Mostly Books buys Borzoi Bookshop

Award-winning indie Mostly Books has bought The Borzoi Bookshop in Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire.

Sarah Dennis, who has owned Mostly Books in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, since 2017, reached an agreement with Borzoi owner Anthea Lycett for the business.

The two booksellers said they have a long-standing positive relationship, and the sale completed on 31st March 2021. Dennis said she was committed to continuing the “remarkable legacy” that Lycett has forged during her time at Borzoi.

She said: “I’ve been working hard with the team in Abingdon to make sure that Mostly Books is in the best possible position to survive the trading conditions of the pandemic and I’m exceptionally proud of what we have achieved. The Borzoi Bookshop is a much-loved part of Stow and I’m completely invested in making sure that it too will flourish as we emerge from the trading restrictions in the next few months.”

Dennis added: “Anthea is a huge part of the Borzoi’s history and I’m honoured that she has asked me to continue its legacy in the heart of Stow. I’m also thrilled that Mostly Books has thrived in the past four years to make this a possibility, and to become a group of independent bookshops.”

The Borzoi Bookshop has been trading for more than 40 years. Lycett has worked there for more than three decades, becoming manager 15 years ago and owner in 2011. Borzoi was named Yale Bookshop of the Year in 2019.

Lycett, who is taking a step back but will still work in the shop a few days a week, said: “Myself and the team are delighted that Sarah is taking over the shop and we’re looking forward to working with her.”

Mostly Books, Abingdon, was established in 2006 by original owners Mark and Nikki Thornton. Dennis took on the business in May 2017 and the shop has been South East regional finalists for Independent Bookshop of the Year for four consecutive years and was named bookshop of the year by Bertrams in 2019.