Looking for a Howdens Alternative in Heywood?

If you’re in Heywood and considering a new kitchen, you might think your only option is to go through a builder who uses the Howdens depot over in Rochdale. But what if you could get a better quality, custom-built kitchen for a lower price, all by dealing directly with the owner? In a town like Heywood, where a good reputation is everything, that’s exactly what I offer. If you’ve been searching for the best alternative to Howdens kitchens, you’re in the right place.

I’m Steve, the owner of SJB Trade Kitchens. I’ve spent over 20 years in this industry, and I set up my business to do things differently. I believe homeowners deserve transparent pricing and a personal service, without the hidden markups and trade-counter hassle. I build my reputation on happy customers, and many of my clients in the Heywood area come to me through word-of-mouth recommendations from their friends and neighbours.


📋 Data Accuracy Notice — All specifications on this page are based on publicly available information as of 2026. We welcome manufacturers to submit updated specifications directly to info@sjball.uk — we’ll update our data within 48 hours. We’re committed to accuracy, and we’re happy to be checked.

Why Heywood Homeowners Get More Value at SJB

You get a direct, honest price without any hidden markups. Because I sell directly to the public, you avoid the significant markup that builders have to add to a Howdens price. In a small town like Heywood, word gets around if you’re not offering genuine value, which is why I pride myself on transparent pricing that is often 30-50% less than what you’d end up paying for a depot kitchen.

You get a kitchen that’s genuinely built to last. Many Heywood homes, from the family semis on Bury New Road to the older terraces, are built with solid, traditional methods. Your kitchen should be too. My cabinets are rigid-built in our workshop with 18mm solid backs, a huge step up from the flimsy hardboard used in most depot flat-packs. This means they are stronger, more durable, and will stand up to years of family life.

You get a personal service from someone who cares about their reputation. I’m not a massive, faceless company; I’m a local business owner. I handle your project personally, from the first chat to the final delivery. My reputation in towns like Heywood is my most important asset, so I ensure every customer is completely satisfied.

You get a kitchen that fits your home perfectly. Standard-sized cabinets from a depot often don’t work well in older properties with their unique dimensions. Because my kitchens are made-to-order, I can build cabinets to any width, height, or depth, ensuring a perfect fit for your space without the need for ugly filler panels.


PWS Porter Gloss Handleless
PWS Remo Gloss Regiment, SJB DIY Kitchen Supplier

Lucente Gloss Handleless Kitchens
Phoenix Acrylic Gloss Handleless Kitchen

A Standard of Quality Built for Heywood Life

The first thing you’ll notice about an SJB kitchen is how solid it is. Unlike the flat-pack units from depots, which often rely on flimsy hardboard backs, my cabinets are built with 18mm solid back panels as standard. This is the same high-density material we use for the sides, top and bottom, creating a truly rigid and robust carcass that won’t bow or sag over time, even when filled with heavy plates and pans.

This level of construction is vital for the varied housing in Heywood. Whether you’re renovating a 1970s family semi in Hopwood or a traditional stone terrace, you need a kitchen that’s built for the long haul. We use premium Egger and Kronospan boards for all our carcasses, ensuring exceptional durability and a quality finish that lasts.

It’s the details that make the difference. Every single one of our kitchens comes fitted with top-of-the-range Blum soft-close hinges and drawer runners. This isn’t an expensive upgrade; it’s our standard. It means your doors and drawers will always close smoothly and silently, adding a touch of quality you’ll appreciate every single day.


Kitchens Designed for Heywood's Unique Homes

Many of the older stone terraces in Heywood have their own unique quirks – chimney breasts, awkward alcoves, and non-standard ceiling heights. Trying to make a standard, off-the-shelf kitchen fit into these spaces often leads to compromises, with large filler panels and wasted space. This is where our made-to-order service really shines. Because we build your kitchen from scratch, we aren’t limited by standard catalogue sizes.

We can create cabinets in custom widths, depths, and heights to work around any architectural challenges your Heywood home presents. This means a perfect, wall-to-wall fit that maximises your storage and looks truly bespoke. With over 300 different cabinet finishes and a wide range of door styles, from classic Shakers to modern handleless designs, we can create a look that perfectly complements your property’s character. My free design service will help you visualise exactly how a custom-fit kitchen can transform your space.


