Welcome to the Leekes trade stand.

James Henry Leeke established the company in the Rhondda in 1897. He started trading as a traditional builder's merchant selling ironmongery and hardware from the front room of the family home in a small terraced house in Clydach Vale.

Since that day, the business has passed through the family and expanded rapidly with a Home Improvements Centre based in the Railway Goods Station at Tonypandy opening in the mid 1960's and then the larger format Department Stores opening in Llantrisant in 1977, Cross Hands in 1984 and Melksham in 1992. With these larger stores, the product offer has grown from the traditional builders' products to include an extensive range of furniture, carpets, home accessories, soft furnishings and sports clothing amongst others. In addition, we provide an installation service for conservatories and double glazing, fitted kitchens, bathrooms and carpets.

In 1999, the company opened a Head Office in Mwyndy Business Park, Llantrisant housing our buying, marketing, design, customer service and finance teams. On the site is also a centralised distribution and warehousing facility from which our customer orders are delivered.

Leekes is still a family owned business, with the fourth generation of the family occupying senior positions within the company.

LEISURE.

In 1994, the company took ownership of a local golf club in Hensol in the Vale of Glamorgan which marked the start of diversification of the business into the leisure industry. The company then built and developed the world class Vale Hotel, Golf and Spa Resort which comprises a luxury four star hotel, leisure club, Wales' largest Spa and two championship golf courses set in over 600 acres of beautiful parkland.

In 2003, the company announced its purchase of the Hensol Castle Estate with its 17th Century Grade 1 listed stately home that stands alongside The Vale Resort. The Estate includes an historically important mid-18th century landscaped park, a 15-acre lake and serpentine pond together with a large number of buildings formerly used as a hospital.

We have come a long way since 1897, but we haven't stopped yet.