The Sands and Fagans Story

Sands was founded in 1977 by John Siddle, initially with business partner Harry Squires. What began as a small shop specialising in fine china and gifts soon grew into a destination for premium brands, including Royal Worcester, Moorcroft, and Border Fine Arts.

Over the years, Sands became more than just a shop. The building has been home to a variety of businesses, including a music store and a coach travel agency, making it a familiar part of the local community. In 1980, Sands expanded its offering to include homeware and cookware, and introduced its popular Wedding List service, helping generations of families celebrate life's special moments.

A new chapter began in 1996 when Tone and Tan opened on the top floor of Sands, offering sunbeds and toning tables. Later that same year, the well-known Fagan's of Cockermouth was acquired by John to be ran by daughter, Dawn, and her husband, Marcus. Together they continued the family tradition, bringing the same high-quality brands and customer service to a new location.

In 1998, both Sands and Fagan's became members of The Guild of Specialist Retailers of Glass and China, reflecting their commitment to quality and expertise.

In 2005 John's son, Dale Siddle, came on board. As the business continued to grow, Dale opened a dedicated cookshop across the road , creating more space within the main store and expanding the range available to customers.

When John retired from day-to-day involvement in 2007, he proudly handed the reins to his children, Dawn and Dale. The family business continued to evolve, and in 2009 Dale's wife, Lauren, joined Sands. Together, they began shaping the modern Sands that customers know and love today.

Over the years, both Sands and Fagan's have diversified and modernised while staying true to their family values, growing into the much-loved "little department stores" they are today.

In 2019, Dale launched Ullswater Wake & Surf on the shores of Ullswater, while Lauren took over the day-to-day running of Sands. Today, Sands continues to offer its popular sunbed services and has expanded into permanent jewellery and ear piercing. Meanwhile, Dawn continues to lead Fagan's, where ear piercing was recently introduced as another exciting addition to the store's services.

Nearly 50 years after it first opened its doors, Sands remains a proud family-run business, with three generations of the Siddle family helping customers celebrate their homes, families, and life's special occasions.