Leekes Sale

Leekes History

Leekes was founded in 1897 by blacksmith James Henry Leeke in Tonypandy in the Rhondda Valley, South Wales. James ran a smithy for sharpening tools from behind the family's terraced home in Clydach Vale, before opening a small ironmongery business in the front room. He and his wife sold to the local miners and their families who were moving into the area in growing numbers as the South Wales coal industry expanded. The business survived the upheavals of the early twentieth century intact, and in 1933 James's son Llewellyn took over at the age of 22. Llewellyn bought a larger shop on Dunraven Street, Tonypandy in 1948, and throughout this period the ironmongery and builders' merchant was run almost entirely by the family.

In the late 1960s, Gerald Leeke joined full-time and oversaw a significant expansion, adding kitchen and bathroom displays and acquiring adjacent properties. Company turnover grew from £38,000 in 1965 to £500,000 by 1975. In 1977 Leekes opened their first out-of-town superstore in Talbot Green, near Llantrisant £ one of the first out-of-town home department stores in the UK £ converting a former factory into a comprehensive store selling building materials alongside furniture, kitchens and bathrooms. A second out-of-town store followed in Cross Hands, Carmarthenshire in 1984, complete with a garden centre and restaurant, and a third in Melksham, Wiltshire in 1992. In 2009 Leekes acquired the Midlands-based Cole's Home Furnishers Group including its flagship store in Bilston, Wolverhampton, and in 2016 they acquired Park Furnishers, Bristol's largest independent furniture store, which continues to trade under its own name. A new Leekes store opened in Cheltenham in November 2024, and the Llantrisant flagship store underwent a multi-million pound refurbishment completing in 2024. The business is now managed by Emma Leeke and draws over 60,000 visitors through its doors each week.

Leekes has also diversified significantly beyond retail. In 1993 the company purchased a 650-acre site in Hensol, Vale of Glamorgan and developed it into The Vale Resort £ a four-star hotel with 143 bedrooms, two championship golf courses, the largest spa in Wales, and a 700-seat conference facility. In 2003 they acquired the adjacent Hensol Castle, a grade I listed seventeenth-century stately home that is now operated as a wedding and events venue. In 2018 the castle cellars were converted into a gin distillery producing award-winning gin. The Football Association of Wales and the Welsh Rugby Union both use The Vale Resort as their base for training camps.

What does Leekes sell?

Furniture

Leekes carry an extensive furniture range across sofas, armchairs, dining tables, beds and bedroom furniture. Brands stocked include G Plan, Parker Knoll, Stressless, Orla Kiely, Hypnos, Tempur and La-Z-Boy, alongside Leekes' own exclusive Casa collection. Their stores feature large-format inspirational room displays to help customers visualise products in a home setting.

Kitchens and Bathrooms

Leekes offer full kitchen and bathroom design and installation services, with showrooms featuring extensive displays from leading brands. Kitchen appliance brands include AEG, Miele, NEFF and Siemens. Hammonds fitted bedroom studios are also available in-store at Llantrisant.

Building Materials and DIY

True to their ironmongery roots, Leekes continue to stock a comprehensive range of building materials, decorating products and DIY supplies. The original Tonypandy site continues to operate as a builders' merchants. The Llantrisant store's building, decorating and DIY departments open from 07:30.

Flooring, Lighting and Accessories

Leekes stock flooring, carpets, lighting, home textiles and a broad range of finishing touches and seasonal accessories. A Dulux paint mixing service is available in-store.

Common Leekes Questions

Where are the Leekes stores?

Leekes have home department stores in Llantrisant (South Wales), Cross Hands (Carmarthenshire), Melksham (Wiltshire), Bilston (Wolverhampton), and Cheltenham. Park Furnishers in Bristol trades as a separate fascia but is part of the Leekes Group. The original Tonypandy site continues as a builders' merchants. The Llantrisant store is easily accessible from junction 34 of the M4.

Does Leekes offer Click and Collect?

Yes, Leekes offer a Click & Collect service from their stores. They also offer nationwide delivery on furniture and larger items, with the option to arrange installation for kitchens and bathrooms through their in-store design service teams.

Is Leekes a family business?

Yes, Leekes has been a family business for over 125 years, founded in 1897 by James Henry Leeke in Tonypandy and now managed by Emma Leeke, representing the fifth generation of the family. It is one of the UK's longest-running and most successful independent home retail groups.

Does Leekes offer NHS discounts?

Leekes do not currently advertise a dedicated NHS discount programme nationally. It is worth contacting your nearest store directly to ask about any current local promotions or offers. Their seasonal sale events - typically spring and Black Friday - offer the best opportunities for savings across furniture, flooring and kitchens.

When is the Leekes sale?

Leekes run seasonal sale events throughout the year, with significant promotions typically in spring and around Black Friday in November. Their stores also carry clearance lines year-round on ex-display and end-of-line furniture, kitchens and bathrooms.

What is The Vale Resort?

The Vale Resort is a four-star hotel and leisure complex in Hensol, Vale of Glamorgan, owned and operated by the Leekes Group. It has 143 bedrooms, two championship golf courses, the largest spa in Wales, and a 700-seat conference facility set in over 650 acres of parkland. It serves as the training base for the Football Association of Wales and the Welsh Rugby Union. The adjacent Hensol Castle, also owned by Leekes, operates as a wedding and events venue and houses the group's gin distillery.

Black Friday History

Leekes participate in Black Friday with promotions across their furniture, flooring, kitchen and bathroom ranges. As a large-format independent retailer, their Black Friday events tend to offer genuine reductions on significant home purchases £ sofas, beds, dining furniture and fitted kitchens £ where the savings can be substantial. Ex-display and clearance items are often at their most competitive pricing during this period, making it a good time to visit in-store to browse the showroom floors.

Contact Information

Links

What to typically expect from Leekes

• Large-format department stores with inspirational room displays
• Full kitchen and bathroom design and installation service
• Dulux paint mixing service in-store
• Free car parking at all stores
• Click & Collect and nationwide delivery available
• Builders' merchants and DIY at Tonypandy and Llantrisant