Direct, Personal Service a Short Drive from Heywood

When you deal with SJB, you deal directly with me, Steve. There are no salespeople or depot counter staff in the middle. I personally oversee every project, from the initial design chat to the final delivery, ensuring you get expert advice and a single point of contact throughout. This is the kind of accountability you just don’t get from a national chain.

My showroom is located at Unit N, Central Trading Estate, Coulton Close, Oldham, OL1 4EB, which is a simple drive of about 20 minutes from the centre of Heywood. You’re welcome to visit any time to see our products first-hand and discuss your ideas without any obligation. It’s a world away from the trade-only environment of a depot.

I regularly work with homeowners across the region, delivering beautiful, long-lasting kitchens to customers not just in Heywood, but also in nearby areas like Hopwood, Bamford, Birch, and Hooley Bridge. My business is built on the trust of local people, and I’m proud of the reputation I’ve earned.


FAQ – SJB Trade Kitchens vs Howdens in Heywood

Can homeowners buy from Howdens directly in Heywood?

No, Howdens operates on a trade-only basis, meaning you can’t buy directly from their nearest depot in Rochdale. You have to go through a builder who will add their own markup to the final price. At SJB, I sell directly to Heywood homeowners at a transparent trade price.

How do your prices compare to Howdens?

You’ll find my prices are typically 30-50% lower than a Howdens kitchen supplied via a builder. By cutting out the middleman and avoiding the high overheads of a depot network, I can pass those significant savings directly on to my Heywood customers.

Can I visit a showroom near Heywood?

Absolutely. My showroom is in Oldham, just a straightforward 20-minute drive from Heywood. You can pop in any time to see the quality of our rigid-built cabinets for yourself and we can have a chat about your project without any pressure or sales talk.

Do you deliver to Heywood?

Yes, we deliver our fully assembled, rigid-built kitchens directly to homes across Heywood and the surrounding areas, including Hopwood, Bamford, and Birch. Your new kitchen will arrive ready to install, saving you time and hassle.


Explore Our Kitchen Styles

Not sure which style is right for you? Browse all six of our kitchen ranges below — click any image to see the full range and individual product options.

