1909

The Beginning...

Horace Johns started trading under the name of H Johns Decorators Ltd at the location of 38 Dryden Street, Nottingham.

1911

First Accreditation...

Johns were accredited by the National Federation of Master Painters and Decorators.

1930s

Moving Day...

Johns outgrew the office at Dryden Street. In turn, this meant a relocation to Rick Street, Nottingham was necessary.

1940s

Change Of Direction...

The new chairman, William Chapman, decided a change was necessary and altered the business name to 'Johns Decorators Ltd'.

1946

Limited... Only By Name!

With the company growing at a fast pace, we decided to become a limited company.

1960s

Nationwide, Here We Come!

The company decided to operate nationwide after agreeing a successful contract with H. Curry & Sons, known today as Currys PC World. We were commissioned to redecorate and signwrite branches nationwide, which lasted 40 years through to the millennium.

1960s

A New Chairman...

John Chapman became chairman of Johns Decorators Ltd.

1970s

Moving Day... Take Two!

Johns (Decorators) Limited relocated to their new head office on Woodborough Road, Nottingham. This is still our home today.

1976

Including A Name Change...

Johns (Decorators) Limited officially changed the trading name to how we are currently known today, Johns of Nottingham Limited.

1980s

One To Remember...

Johns of Nottingham were commissioned to undertake their first large construction contract, to decorate the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Redditch which opened in 1985.

1980s

Our Own Depot!

Part of the head office was reconstructed to incorporate the Johns Decorating Centre, which still serves the trade and public 40 years later.

1984

75 Years Achieved!

Johns of Nottingham achieve their 75th anniversary in business. All of the staff were invited to celebrate at the Royal Hotel in Nottingham.

1990s

Insurance Reinstatement Begins...

Johns of Nottingham opened a new division within the business to serve the insurance claims reinstatement sector, providing a professional service to insurance companies and loss adjusters. In the early 90’s, Johns of Nottingham carried our their first claim for Crawford and Company, who remain a client to this day.

1992

A Job Well Done...

Leading to a new beginning with Russell Chapman becoming Managing Director of the business after John retired.

2009

Johns Reach 100 Years!

After 100 years trading in business. Johns of Nottingham treated all staff and their partners with a trip to Monaco to celebrate the occasion!

2017

An Impressive Achievement...

On Friday 24th July, our longest serving employee Denis Dyson reached his 60th year working with the company. This is a remarkable accomplishment for both Denis and Johns of Nottingham.

2018

Six Thousand And Counting...

The insurance reinstatement division reached 25 years of serving the industry. To this day, the company has completed in excess of 6000 claims and counting...

2020

Raising money for the NHS!

During the pandemic in 2020, the staff at Johns of Nottingham teamed together with their families to create posters for our front office window. For every poster received, we donated money to the NHS Charities in support of all of their hard work during such a difficult time.

2022

Decorating Centre 2.0

During the year of 2022, the decorating centre had its first ever major revamp. This was well received by all our long standing customers and staff.

2025

A Big Achievement!

Johns have been officially named as one of the Top 200 Fastest Growing Companies in the East Midlands by Grant Thornton UK.

This achievement is a direct result of the outstanding commitment, talent and hard work of our entire team. Every individual has played a vital role in helping us grow successfully.

2026

Rebrand - Johns Group Ltd - While our name has changed, the values remain exactly the same...

After more than 115 years of continuous trading, we are proud to introduce the next chapter in our company's history – Johns Group Ltd.

As a fourth-generation family business, this rebrand represents an important milestone in our journey, reflecting both our heritage and our ambitions for the future. While our name has changed, the values that have defined our business for over a century remain exactly the same: quality, reliability, integrity, and a commitment to delivering exceptional service.

Throughout our history, the company has evolved to meet the changing needs of our customers and the industries we serve. Although we have refreshed our branding on several occasions, our last company name change took place in 1976 when we became Johns of Nottingham Ltd, making this transformation one of the most significant developments in the company's modern history.

The move to Johns Group Ltd brings together all areas of the business under one unified identity, including our Commercial Decorating, Insurance Reinstatement, Facilities Management, and Decorating Centre divisions. This creates greater consistency across the organisation while better reflecting the diverse range of services we provide throughout the UK.

As we look ahead, Johns Group Ltd represents not only our proud history but also our commitment to future growth, innovation, and the continued success of the business for generations to come.