Hatchards
A historic London bookseller founded in 1797 and widely regarded as one of the United Kingdom's oldest bookshops.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Hatchards is a historic English bookseller whose origins date to 1797, when John Hatchard established a shop at 173 Piccadilly in London. The business is commonly described as one of the oldest bookshops in the United Kingdom and continues to trade from Piccadilly, making its longevity and location central to its identity. After moving within Piccadilly in 1801, the shop settled at the address now associated with Hatchards; subsequent changes to street numbering resulted in the present number 187. The first premises were later cleared for the construction of the Egyptian Hall, while the later site remained connected with the bookseller for more than two centuries. The business grew from a stock acquired from the eighteenth-century bookseller Simon Vandenbergh. Its long-standing reputation has been shaped not only by its age but also by its relationship with literary and public life. Hatchards has traditionally presented itself as a knowledgeable, service-oriented bookseller with an emphasis on carefully selected books, distinguished authors, signed copies, and personal recommendations. The shop has attracted prominent writers and readers, and Oscar Wilde is associated with a ground-floor table where he reportedly signed books; the table is now known as Oscar's table. A portrait of John Hatchard is displayed on the shop's staircase, reinforcing the connection between the current store and its founder. Hatchards has experienced several changes of ownership and periods of expansion. In 1939, the business was purchased for £6,000 by Clarence Hatry, a convicted fraudster who had recently been released from prison. He revived the struggling bookseller and later acquired the publishing company T. Werner Laurie Ltd. In 1956, Hatchards was acquired by William Collins, Sons. During the 1980s, it expanded beyond its flagship premises by opening branches in other parts of the United Kingdom. The business was bought by the retail holding company Pentos in 1990, and Pentos was subsequently acquired by Waterstones. Waterstones rebranded most of the wider branch network, while retaining Hatchards as the name of the flagship Piccadilly store and as a distinct heritage retail brand. The modern business combines its historic Piccadilly shop with selected additional locations. In 2014, Hatchards opened a branch at London St Pancras railway station, next to a Fortnum & Mason location. The relationship between the two retailers reflects their long association as Piccadilly neighbours. The St Pancras branch moved into a larger space in August 2019. In September 2022, Hatchards opened a third branch in Cheltenham, extending the brand beyond London while maintaining its specialist-bookseller positioning. Hatchards' retail offer is centred on general and specialist books, including literary fiction, history, biography, politics, arts, children's books, and other non-fiction categories. It also offers associated stationery, gifts, signed editions, and book-related services where available. The brand's differentiation rests on heritage, curation, knowledgeable staff, author relationships, and an atmosphere of traditional bookselling rather than on a mass-market discount model. It holds royal warrants associated with the British monarchy, including warrants granted by King Charles III and Queen Camilla according to published reference material. The business remains active under Waterstones ownership, with the Piccadilly shop serving as its principal symbolic and operating base.
History
Hatchards was founded in 1797 by John Hatchard at 173 Piccadilly, London. The founder built the business partly from stock purchased from Simon Vandenbergh, an earlier bookseller. The shop moved within Piccadilly in 1801 to premises numbered 189–190 at the time. The original site was later cleared in 1810 for the Egyptian Hall. A subsequent renumbering in 1820 changed the address of the shop to 187 Piccadilly, the number associated with Hatchards today. The business has continued at this Piccadilly location since the early nineteenth century, making continuity of place one of its defining characteristics. Over the years, Hatchards developed a reputation for literary distinction and personal bookselling. The store became associated with prominent authors and cultivated a tradition of selling signed and presentation copies. Oscar Wilde is particularly linked with the shop: he reportedly signed books at a table on the ground floor, which later became known as Oscar's table. A portrait of John Hatchard remains displayed on the staircase, preserving a visible connection to the shop's founding period. The business entered a new phase in 1939 when it was acquired for £6,000 by Clarence Hatry after his release from prison. Hatry had been convicted of fraud, but he managed to revive what had become an ailing business. In 1946 he also acquired the publishing company T. Werner Laurie Ltd. Hatchards was subsequently acquired by William Collins, Sons in 1956. During the 1980s, the bookseller pursued geographical expansion and opened branches in several parts of the United Kingdom. In 1990, Hatchards was purchased by Pentos, a retail holding company. Pentos was later acquired by Waterstones. Under Waterstones, most of the wider Hatchards branch network was rebranded, but the historic Piccadilly store retained the Hatchards name. This preserved Hatchards as a separate heritage identity within the larger Waterstones group rather than treating it solely as an ordinary branch format. The brand resumed selective physical expansion in the twenty-first century. In August 2014 it opened a shop at St Pancras railway station in London. The branch was positioned beside Fortnum & Mason, whose Piccadilly store has long been Hatchards' neighbour. In August 2019, the St Pancras operation reopened in a larger area within the station. Hatchards opened a third branch in Cheltenham in September 2022. Today, Hatchards remains an active bookseller focused on books, recommendations, author connections, signed editions, gifts, and the atmosphere of traditional specialist retail. Its Piccadilly flagship is the centre of the brand's heritage, while the St Pancras and Cheltenham shops provide additional reach. Royal warrants associated with King Charles III and Queen Camilla are part of its institutional profile. The company is operated within the Waterstones group, but continues to trade under its own historic name.
