Extra big store will feature gigs
Maidenhead: State-of-the-art expansion for music shop
A Maidenhead business spanning four generations has completed a major expansion – making it ‘one of the largest musical instrument shops in the world’.
Woodwind and brass specialists, Dawkes, based in Reform Road, has just completed an expansion of their Maidenhead superstore, which has tripled the size of the overall premises.
At a whopping 12,000 square feet, the newly expanded store includes a live music stage, themed testing spaces, teaching rooms and hundreds of musical instruments on display.
Managing director Jon Dawkes said: “Since my grandad started the business nearly 60 years ago in his shed, we’ve continued to grow, all thanks to our amazing customers.
Now, with the fourth generation of Dawkes family members joining the team, we’re delighted to have created this unique destination store for UK musicians.”
The Dawkes family are excited to begin a ‘new chapter’ and are welcoming their long-time friend Jim Trott MBE from the charity ‘Brass for Africa’ for a ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 23 to officially launch the store and ‘herald in this new era’.
Acclaimed local design firm LR Interiors worked closely with the Dawkes family to craft a shop that ‘encapsulates and develops the ideals of Dawkes’.
The new store features an aquarium, a purpose-built masterclass space for teaching and a workshop for technicians that has doubled in size.
The bookable testing rooms have been expanded, each with a theme 'that emulates waves of music' and hundreds more instruments and accessories on show in a new display area.
A spokesperson said the store ‘has to be seen to be believed’ and added: “From the second you walk in the new main entrance you will find yourself drawn deeper and deeper into the amazing experience that Dawkes’ physical store has become.”
Musical events have been planned for later this year including monthly concerts featuring leading professional jazz and classical musicians.
The ever-popular ‘Dawkes Live’ events are set to relaunch in the summer with a dedicated performance space, featuring more comfortable seating and a stateof-the-art bar.
These will be complemented by a series of ‘Concertini’ events to introduce young children and their parents to live music in an engaging environment.
Since it was first established in 1966 as a small workshop shed for repairing instruments, Dawkes is now managed by the third generation of the family and has become a destination for woodwind and brass musicians from all walks of life.
Visit www.dawkes.co.uk/ for more.