The Powerplant was established in January 1990 by Xavier Wilcox and Christian Bolton, with the aim of making the purchase of hi-fi a more enjoyable experience by providing expert advice and excellent customer service. Although The Powerplant has grown over the years to incorporate Home Cinema, Multi Room audio-visual and Lighting control these values are still at the core of our business.

The first Powerplant was sited in Upper North Street, Brighton where we specialised in hi-fi separates for music and home cinema enthusiasts. The shop had one cosy demonstration room where you could discover the qualities of the best components available at the time.

In 1993 Powerplant was amongst the first retailers in the UK to offer Multi-Room installations of hi-fi and video equipment, a sector that has steadily grown and for which the Powerplant now employs a full time installation team.

In 1996 Powerplant took out a lease on the shop next door and opened Brighton's first Bang and Olufsen centre. A year later however it was clear that this exciting product range required a bigger and better space. This was found at 44 Church Road, Hove.

In 2002 Powerplant itself moved to 40 Church Road Hove, one shop along from the Bang & Olufsen centre, where we had two demonstration rooms including a permanent front projection Home-Cinema system.

In 2007 our Bang & Olufsen shop moved to new showroom in the centre of Brighton at 6 Jubilee Street oposite the new Brighton Library. Powerplant in October 2007 also moved, 2 doors along Church Road into the old Bang & Olufsen shop premisis, which enabled Powerplant for the 1st time to have an audio visual demonstration room and sales area all on one floor.

Powerplant is especially proud to be Brighton and Hove’s only remaining independent specialist Audio and Video retailer. Christian Bolton and Xavier Wilcox are still very active in the day to day running of the business.