The North East’s First ‘Lost Packages’ Pop-Up Is Coming to Eldon Square — What Will You Find?
Shoppers at Eldon Square will soon have the chance to try their luck scooping mystery parcels when Europe’s viral ‘lost packages’ pop-up arrives in the North East for the first time — bringing 10 tonnes of undelivered packages to Newcastle for one week only.
During the limited-edition event, French start-up King Colis will transform the shopping centre into a real-life treasure hunt, where visitors can pick sealed parcels containing completely unknown items.
The twist? You won’t know what you’ve bought until you open it.
Visitors can lift and inspect parcels, weighing them in their hands and even giving them a shake to guess what might be hidden inside — but the contents remain a mystery until after purchase.
Once selected, the parcels are weighed and paid for, before shoppers finally discover what they’ve bought.
The unusual shopping experience has already attracted huge interest across Europe, with pop-ups in cities including Paris, Rome, Madrid, Amsterdam, Berlin and Bristol, where crowds gathered to try their luck uncovering hidden treasures.
The pop-ups have been a similar hit on social media, with visitors filming their big reveals to see whether they’ve uncovered a hidden bargain or something completely unexpected.
At previous events, lucky buyers have discovered everything from designer clothing and smart gadgets to rare collectibles, including an ultra-rare Pokémon card valued at more than £2,000.
Speaking ahead of the Newcastle launch, King Colis co-founder Killian Denis said:
“We’re thrilled to be bringing King Colis and the viral concept of buying mystery lost parcels to Eldon Square. Part of the adrenaline rush is trying to guess what might be inside the parcel before you buy. We watch people pick them up, shake them and try to work out what’s inside. It’s a lot of fun.
“You never know what you’ll find. Sometimes, there’s something surprisingly valuable hidden inside the parcels. Other times it’s something simple. That’s what makes the experience so exciting.”
There’s a chance of uncovering almost anything inside the mystery parcels. The big question is: what will you find?
Giving lost parcels a second life
Every year, millions of online orders go undelivered due to incorrect addresses, failed deliveries or abandoned purchases.
Once customers receive refunds, many of these parcels remain unclaimed in logistics warehouses.
King Colis purchases these packages in bulk and resells them through pop-up events across Europe — helping to reduce waste while giving the parcels a second life.
How the mystery parcel experience works
• Visitors have 10 minutes to choose parcels
• Packages cannot be opened before purchase
• Parcels are sold by weight (£2.50 per 100g)
• After weighing and paying, shoppers finally get to open them and discover the surprise
With 10 tonnes of parcels available for one week only, organisers are expecting strong demand and are advising visitors to arrive early, as previous events have seen visitors queue before opening.
Pop-Up Information
Where:
Eldon Square Shopping Centre
Main Square (next to Fenwick)
When:
20th - 26th April 2026
Monday: 2pm - 7pm
Tuesday & Wednesday: 9am - 7pm
Thursday: 9am - 8pm
Friday & Saturday: 9am - 7pm
Sunday: 11am - 5pm
Admission:
Free entry
Fast passes available online (£15)
More information: www.king-colis.co.uk
