Industry Bookshop Number of locations 2 Founder John Hatchard Parent organization Waterstones | Headquarters London, United Kingdom Website www.hatchards.co.uk Founded 1797 | |
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Hatchards of piccadilly mpg
Hatchards is the oldest bookshop in the United Kingdom.
Contents
Hatchards library
History
The bookshop was founded at 173 Piccadilly, London, by John Hatchard in 1797. It moved within Piccadilly in 1801, to No.189–190; the site of the first shop was cleared in 1810 for the Egyptian Hall to be built. The second shop had a numbering change to 187, in 1820. 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.
Hatchards was acquired by William Collins, Sons in 1956. It was bought by Pentos in 1990, and Pentos was later acquired by Waterstone's.
Operations
It has a reputation for attracting high-profile authors and holds three Royal Warrants.
Hatchards opened a new store in St Pancras railway station in 2014. The 2,000 sq ft store, opened at the beginning of August, is located next door to a new branch of Fortnum and Mason, continuing a relationship that goes back over two centuries.