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Read the latestAbout Group 1 Automotive
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Group 1 Automotive is an international automotive retailer group and has come to be a trusted seller of vehicles by a range of marques. With over 70 sites currently operating in the UK, we believe in nothing less than automotive excellence, which is at the forefront of our customer service. Our long history has positioned us at the very pinnacle of automotive retailing as we continue to exceed our customers’ expectations.
Made up of subsidiary groups, Group 1 Automotive have dedicated specialist teams who strive to deliver a quality of service that cannot be found elsewhere. We will always put your needs first, making sure that you are on the road without any stresses or worries. Whatever your needs, our team of manufacturer experts are here to provide an unrivalled experience for you and give your vehicle all the care and attention it deserves.
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Group 1 Automotive history
In March 2007, Group 1 Automotive launched their UK operation and founded the Barons Group when they acquired their first BMW and MINI dealerships. Essex Audi then became a part of the Barons Group in 2012 when Group 1 Automotive acquired their first UK Audi dealerships.
Think Ford was founded in February 2013 when Group 1 Automotive obtained their Farnborough, Guildford, Wokingham and Bracknell Ford centres under the Barons Group, which were formerly part of Inchcape. Later in December 2014, Elms BMW and MINI joined the UK Barons Group network.
2016 saw Spire Automotive become part of Group 1 Automotive’s subsidiary, the Barons Group, representing Audi, BMW, MINI, Volkswagen Commercial, SEAT and ŠKODA across Essex, Hertfordshire and London. A year later, Group 1 Automotive acquired the Beadles Group, which joined their Barons Group operation.
Founded in 1987, the Beadles group is based in Dartford and represents Jaguar, Land Rover, Kia, ŠKODA, Toyota and Volkswagen across Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent and Surrey.
In March 2018, the Barons Group acquired five Mercedes-Benz and three smart dealerships, originally part of the Robinsons Motor Group. The Mercedes-Benz dealerships are based in Bury St. Edmunds, Cambridge, Kings Lynn, Norwich and Peterborough, with the smart dealerships situated in Cambridge, Norwich and Peterborough.
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“We believe in automotive excellence for all of our customers.”
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Barons & Chandlers
Group 1 Automotive first entered the UK market in March 2007 after acquiring Chandlers in Brighton, Hailsham and Worthing. This acquisition was Group 1 Automotive’s very first UK representation.
Three years later, in March 2010, Group 1 Automotive acquired their first BMW and MINI dealerships, which saw the founding of the Barons Group. Since then, the Barons Group has acquired a number of dealerships including Audi, BMW, MINI, Ford, Mercedes-Benz, SEAT and smart.
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“Our customers deserve only the best, which is exactly what we offer them.”
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Think Ford
Founded in February 2013, Think Ford was originally made up of Ford centres in Bracknell, Farnborough, Guildford and Wokingham, which were formally part of Inchcape. These dealers were acquired as part of the Barons Group subsidiary and the Think Ford name was born.
Our network of Think Ford dealerships has been supporting motorists in Berkshire, Hampshire and Surrey for many years now. We are your friendly, respected and knowledgeable supplier of new and approved used cars, parts and services at seven different locations.
At Think Ford, our focus is always on you. We aim to make sure that you leave completely satisfied, regardless of your reason for visiting us. Most of our team members have at leave five years of experience in the motoring industry, with some proudly claiming decades of dedicated service. We are all passionate about Ford and are honoured to represent the brand.
For as long as you own a Ford, you are a member of the caring and dedicated Think Ford family. We will look after you and your Ford with extensive aftersale support. Come to us for competitively-priced maintenance, finance, insurance and warranty packages, and a fair price for part-exchange on your current vehicle.
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“You can trust our Think Ford team to bring you the best possible Ford experience.”
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Beadles
The Beadles Group was established in Lowfield Street, Dartford, in 1893 by its founder, John Clayton Beadle. In 1915, it became a limited company trading under the name of Beadles Dartford Limited and operated from new premises in Spital Street, Dartford. This company still trades to this day, as our Volkswagen retailer in Princes Road, Dartford.
During the mid-1930s, John’s daughter, Nancy, married Reginald Rootes. Rootes was already a successful motor manufacturer and retailer - his name lives on through the Peugeot dealer, Rootes of Maidstone. In 1969, Beadles acquired premises in Main Road, Sidcup, operating the Rover franchise.
On December 20th 1955, John Clayton Beadles died at the age of 83 leaving behind a son, a daughter and the name of the company he founded. The business then transferred to Sir Reginald and Lady nancy’s son, Timothy, who sold it to the company’s senior managers in 1987. Beadles Group Limited was then founded.
Beadles Group now represents Jaguar, Land Rover, Kia, ŠKODA, Toyota and Volkswagen from thirteen motor retail centres across Kent. We also have a dedicated Volkswagen Van Centre in Dartford.
