To welcome our centenary comes the exciting news that the Banham lock has been crowned Product of the Year in the Country & Town House Great British Brands Awards 2026.
Championing British craftsmanship
Championing the best of British craftsmanship and innovation in the luxury sector, the theme of the 2026 awards was New Frontiers with a focus on brands pushing the envelope, spanning design, lifestyle, travel, fashion and beauty. On the expert judging panel were editor Dylan Jones, fashion executive Caroline Rush, pop artist Philip Colbert, chair of IBM UK and Ireland Dr Nicola Hodson, musician and West End star Beverley Knight, president of Mullen Lowe Global Creative Council Jose Miguel Sokoloff, and chief client officer of Rathbones Simonetta Rigo.
"Banham redefines the everyday with a lock elevated into an object of craft and distinction" read the panel's statement. "Judges praised its originality, engineering integrity and the delight of transforming something functional into something 'that makes you feel safe'. With its tactile key design, the Banham lock stood out as unexpected and refreshingly distinctive".
A century of refinement
With this endorsement from an industry touchstone, let's delve deeper into what makes our locks so special. Since William F. Banham invented the first automatic door bolt in 1926 following a series of burglaries of the family's shop, we've gone quite literally from strength to strength while remaining a family business, now run by the third and fourth generations. "Banham is renowned for its robust patented locks, each the result of over a century of refinement, collaboration and engineering excellence," say our co-managing directors, Lucie and Frances Banham. "Every lock is meticulously crafted, combining flawless execution and continuous evolution. We're proud that our locks adorn some of England's finest homes."
Industry leading locks
Our range of nightlatches are industry leading. At the heart of our collection is the L2000 Nightlatch, combining timeless design with the height of innovation. Offering exceptional security through precision engineering and patented key and cylinder systems, it's the best to be found on the market - as our latest award win confirms. The L2000 comes in a multitude of finishes, from dark bronze to polished brass, suitable for external doors and tailored to suit any home.
For more specialised requirements, we've got a lock for many doors. the G7130 sash mortice is best suited to internal doors, such as home offices, rear gardens and terrace doors. The EL4000 Nightlatch is purpose-designed for communal and controlled access doors. The slim profile of the NS3000 has been optimised specifically for narrow stile doors. And for fire doors, there's the smooth operating FD5000 Rollerbolt Nightlatch.
Pair your locks
When you turn your key in a Banham lock, you know you're in safe hands. And for ease of use, our patented dimpled key will open multiple locks within your integrated personal security system. Our nightlatches can be paired with the M2002, M2003 or M5000 mortice deadlocks, with the same key to open both, for extra layers of reassurance. In our showrooms, our team of specialists will pin up your choices - the process of marrying your own locks to a one-of-a-kind key - by hand, creating a perfect match with a seamless turning motion.
Exclusive key registration
For further peace of mind, we offer exclusive key registration so that no Banham key can be duplicated without authorisation. Our unique keyholding service means we're always on hand to help, whether your locked out or need the plants watered whilst on holiday.
We're proud to craft our locks in England, making us one of the few heritage brands still prioritising homegrown quality, and it's this commitment, and our pursuit of perfection, that won us Product of the Year in the Great British Brands Awards. That it should happen in our 100th year is just the cherry on top; we couldn't be prouder that Banham, born of groundbreaking design in 1926 and trusted for a century, is still innovating today.
