Barrons Kent
Barrons, Sweechbridge Road, Hillborough,, Herne Bay, CT6 6TEAlso: Parks
- Tel (day)
- 01227 373848
- Fax
- 01227 740901
- kent@barrons.co.uk
- Website
- www.caravandeals.co.uk
- Description
- Barrons was established nearly 50 years ago, in 1956. Life for the company began in Westfield Avenue, Highfurlong, Blackpool, Lancashire. The Blackpool Collegiate Grammar School was re-located to the top of this very road some time afterwards.
The dealership was really quite small, holding perhaps 20 to 25 caravans at a push, with a large glasshouse unit for growing tomatoes, adjacent. At the far end of this glasshouse was a large workshop with a big wooden sliding door.
Dave Barron and his wife Linda started buying all types of used caravans. Being originally in the decorating business they realised that caravans that were presented for sale properly, clean, freshly painted and decorated sold the fastest. The workshop at the end of the greenhouses was always in action. They also attended to any complaint or concern as fast as humanly possible.
At this time attitudes to travel were changing and the growth of car ownership encouraged greater freedom. Although at the time he supplied mainly holiday homes, Dave Barron saw the opportunity for selling Tourers, with full after- sales support, servicing and repair.
So in 1967, Dave Barron formed a partnership with Gordon Hold. The venture involved opening a new sales ground near Wigan, Lancashire, selling new and used holiday homes and touring caravans. (This dealership is now a large Indian Restaurant with caravan storage behind.) Gordon was previously the chief accountant and general manager of a group of holiday parks in the Fylde Coast, called Partington Group. Their head office was at Newton Hall Holiday Park, Staining, Blackpool.
In 1969 Crossley Coachcraft was established in Crossley House, Lower Penwortham, Preston, Lancashire. This was a partnership between Barrons and Jack Collinson. Now Crossleys is an independent business, recommended by Barrons.
In 1970 Dave Barron sold his share of the partnership to Gordon Hold. Due to the valued name that Dave Barron had built, the Hold family felt it sensible to keep the trading name ‘Dave Barron Caravans’.
In 1972, there was more expansion, with the purchase of an outlet on the Tarleton by-pass at Mere Brow, Southport. Here Barrons sold tourers, holiday homes and accessories. This dealership was subsequently sold because of its restrictive size and proximity to the Coast away from main centres of population.
In late 1981, Barrons purchased 5 acres of land at Chapel Lane, Coppull from Marley Concrete, and created the very first purpose built showground in the UK, offering everything on one site, so setting the scene for what Barrons has become today. The sales locations at Blackpool, Standish, and Mere Brow were all re-located to this new large location, along with Crossley Coachcraft.
In 1993 Barrons purchased the Tourer dealership near Culcheth called New Island Caravans. In the following year, Barrons’ added the Royal Umpire Caravan Park to the company. This fabulous Caravan Park was sold in 2000 to the Rowe family. Barrons still recommend all their customers to go a stay a while on this ultra peaceful facility.
In 1995, the greatest step was the huge investment in the massive 12 acre Burtree showground. The brand new building was specifically designed to offer premier facilities for all our customers. This co-incided with Barron’s entry in to the world of Motorhomes, and Folding Campers. To support Barron’s customers in the North East, They have just opened a new service and repair centre a mile and a half from the retail facility on Whessoe Road, Darlington, to look after insurance repairs and service needs for caravan and motorhomes from Scotland down to the M62. - Directions
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