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British Home Stores BHS

Vivienne14

Vivienne14

Kentish Brummie Moderator
Staff member
I thought we had a BHS thread, but can’t trace it. I know the store is mentioned in various places across BHF. But I think it should have a thread of it’s own.

I believe all BHS shops have now gone. I well remember the one in High Street although, I’m not sure I ever visited the cafeteria. This late 1950s photo shows it as a new store (8/5/1958) and advertises a “new store and cafeteria” in the window. Looks like Birds Eye products advertised in the window too. Viv.

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We always headed for the BHS cafe wherever we were in the country but it gradually went downhill, up with the prices down with the portion size.
All gone now, the Gloucester branch is reopening tomorrow as a Primark.
 
The BHS in Stratford upon Avon has been empty for years. Huge 2 story building left to deteriorate and look an eyesore with plans for yet another hotel with no parking! Many people said it would have been a perfect spot for a Primark. We have also lost Debenhams, another site earmarked for a hotel with no parking! Whatever our personal opinion of Primark there is no denying that it is very popular and does not trade on line.
 
BHS was in the "big top" site in the High St. I can't remember where it was prior to that. It was good for it's lighting selection, cafeteria was often used by our family. The old BHS in Barnstaple is now a military charity shop. I bought a dinner suit from that BHS at a reduced price just before it closed down in 2016.
 
So sad to see what's happened to our high streets, these magnificent giant's who you thought would be here for ever are now just fond memories. What you would give for a time machine for the weekend, to go proper Christmas shopping, instead of sitting in front of a computer screen pressing buy now every evening.
 
Of course the excellent lighting department ! Bought many lampshades and lamps there. It had one of the best more reasonably priced lighting departments.

I’m surprised that the original store stocked food items, like Bird’s Eye. Can’t remember it having a food department. Maybe that was in its very early days.
Viv
 
We used to buy stylish light fittings at BHS Birmingham, in the style of Habitat, but a fraction of the price. I see that 'BHS BritishHomeStore London 1928' trades on line and has stores in a number of towns. There's one in Sutton. Litecraft trade under the BHS name under license, I believe. Still specialise in lighting.
 
Vivienne14 said:
I thought we had a BHS thread, but can’t trace it. I know the store is mentioned in various places across BHF. But I think it should have a thread of it’s own.

I believe all BHS shops have now gone. I well remember the one in High Street although, I’m not sure I ever visited the cafeteria. This late 1950s photo shows it as a new store (8/5/1958) and advertises a “new store and cafeteria” in the window. Looks like Birds Eye products advertised in the window too. Viv.

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I remember the name but not the store.
 
I expect the fact that there was ‘home’ in the name of the company must have meant the emphasis was probably originally on home goods. But by the 1970s they stocked a lot of clothes. I remember at that time they tended to be more senior styles, not young and trendy ! Over time they moved to younger fashions, but they could never compete with the more fashionable shops for young people. Lewis’s, on the other hand, did this successfully by introducing the Miss Selfridge range. Viv.
 
Whilst working, and being on the road visiting many towns, BHS, was a beacon for me. I could always bank on a decent cup of tea, and the toasted tea cakes were just delicious. Just as important their toilets were always clean.
Her indoors, she that has to be obeyed! liked BHS, and always bought our towels there.
My two favourite branches were the one in Burton on Trent, and Meadowhall Sheffield. Now sadly missed.
 
I used their restaurants frequently in whichever town I was visiting but the higher prices and smaller portions and the drab clothing on sale certainly told me that it couldn't last.
The name was sold to a finance group when it collapsed and is now used online by an entirely different business.
 
My mother used to like going into the BHS cafe for a cup of tea if we were in town.
She didn't like paying for any food in there so she used to bring a filled roll for us from home and we would sit somewhere out of view and eat them surreptitiously under the table :laughing:
 
Vivienne14 said:
I expect the fact that there was ‘home’ in the name of the company must have meant the emphasis was probably originally on home goods. But by the 1970s they stocked a lot of clothes. I remember at that time they tended to be more senior styles, not young and trendy ! Over time they moved to younger fashions, but they could never compete with the more fashionable shops for young people. Lewis’s, on the other hand, did this successfully by introducing the Miss Selfridge range. Viv.
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I wonder if 'Home' originally suggested the British Isles as in the unrelated 'Home and Colonial' stores? Derek
 
Eric Gibson said:
I used their restaurants frequently in whichever town I was visiting but the higher prices and smaller portions and the drab clothing on sale certainly told me that it couldn't last.
The name was sold to a finance group when it collapsed and is now used online by an entirely different business.
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The ownership of many formerly well-known high street brands has similarly changed in the last 30 years. There are bricks and mortar stores as well, though not in Birmingham. (Unless you count Sutton Coalfield!). Derek
 
mikejee said:
As the firm was originally set up by two Americans, the word British is perhaps a little iffy
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Perhaps set up to emulate the success of F W Woolworth in the UK? My children bank with HSBC and were surprised when I said that at school I'd seen films on being a tea planter and being apprenticed to Honkers and Shankers!
 
Wiki (from which all information on the firm seems to have been copied by other sources virtually word for word) states that it was emulating Woolworths , but, initially, all items at a shilling (instead of a penny at Woolworths)
 
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