Dillons the Bookstore

Dillons

Company type	Private
Industry	Bookselling
Founded	1936
Founder	Una Dillon
Defunct	1999
Fate	Merged into Waterstones
Headquarters	London , United Kingdom
Area served	United Kingdom
Products	Books

Dillons was a British bookseller established in 1936 by Una Dillon. Initially located in Bloomsbury in London, the business grew during the 1980s under Pentos ownership into a nationwide bookselling chain across the UK. In 1995, Pentos entered receivership and subsequently sold Dillons to Thorn EMI, which resulted in the closure of 40 out of its 140 stores. Among the remaining 100 outlets, the majority continued operating under the Dillons brand, while some were branded as Hatchards and Hodges Figgis. Within Thorn EMI, Dillons formed part of the HMV Group, a division acquired by Thorn EMI in 1986. Following EMI’s separation from Thorn in August 1996, Dillons-HMV remained under EMI ownership. The Dillons name was ultimately merged into competitor Waterstones in 1999, marking the end of its independent presence.

Store Street

Una Dillon founded Dillon's Bookshop in 1936 at 9 Store Street, situated between Gower Street and Tottenham Court Road within Bloomsbury. After completing her studies at Bedford College, London, Dillon entered the bookselling industry by managing bookstalls for the Central Association for Mental Welfare. She acquired the struggling bookshop for £800, financing £600 through a loan from her father and £200 from a friend.

Dillon’s inventory combined academic and general-interest books without focusing on any one specialty, catering effectively to both staff and students at the nearby University of London. She personally ensured delivery within eight hours by bicycle, attracting notable bibliophiles such as Cecil Day-Lewis and John Betjeman, who became close acquaintances.

During World War II, despite evacuations of the University of London and Froebel College, Dillon maintained customer engagement by dispatching orders to relocated clients in places like Cardiff, Leicester, and Hertfordshire. She also expanded her clientele to include Ministry of Information personnel based at Senate House. After bomb damage affected her original premises, she temporarily operated from an unoccupied shop directly opposite.

Dillon's University Bookshop

Following the war, Dillon concentrated on educational publications, becoming a prominent supplier for Commonwealth students. To support expansion, she negotiated with the University of London to establish a bookshop alongside other retailers within a university-owned block spanning Torrington Place, Gower Street, and Malet Street. Although initial talks were unsuccessful, by 1956 Dillon agreed to contribute her stock and goodwill in exchange for a minority shareholding in a new store bearing her name. The university provided £11,000 sourced from an insurance settlement.

Launched in 1956 at 1 Malet St, Dillon's University Bookshop recorded a first-year turnover of £30,000. By 1967, under Una Dillon’s leadership as managing director, it had expanded to occupy the entire building with annual sales exceeding £1 million. That year she retired from her managing director role but remained on the board until 1977. Peter Stockham succeeded her before union involvement (Actss) took control. In 1977, Grant Paton was appointed managing director by the University of London owners prior to Pentos acquiring the enterprise.

Growth during Pentos Ownership

By the mid-1980s, following its acquisition by Pentos, Dillon's underwent significant modernization and rebranding efforts aimed at competing directly with Foyles. Drawing inspiration from Waterstones' achievements with large-format outlets and broad inventory, Pentos swiftly expanded Dillons into a nationwide chain comprising 75 locations. In 1990, Dillons further extended its reach by purchasing Hatchards, the historic bookshop situated in London's Piccadilly.

However, the rapid expansion resulted in financial strain, leading to Thorn EMI's acquisition of Dillons for £36 million. Already the proprietor of HMV, Thorn EMI went on to acquire Waterstones in 1998. By 1999, the Dillons name was phased out as all stores were rebranded under the Waterstones banner. The remaining stores were sold to Ottakar's, which Waterstones later incorporated in 2006.

See also

• Books in the United Kingdom