Business Hour
Andrew Brown, Managing Director of Crow Wood Leisure, chats to Gail Bailey about his life in business and the innovative vision for the future of Crow Wood Leisure
Accomplished businessman Andrew Brown clearly has a talent for seeing an opportunity and making it happen. With a keen eye for what will work, and the confidence to make changes, he is at the helm of one of Burnley’s most successful business stories.
On completing his education at Burnley Grammar School Andrew joined the family business F H Brown Ltd, a well-known printing company and office and stationery supplier that had been founded in 1929 by his father.
“We sold the printing arm of the business in the 1980s,” Andrew explained. “But we retained the office and stationery part of the company and went on to grow this further, employing 280 staff at its peak and achieving a multi-million-pound turnover.”
A buyer came along for F H Brown in 1997 and Andrew found himself retired at the age of 40: “We had no plans to sell the company but were approached out of the blue and after selling, I had no immediate plan, but found I couldn’t stay retired for very long!”
Already being a share-holder in the David Lloyd Leisure Group, Andrew spotted this as a growth area: “We could see the model used by the David Lloyd Group was working, so I had the initial idea to build a tennis club, this idea grew, and we managed to acquire 100 acre woodland site, ideally located just off the M65, on 1st December 2000. Despite a few people doubting us, we opened Crow Wood Leisure 12 months to the day.”
Burnley born and bred, Andrew could see how the unique concept of Crow Wood would work in his home town, and it has been hugely successful in combining health, fitness and leisure on a complex that caters for the whole family. “The original vision for Crow Wood was for indoor and outdoor tennis courts, a gym, dance studios, beauty rooms with a lounge, restaurant and bar. But we have evolved as we’ve needed to and listened to our clients’ feedback and suggestions constantly.”
Seven years ago one of Crow Wood’s directors, on retiring, advised Andrew to look more into the spa industry as a growth area, prompting him, along with wife Sue, to travel up and down the country researching what was out there and more importantly what was working. “Every spa we visited was very open and helpful with us and we picked the best bits out of what we saw and emulated these at Crow Wood,” Andrew says.
“The Woodland Spa was opened in February 2013 and although it was an initial very nervous six months, it has since completely taken off and we have never looked back.”
“The spa operates at 100 per cent utilisation and has become multi-award winning and is now also globally recognised winning the Luxury Day Spa Award for five consecutive years at the World Luxury Spa Awards.”
Everything about Crow Wood exudes luxury and reflects Andrew’s philosophy of doing everything to their best ability and giving loyal clientele value for money, without compromising on quality.
The latest addition to Crow Wood is a fabulous 76 room hotel: “We have three drivers for opening the hotel,” Andrew further explains.”
“The corporate market, our existing spa and weddings, for which we will have a 400 capacity banqueting suite along with our already established reputation for good food and excellent service.”
Opening late autumn this year, the hotel has spectacular views of Pendle Hill and the surrounding countryside, a stunning ornamental lake, beautiful gardens and helipad – it really will be the most wonderful place to celebrate the most special of days.
Andrew’s son Oliver joined his father at Crow Wood in 2011 having already carved himself a successful business career and attaining an MBA from the Cass School of Business in London. Oliver originally entered the business to convert the outdoor tennis courts into the now hugely popular Soccer Burnley, home to seven state-of-the-art, outdoor, all-weather, floodlit pitches and now works alongside his father in developing their united vision for the future.
With facilities that Andrew is keen to ensure cater for the whole family, with play areas and even an almost life size pirate play ship about to be installed, his business experience and philosophy thread through every aspect of Crow Wood Leisure. From humble beginnings, commitment, foresight and adaptability have ensured continued success, and he epitomises a dedication to providing quality and excellence in all aspects of a business.
Crow Wood Leisure Ltd
Holme Road
Burnley BB12 0RT
01282 421222
www.crowwood.com
