Bets Over Blouses? Ex-Bonmarché Site Eyed by UK Bookmaker

_{The former Bonmarché shop on Kettering High Street could soon house a Betfred branch. (Image: Google Maps)}

One of the UK’s biggest betting chains is eyeing a new location in Kettering’s town centre. Betfred has applied for a betting premises licence for 68–70 High Street, a vacant retail unit last occupied by women’s fashion brand Bonmarché.

If approved, this would become the bookmaker’s third shop in Kettering, alongside its existing branches on Montagu Street and Silver Street.

From Dresses to Draws: Bookmaker Files Official Bid

The official application was submitted to North Northamptonshire Council by Done Brothers (Cash Betting) Limited, trading as Betfred. The notice, posted publicly as required under Section 159 of the Gambling Act 2005, states the company is seeking permission to operate betting activities at the High Street unit.

Located opposite the Newlands Shopping Centre, the space has remained empty since Bonmarché shuttered its doors. While earlier plans had hinted at a potential 24/7Bingo lounge for the site, those proposals never materialised.

Local residents and stakeholders have until 24 December 2025 to submit comments or objections to the council regarding the application.

A Town Already on the Cards

Betfred’s potential expansion comes amid growing scrutiny of high street betting shops across the UK, with critics raising concerns about clustering and the impact on vulnerable individuals.

As of 2023, Betfred operated over 1,400 licensed shops in the UK, according to its corporate filings. The company, founded by Fred and Peter Done in 1967, is now headquartered in Warrington and remains one of the largest privately-owned bookmakers in the country.

The application does not specify whether the proposed location will replace an existing shop or serve as an additional branch.

What’s Next for Kettering’s High Street?

The town’s central shopping area has seen a number of changes in recent years, mirroring national trends in retail decline and the repurposing of traditional shopfronts. Bonmarché’s departure was part of a broader round of closures by the struggling chain, which was acquired out of administration in 2020.

For now, the site remains closed, but that could change soon, depending on public feedback and council approval.