As  you  may  have  realised  from  our  logo, the  family  connection with laundering goes  back a long way.  The original business was started when Martha Bates, my great grandmother, started taking in washing when her husband could find no work at the docks in London's East End.

As the business grew, they moved to progressively larger houses. During both wars the business marked time as family members joined the forces and in the late 1950,s now owned by two families both related to Martha we finally moved to a factory in Tottenham, North London. In 1973 I joined the business having served a seven year apprenticeship with the Company that eventually became Sunlight Service Group

By  the  late  1970’s the  South House & Elmhurst Laundry  as  it was then known,  had  outgrown  the  small factory and in 1982 when my father and uncle  retired  I  purchased  the  trading business and merged it with Purity Sweet Clean Laundry in Enfield Middlesex, another old family laundry.  Once again,   due  to  the  focus and  personal  service  that  the new business provided now trading as Royal Jersey, Enfield,  our growth continued and in 1999 we moved again,  to Leyton,  back where we started in London’s East End.

Now following a  complete   re-assessment   of   our  business,   we have re-branded as Bates of London, in honour of the lady who started it all.

Processing over half a million pieces a week and with 30,000 sq. ft. of factory  space,   we  have  built  a  brilliant  team  who  continue  to offer unbeatable  quality,  service with dedicated account managers,  but above all   a   complete  package   that  simply   cannot  be  matched  by  either independent operators or National Companies.