A family business in Bakewell since 1965
Brocklehursts has been part of Bakewell and the country community for more than 60 years. What began with John Asher Brocklehurst selling clothing from a van around the farms and villages of the Peak District has grown into a third-generation family business, with three shops in Bakewell, an online store and a travelling show operation that takes Brocklehursts to customers across the country.
Much has changed since 1965, but the principles behind the business remain remarkably familiar: carefully chosen clothing and footwear, knowledgeable personal service and an understanding of the people and places we serve.
Where it all began
On the 8th of May 1965, John Asher Brocklehurst started the business from the family home in Bakewell.
There wasn't a warehouse or a shopfront. Stock was kept in the converted attic and John bought a Bedford van, fitted it out and began travelling around farms and villages within roughly 30 miles of Bakewell.
It was a very different way of retailing, built around going directly to the people Brocklehursts served. Long days were spent travelling through the Peak District, visiting farms and building relationships with customers.
In 1966, the family opened its first shop JB Casuals on Matlock Street, run by John's wife, Stella. John, meanwhile, continued developing the travelling side of the business.
From Bakewell to the showground
Agricultural shows soon became an important part of Brocklehursts.
John began attending in the late 1960s, initially using caravans and converted vehicles as mobile shops. As the show circuit grew, so did the operation. By the early 1970s he was investing in purpose- built exhibition units that allowed Brocklehursts to travel further afield and take a much larger range with it.
That travelling tradition remains an important part of Brocklehursts today.
Every year, our exhibition team leaves Bakewell for agricultural shows, country fairs and equestrian events around Britain. The vehicles may have changed somewhat since John's first Bedford van, but the idea behind them hasn't: taking Brocklehursts out to the country community rather than waiting for the country community to come to us.
Our home on Bridge Street
In 1970, Brocklehursts opened on Bridge Street in the centre of Bakewell, replacing the family's first shop, JB Casuals on Matlock Street.
More than half a century later, Bridge Street remains the original Brocklehursts shop and an important part of the business.
Over the years the range has developed considerably, but Brocklehursts has remained rooted in country life. Today we bring together clothing, footwear and accessories from established country and lifestyle brands, chosen for everything from everyday life in the countryside to shooting, walking and days at the races.
The second generation
In 2000, John's son Martin Brocklehurst took over the day-to-day running of the family business.
John didn't disappear into retirement quite so easily.
For another 20 years he remained involved with Brocklehursts, helping at the odd show and continuing to run the made-to-measure estates tailoring side of the business. Much as he had done when he started out in 1965, this saw him travelling around the country meeting customers directly - this time visiting estates and supplying made-to-measure clothing.
John finally retired fully in 2020, 55 years after starting Brocklehursts.
Under Martin's direction, the business has continued to develop while remaining independent and family-run.
Three shops in the heart of Bakewell
Brocklehursts today has three distinctive shops in Bakewell, each building on a different part of the business.
The Bridge Street store, opened in 1970, remains our original shop and is home to men's and women's country clothing.
In October 2004, we opened the Sporting Showroom, creating a dedicated home for our specialist menswear, country footwear and shooting collections.
Most recently, in November 2024, the Bateman Court Ladies Shop opened, giving our growing women's collection a dedicated home of its own.
Together, they make Brocklehursts something increasingly unusual: an independent country retailer where customers can still come into a shop, try things properly and speak to people who know the products they sell.
