Waterstones

Waterstones is the UK’s last remaining national high street bookseller, with more than 290 stores throughout the country and branches in Ireland. Retail Week provides news, analysis, features and opinion about Watersones and the books and gifts sector.

Latest news and insight on Waterstones from Retail-Week.com

News
Waterstones owner shows interest in takeover of The Very Group
2026-06-11T14:36:00+01:00By Megan Robinson
Waterstones owner Elliott Advisors is reportedly among several parties eyeing up a potential takeover of The Very Group.
Data
Fun leaderboard: the 80 ‘most fun’ retailers, according to consumers
2026-04-30T10:16:00+01:00By Ellis Hawthorne
Thanks to data shared with Retail Week by OC&C, we can reveal the UK retailers that consumers say are the most fun to shop with.
News
Waterstones owner taps banks ahead of potential London float
2026-04-21T16:03:00+01:00By Hugh Radojev
Waterstones is close to appointing several investment banks to help oversee a float on the London stock exchange that would value the retailer at approximately £2bn.

More on Waterstones

Chart of the Week

Chart of the Week: 2016 retail nostalgia and a books bonanza?

2026-01-27T10:44:00+00:00By George Arnett

Last year delivered the first meaningful sales volume growth in years, but retail is hankering after the growth rates it had back in 2016. The ONS numbers also showed a surprising boom in “books, newspapers and periodicals” sales

News

Waterstones pledges continued investment as sales and profits surge

2026-01-22T16:25:00+00:00By Hugh Radojev

Bookseller Waterstones has pledged to continue to invest “in our teams, our shops and our infrastructure”, after reporting surging full-year profits and sales.

Waterstones close to appointing IPO adviser
2026-01-07T17:09:00+00:00By Retail Week staff
Waterstones’ owner prepares for potential IPO next year
2025-12-18T17:00:00+00:00By George MacDonald
Ranking: Retail’s biggest winners and losers in business rates revaluation
2025-12-16T12:00:00+00:00By George Arnett
Waterstones boss says Budget business rate change will help high streets
2025-12-05T07:33:00+00:00By George MacDonald

Waterstones secures £125m in new funding to support growth plans
2025-08-11T23:01:00+01:00By Hugh Radojev
Waterstones halts US trading following Trump’s tariffs
2025-04-04T11:15:00+01:00By Ellis Hawthorne
Waterstones boss teases idea of a London stock exchange float
2025-03-17T11:22:00+00:00By Megan Robinson
Retail’s 101 favourite stores as chosen by the bosses of M&S, John Lewis, Ikea, Boots and more
2025-01-27T07:00:00+00:00By Retail Week staff

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