Corporate News
Lords Builders Merchants and Advance Roofing opens branch in Bicester
12 May 2025
'New opening to support growth
and tradespeople throughout Oxfordshire'
Lords, a leading distributor of building materials in the UK, is pleased to
announce that Lords Builders Merchants and Advance Roofing Supplies, which
operate within the Merchanting division, have today opened a new branch in
Bicester, Oxfordshire.
Located on the Lords Trading Estate in Bicester, the new branch provides
13,000 sq .ft. of warehouse and retail space and sits within a one acre
site. The location is already well known to local tradespeople as it
was formerly operated by Blanchford Building Supplies, and under its new
ownership will now offer a dedicated local solution for customers needing
expert roofing materials and service.
This new branch will allow Lords to support more tradespeople across the
Oxfordshire region, offering the same quality products, expert advice and
friendly service its customers rely on to get the job done. It is a key step
in the Group's ambition to make life easier for the trade; with more
locations, better stock availability and a team that really understands what
customers need. The branch will also provide several new jobs in the local
community, and another opportunity for Lords to put its people-first values
into action.
Shanker Patel, Chief Executive Officer of Lords, said: “When this
site became available, with the location of Lords Farm, on Lords Trading
Estate, in Lords Lane, with an address like that, it was destiny that
Lords should open here! This new branch, operated by Lords Builders
Merchants and Advance Roofing Supplies, will immediately fill the void
for local tradespeople that was left when Blanchford's closed earlier
this year. As a well-established business, we offer premium
building supplies and specialist roofing products at competitive
prices and we look forward to serving the needs of the local
community.”
The Bicester branch marks a key step in Lords' growth strategy and continues
the Group's commitment to supporting the trade with reliable service, strong
stock and a customer-first approach. It will also create new local jobs and
provide a convenient new option for customers in the region. Customers can
expect a full range of building materials and roofing products, all
supported by experienced teams and same-day local delivery options.
Steve Durdant-Hollamby, Chief Operating Officer of Lords Merchanting division, said: “We are proud to be opening in Bicester today and building on the trusted service we are known for. This new location helps us support more customers, combine the strengths of Advance Roofing and Lords Builders Merchants, and become part of a vibrant local trade community. We are really looking forward to welcoming new faces, as well as some familiar ones, through the doors.”
FOR FURTHER ENQUIRIES:
Lords Group Trading plc | Via Burson Buchanan |
Shanker Patel, CEO Steve Durdant-Hollamby, COO, Merchanting |
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7466 5000 |
Burson Buchanan |
|
Henry Harrison-Topham / Steph Whitmore / Abby Gilchrist | LGT@buchanan.uk.com |
Notes to editors:
Lords is a specialist distributor of building, plumbing, heating and DIY
goods. The Group principally sells to local tradesmen, small to medium
sized plumbing and heating merchants, construction companies and retails
directly to the general public.
The Group operates through the following two divisions:
- Merchanting: supplies building materials and DIY goods through its network of merchant businesses and online platform capabilities. It operates both in the 'light side' (building materials and timber) and 'heavy side' (civils and landscaping), through 31 locations in the UK.
- Plumbing and Heating: a specialist distributor in the UK of plumbing and heating products to a UK network of independent merchants, installers and the general public. The division offers its customers an attractive proposition through a multi-channel offering. The division operates over 16 locations enabling nationwide next day delivery service.
Lords was established over 40 years ago as a family business with its first retail unit in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire. Since then, the Group has grown to a business operating from 47 sites.
For additional information please visit www.lordsgrouptradingplc.co.uk.