Prior to the formation of the British National League, England and Scotland each had their own competitions.
The British Hockey League was formed in 1982 with the Premier Division being launched a season later.
There has been a British league continuously since then, although there have been three different organisations and the number of teams taking part has varied from twelve in 1993–94, 1994–95 and 2017–18 to five in 2002–03.
The most successful club is the Sheffield Steelers, who have won the championship on ten occasions, followed by the Belfast Giants (7), the Cardiff Devils (6), the now-defunct Durham Wasps (5) and the Coventry Blaze (4).
The Durham Wasps, Murrayfield Racers, Cardiff Devils, Sheffield Steelers and Coventry Blaze are the only sides to have successfully defended a title.