Due to political unrest in the run up to the Second World War, Jaques Samuel moved from Austria to the UK with his wife Erna.

 

He was a piano tuner and set up shop in London as such, selling a few of his reconditioned pianos on the side.

 

His first shop was situated in the front room of their home in Notting Hill, before moving to proper premises in 1940.

Mr. Samuel suffered ill health and the business was sold to Edward Mandel - then a manager at Marks & Spencers - in 1965. Sadly, Mr. Samuel died shortly after.

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In the same year as Mr. Samuel's passing, Jaques Samuel Pianos became Bechstein House. In addition to its large commercial hire business - which included the contract to supply the pianos for the BBC - the company began to hire pianos into private homes.

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In 1972, Jaques Samuel Pianos moved to its current premises at 142 Edgware Road.

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Amongst other high profile engagements, in 1975 Jaques Samuel Pianos provided the C. Bechstein Model V white grand piano for Queen's recording of their famous album "A Night at the Opera".

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A C. Bechstein piano was also provided for The Beatles' recording of "Hey Jude".

In 1996 Terence Lewis was appointed Managing Director of Jaques Samuel Pianos - he was formerly piano buyer at Harrods. The shop was then completely refurbished and the business modernized.

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Practice rooms were introduced starting with just one (gradually increasing to sixteen by 2018!).

 

Under Terence's leadership, Jaques Samuel Pianos was awarded 'Music Retailer of the Year'.

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Previous Managing Director, Edward Mandel, sadly passed away in 1999.

The company is now owned by Stefan Freymuth and Terence Lewis and continues to be one of the most prominent piano houses in the UK.

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Supplying pianos to the likes of Daniil Trifonov, Herbie Hancock, Angela Hewitt and Boris Giltburg, to venues and events such as the Barbican, Wigmore Hall and Glastonbury, Jaques Samuel Pianos continues its bold presence in the world of music.