Handleless Matt Kitchens - Trade Kitchens Manchester

Handleless – Matt

modern matt slab kitchens - Trade Kitchen Supplier Manchester

Slab – Matt

Shaker Kitchens - Trade Kitchen Supplier Manchester

Shaker – Foil


Handleless Gloss Kitchens - Trade Kitchens Altrincham

Handleless – Gloss

Modern Gloss Kitchens Manchester - SJB Trade Kitchens

Slab – Gloss

Painted Shaker Kitchens Altrincham - Trade Kitchen Supplier

Shaker – Painted

What Our Customers Say

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Ameer Latif profile picture
Ameer Latif
30 August 2026
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We will get back with a quote within 24 hours they say, 10 days, 3 emails with pictures, sizes and plans and not one reply.. Not even a we cant help you
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Fleetkleen UK
26 July 2026
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Top service fantastic quality kitchen supplied with fully built units at an amazing price that I’ve not found anywhere else, would highly recommend giving Steve a call, will need his services again very soon.
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Naz K profile picture
Naz K
25 June 2026
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Fantastic experience with Steve from start to finish. He designed an amazing kitchen in a small space and truly went above and beyond what I expected. He took the time to listen carefully to my ideas and requirements, and was never pushy throughout the process. His knowledge, creativity, and attention to detail really stood out at every stage. Everything was planned and executed with care, and he made sure even the smallest details were perfect. The end result is a beautifully designed, highly functional kitchen that I’m absolutely thrilled with. I couldn’t recommend him highly enough ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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Emma Bradshaw
13 May 2026
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After visiting a few "big brand" kitchen places & being absolutely gob smacked at the prices, the pushy salesmen & the amazing "discounts" they claimed were on for "1 week only".... I went searching for a small local business. I found SJB on eBay initially & then popped along to his Instagram account to have a nosey at his products etc. I dropped him a message & got a reply pretty much straight away. I sent our measurements, needs & ideas & Steve got to work & brought our design to life! He worked fast & was extremely helpful. He made changes if we wanted them, he went hunting for a particular handle I wanted (a lot cheaper too as 1 company wanted £12 a handle, Steve found them for just £4) We visited his show room to make sure because we weren't being charged the earth, we weren't getting a cheap / flimsy product. Well we absolutely weren't! We had a slight issue with one of the cabinets being damaged upon arrival, spoke to Steve, who immediately ordered a replacement to be sent. Steve was contactable throughout, nothing was too much trouble, & he's just a genuine nice guy, who runs a fantastic small business. 100% recommend using SJB Trade Kitchens especially over the giant money grabbing companies!
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Elizabeth Orbell profile picture
Elizabeth Orbell
21 April 2026
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Steve designed and provided all the quality parts necessary for my fitter to make up this beautiful kitchen. All arrived promptly and any queries were responded to immediately and efficiently. Steve is highly professional and easy to get along with which makes a huge difference in our busy world! I would definitely recommend Steve and will use him on my next build. Thank you !
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Scott
1 April 2026
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Steve is absolutely epic! Really nice guy. 100% genuine & to be trusted. Really easy to work with. Couldn't do enough and always on hand. The kitchen was amazing quality and the kitchen looked exactly like the images he produced on his computer. The units came ready built which saved a lot of time! Even if you're not a joiner it was really easy to assemble and fit. The kitchen is great quality and a VERY competitive price! 100% recommended! Thank you so much!
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Natasha Conway profile picture
Natasha Conway
25 March 2026
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I cannot stress how happy I am with my kitchen from SJB. We didn’t had a great experience with our builder during the renovation of our house however the final kitchen made up for it. SJB offered high quality finishes at quick turnarounds and even made a custom made island which is better than I ever expected. I will be returning soon to SJB for my bedroom wardrobes!
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Tina Walsall
12 January 2026
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I came across SJB on Ebay, and contacted Steve. He was very helpful in inviting us to his kitchen showroom to look at the various kitchens. This helped a lot as he was on site to talk us through ideas and suggestions. We chose, what we thought, a relatively priced kitchen as it was for a rental property, but the finished result has been just amazing! It looks so expensive, even the fitter said it was very good quality for a fraction of what other places charge. Steve kindly designed the kitchen, gave us good ideas and was always available on the phone if we ever needed advice. I have never purchased a kitchen without the company providing a fitter as I have always doubted if the kitchen would fit how it should, but this has completely changed my perception. It has been flawless and friends and family have compared it to their much more expensive ones, saying this looks amazing and better than theirs! If you need a kitchen, with a gentleman that goes over and above, SJB is the place to go. You will not be disappointed, the whole process has been stress free thanks to Steve, I honestly cannot thank him enough for all his efforts and kindness. We hope to come back very soon!
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James Hunter
23 December 2025
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I've worked in the building trade for over 20 years, the kitchen supplied by Steven was a better quality then a Howdens or magnet kitchen and also a good bit cheaper. Steven's easy to deal with, everything arrived as quoted no problems no damaged items and on the exact day specified. Would highly recommend.
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Alison Gregory profile picture
Alison Gregory
13 November 2025
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I first came across Steve on Ebay last year when I moved into my bungalow and kept hold of his details. Fast forward a year, I checked Google reviews and finally contacted him sending measurements/photos and went to meet him when on holiday nearby. Steve was so helpful and came up with the exact kitchen plan I had in my head, two other companies couldn't do this, despite visiting my home and meeting with them. Took me a while to find a joiner and after lots of emails, Whatsapp messages and calls, I could actually place the order. All delivered to North East Scotland, a few doors followed on as were out of stock, a couple of damaged items replaced and when I needed a corner post and dishwasher door replacement due to longer screws being used in error, Steve was only too happy to send them. It's a very good quality kitchen at a great price and I'm not planning on needing another, but if I did, I wouldn't hesitate on contacting SJB again. We got there in the end Steve, with hard work from my plasterer, joiner, plumber, electrician and flooring guys and I love my new kitchen, so thank you, hard to believe it's the same room ❤️

REQUEST A FREE DESIGN & QUOTE

Not sure where to start? Just drop your details below or upload a rough sketch or floor plan. I’ll give you a ring to talk through the best layout for your home — no sales pressure, just honest trade advice from someone who’s been in kitchens for 20 years.

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Made to Order & Delivered in 10 Working Days

Rigid Built Cabinets with Blum Soft Close as Standard

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info@sjball.uk

0161 509 4221