Bonmarché was the UK's go-to for women over 50 — then the high street stopped showing up

Bonmarché was founded in 1982 by Parkash Singh Chima, a former manager at C&A. He opened the first store in Doncaster in 1985 and built the chain into a destination for women over 50 — a demographic largely ignored by UK high street fashion. At its peak, Bonmarché operated over 300 stores and achieved a turnover of more than £200 million.

Chima sold the chain to Peacock Group in 2002 for £42 million. Under Peacock, Bonmarché struggled to maintain its identity and performance declined. Private equity firm Sun European Partners bought it in 2012, but the chain never recovered its momentum. Changing shopping habits, the rise of online retail, and falling footfall on the high street squeezed sales.

Bonmarché entered administration on 18 October 2019. Philip Day's Edinburgh Woollen Mill Group submitted a £5.7 million rescue bid a month earlier, but the deal could not be completed before the appointment of administrators. The brand survived through a pre-pack sale, but the 300+ store chain was permanently reduced.