Bentalls
A historic British department-store chain founded in Kingston upon Thames in 1867.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Bentalls was a British department-store business whose origins lay in a drapery shop acquired by Frank Bentall in Kingston upon Thames in 1867. Over the following century and a half, the name developed from a local family enterprise into a regional department-store chain serving southern England. Its business combined clothing, household goods, furniture, and other general merchandise, following the broad, multi-category model traditionally associated with British department stores. Kingston remained the company’s central location and principal commercial identity. The original store grew substantially during the twentieth century, culminating in the construction of its principal 1935 buildings. Designed by Maurice Webb, the architecture drew inspiration from Christopher Wren’s work at Hampton Court, while the façade’s stonework was associated with Eric Gill. Between 1935 and 1976, the Kingston store was regarded as the largest department store in the United Kingdom outside central London. Its later redevelopment helped preserve the historic frontage while creating a modern retail complex. Bentalls began expanding beyond Kingston after the Second World War. In 1947 it acquired the Worthing department store operated by Bentall family cousins. It later enlarged the Worthing business through the purchase of the Jordan & Cook furniture operation. The company acquired Eldred Sayers & Son in Ealing in 1950 and Mary Lee of Tunbridge Wells approximately a decade later. Under Rowan Bentall, the founder’s grandson, who became chairman in 1968, the business expanded its store network and increased turnover substantially. New purpose-built branches included Bracknell in 1973, followed by Tonbridge in 1982 and Lakeside in 1995. The company also pursued larger-scale property and retail development. In 1987 it began work with Norwich Union on a major Kingston shopping-centre project. A new Bentalls department store opened in July 1990, and the adjoining shopping centre was completed in November 1992. The redevelopment retained the principal façade and entrance vestibule of the 1935 building; those elements were later listed at Grade II in 2011. Bentalls made another major investment in 1998 when it acquired and refurbished a former John Lewis site in Bristol. The Bristol branch did not become profitable and was sold to House of Fraser in 2001. Bentalls rejected a reported £27 million approach from Allders in 2000, but the company’s broader financial position remained difficult. In June 2001, Fenwick acquired Bentalls for a reported £70.8 million. At the time, the Bentall family held 38 percent of the shares and Edward Bentall, Frank Bentall’s great-grandson, was chairman. Fenwick subsequently disposed of several locations: Lakeside was sold to Allders, while the Ealing, Tonbridge, and Worthing sites were transferred through leases to Beales. Kingston and Bracknell were retained as the strongest stores. The Bracknell branch was replaced by a Fenwick store in September 2017 as part of The Lexicon development. The Kingston store continued trading under the Bentalls name for many years, preserving the brand’s most prominent physical presence. In 2023 it was rebranded as Fenwick, bringing the consumer-facing Bentalls retail identity to an end. Bentalls PLC nevertheless continued to exist as a dormant company as of 2025. The brand also retains a place in British cultural memory through appearances in literature, theatre, children’s educational books, and associations with entertainers including Dusty Springfield and Petula Clark.
History
Bentalls began in 1867, when Frank Bentall acquired a drapery shop in Kingston upon Thames. The business expanded from that local base into a substantial regional department-store operation. Its Kingston premises were progressively enlarged, and the principal buildings completed in 1935 gave the business an architectural landmark. Maurice Webb designed the buildings, drawing on the visual language of Hampton Court, and Eric Gill was associated with the façade stonework. The store was considered the largest department store in Britain outside central London from 1935 until 1976. The company’s branch expansion began in 1947 with the acquisition of the Worthing department store operated by Bentall family cousins. Bentalls subsequently expanded that site through the purchase of Jordan & Cook’s furniture business. In 1950 it acquired Eldred Sayers & Son in Ealing, and around a decade later it purchased Mary Lee in Tunbridge Wells. Bentalls became a public company on the London Stock Exchange in 1946, although the Bentall family retained effective control through a substantial shareholding. Rowan Bentall, the founder’s grandson, became chairman in 1968. During his decade in that role, group turnover rose from £14.5 million to £35.1 million, and the company continued developing its regional network. A purpose-built Bracknell department store opened in 1973. Later additions included Tonbridge in 1982 and Lakeside in 1995. A major transformation took place in Kingston from 1987, when Bentalls worked with Norwich Union on a shopping-centre redevelopment. The new Bentalls store opened in July 1990, followed by the wider shopping centre in November 1992. The project retained the 1935 building’s principal façade and entrance vestibule, preserving a visible link with the company’s architectural heritage. These retained elements received Grade II listing in 2011. Bentalls attempted to extend its geographical reach in 1998 by investing heavily in a large Bristol store. The company bought the premises formerly occupied by John Lewis and refurbished them, but the branch failed to achieve profitability and became a burden on the wider group. Bentalls sold it to House of Fraser in January 2001. The chain also declined a reported £27 million offer from Allders in 2000. In June 2001 Fenwick acquired Bentalls. The reported transaction value was £70.8 million; the Bentall family held 38 percent of the shares, and Edward Bentall, a great-grandson of Frank Bentall, was chairman. After the takeover, Fenwick rationalised the estate. Lakeside was sold to Allders, while the Ealing, Tonbridge, and Worthing sites were transferred through leases to Beales. Kingston and Bracknell were retained because they were considered the strongest remaining operations. The Bracknell store was eventually replaced by a Fenwick branch in 2017 as part of The Lexicon development. The Kingston store continued under the Bentalls name until 2023, when Fenwick rebranded it. This ended the brand’s visible retail presence, although Bentalls PLC remained registered as a dormant company as of 2025. Bentalls’ cultural footprint extends beyond commerce: the name is associated with Dusty Springfield’s employment at the Ealing store, Petula Clark’s childhood performance at Kingston, and references in theatre, fiction, and Ladybird educational books.
