation website Airbnb, with the 12-hour sleepover scheduled to take place this Friday from 9pm. After a tour of Waterstones Piccadilly, Europe's largest bookshop, the 10 winners plus one guest each will be able to select a book of their choice and relax on an airbed, with snacks and breakfast provided.

It is currently unknown whether Willis, who has now left London, will be tempted to enter.