Bentalls facts for kids
Bentalls facade in Kingston
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| Unlisted public company | |
| Industry | Retail |
| Genre | Department Store |
| Founded | 1867 |
| Founder | Frank Bentall |
| Headquarters | Kingston upon Thames, United Kingdom |
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Number of locations
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1 |
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Key people
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Leonard Edward Rowan Bentall (Chairman 1968-78, President 1978-93) |
| Parent | Fenwick |
Bentalls is a well-known British department store chain. It has a main store in Kingston upon Thames. The company started as a small shop selling cloth in 1867. Frank Bentall was the founder. For a long time, it was a public company. But since 2001, another company called Fenwick owns it.
Contents
The Story of Bentalls
Starting Small in Kingston
Bentalls began in 1867. Frank Bentall bought a shop in Kingston upon Thames. The main building in Kingston was finished in 1935. An architect named Maurice Webb designed it. He was inspired by Hampton Court Palace. Eric Gill created the beautiful stone carvings on the front. From 1935 to 1976, it was the biggest department store outside central London. In 2011, it became a special building called a Grade II listed building. This means it's important and protected.
The front of the old store is still there today. It is part of the Bentall Centre shopping mall. This mall opened in 1992. The main Bentalls store is now inside this centre.
Growing Bigger
In 1946, Bentalls became a public company. This meant people could buy shares in it on the London Stock Exchange. But the Bentall family still owned most of the company.
Bentalls opened its first branch store in 1947. They bought a store in Worthing from family members. Later, they bought more stores in Ealing and Tunbridge Wells.
Under Frank Bentall's grandson, Rowan Bentall, the company grew even more. Rowan was the Chairman from 1968 to 1978. A new Bentalls store opened in Bracknell in 1973. More stores followed in Chatham, Tonbridge, and Lakeside.
Changes and New Owners
Later, Bentalls opened a store in Bristol. They also closed the stores in Chatham and Tunbridge Wells.
In 2000, another store chain, Allders, tried to buy Bentalls. But Bentalls said no to their offer.
In 2001, Bentalls sold its Bristol store to House of Fraser. It was not making money there.
Then, in June 2001, the Fenwick company bought Bentalls for £70.8 million. At that time, the Bentall family owned 38% of the company. Frank Bentall's great-grandson, Edward Bentall, was the Chairman. Bentalls had six stores then: Bracknell, Ealing, Kingston upon Thames, Lakeside, Tonbridge, and Worthing.
After buying Bentalls, Fenwick made some changes. They sold the Lakeside store to Allders. They also sold the stores in Ealing, Tonbridge, and Worthing to the Beales group. Fenwick kept the successful stores in Kingston upon Thames and Bracknell.
The Bracknell store was replaced in September 2017. A new Fenwick store opened in its place as part of a new shopping area called The Lexicon.
Bentalls Today
The Bentalls store in Kingston is very popular. Kingston is one of the biggest shopping areas in the south-east of England. Many shoppers visit Bentalls there. Around Christmas, the Kingston store can make over £1 million in sales each day!
Past Store Locations
Here are some places where Bentalls stores have been:
- Bracknell (opened 1973; closed 2017 when a new Fenwick store opened)
- Bristol (opened 1998; sold to House of Fraser in 2001)
- Chatham (acquired 1979; closed 1984)
- Ealing (acquired 1950; sold to Beales in 2001)
- Kingston upon Thames (the main store)
- Lakeside (opened 1992; sold to Allders in 2001)
- Tonbridge (opened 1982; sold to Beales in 2001)
- Tunbridge Wells (acquired 1960; closed 1995)
- Worthing (acquired 1947; sold to Beales in 2001)
Images for kids
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A Bentalls delivery lorry in Kingston upon Thames
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Bentalls' 1935 facade inspired by Hampton Court Palace
