B&Q Ashford: Store Details, Hours, Furniture & Discounts

If you’ve been shopping for kitchen tiles or bathroom furniture in Ashford, Kent, you know the B&Q on Norman Road (store ID 1192, TN23 7DG, phone 01233 625001). The store opens at 7am on weekdays and 10am on Sundays, and it’s been a hub for home improvers for years—but B&Q’s senior discount scheme and store footprint are changing.

Stores potentially closing: up to 22 · Senior discount mentioned: 10% for pensioners · Over-60s discount status: closing to new applicants · Sister brand: Screwfix

Store and programme details are summarised below for quick reference.

Do pensioners still get 10% off at B&Q?

Yes — for those who already have a B&Q Diamond Card. The scheme still provides a 10% discount on Wednesdays for customers aged over 60, but B&Q froze new applications back in September 2018, and it has not reopened them since. The discount also no longer applies across the full product range: it now covers only gardening items such as plants, seeds, compost, and garden tools — roughly 10,000 products.

For Ashford shoppers specifically, this means anyone looking for bathroom furniture, tiles, or fitted kitchens should not expect the Wednesday discount to apply. The Diamond Card also requires the named cardholder to be present at the time of purchase, and the card itself is non-transferable.

The implication: if you inherited a Diamond Card from a parent or grandparent who signed up before the 2018 closure, the savings on garden essentials are still real — but the programme no longer functions as a general over-60s discount across B&Q’s wider product range.

OAP discount day

The traditional OAP day at B&Q is Wednesday. Existing Diamond Card holders receive their 10% benefit on any qualifying gardening purchase made on a Wednesday, subject to the product restrictions described above. Customers without a Diamond Card — including anyone over 60 who applied after 3 September 2018 — cannot join the scheme at this time.

Changes to over-60s card

When B&Q closed Diamond Card to new applicants in September 2018, it simultaneously narrowed the discount to cover gardening products only. Kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom purchases — along with associated accessories — were explicitly excluded from the scheme. The company stated at the time that gardening items were the “favourite products” of Diamond Club members, according to reports from MoneySavingExpert.

“B&Q will no longer accept new members for its over-60s’ Diamond Club discount scheme from Monday 3 September — and will restrict the offer to gardening products.”

— B&Q, corporate announcement via MoneySavingExpert

What day is the B&Q senior discount?

The B&Q senior discount — the Diamond Card benefit — applies every Wednesday during normal store opening hours. There is no alternative day; Wednesday is the only designated discount day for over-60s cardholders. This has been the case since the Diamond Card programme began, and the Wednesday structure remained unchanged even after B&Q restricted the scheme in 2018.

Traditional OAP day

Before the 2018 changes, the Wednesday OAP day at B&Q was broadly recognised as one of the better senior discount schemes on the UK high street. Cardholders could claim 10% off almost any purchase across the store, making it particularly attractive for larger home improvement projects. The programme was popular enough that community forums frequently discussed which Wednesdays offered the best availability for specific product categories.

Current policy updates

Since September 2018, B&Q has not issued any public statement reversing or modifying the Diamond Card closure. The programme remains frozen to new members, and the product restriction to gardening items continues to apply. For anyone who applied before the cutoff date and still holds an active card, Wednesday remains the sole discount day — but only for qualifying gardening purchases.

Are Screwfix and B&Q related?

Yes — Screwfix and B&Q are sister brands under the same parent company, Kingfisher plc. Kingfisher is the pan-European home improvement group listed on the London Stock Exchange, and it operates both B&Q in the UK and Ireland and Screwfix across the UK and Republic of Ireland. The two brands serve overlapping but distinct customer bases: B&Q targets consumers and DIY enthusiasts, while Screwfix focuses primarily on trade professionals.

Ownership connection

Kingfisher acquired Screwfix in 2017 and has since grown the trade-focused brand into one of the largest specialty tool and building supply chains in the UK. According to Kingfisher’s investor materials, B&Q and Screwfix operate under a unified corporate strategy while maintaining distinct store formats, branding, and customer propositions. The shared ownership means both chains are covered by the same Group-level sustainability and responsible business commitments published on the Kingfisher corporate website.

Shared parent company

Kingfisher plc is the holding company that owns both B&Q and Screwfix, along with Castorama in France and Koçtaş in Turkey. For UK consumers, the practical impact of this shared ownership is limited: prices, loyalty schemes, and discount policies are managed independently by each brand. Screwfix does not participate in the B&Q Diamond Card programme, and B&Q does not match Screwfix’s trade accounts or bulk pricing structures.

