Bentalls
 Bentalls facade in Kingston | |
| Company type | Unlisted public company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail |
| Genre | Department Store |
| Founded | 1867 |
| Founder | Frank Bentall |
| Defunct | 2023 |
| Headquarters | Kingston upon Thames,United Kingdom |
Key people | Leonard Edward Rowan Bentall (Chairman 1968-78, President 1978-93) |
| Parent | Fenwick |
| Website | bentalls.co.uk |
Bentallswas a Britishdepartment storechain based inKingston upon Thames. The well regarded department store began as adraperyshop,founded by Frank Bentall in 1867. The business expanded significantly throughout the 20th century and operated a group of department stores in southern England. The company was formerly listed on theLondon Stock Exchange,but in 2001 was purchased by the privateFenwickgroup. The Kingston upon Thames store remained as the only store to operate under the Bentalls name until 2023, when it was changed to Fenwick.
History
[edit]Bentalls was established in 1867 by Frank Bentall who purchased a drapery shop in Kingston upon Thames. The principal buildings of the Kingston store were completed in 1935 to a design by architectMaurice Webb(son of SirAston Webb) and inspired byWren's design forHampton Court.The fine stonework on the façade was the work ofEric Gill.Between 1935 and 1976 it was the UK's largest department store outside central London.
The company was floated on theLondon Stock Exchangein 1946, but the Bentall family retained a controlling interest.
Bentalls established their first branch store in 1947 when theWorthingdepartment store of Bentall & Sons[1]was acquired from family cousins who had decided to retire. The Worthing business was significantly extended with the purchase of the Jordan & Cook furniture store in later years.
TheEalingdepartment store of Eldred Sayers & Son was acquired in 1950. Mary Lee ofTunbridge Wellswas purchased a decade later.
Rowan Bentall, grandson of founder Frank Bentall, became chairman in 1968. Under his ten-year stewardship the group's turnover more than doubled from £14.5 million to £35.1 million.[2]Developments during this time included the opening of a new purpose-built department store atBracknellin 1973.
Further profitable stores were later opened inTonbridge(1982) andLakeside(1995).
The Bentall Centre
[edit]In 1987, work began on a major shopping centre development in Kingston, in collaboration withNorwich Union.[3]The present Bentalls department store opened in July 1990, with the adjoining shopping centre completed in November 1992.[4]The principal facade and main entrance vestibule of the 1935 building were retained as part of the development andlistedat Grade II in 2011.
Bristol department store
[edit]The company made a substantial investment in 1998 to open a large department store inBristol,purchasing the recently vacated premises ofJohn Lewisand completely refurbishing it.
The group's first foray into thesouth-west of Englandwas ill-fated, however, with the outlet failing to turn a profit and proving to be a financial drain on the wider business. It was closed within two years.
Recent history
[edit]In 2000, the chain rejected a £27 million offer from competitorAllders.In January 2001, the loss-making Bristol store was sold toHouse of Fraserfor £16.35 million.[5]
In June of that year, the family-owned rival department store chain Fenwick purchased Bentalls for £70.8 million. The Bentall family's shareholding at the time was 38%, with Frank Bentall's great-grandson Edward Bentall being the chairman. The company's turnover was £108.2 million,[6]trading across six department stores.
Fenwick subsequently sold the Lakeside store to Allders and the leases of the Bentalls sites in Ealing, Tonbridge and Worthing to theBournemouth-basedBealesgroup.[7][8]The successful stores in Kingston upon Thames and Bracknell were retained. The Bracknell branch was replaced in September 2017 by a new Fenwick store as part ofThe Lexicondevelopment.
Department store locations
[edit]- Bracknell(opened 1973; closed 2017 to coincide with the opening a new Fenwick store in the town)
- Bristol(opened 1998 in premises previously occupied by John Lewis; sold to House of Fraser in 2001)
- Chatham(formerlyEdward Bates,acquired 1979; closed 1984)
- Ealing(formerly Eldred Sayers & Son, acquired 1950; sold toBealesin 2002)[8]
- Kingston upon Thames(founded 1867; present department store building opened 1990, Bentall Centre completed 1992, renamed Fenwick, 2023)[3]
- Lakeside(opened 1992 in premises previously occupied byLewis's;sold to Allders in 2001)[7]
- Tonbridge(opened 1982; sold to Beales in 2002)[8]
- Tunbridge Wells(formerly Mary Lee, acquired 1960; closed 29 July 1995)[9]
- Worthing(formerly Bentall & Sons, acquired 1947; sold to Beales in 2002)[8]
In popular culture
[edit]SingerDusty Springfieldonce worked at Bentalls inEalingand singerPetula Clarkgave her first public performance as a child at Bentalls inKingston upon Thames.
Bentalls is mentioned by the character Chubb in the Anthony Blunt episode (A Question of Attribution) of the stage playSingle SpiesbyAlan Bennett.
Bentalls features in theLadybird BooksPeople at Work series, appearing inIn A Big Store.The Wood Street entrance is also illustrated inThe Police,as part of a night time scene where two police constables are arresting suspected burglars.
Gallery
[edit]-
A Bentalls delivery lorry in Kingston upon Thames -
Bentalls' 1935 facade inspired byHampton Court Palace
Arms
[edit]
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References
[edit]- ^"PP/WSL/WGP000653 Bentall and Company, South Street, Worthing".West Sussex Past.Retrieved27 July2021.
- ^"Obituary: Rowan Bentall".Independent.co.uk.29 July 1993.
- ^ab"The New Bentall Centre".Flickr.Bentalls. 1987.Archivedfrom the original on 12 August 2021.Retrieved12 August2021.
- ^Peacock, Grenville (30 July 1993)."Obituary: Rowan Bentall".The Independent.Retrieved26 April2014.
- ^Snoddy, Julia (31 March 2001)."At this price? Bentalls".The Guardian.
- ^Clark, Andrew (29 June 2001)."Families tie in Fenwicks' £70m deal with Bentalls".The Guardian.
- ^ab"Allders PLC Acquisition of New Store".Investegate.1 May 2002. Archived fromthe originalon 1 July 2020.Retrieved26 May2020.
- ^abcd"Bentalls department store sold".The Argus.1 February 2002.
- ^Berry, Aidan (1999).Financial Accounting: An Introduction.Cengage Learning EMEA. p. 32.ISBN978-1-86152-479-9.Retrieved27 May2020.
- ^"Bentalls Limited".Heraldry of the World.Retrieved18 March2022.
External links
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