About
A Bit About Us
Bogey Knights is built into the stonework of Plymouth, carved into the cliffside here at Mutton Cove on James Street. We champion sustainability by rescuing materials destined for waste — visit us Monday to Saturday 9am–5pm or Sunday 10am–4pm and have a rummage.
Visitors describe the experience as exploring the ultimate stockroom. Whether you're a collector, a DIY enthusiast, a sailor, an airsoft player, a camper or just curious — there's always something here for you.
Beau Tunks, owner
What Will You Find In Our Aladdin's Cave?
Shed after shed of surplus from the armed forces, government, industry and beyond. Military clothing and boots, chandlery and rope, camping and outdoor gear, ironmongery and fixings, office furniture, storage, catering equipment and much more.
Our free-roam policy means you can wander every corner of the site — discover something unexpected around every turn. That's the Bogey Knights experience.
What Our Visitors Say
"What an Aladdin's cave! The staff are friendly and very helpful. We were able to get what we needed and a few extras besides. We arrived as customers but feel we left as friends."
— Angela Allman
"One of my favourite places in Plymouth to visit. I highly recommend visiting this place 110%! Friendly and helpful staff and always a joy."
— Chris Dudley Holloway
"Bogey Knights has been around for over 100 years and has now been taken over by a lovely family. Shed after shed of things you can use in the garden, home, man cave or lady shed. Let's adapt and reuse people."
— Anita Hull
"This place is the Aladdin's cave of military surplus, great friendly staff and the free roam policy is outstanding."
— Rakishio Salamanda
Our History
1898 — H.W. Knight & Son Established
Harold Knight founded the business as a furniture removal operation from Charlotte Street, using horses stabled at Mutton Cove. Surplus trading began when the Knight family was contracted by the Navy to move ammunition and rum barrels — and they quickly saw the opportunity in keeping some of it.
1928 — Plymouth's First Delivery Lorry
The Knight family ran both the furniture and surplus businesses simultaneously. In 1928 they purchased Plymouth's first Chevrolet delivery lorry for removals operations — ahead of all competitors in the city.
1940 — Arthur Knight Takes Over
Harold's son Arthur assumed control, operating locations at Granby, Charlotte Street in Morice Town, Mutton Cove, and Cumberland Gardens.
1953 — Consolidation at Mutton Cove
The company settled at Mutton Cove as its permanent home. Arthur embodied the spirit you'll still find here today — enthusiastically welcoming every customer and sharing stories of local naval tradition.
1980 — David Knight
David Knight, who had started working there at fifteen, led the business through the 1980s and established a second location in Stonehouse. Notable visitors during this era included yachtsmen Sir Robin Knox-Johnston and Sir Chay Blyth.
2020 — New Ownership
Beaumont Tunks acquired the business in March 2020, keeping the cherished "Bogey Knights" nickname beloved by sailors and locals alike. The company now sponsors Future Fit Junior Field Gunners and continues building connections with Devonport and Plymouth's fishing, dock, and industrial communities.
Why "Bogey Knights"?
Two stories compete for the origin of the name.
Between the 16th and 19th centuries, the Royal Navy faced chronic sailor shortages. The Admiralty established "The Press Gang," led by officers nicknamed "The Bogeyman," to forcibly recruit men — often at night, often by dropping a shilling into an unsuspecting man's drink. Acceptance of the King's Shilling meant you were in the Navy. The term "Bogey" stuck in Plymouth's naval folklore.
Alternatively, "Bogey" may derive from Napoleon Bonaparte, whose nickname "Boney" became corrupted to "Bogey" — his caricature was used to frighten misbehaving children across 19th-century Britain.
Either way, the name has been part of Plymouth's waterfront identity for generations.
