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Fenwick (department store)
Encyclopedia
Fenwick is an independent chain of high-end department store
s in the United Kingdom
. The store's founder, John James Fenwick, was born in Richmond
, North Yorkshire
in 1846.
The group has its headquarters at the flagship Fenwick department store in the centre of Newcastle upon Tyne, one of the largest department stores in the UK. Other stores are located in London
(in Bond Street
and Brent Cross
), Leicester
, York
, Windsor
, Canterbury
and Tunbridge Wells
. Fenwick acquired the Bentalls
group during 2001 which at that time comprised five department stores. Three of these were subsequently sold to J E Beale with Fenwick retaining only two of the stores, in Kingston upon Thames
and Bracknell
. In 2007 the group further expanded by purchasing Williams & Griffin
, a well regarded independent department store, in Colchester
, Essex
.
window tableau each year, attracting visitors from a wide area. Fenwick Newcastle has a complex layout made up of several interconnected buildings that open to Northumberland Street
, Eldon Square
, Monument Mall and Blackett Street. The store includes nine (with the opening of a Cafe Nero) cafés and restaurants and a wide selection of goods.
In 2008, the Sunday Times Rich List revealed that Fenwick's was the single most profitable branch of any department store chain in the United Kingdom with assets totaling an excess of £330 million. It is widely viewed as one of the most luxurious department stores in the UK, specializing in a wide range of luxury products which are not available in other British shops, as well as the famous 'Wine Shop' which has the largest selection of wines and spirits in the North East. Furthermore, its food court enjoys a reputation as a seller of some of the finest foods available on the high street, a selection of which is served in the store's six restaurants. It remains a tourist attraction in Newcastle upon Tyne
, its green bags being iconic and arguably something of a status symbol in the city.
The store's target market is mainly upper-middle class (above those of John Lewis
, House of Fraser
and Debenhams
, whose target market is the lower-middle class), although a range of products are available spanning all socio-economic groups, perhaps being an explanation for its extremely profitable nature.
Department store
A department store is a retail establishment which satisfies a wide range of the consumer's personal and residential durable goods product needs; and at the same time offering the consumer a choice of multiple merchandise lines, at variable price points, in all product categories...
s in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The store's founder, John James Fenwick, was born in Richmond
Richmond, North Yorkshire
Richmond is a market town and civil parish on the River Swale in North Yorkshire, England and is the administrative centre of the district of Richmondshire. It is situated on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, and serves as the Park's main tourist centre...
, North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
in 1846.
The group has its headquarters at the flagship Fenwick department store in the centre of Newcastle upon Tyne, one of the largest department stores in the UK. Other stores are located in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
(in Bond Street
Bond Street
Bond Street is a major shopping street in the West End of London that runs north-south through Mayfair between Oxford Street and Piccadilly. It has been a fashionable shopping street since the 18th century and is currently the home of many high price fashion shops...
and Brent Cross
Brent Cross
Brent Cross is an area of north London, in the London Borough of Barnet. It is located near the A41 Brent Cross Flyover over the A406 North Circular Road. Brent Cross is best known for its shopping centre and the proposed Brent Cross Cricklewood development....
), Leicester
Leicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
, York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
, Windsor
Windsor, Berkshire
Windsor is an affluent suburban town and unparished area in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire, England. It is widely known as the site of Windsor Castle, one of the official residences of the British Royal Family....
, Canterbury
Canterbury
Canterbury is a historic English cathedral city, which lies at the heart of the City of Canterbury, a district of Kent in South East England. It lies on the River Stour....
and Tunbridge Wells
Royal Tunbridge Wells
Royal Tunbridge Wells is a town in west Kent, England, about south-east of central London by road, by rail. The town is close to the border of the county of East Sussex...
. Fenwick acquired the Bentalls
Bentalls
Bentalls is an English department store chain with branches in Kingston upon Thames, Greater London, and Bracknell, Berkshire. The well regarded 'county' department store began as a drapery shop, founded by Frank Bentall in 1867...
group during 2001 which at that time comprised five department stores. Three of these were subsequently sold to J E Beale with Fenwick retaining only two of the stores, in Kingston upon Thames
Kingston upon Thames
Kingston upon Thames is the principal settlement of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames in southwest London. It was the ancient market town where Saxon kings were crowned and is now a suburb situated south west of Charing Cross. It is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the...
and Bracknell
Bracknell
Bracknell is a town and civil parish in the Borough of Bracknell Forest in Berkshire, England. It lies to the south-east of Reading, southwest of Windsor and west of central London...
. In 2007 the group further expanded by purchasing Williams & Griffin
Williams & Griffin
Williams & Griffin is a large high street department store situated in Colchester, Essex, England .Independent for much of its history, it was formed from the merger of H.E. Williams & Co Ltd and another Colchester family business, H.L. Griffin & Co Ltd , in April 1963...
, a well regarded independent department store, in Colchester
Colchester
Colchester is an historic town and the largest settlement within the borough of Colchester in Essex, England.At the time of the census in 2001, it had a population of 104,390. However, the population is rapidly increasing, and has been named as one of Britain's fastest growing towns. As the...
, Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
.
Branches
Newcastle
The Newcastle store which is one of Britain's largest department stores, holds a spectacular ChristmasChristmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
window tableau each year, attracting visitors from a wide area. Fenwick Newcastle has a complex layout made up of several interconnected buildings that open to Northumberland Street
Northumberland Street
Northumberland Street is a major shopping street in the city of Newcastle upon Tyne, in the North East of England. It is home to a wide range of different retailers, banks and cafes, and in terms of rental per square metre, Northumberland Street is the most expensive location in the UK outside of...
, Eldon Square
Eldon Square
Eldon Square is a shopping centre in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. It was officially opened in 1977. Eldon Square was also the name applied to a terrace development on the same site, designed by John Dobson in about 1824 and demolished in the 1960s....
, Monument Mall and Blackett Street. The store includes nine (with the opening of a Cafe Nero) cafés and restaurants and a wide selection of goods.
In 2008, the Sunday Times Rich List revealed that Fenwick's was the single most profitable branch of any department store chain in the United Kingdom with assets totaling an excess of £330 million. It is widely viewed as one of the most luxurious department stores in the UK, specializing in a wide range of luxury products which are not available in other British shops, as well as the famous 'Wine Shop' which has the largest selection of wines and spirits in the North East. Furthermore, its food court enjoys a reputation as a seller of some of the finest foods available on the high street, a selection of which is served in the store's six restaurants. It remains a tourist attraction in Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
, its green bags being iconic and arguably something of a status symbol in the city.
The store's target market is mainly upper-middle class (above those of John Lewis
John Lewis (department store)
-Recent developments:In June 2004, John Lewis announced plans to open its first store in Northern Ireland at the Sprucefield Park development, the province's largest out of town shopping centre, located outside Lisburn and from Belfast. The application was approved in June 2005 and the opening of...
, House of Fraser
House of Fraser
House of Fraser is a British department store group with over 60 stores across the United Kingdom and Ireland. It was established in Glasgow, Scotland in 1849 as Arthur and Fraser. By 1891 it was known as Fraser & Sons. The company grew steadily during the early 20th century, but after the Second...
and Debenhams
Debenhams
Debenhams plc is a British retailer operating under a department store format in the UK, Ireland and Denmark, and franchise stores in other countries. The Company was founded in the eighteenth century as a single store in London and has now grown to around 160 shops...
, whose target market is the lower-middle class), although a range of products are available spanning all socio-economic groups, perhaps being an explanation for its extremely profitable nature.