Expanding Our Space & Enhancing your experience

The Banks-Lyon family has been a cherished part of Lancaster's retail landscape since 1887, with a presence on Church Street dating back to 1904. With the recent closure of Lancaster's much-loved shoe shop following Johnathan Banks-Lyon's retirement, Banks Lyon Jewellers is set to expand our showroom into 42 Church Street, ensuring this historic building stays within the family.

This expansion marks a new chapter for Banks Lyon Jewellers, as we honour our heritage while enhancing our offerings to the Lancaster community. Our commitment to quality and personalised service remains steadfast, and we are excited to welcome both long-standing patrons and new visitors to our extended showroom, where tradition and contemporary elegance come together.

Keep an eye on this page for updates and announcements.

Our Heritage

1887 -1904 | The Origin & Shoe Shop

"The Banks Lyon family originally opened their store in 1887 when my Great, Great Grandfather commenced trading in shoes in North Road, Lancaster. It was not until 1904 when my Great Grandfather expanded the business and moved both family and business to our current location in Church Street. The family, my Father included, lived above the shop premises for many years before they moved out in the 1930s." - Rodney Banks-Lyon (Chairman)

1985 | The Jewellery Shop

"My Grandfather ran the business whilst my Father went to war, returning in 1945 when the business, through his stewardship, grew and expanded into 38 and 40 Church Street. In the early 1970's my eldest brother took over the shoe business and my Father supported me by agreeing to rent No. 40 Church Street to me. This is where I opened Banks Lyon Jewellers in 1985, with OMEGA watches as our lead brand. The same is true today." - Rodney Banks-Lyon (Chairman)

1995 | The Expansion

Rapidly, the business grew and Banks Lyon was established as the premier jeweller and watch retailer in the North West. In 1995 - just ten years after opening, Banks Lyon expanded into the former Lancaster Guardian offices which now makes up the main showroom.

"The adjacent Lancaster Guardian offices came onto the market, which I quickly snapped up. This trebled our floor space overnight and enabled us to take on more brands such as Cartier, Breitling and TAG-Heuer to name only a few, further establishing ourselves as a destination jewellers." - Rodney Banks-Lyon (Chairman)

1999 | Banks Lyon ONline

Banks Lyon Jewellers launched their first website. Banks Lyon was one of the first jewellers to go online and - to some extent - lead the way . Now our bankslyon.co.uk is a vital arm to the Banks Lyon retail offering.

2005 | Lancaster Expansion

Never one to stand still and keen to give our clients the best retail experience, Banks Lyon embarked upon a major store refurbishment in 2005, which saw the incorporation of the two units either side of the central unit. Keen not to be seen as purely a retailer of fine watches, exclusive jewellery brands were added to the range, with FOPE gold jewellery and an expansion of Georg Jensen.

2016 | The Refurbishment

"If we thought the 2005 refurbishment was significant, then the total makeover that occurred in 2016 was a seismic shift brought about partly by my daughter Maxine joining the business - one could say the fifth generation of Banks Lyon retailing." - Rodney Banks-Lyon (Chairman)

To celebrate this landmark, the Hublot range of watches was added to our already impressive stable of luxury brands. There is now no single retailer offering the choice and expertise in the North West that Banks Lyon do.

2017 | The Kendal Showroom

After 32 years of Banks Lyon Jewellers and 130 years of retailing, Banks Lyon opened a second store in Kendal. Whilst not a million miles from Lancaster - which continued to house all our luxury brands - the Kendal showroom was launched with the aim of reaching out to our customers in the South Lakes and Furness, offering TAG Heuer, Longines, and jewellery by FOPE, Georg Jensen, amongst others.

In 2025, the decision was made to close the Kendal showroom, allowing the business to refocus its energy and investment on the continued growth and expansion of the flagship Lancaster store, as well as its expanding online presence.

2024 | The OMEGA Room

In May 2024, Banks Lyon announced the grand opening of the exclusive OMEGA Room at the Lancaster store, allowing our clientele to explore the prestigious world of OMEGA, renowned for its innovative and exquisite watchmaking. The OMEGA Room is a testament to the enduring legacy and superior craftsmanship that OMEGA has championed since its inception, and marks a significant milestone in our long-standing relationship with OMEGA, having been an official stockist since 1985.

2025 | An Entire New Experience

With the closure of Lancaster's much-loved shoe shop following Johnathan Banks-Lyon's retirement, Banks Lyon Jewellers expanded the showroom into 42 Church Street, ensuring this historic building stays within the family.

This expansion marks a new chapter for Banks Lyon Jewellers, as we honour our heritage while enhancing our offerings to the Lancaster community. Our commitment to quality and personalised service remains steadfast.