Independent family-run bed specialist with stores in Sussex and Surrey celebrates 80 years in business, sharing photos of the early years

The company has four stores across Sussex and Surrey, including its flagship showroom in Horsham. It all started in Worthing and it remains one of the town's oldest independent businesses.

Adam Tomlin, managing director, said: “Over eight decades, Jones & Tomlin has built its expertise in fine beds and mattresses, carefully selecting makers and brands from Britain and beyond.

“While the business has grown considerably from its Worthing beginnings, its focus remains the same – offering customers beds chosen for their quality and comfort, with options to suit a range of budgets.

“The Horsham showroom is now the company’s flagship, with four floors dedicated to premium beds, mattresses, bedding and bedroom furniture.”

Jones & Tomlin was established by two friends who had served alongside each other in the RAF during the Second World War. They saw a need for a general furnishers in Worthing and invested their demobilisation money into the business.

Leslie Tomlin opened the first store in Chapel Road, Worthing, with a simple yet ambitious idea, to bring beautiful, high-quality home furnishings to everyday homes at prices families could afford.

He offered beds, mattresses, wardrobes, bedroom furniture and other home essentials, chosen for durability, comfort, and timeless style.

For a brief period in the 1950s, he had a Littlehampton store, too, next to Top Hat, a nightclub venue he also owned.

In 1967, the business passed from father to son. Richard Tomlin continued the family tradition in Worthing but sharpened the focus on beds, mattresses and bedroom furniture, evolving into Worthing Bedding Centre in the 1980s.

The second store, Horsham Bedding Centre, was opened in 1993, taking over a four-floor, central location previously occupied by Allders and TJ Hughes.

Adam said: “It quickly became one of the UK’s largest and most admired independent bed showrooms, bringing the Jones & Tomlin experience to a wider audience.”

By 2005, Adam was leading as managing director, with his father Richard as chairman. They acquired Chichester Bedding Centre in 2015, a two-floor Bosham store with a loyal customer base.

The company was then able to expand beyond Sussex in 2023, with the Guildford location bringing the number of stores to four.

Adam said: “With growing demand in the Home Counties, opening our first store outside of Sussex was a big deal. With a distinguished location just off Guildford High Street, we’re proud to be complimented as one of the finest bed showrooms outside of London.”

Two years ago, the £1.25million refurbishment of the Worthing store saw it go back to its roots, with the name changed back to Jones & Tomlin. The Horsham and Guildford stores have also been rebranded to the Jones & Tomlin name, with Chichester set to follow in 2027.

The 80-year anniversary has provided an opportunity to look back at the early years. Historic black-and-white photographs from Worthing in the 1950s and 1960s have been brought back into focus from the company’s archive, offering a glimpse into the family and business behind the stores.

To mark the milestone, Jones & Tomlin has developed The Heritage Anniversary Bed, a one-off bed handmade in Dartmoor by specialist British bedmakers Enchanted House Beds.

Adam said: “The relationship between Jones & Tomlin and Enchanted House Beds goes beyond simply supplying and displaying beds.

“Both independent family businesses share a belief in skilled craftsmanship, carefully selected natural materials and uncompromising quality, with a combined depth of knowledge refined over generations. The Heritage is a result of that shared philosophy and close collaboration.

“For eight decades, Jones & Tomlin has been more than a bed and mattress specialist, we’ve been part of people’s homes, routines, dreams and memories. As a family business, we’ve always been guided by craftsmanship, premium natural materials and a genuine passion for great sleep. The Heritage is a fitting way to celebrate my grandfather Leslie’s legacy while looking ahead to the future.”

The three-part construction comprises a mattress enhancer, a hand-crafted middle mattress and a hand-lashed sprung base, using carefully selected natural materials, including Dartmoor wool, Devonshire alpaca, British horsehair, silk and vicuña.

Adam said: “Traditional techniques rarely seen in modern bedmaking are used throughout, including the hand-lashing of the sprung base. The bed also features a Dartmoor oak surround, solid oak feet and a solid brass plaque commemorating Jones & Tomlin’s 80th anniversary and founder Leslie Tomlin.

“The Heritage brings together the knowledge of an independent specialist retailer with the skills of a British maker, creating a bed that celebrates traditional craftsmanship and the continuing importance of specialist bedmaking.

“The Heritage is now showcased at the Horsham store, where customers can experience the bed in person and discover the craftsmanship, materials and story behind its creation.”