“B&Q will no longer accept new members for its over-60s’ Diamond Club discount scheme from Monday 3 September — and will restrict the offer to gardening products.”

— B&Q, corporate announcement via MoneySavingExpert

Why is B&Q closing down?

B&Q is not closing down entirely — the chain still operates over 300 stores across the UK and Ireland. What has been announced is a targeted programme to close up to 22 underperforming locations as part of a broader restructuring effort. The closures are driven by shifts in consumer shopping habits, increased competition from online-only home improvement retailers, and the rise of the smaller B&Q Local format launched in 2023.

The pattern: B&Q is trading square footage for agility. Rather than maintaining large-format out-of-town sheds at every location, the company is testing smaller high street formats that can operate with lower overheads and closer proximity to where customers actually live.

Store closure numbers

B&Q confirmed it was reviewing up to 22 stores as part of a store estate optimisation announced in early 2024. The figure represents a small fraction of the chain’s total footprint — B&Q lists over 300 locations across the UK and Ireland — but the announcement was significant enough to attract coverage in the trade press. Estates Gazette reported the closure review, citing pressure on large-format DIY retailers from both online competition and changing neighbourhood shopping patterns.

Impact on locations

For communities where a B&Q closure is confirmed, the impact extends beyond lost retail — suppliers, delivery contractors, and local trade businesses that rely on B&Q as a sourcing point may need to adjust their operations. B&Q Ashford’s status within the closure programme remains unconfirmed in publicly available sources, meaning customers should check directly with the store or monitor B&Q’s official store locator for updates.

“B&Q to announce closure of up to 22 stores.”

— Estates Gazette, retail property news

Is B&Q owned by Tesco?

No. B&Q is not owned by Tesco, and the two companies have never shared ownership. B&Q is owned by Kingfisher plc, a pan-European home improvement group listed on the London Stock Exchange. Tesco is a standalone UK supermarket and retail group with its own distinct portfolio of businesses.

The confusion likely arises because both Tesco and B&Q are large, well-known UK retail brands with significant footprints. Tesco operates in food retail, general merchandise, and financial services, while B&Q operates exclusively in home improvement and DIY. The two sectors are distinct, and the companies compete in different markets.

Current ownership

Kingfisher plc acquired B&Q in 1980 and has owned the brand ever since. The group also owns Screwfix (acquired 2017), Castorama (France), and Koçtaş (Turkey). Kingfisher’s investor relations materials describe B&Q as one of two core UK brands alongside Screwfix, with the group’s strategy focused on integrating both chains under a unified digital and supply chain infrastructure.

Historical context

Kingfisher began as a British retailer and grew through a series of acquisitions throughout the 1980s and 1990s. The group rebranded from its original identity and expanded internationally, eventually becoming one of Europe’s largest home improvement retailers. Wikipedia’s Kingfisher company page confirms the group’s formation, its ownership structure, and its acquisition history — including the 1980 B&Q purchase and the later Screwfix acquisition.

What B&Q stores are in Ireland?

B&Q operates across the Republic of Ireland through its diy.ie platform and physical store locations. The chain’s Irish estate is included in the “over 300 stores” figure published on the B&Q responsible business page, though the specific count of Irish-only locations is not broken out separately in publicly available sources. B&Q Ireland’s website lists current store locations, opening hours, and product availability for the Republic of Ireland market.

Customers in Ireland seeking specific store information should use the B&Q store locator on diy.ie, which is the official channel for Irish store details, as UK-based resources may not reflect Republic of Ireland inventory or operating hours.

For Irish readers: the key distinction is that B&Q’s loyalty schemes, discount policies, and store formats are managed separately for the Republic of Ireland market. Check diy.ie directly for the most current information on Irish store locations, opening hours, and any applicable loyalty programmes.

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While B&Q Ashford highlights furniture and senior discounts, the B&Q Aylesbury store guide nearby in Buckinghamshire covers similar hours and product ranges for DIY enthusiasts.

Frequently asked questions

For shoppers heading to Ashford this week, the practical takeaway is straightforward: verify the store is still open before making a trip (especially for larger furniture purchases), check whether you hold a Diamond Card if you qualify, and remember that Wednesday is the only day the gardening discount applies — and only for existing cardholders. If you’re in the trade or need specialist tools, the Screwfix on Willesborough opens at the same 7am weekday start and offers a different product range. Either way, the home improvement options in Ashford remain active — but the landscape around discounts and store formats is notably narrower than it was a few years ago.