Hatchards is an English bookshop claiming to be the oldest in the United Kingdom. It was founded on Piccadilly in London in 1797 by John Hatchard and has been at its current location at 187 Piccadilly, next to Fortnum & Mason, since 1801. The shop holds two royal warrants, granted by King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
History
Hatchards was founded at 173 Piccadilly in 1797 by John Hatchard, with a collection of merchandise purchased from Simon Vandenbergh, an 18th-century bookseller. It moved to No. 189–190 Piccadilly in 1801, and the original site was cleared in 1810 for the construction of the Egyptian Hall. The shop's address was renumbered to 187 in 1820, where it still operates today. A portrait of John Hatchard is displayed on the staircase of the shop.
In 1939, Hatchards was acquired for £6,000 by Clarence Hatry, a convicted fraudster, upon his release from prison. Hatry turned the ailing business around, and in 1946 he also acquired the publishing firm T. Werner Laurie Ltd. Hatchards was subsequently acquired by William Collins, Sons in 1956. During the 1980s, the company expanded by opening branches across the UK. It was bought by the retail holding company Pentos in 1990, and Pentos was later acquired by Waterstones, which rebranded all but the flagship Piccadilly store. Waterstones also owns Hodges Figgis in Dublin, the oldest bookshop in Ireland, founded in 1768.
Operations
Hatchards has a reputation for attracting high-profile authors. Oscar Wilde is said to have been a frequent customer, and the table at which he signed his books on the ground floor is known today as "Oscar's table."
The shop holds two royal warrants (from King Charles III and Queen Camilla). Historically, Queen Charlotte, wife of King George III, was among its first customers.
Locations
As of 2022, Hatchards operates three branches:
- Piccadilly, London – The flagship five-storey bookshop at 187 Piccadilly, next to Fortnum & Mason and opposite the Royal Academy.
- St Pancras railway station, London – Opened in August 2014, this 2,000-square-foot (190 m²) branch is located next to a Fortnum & Mason outlet. It was relocated to a larger space within the station in August 2019.
- Cheltenham – Opened in September 2022, this was the first Hatchards branch outside London.
Products and Services
Hatchards is known for its selection of signed first editions and rare, antiquarian books, available both in-store and online. The bookshop hosts a regular calendar of literary events, book signings, and discussions. It also offers "Unique Hatchards Editions" — specially produced editions of selected titles.
Parent Company
Hatchards is a subsidiary of Waterstones, which is itself owned by Elliott Investment Management.