- 2023
Kingston store rebranded as Fenwick
[1]The final prominent store trading under the Bentalls name adopted the Fenwick identity.
- 2017
Bracknell store replaced by Fenwick
[1]The Bracknell Bentalls branch was replaced by a Fenwick store during development of The Lexicon.
- 2011
Historic Kingston frontage listed
[1]The retained façade and entrance vestibule of the 1935 Kingston building received Grade II listing.
- 2001
Fenwick takeover
[1]Fenwick acquired Bentalls, after which several regional sites were sold or transferred to other operators.
- 1998
Bristol expansion launched
[1]Bentalls entered south-west England by acquiring and refurbishing a former John Lewis department-store site in Bristol.
- 1992
Bentall Centre completed
[1]The adjoining Kingston shopping centre was completed in November.
- 1990
New Kingston Bentalls store opens
[1]The redeveloped Kingston department store opened in July, retaining elements of the earlier building.
- 1987
Kingston redevelopment begins
[1]Work began on a major Kingston shopping-centre and department-store project in partnership with Norwich Union.
- 1973
Bracknell store opens
[1]Bentalls opened a new purpose-built department store in Bracknell.
- 1968
Rowan Bentall becomes chairman
[1]Rowan Bentall, the founder’s grandson, became chairman and oversaw a period of significant growth.
Products and positioning
A broad-range regional department-store brand with family-business origins, combining fashion, home, furniture, and general merchandise. Its strongest identity was associated with the Kingston upon Thames flagship and its heritage architecture.
Apparel
Fashion and clothing
Fashion was a core department-store category across Bentalls’ stores. The chain’s broad merchandise model served shoppers seeking clothing and related accessories alongside household and general retail goods. Specific historical private-label or branded ranges are not identified in the supplied reference material.
Home
Furniture and home furnishings
Bentalls sold furniture and home-related merchandise as part of its full-line department-store offer. The importance of this category was reflected in the expansion of the Worthing operation after the acquisition of the Jordan & Cook furniture store.
General merchandise
General department-store merchandise
The chain’s stores carried a wide range of general merchandise typical of British department stores, bringing together multiple retail categories under one roof. The supplied sources do not provide a complete historical department-by-department assortment.
Brand decisions
2023
Kingston rebrandingStrategyBackground
After Fenwick retained and operated the Kingston flagship for many years, the owner consolidated the store under its own retail identity.
Action taken
The Kingston upon Thames department store was renamed Fenwick.
Aftermath
The last major store trading under the Bentalls name ceased to use the brand, ending its active consumer-facing retail presence.
2001
Acquisition by FenwickM&ABackground
Following the disposal of the loss-making Bristol store and continuing pressure on the group, Fenwick purchased Bentalls.
Action taken
Fenwick acquired the department-store company and later rationalised its estate by selling or transferring several branches.
Aftermath
Kingston and Bracknell were retained initially, while Lakeside, Ealing, Tonbridge, and Worthing moved to other operators. The Bentall family’s period of control ended.
Reported acquisition value. £70.8 million acquisition (June 2001)
2000
Rejection of Allders offerM&ABackground
Rival department-store group Allders made a reported offer for Bentalls as the chain continued to operate a regional network.
Action taken
Bentalls rejected the reported £27 million offer.
Aftermath
Bentalls was subsequently acquired by Fenwick in 2001.
Reported takeover offer. £27 million offer rejected (2000)
1998
Expansion into BristolStrategyBackground
Bentalls sought to extend its southern England department-store network into the south-west by acquiring a recently vacated John Lewis site in Bristol.
Action taken
The company invested substantially in the property and completely refurbished it for use as a large Bentalls department store.
Aftermath
The store failed to become profitable and was sold to House of Fraser in January 2001.
Sources1 sources
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