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The Entertainer - About Us

We're proudly employee owned...

Gary & Catherine Grant

We're proudly employee owned...

Gary and Catherine Grant founded The Entertainer in 1981 when they opened a toy shop in Amersham, England. After 44 years at the helm, The Grant family transferred 100% of their holdings into an Employee Owned Trust. This means staff at The Entertainer have a say on how it’s run and get to share in its success!

Our History Our History

Throughout our history we've hit some landmarks...

Our History - 1981: Our first store in Amersham opens

1981

Our first store in Amersham opens!

1999

TheToyShop.com launched online

Our History - 1999: TheToyShop.com launched online
Our History - 2013: The Entertainer goes international

2013

The Entertainer goes international opening stores in Pakistan and Azerbaijan

2015

We added toy manufacturer Addo Play to The Entertainer family

Our History - 2015: We added toy manufacturer Addo Play to The Entertainer family
Our History - 2019: We acquired Early Learning Centre store

2019

We acquired Early Learning Centre stores

2022

Early Learning Centre launched in Marks & Spencer stores

Our History - 2022: Early Learning Centre launched in Marks & Spencer stores
Our History - 2024: Tesco & Moonpig concessions launched

2024

Branded consessions launched in Tesco stores and Moonpig online

2025

We became an Employee Owned Trust. The Entertainer staff have a say in how we move forward and get to share in its success as a community.

Our History - 2025: Employee Owned Trust
The Entertainer Facts The Entertainer Facts

We are the UK’s largest chain of Toy Shops...

  • 160 The Entertainer stores
  • 2,719
    Tesco stores with The Entertainer branded concessions
  • 140 Matalan stores
  • Moonpig Online consession
  • Marks & Spencer
    ELC concessions online
  • 7,000 products available online
  • 30 minutes
    Click & Collect your online order*
    *subject to availability in store
Contact Us here Contact Us
Inspiring Generousity Inspiring Generousity

Inspiring generousity...

Pennies - The digital charity box

£5.4 million raised!

Since our partnership with Pennies in 2011 we’ve been working together to grow micro-donations for children’s charities and hospitals, providing our customers with simple, digital ways in-store to donate small amounts of money vital to the UK charity sector.

For every transaction made in-store, customers are given the chance to round-up to the nearest pound when paying by card or digital wallet at checkout. The money raised is then granted by Pennies to The Entertainer’s nominated children’s charities, including regional children’s hospitals.

Our nominated charities