GAMESTATION, the Clifton Moor-based video and computer games retail empire, has been bought out by Blockbuster UK, the Evening Press can reveal today.

But the Gamestation brand started by University of York graduates Stephen Hall, 33, and Julian Gladwin, 39, will continue, with Mr Hall remaining as managing director in charge of the 64 stores he fostered throughout the country from his HQ in Amy Johnson Way.

He will also oversee the opening of another four shops before the end of the year. All existing 375 Gamestation jobs are safe, says a Blockbuster spokesman.

Blockbuster, which adds Gamestation to its portfolio of 699 UK outlets, is being coy about exactly how much the deal was worth, but given that Gamestation's turnover last April was £35 million, Mr Hall and Mr Gladwin are thought to have benefited by millions of pounds.

The entrepreneurs had a 50-50 partnership.

Gamestation is a finalist in the Growth Business of the Year category of the 2002 Evening Press Business of the Year Awards.

It was first started by the two men in 1991 in the form of a single shop in a small, short-licensed Christmas time store in Gillygate, and with the help of a £1,500 Prince's Trust grant together with £4,500 worth of loans proved to be an instant success. Stores opened throughout the country and the venture became the second largest specialist video games retail chain in Britain.

Each of its branches sells an average of 1,500 lines, feeding the growing frenzy for the likes of Metal Gear Solid 2, Tiger Woods PGA Tour, Gran Turismo 3 and Shrek.

Blockbuster, as a US-based organisation has 8,000 stores worldwide, in 27 different countries.

Updated: 15:12 Monday, October 14, 2002