John Nicholls (Ltd) was founded by the late chairman John Nicholls in 1965. The continuity as a family business is assured by his son Andrew, who continues to drive Nicholls forward with the commitment and levels of customer service to which all our customers, trade and retail, have become accustomed.
We offer a wide range of plumbing and heating materials, as well as kitchen and bathroom suites and accessories from leading suppliers. You can shop online, visit us in branch of just give us a call to place your order. We cater for everyone with customer service at the forefront of the business. Whether you’re planning a large projector just looking to refresh your kitchen or bathroom, we are here to help, with our fleet of vehicles that are ready to deliver to your door, with free local delivery.
In 2014 we acquired J&B’s Plumbing & Heating based on the South Coast, adding an additional 8 Plumbing & Heating branches and 5 Bathroom Showrooms.
Nicholls Business History
1965
John Nicholls opens a Builders Merchant in Overthorpe Road, Banbury.
1972
Son’s Andrew and Phillip join the business and open the first Plumbing & Heating branch in Cherwell Street, Banbury.
1976
Within a few years, the Plumbing & Heating branch had proved so successful that it moved from Cherwell Street to the main Overthorpe Road site.
The first Kitchen and Bathroom showroom opened on the Overthorpe Road site.
1998
Our second Plumbing & Heating branch opened in Bicester.
2001
Continued expansion into Warwickshire with an independent Plumbing & Heating business acquired in Rugby.
2002
Nicholls Fourth Plumbing & Heating branch opened in Witney.
After outgrowing the site and with the expansion and success of the kitchen and bathroom showroom, Banbury Plumbing & Heating branch moved from Overthorpe Road into two purpose-built units at Dorcas Road.
Kitchen and Bathroom showroom in Overthorpe Road expanded.
2005
To enable the business to further service Oxfordshire a Builders and Plumbing & Heating merchant opened on Station Approach, Kidlington.
2007
Quickly outgrowing the main site, our Plumbing & Heating branch moved to standalone site in Kidlington.
Plumbing & Heating branch relocated in Witney to include a new bathroom showroom.
2012
With the continued growth in Rugby a site was acquired for a Builders Merchant and the Plumbing & Heating branch was relocated at the same time. Taking the business to 10 branches. A new bathroom showroom was also created in Rugby.Nicholls Loyalty scheme launched for our trade customers.
2013
Nicholls Loyalty scheme launched for our trade customers.
2014
J&B’s Plumbing & Heating business in Dorset acquired to include 3 Plumbing & Heating branches and 2 Bathroom showrooms.
2015
J&B’s Plumbing & Heating branch with bathroom showroom opened in New Milton.
New Head Office for J&B’s in Winton.
Bathroom showroom opened in Kidlington.
Nicholls Trading Head Office relocated to Adderbury.
2016
Our first super-site was created in Bicester with a new Builders merchant, relocation of our existing Plumbing and Heating branch and creation of a new Kitchen and Bathroom showroom.
Stand-alone Bathroom showroom opened in Witney.
J&B’s Plumbing & Heating branch with bathroom showroom opened in Branksome.
2017
Plumbing & Heating branch opened in Buckingham.
Banbury Showroom undergoes full refurbishment.
2018
Bathroom showroom in Kidlington relocates next door to Kidlington Plumbing, Kidlington Plumbing undergoes full refurbishment and extension into a second unit.
2019
J &Bs Plumbing & Heating branch with Bathroom Solutions showroom opened in Ringwood.
Banbury Plumbing undergoes full refurbishment of Sales, Office, Trade Counter Showroom areas.
Launched our first Bathroom Solutions Brochure.
Nicholls loyalty scheme re-branded as Nicholls rewards.
J&Bs Plumbing & Heating branch opens in Christchurch.
John Nicholls opens Long Hanborough Distribution Depot enabling us to service further areas of south Oxfordshire.
2020
Nicholls remains open throughout the entire Covid-19 pandemic servicing all essential trades and supporting numerous essential services.
2021
Bathroom Showroom in Rugby undergoes refurbishment.
Launched Issue 2 of our Bathroom Solutions Brochure.
Bicester Bathroom & Kitchen Showroom celebrate 5th Birthday.
J&B’s fully integrated into John Nicholls group.
2022
New Plumbing & Heating branch opened in Towcester with the first expansion into Northamptonshire. Taking the Nicholls Group to 25 Branches.
Two further sites acquired for continued expansion in 2022.
2022
Shipston Bathrooms and Plumbing acquisition – We are delighted to announce that we have acquired the business of Shipston Bathroom & Plumbing Supplies Ltd.
The single branch business based in Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire will continue to be run by former owner Sian Brown and her team.
The business will be integrated into the Nicholls Group and we are looking forward to working with Sian and her team to develop and expand their current offering.
2023
John Nicholls Trading Ltd sells Heavyside division to MKM Group.
John Nicholls Trading Ltd has sold its Heavyside division, including co-joined sites at Bicester and Rugby to MKM Group.
Established in 1965 by the late chairman John Nicholls, the group has grown from one site in Banbury, Oxfordshire to over 25 sites covering Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, Northamptonshire, and Dorset.
The following branches have been sold as part of the heavyside division;
Banbury Building & Showroom – Bicester Building, Plumbing and Showroom – Kidlington Building – Long Hanborough – Rugby Building & Plumbing
2024
Introducing J&Bs Rewards
At J&Bs Plumbing & Heating Suppliers, we believe in recognising and rewarding our loyal customers. That’s why we’ve launched J&Bs Rewards — our way of saying thank you for your continued support. Through this scheme, customers can earn rewards based on their spend, these can be redeemed as Love2shop gift cards or credit notes to use with us. It’s our way of giving something back to those who choose J&Bs as their trusted supplier. The more you spend, the more you earn — simple, rewarding, and just one of the ways we value our customers loyalty.
2025
At John Nicholls Plumbing & Heating Merchants, we are always looking for ways to improve the way we work — not just for today, but for the future. As part of our ongoing commitment to innovation and operational excellence, we have recently transitioned from our long-standing BisTrack system to the IQ computer system.
This move marks a significant step forward in modernising our internal processes, improving efficiency, and enhancing the overall customer experience. IQ offers greater flexibility, better data management, and improved integration across our branches, helping us to future-proof the business in an ever-evolving industry.
By investing in smarter systems, we’re laying the groundwork for continued growth, better service, and a stronger, more agile business that can adapt to the needs of our customers for years to come.
2025
John Nicholls Plumbing & Heating Merchants opens New Plumbing & Heating Merchant in Aylesbury. This New branch kick starts the next phase of the Nicholls groups commitment to its continued expansion.
The Fortis Merchants Limited is the UK’s leading independent mixed merchant buying group. Representing a growing number of nationwide members, FORTIS provides a fresh approach to the benefits of combined buying, through its simple structure, responsive attitude and ability to leverage national opportunities.
The National Merchant Buying Society Ltd (NMBS) is a centralised buying society for Independent Builders, Timber, Hardware, Plumbing and Heating Merchants.
Through our membership we enjoy access to products from over 500 suppliers which enables us to offer our customer base a comprehensive range of products.
We are members of the Builders Merchant Federation which represents and protects the interests of Merchants and Suppliers to the Merchanting Industry by working with Central and Local Government throughout the UK and in Europe.
