Keith Prowse
Encyclopedia
Keith Prowse is a trading name currently used by two separate companies. Within the United Kingdom
it is used by the Sport, Leisure and Hospitality Division of Compass Group Plc
(who provide catering facilities), the company operates at numerous prestigious venues for many of the world's most iconic sporting and cultural events including Cirque du Soleil
, Chelsea Flower Show
and Wimbledon
. While outside of the United Kingdom the Keith Prowse name is used by the Seatem Group Limited.
The company entered the theatre ticketing business after acquiring "Theater Ticket Messengers" a company which used young message boys to go to theatres and either hold seats or collect seat tokens for favoured clients. The first reference to the firm's selling theatre tickets appeared in an article published in 1786 in the Morning Chronicle
, referring to "The New System of Ticket Agents". One of the first ticketing companies to have a telephone installed, Keith Prowse appeared in the first UK telephone directory published in 1880. In 1886, the company first represented Royal Ascot, opened the World's first flight ticket booking office at Brooklands
near Weybridge, Surrey, in 1911 and soon opened another at London Aerodrome
. In 1924, they first represented the Wimbledon Championships.
In 1954, Peter Cadbury
borrowed £75,000 from his father to buy the Keith Prowse ticket agency, which went public in 1960, and later became a subsidiary of Westward Television
. In 1969, EMI
bought Keith Prowse Music Publishing and Central Songs. Keith Prowse Music released many recordings of library music by composers such as Alan Hawkshaw
. In 1981, the company opened its first office outside the UK in New York
and a further office was established in Dublin in 1982. In the same year, the company was officially appointed by the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club
through its purchase of Ashton & Mitchell which held royal appointment and rights to Wimbledon.
Keith Prowse Ceases Operations
Effective Immediately
Jan. 14, 2010
) sold Keith Prowse LTD to a management buyout for £5.5million ($7.8m/EUR8.9m). In 2004, Compass Group Plc
acquired the Keith Prowse Corporate Hospitality business for £20m while the rest of the Keith Prowse companies (selling tickets to theatres, tours and attractions) continued to be operated by Seatem Group Limited.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
it is used by the Sport, Leisure and Hospitality Division of Compass Group Plc
Compass Group
Compass Group plc is a global contract foodservice and support services company headquartered near London, United Kingdom. It is the largest contract foodservice company in the world and has operations in over 50 countries...
(who provide catering facilities), the company operates at numerous prestigious venues for many of the world's most iconic sporting and cultural events including Cirque du Soleil
Cirque du Soleil
Cirque du Soleil , is a Canadian entertainment company, self-described as a "dramatic mix of circus arts and street entertainment." Based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and located in the inner-city area of Saint-Michel, it was founded in Baie-Saint-Paul in 1984 by two former street performers, Guy...
, Chelsea Flower Show
Chelsea Flower Show
The RHS Chelsea Flower Show, formally known as the Great Spring Show, is a garden show held for five days in May by the Royal Horticultural Society in the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea in Chelsea, London...
and Wimbledon
The Championships, Wimbledon
The Championships, Wimbledon, or simply Wimbledon , is the oldest tennis tournament in the world, considered by many to be the most prestigious. It has been held at the All England Club in Wimbledon, London since 1877. It is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, the other three Majors...
. While outside of the United Kingdom the Keith Prowse name is used by the Seatem Group Limited.
History
Robert William Keith (1767–1846), a musical composer, instrument maker and organist at the New Jerusalem Church, Friars Street, London, opened a shop in London in the late 18th century, in 1830 he entered a partnership with another musical instrument manufacturer and music publisher, William Prowse (1801–1886), to form Keith, Prowse & Co.The company entered the theatre ticketing business after acquiring "Theater Ticket Messengers" a company which used young message boys to go to theatres and either hold seats or collect seat tokens for favoured clients. The first reference to the firm's selling theatre tickets appeared in an article published in 1786 in the Morning Chronicle
Morning Chronicle
The Morning Chronicle was a newspaper founded in 1769 in London, England, and published under various owners until 1862. It was most notable for having been the first employer of Charles Dickens, and for publishing the articles by Henry Mayhew which were collected and published in book format in...
, referring to "The New System of Ticket Agents". One of the first ticketing companies to have a telephone installed, Keith Prowse appeared in the first UK telephone directory published in 1880. In 1886, the company first represented Royal Ascot, opened the World's first flight ticket booking office at Brooklands
Brooklands
Brooklands was a motor racing circuit and aerodrome built near Weybridge in Surrey, England. It opened in 1907, and was the world's first purpose-built motorsport venue, as well as one of Britain's first airfields...
near Weybridge, Surrey, in 1911 and soon opened another at London Aerodrome
Hendon Aerodrome
Hendon Aerodrome was an aerodrome in Hendon, north London, England that, between 1908 and 1968, was an important centre for aviation.It was situated in Colindale, seven miles north west of Charing Cross. It nearly became "the Charing Cross of the UK's international air routes", but for the...
. In 1924, they first represented the Wimbledon Championships.
In 1954, Peter Cadbury
Peter Cadbury
Peter Egbert Cadbury was a British entrepreneur.He was the son of Sir Egbert Cadbury, a World War I flying ace and managing director of Cadbury Brothers, the chocolate enterprise...
borrowed £75,000 from his father to buy the Keith Prowse ticket agency, which went public in 1960, and later became a subsidiary of Westward Television
Westward Television
Westward Television was the first ITV franchise holder for the South West of England from 29 April 1961 until 31 December 1981. After a difficult start, Westward provided a popular, distinctive and highly regarded service to its region, until public boardroom squabbles led to its franchise not...
. In 1969, EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
bought Keith Prowse Music Publishing and Central Songs. Keith Prowse Music released many recordings of library music by composers such as Alan Hawkshaw
Alan Hawkshaw
Alan Hawkshaw is a British composer and performer, particularly of themes for movies and television programmes...
. In 1981, the company opened its first office outside the UK in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and a further office was established in Dublin in 1982. In the same year, the company was officially appointed by the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club
All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club
The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club , also known as the All-England Club, based at Aorangi Park, Wimbledon, London, England, is a private members club. It is best known as the venue for the Wimbledon Championships, the only Grand Slam tennis event still held on grass...
through its purchase of Ashton & Mitchell which held royal appointment and rights to Wimbledon.
Keith Prowse Ceases Operations
Effective Immediately
Jan. 14, 2010
Collapse and Restructure
The company briefly collapsed in 1991 with debits of £7million ($12m), only to be purchased by Wembley plc. In March 2002, Wembley plc (former owner of Wembley StadiumWembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
) sold Keith Prowse LTD to a management buyout for £5.5million ($7.8m/EUR8.9m). In 2004, Compass Group Plc
Compass Group
Compass Group plc is a global contract foodservice and support services company headquartered near London, United Kingdom. It is the largest contract foodservice company in the world and has operations in over 50 countries...
acquired the Keith Prowse Corporate Hospitality business for £20m while the rest of the Keith Prowse companies (selling tickets to theatres, tours and attractions) continued to be operated by Seatem Group Limited.