Bennetts Hardware Evington to Feature in Exhibition

Leicester Museum and Art Gallery is to include Bennetts Hardware Store, Evington Village, in an exhibition celebrating the history and identity of the Evington area of Leicester. The free exhibition will also tell the stories of eight current firms in the area, including Bennett’s Hardware, Evington Wines and Atlas Travel. It is due to open at Leicester Museum and Art Gallery on Saturday 7th March 2026 and run until 4 October.

Bennetts is a store that attracts people from far and wide due to the stock carried, personal service and expertise on offer. It also contributes to the footfall that feeds other traders in the village (ROSE (2025), Evington Village Traders’ Survey Report). Unlike most large modern DIY stores the service is highly personal, expert and provides a much more flexible service where a small quantity of some items can be bought instead of expensive large pre-packed products, much of which are rarely used.

Bennetts is a long-established family-run local shop that has been part of the Evington village shopping area for more than half a century. Its history is closely tied to the Bennett family and the evolution of the small group of shops on Main Street in old Evington village.

The Bennett family took over a small hardware shop in Evington in 1971 at the time, Steve Bennett was a baby, and the shop was run by his parents (commonly referred to locally as Jim and his wife).

The business originally operated from No. 28 Main Street in Evington village. Around 1977 it moved next door to No. 30 Main Street, which remains its present premises.

Early stock included domestic hardware, pottery and glassware purchased from wholesalers (including trips to Nottingham). It later focused more on DIY supplies and garden equipment.

Before the Bennett family arrived, the business was called “Serval Stores.” owned by Mrs Townsley. It operated as a small village shop on Main Street. At that time, the shop was located at 28 Main Street, with living accommodation above the premises.

In September 1971 Jim and Ann Bennett purchased the business and stock from Mrs Townsley. They moved to Evington with their young children and lived above the shop. Neither had previous shopkeeping experience. The purchase was made attractive because it had a very low rent and it was near the end of a 25-year lease with no rent reviews, which made running the shop viable.

Around 1977 the shop moved from 28 Main Street to 30 Main Street. The move occurred when a chemist relocated across the road. The new premises provided a better lease arrangement. Importantly, the Bennett family later purchased the property itself a few years after the move. So, after the late 1970s the Bennetts likely held both the business and the freehold (or long leasehold) of the building.

After completing his education Steve Bennett, joined the business and eventually ran the shop.

His wife Linda Bennett also became involved in the running of it.

Over the following decades the shop evolved, original stock included pottery, glassware, general domestic hardware but moved later to DIY materials, garden supplies and lawnmowers and a lawnmower servicing workshop on site. A lawnmower servicing workshop was added at the back of the shop, and the business became an agent for Hayter lawnmowers, the workshop becoming well-known locally.

In 2013 the Bennetts closed the lawnmower servicing side. This allowed the shop to focus on retail sales. The Bennett family formally wound down the dedicated lawnmower servicing workshop around 2013, but in practice some repair and servicing activity appears to have continued for a short period afterwards, especially for existing customers. Small family hardware shops often phase these services out gradually rather than stopping abruptly.

It also allowed Jim Bennett to begin stepping back from the business.

The business operates through Bennett’s (Evington) Ltd, incorporated in 2002 and registered at 30 Main Street, Evington. The shop has been trading in Evington for around 60 years.

It has regularly supported local activities and community publications such as the Evington Echo, in which it advertises.

It is considered one of the long-standing independent traders in Evington village.

Source: New exhibition to celebrate Evington in Leicester – BBC News