Safestore: The UK’s Largest Self-Storage Group and Its History
Safestore Holdings PLC, trading as Safestore, is the UK’s largest self-storage group, with 202 locations across its network. Our reach extends beyond the UK, with operations in France, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany, through our various brands.
Safestore was founded in the UK in 1998. It acquired the French business “Une Pièce en Plus” in 2004 which was founded in 1998 by the current Safestore Group CEO Frederic Vecchioli.
Our Growth and Reach
Since our founding, Safestore has grown substantially. According to the Cushman & Wakefield 2024 UK Self Storage Annual Report, we’re now the largest self storage operator by number of stores.
We now operate 130 wholly owned stores in the UK, including 72 in London and the South East, and others in key metropolitan areas such as Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Liverpool, and Bristol. Internationally, we have 30 stores in the Paris region, 13 in the Netherlands, 6 in Belgium, 12 in Spain and 7 in Germany.
Our Brands
In addition to Safestore, these are our other brands across Europe:
Each of these brands reflects our commitment to providing high-quality self-storage solutions tailored to the local market.
Our Mission
At Safestore, we are dedicated to offering secure, accessible, and flexible storage solutions for both personal and business needs. Our continued expansion and diversification into new markets demonstrate our commitment to meeting our customers' evolving needs.
Our excellence in customer service is reflected in our Trustpilot reviews, which highlight our ongoing focus on delivering top-quality experiences.
Our commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility is reflected in our ongoing initiatives. Learn more about our sustainability efforts and how we are working to protect our environment.
Our History
2024
- Simon Clinton joined the Group in March 2024 and was appointed as Chief Financial Officer on 22 April 2024.
- March: Safestore earned double Investors in People Platinum status, a testament to our continuous dedication to excellence in people management and organisational growth.
2023
- New stores or acquisitions adding c. 500,000 sq ft of new MLA across thirteen projects in the financial year (five in the UK, six in Spain, and two in the Netherlands)
- Total Group development and extension pipeline increased to 30 projects and 1.5 million sq ft representing c. 18% of the existing portfolio providing £25–£30 million of future EBITDA at stabilisation
- Purchases of the freehold interests of two stores in Barcelona, and West Birmingham
- Lease extensions completed for four stores in Edinburgh, London- Charlton, London-Slough, and Burnley
- Successful integration of Benelux acquisition
2022
- Safestore opens a new store in Nijmegen in The Netherlands in January which is part of the Joint Venture with Carlyle
- Safestore opens new stores in London Bow, Barcelona and a further two in Madrid during the year
- In addition, there were five store extensions adding c.38,000 sq ft of MLA in London Paddington Marble Arch, Southend, London Edgware, London Wimbledon, and Winchester
- Safestore acquired a 14,000 sq ft MLA freehold store in Christchurch, Dorset from Your Room Self Storage
- In March, Safestore acquired the remaining 80% of the equity owned by Carlyle Europe Realty in the Joint Venture formed in 2019. The portfolio is made up of fifteen high quality properties in the Netherlands and Belgium. Safestore has managed the properties since acquisition by the Joint Venture
- The development pipeline expanded by c.0.7m sq ft of future MLA and eleven projects to c.1.4m sq ft and 29 projects:
- Eleven UK projects to add c.512,000 sq ft
- Six developments in Barcelona and Madrid to add c.262,000 sq ft
- Seven Paris projects to add c.349,000 sq ft;
- Five Netherlands sites to add c.283,000 sq ft
- Safestore entered the German market via a new joint venture (“JV”) with Carlyle which has acquired the seven-store myStorage business with 326,000 sq ft of MLA
2021
- Opened new stores in Birmingham Middleway (58,500 sq ft) April 2021, Paris Magenta (50,000 sq ft) April 2021 and London Bow (74,000 sq ft) December 2021
- Joint venture with Carlyle acquired a development site in Nijmegen in the Netherlands in June 2021
- 33,000 sq ft added with extensions of Southend and Edgware
- New Freehold development sites acquired in London Lea Bridge and London Old Kent Road
- Acquisition of a 0.5 acre site adjacent to our existing London Wimbledon store in December 2021
- Planning permission granted for an 11,000 sq ft extension of our Winchester store
- Planning permission was granted for our Northern Madrid and Southern Barcelona stores expected to open in Q3 and Q4 2022 respectively
- Your Room Self Storage in Christchurch, a single trading facility, was acquired in December 2021
- March: We achieved Investors in People (IIP) Platinum status, an accolade that highlights our outstanding leadership and commitment to delivering exceptional employee experiences.