Having been established since 1915, our heritage is steeped in the tradition of providing quality products and customer service. We have grown considerably in recent years, both organically and through acquisition.
We are proud to have celebrated our 100 year anniversary in 2015, and we look forward to serving our loyal customers for many more years to come.
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“We will continually exceed our customers’ expectations.”
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Barons BMW Bedford
Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK41 0GL
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Barons BMW Borehamwood
Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, WD6 2BT
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Barons BMW Cambridge
Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB23 6EF
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Barons BMW Farnborough
Farnborough, Hampshire, GU14 6TL
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Barons BMW Hindhead
Hindhead, Surrey, GU26 6FZ
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Barons BMW Stansted
Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, CM23 2BT
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Barons MINI Bedford
Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK41 0GL
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Barons MINI Borehamwood
Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, WD6 2BT
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Barons MINI Cambridge
Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB23 6EF
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Barons MINI Farnborough
Farnborough, Hampshire, GU14 6TL
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Barons MINI Hindhead
Hindhead, Surrey, GU26 6FZ
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Barons MINI Stansted
Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, CM23 2BT
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Chandlers BMW Brighton
Brighton, East Sussex, BN41 1YH
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Chandlers BMW Hailsham
Hailsham, East Sussex, BN27 3UA
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Chandlers BMW Worthing
Littlehampton, West Sussex, BN16 3FH
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Chandlers MINI Brighton
Brighton, East Sussex, BN41 1XB
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Chandlers MINI Hailsham
Hailsham, East Sussex, BN27 3UA
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Chandlers MINI Worthing
Littlehampton, West Sussex, BN16 3FH
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Chelmsford Audi
Chelmsford, Essex, CM2 5PX
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Chingford Audi
Chingford, London, E4 8JA
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CUPRA Hatfield
Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL9 5JN
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Finchley Road Audi
West Hampstead, London, NW3 6LT
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Harold Wood Audi
Romford, Essex, RM3 0YD
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Hatfield Audi
Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL9 5JN
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Hatfield SEAT
Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL9 5JN
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Jaguar North West London
Staples Corner Business Park, London, NW2 7JP
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Jaguar Sidcup
Sidcup, Kent, DA14 6PB
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Jaguar Southend
Rochford, Essex, SS4 1GP
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Jaguar Watford
Watford, Hertfordshire, WD17 2JX
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KIA Coulsdon
Coulsdon, Surrey, CR5 2AR
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KIA Maidstone
Maidstone, Kent, ME20 7UB
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Land Rover North West London
Staples Corner, London, NW2 7JP
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Land Rover Sidcup
Sidcup, Kent, DA14 6PB
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Land Rover Southend
Rochford, Essex, SS4 1GP
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Land Rover Watford
Watford, Hertfordshire, WD17 2JX
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Mercedes-Benz of Bury St Edmunds
Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP32 6NH
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Mercedes-Benz of Cambridge
Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB5 8SH
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Mercedes-Benz of Kings Lynn
King's Lynn, Norfolk, PE30 4NB
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Mercedes-Benz of Norwich
Norwich, Norfolk, NR2 4TN
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Mercedes-Benz of Peterborough
Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, PE7 8JA
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smart Norwich
Norwich, Norfolk, NR2 4TN
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Southend Audi
Rayleigh, Essex, SS6 7UQ
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Stansted Audi
Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, CM22 7DW
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Think Ford Basingstoke
Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG21 6YL
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Think Ford Bracknell
Bracknell, Berkshire, RG12 1QN
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Think Ford Farnborough
Farnborough, Hampshire, GU14 7QW
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Think Ford Guildford
Guildford, Surrey, GU1 1TB
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Think Ford Newbury
Newbury, Berkshire, RG14 7HT
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Think Ford Reading
Reading, Berkshire, RG2 0HF
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Think Ford Wokingham
Wokingham, Berkshire, RG40 3JS
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Toyota Maidstone
Maidstone, Kent, ME20 7UB
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Toyota Medway
Gillingham, Kent, ME8 0PZ
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Volkswagen Bromley
Bromley, Kent, BR1 4JS
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Volkswagen Chelmsford
Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 3BH
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Volkswagen Colchester
Colchester, Essex, CO4 5XB
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Volkswagen Dartford
Dartford, Kent, DA1 1LN
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Volkswagen Maidstone
Maidstone, Kent, ME20 7TQ
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Volkswagen Romford
Romford, Essex, RM3 0GU
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Volkswagen Sevenoaks
Sevenoaks, Kent, TN14 5PA
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Volkswagen Southend
Southend, Essex, SS2 6XR
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Watford Audi
Watford, Hertfordshire, WD25 8HL
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Whetstone Audi
Whetstone, London, N20 0PT
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ŠKODA Maidstone
Maidstone, Kent, ME20 7UB
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ŠKODA Southend
Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, SS9 5NG