 | |
 Hatchards store onPiccadilly | |
| Industry | Bookshop |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1797 (1797) |
| Founder | John Hatchard |
| Headquarters | , United Kingdom |
Number of locations | 3 |
| Parent | Waterstones |
| Website | www |
Hatchards is an English bookshop claiming to be the oldest in the United Kingdom, founded onPiccadilly in 1797 byJohn Hatchard. After one move, it has been at the same location on Piccadilly next toFortnum & Mason since 1801, and the two stores are also neighbours inSt Pancras railway station as of 2014. It has a reputation for attracting high-profile authors and holds threeroyal warrants granted by KingCharles III, QueenElizabeth II, andPrince Philip.[1]
Claiming to be the oldest bookshop in the United Kingdom,[2][3] Hatchards was founded at 173Piccadilly, London, byJohn Hatchard in 1797.[4] It moved within Piccadilly in 1801, to No.189–190; the site of the first shop was cleared in 1810 for theEgyptian Hall to be built. The second shop had a numbering change to 187, in 1820.[5] It still trades today from the same address, and Hatchard's portrait can be seen on the staircase of the shop.
It was founded with a collection of merchandise bought from Simon Vandenbergh, a bookseller of the 18th century.
In 1939 Hatchards was acquired for £6,000 by convicted fraudsterClarence Hatry, on his release from prison. He turned the ailing business around, and in 1946 he also acquired theT. Werner Laurie Ltd. publishing firm.[6][7][8]
Hatchards was acquired byWilliam Collins, Sons in 1956. In the 1980s it expanded the number of its retail outlets, opening branches across the UK. It was bought byPentos in 1990, and Pentos was later acquired byWaterstones who rebranded all but the flagship store.[9] Waterstones also ownsHodges Figgis (founded in 1768), which is the oldest bookshop inIreland.[10]
It has a reputation for attracting high-profile authors and holds threeroyal warrants.[4]Oscar Wilde's favourite bookshop, the writer signed his books sitting at the ground floor main table—today known as Oscar's table.[11]
Hatchards opened a new branch inSt Pancras railway station in 2014. This 2,000-square-foot (190 m2) branch, opened at the beginning of August, was located next door to a new (2013) branch ofFortnum and Mason, continuing a relationship that goes back over two centuries. In August 2019 this location re-opened in a larger space within the station.[12]
A third branch was opened inCheltenham in September 2022.[13][14]
From Oscar Wilde to Bette Davis, the literary, political, artistic and social lions of their day have bought their books here and, since its inception, a link has been forged between the fine booksellers of Hatchards and the royal households of Britain and Europe. Indeed Hatchards has a long and proud association with the royal family; Queen Charlotte, wife of King George III, was one of our first customers and to this day the bookshop is honoured to hold three Royal Warrants: HM The Queen, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh and HRH The Prince of Wales.
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