2020
- Joint venture with Carlyle acquired:
- Lokabox (six prime freehold locations in Belgium) in Jun 2020
- Opslag XL in the Netherlands (two locations The Hague and Hilversum) in Dec 2020
- 125,000 sq ft of new MLA added in the UK with openings in London-Carshalton, Gateshead and Sheffield
- Development sites London Bermondsey and London Park West Place acquired in the period
- 39,000 sq ft added with extensions of Bedford, Barking and Chingford stores in the UK and Glòries in Barcelona
- Two Freehold interests of existing stores acquired: Basildon and Glories (Barcelona)
- New 15 year lease signed on Notting Hill store
2019
- Acquisition of OMB Self storage (four stores in central Barcelona) on 30 December 2019
- Established Joint Venture with Carlyle which acquired M3 Self Storage in the Netherlands (six stores in Amsterdam and Haarlem)
- Two stores joined the Safestore group in London through the acquisition of Fort Box Self Storage. The storage facilities based in Chelsea and St. Johns Wood bring the total number of storage locations in the UK to 122 with 46 of those being in London
- Opened new purpose-built stores in Peterborough and Merry Hill (Oct 2019) making a total of 120 stores in the UK
- Safestore London Cranford - Heathrow was added to the UK store group (acquired from Salus Services Ltd trading as Ready Steady Store Heathrow)
2018
- August: Une Piéce en Plus opened a new store in Poissy in Paris.
- June: Safestore opened a store in Paddington Marble Arch, London.
- April: Safestore opened a new store in Mitcham, London.
- March: Safestore was awarded IIP Gold by Investors in People, recognising our commitment to exceptional people management and workplace development.
2017
- November: Safestore completes the acquisition of Alligator Self Storage, adding a further 12 stores to the UK operation.
- June: Une Piéce en Plus opens a new store at Combs-la-Ville in Paris.
2016
- December: The Safestore Group has a total of 134 self storage centres. 109 in the UK and 25 in the Paris region.
- November: A new store in Chiswick opens.
- October: Une Piéce En Plus opens a new store in Emerainville.
- September: A new store in Altrincham and a relocated store in Birmingham opens.
- August: A newly built store opens at the existing Wandsworth location.
- July: Safestore confirms the acquisition of Space Maker adding 12 stores to the UK operation.
2015
- Safestore has nearly 100 stores in the UK including two business centres trading under the Safestore name and a further 24 stores in Paris trading as Une Pièce en Plus.
- In October Safestore was promoted from the reserve list into the full FTSE 250 index.
2014
- In January, Richard Grainger retired from the Board of Safestore and Alan Lewis was formally appointed Non-executive Chairman of the Company.
2013
- In September, Frederic Vecchioli, the President of our successful Une Pièce en Plus business in France, was appointed as Chief Executive.
- In May, Andy Jones was appointed as Chief Financial Officer.
2012
- Safestore opens two new stores in the UK and two more in Paris.
2011
- Peter Gowers appointed Chief Executive Officer upon the retirement of Steve Williams. Frederic Vecchioli appointed to the main Board of Directors.
- Safestore aired its first TV ad campaign this year. More than one million people viewed the ad on YouTube – view the ad here.
2010
- Signed a six year Management Contract for Space Maker Self Storage
2009
- Safestore has more than 90 stores in the UK including 3 business centres trading under the Safestore name and a further 22 stores in Paris trading as Une Pièce en Plus.
- Safestore continues to grow through new store openings and has many more at various stages of planning due to open soon.
2008
- John von Spreckelsen leaves Safestore and Richard Grainger is appointed as Non-executive Chairman.
2007
- In March, Safestore successfully listed on the main market of the London Stock Exchange. The offer price was set at £2.40 per ordinary share implying a market capitalisation of approximately £449 million and an enterprise value of £661 million.
2006
- Safestore acquired Selfstore adding three stores to the group portfolio in the North West.
2005
- Safestore invested significant capital into the Spaces stores to improve the facilities offered and re-branding to create a national company under the Safestore brand.
- Safestore acquired Storage World with two stores in Greater Manchester.
- Safestore acquired 17 stores from Access France and disposed of seven of the non-core stores, adding 10 stores to Une Pièce en Plus, the Group’s French subsidiary. These were all re-branded Une Pièce en Plus.
2004
- Safestore acquired Mentmore plc who were trading under the ‘Spaces’ brand for £209 million.
- The acquisition added 31 freehold/long leasehold and 16 short leasehold stores, under the ‘Spaces’ brand and seven sites in France under the ‘Une Pièce en Plus’ brand. This created a chain of 79 stores and made Safestore the No.1 self storage provider in the UK and second largest in Europe.
- John von Spreckelsen joins the Board as Non-executive Chairman.
2003
- De-listed from AIM after £39.8 million Management Buyout led by Steve Williams and supported by Bridgepoint.
2002
- Steve Williams appointed as Chief Executive.
- Richard Hodsden appointed as Chief Financial Officer.
2001
- Steve Williams joins as Chief Operating Officer.
2000
1999
- Prestbury Group make a £10 million subscription.
1998
- Safestore begins trading with the purchase of 3 freehold properties in London.
- Safestore floats on AIM (Alternative Investment Market).
- Safestore acquires Metrostore.