- 2022
Cheltenham branch opens
[1]Hatchards opens its third branch in Cheltenham.
- 2019
St Pancras branch expands
[1]The St Pancras store reopens in a larger location within the station.
- 2014
St Pancras branch opens
[1]Hatchards opens a branch at London St Pancras railway station.
- 1990
Pentos acquires Hatchards
[1]The retail holding company Pentos purchases the bookseller.
- 1956
William Collins, Sons acquires Hatchards
[1]The bookseller changes ownership as part of William Collins, Sons.
- 1946
T. Werner Laurie Ltd. is acquired
[1]Clarence Hatry also acquires the publishing company T. Werner Laurie Ltd.
- 1939
Clarence Hatry acquires Hatchards
[1]Clarence Hatry buys the struggling bookseller for £6,000 and subsequently revives the business.
- 1820
Address numbering changes
[1]The Piccadilly premises are renumbered as 187.
- 1801
The shop moves within Piccadilly
[1]Hatchards moves to premises numbered 189–190, beginning the long association with the site later known as 187 Piccadilly.
- 1797
Hatchards is founded on Piccadilly
[1]John Hatchard establishes a bookshop at 173 Piccadilly in London.
Products and positioning
A heritage, premium-oriented bookseller emphasizing literary authority, curation, personal service, author relationships, and the experience of shopping in a historic London bookshop.
Books
General books
Hatchards' core offer consists of commercially published books across fiction and non-fiction. Its historic Piccadilly identity is associated with carefully selected titles, knowledgeable recommendations, and service aimed at readers seeking a more curated alternative to purely transactional book retail.
Books
Signed and collectible books
The store has a long-standing association with authors and signed books. Signed copies, presentation copies, and other collectible editions complement its reputation as a literary destination and help connect the retail experience with author events and public appearances.
Gifts and stationery
Stationery and literary gifts
Alongside books, Hatchards offers selected stationery and gift items suited to readers and book buyers. These products extend the brand beyond book purchasing while remaining consistent with its premium, literary, and traditional bookselling presentation.
Brand decisions
2022
Opening of the Cheltenham branchStrategyBackground
Hatchards continued selective expansion beyond its established London locations.
Action taken
A third Hatchards branch opened in Cheltenham in September 2022.
Aftermath
The opening broadened the brand's physical presence while preserving its heritage name and specialist retail identity.
2014
Expansion into St Pancras stationStrategyBackground
Hatchards had historically been identified primarily with its Piccadilly flagship, but the business sought additional physical locations while retaining its specialist-bookseller positioning.
Action taken
The company opened a branch at London St Pancras railway station beside Fortnum & Mason.
Aftermath
The branch later moved into a larger station space in 2019, indicating continued operation and investment in the location.
Recent events
- 2022
Hatchards opens a branch in Cheltenham[1]
Other
Hatchards opened a third branch in Cheltenham, extending its physical store network outside London while retaining its established heritage-bookseller identity.
- 2019
Hatchards relocates its St Pancras branch to a larger space[1]
Other
The St Pancras location reopened in a larger space within the railway station, supporting the retailer's presence in a major London transport hub.
- 2014
Hatchards opens a branch at St Pancras railway station[1]
Other
Hatchards expanded beyond its Piccadilly flagship by opening a branch at London St Pancras railway station. The shop was located beside a Fortnum & Mason branch, continuing the brands' long-standing association.
Sources2 sources
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