Betfred

Fred Done opened the first Betfred shop in Ordsall, Salford, back in 1967. That single storefront grew into a massive British bookmaking empire known for its high street presence and aggressive marketing campaigns. The company operates under Betfred Group Holdings Limited and maintains its headquarters in Birchwood, Warrington, with additional offices at Media City in Salford Quays. Their digital arm, Betfred.com, runs out of Gibraltar under the name Petfre (Gibraltar) Limited.

Financial records show the brand's rapid ascent over the decades. Turnover jumped from £550 million in 2003 to exceed £3.5 billion just one year later. By 2018–2019, annual figures surpassed £10 billion before the pandemic caused a dip in 2020 and 2021. Published data for the year ending September 2022 shows a recovery to £8.8 billion. Fred Done remains a central figure in the story, often appearing in advertisements alongside his brother Peter, creating a recognizable face for the betting giant.

In July and August 2026, the company announced a major restructuring plan to close 132 retail shops and cut approximately 600 jobs following steep increases in gambling taxes introduced by the UK government. This move marks a strategic pivot away from physical retail toward digital platforms, which are more resilient to tax hikes on gross gaming yield. Despite these closures, the brand maintains active global partnerships, including sponsorship deals with Manchester United and the Betfred Super League in rugby league. [edit]