Pearman Briggs Leisure was set up in 1946 by Tony Pearman to retail mobile homes and touring caravans from Longlevens, Gloucester. Within the first two years, the first touring caravan from Pearman Briggs was produced and was called the Safari Minor. The Safari name was patented by Pearman Briggs and the caravans were coach built to a very high standard.
By 1950, the production side was moved to a warehouse in Stroud and production was increased, along with the model ranges. More touring caravans were being produced, and the business started to lean more towards touring caravans rather than statics.
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Sales increased rapidly, and the business grew steadily, employing more people until 1967, when the Cosalt Group (a Grimsby based company) approached Tony Pearman with an offer to buy both the touring and static production side of the company. The sale went through in 1968 and Cosalt continued and Cosalt continued to run until 1983, when there was a management buyout. The new management kept the touring retail outlet at Longlevens, but the Stroud production side was later moved to Hull.
The sales outlet in Gloucester thrived and continued to flourish throughout the 80's & 90's until the owners sold to another owner in 1995. Since the production side was moved up north, several buyouts occurred, with big names such as Abbey Caravans, which are now owned by the Swift Group. The Longlevens site has been extended to add a 3 bay workshop in 1987, but remains mainly original thanks to its original offices being a house that was built in 1912!
In 2001, Andrew Baker was appointed as the new sole director and has been with the company since 17 years of age, making it 35 years of service.
In April 2019 another new director Martyn Homer came from a management position, and between them and their loyal team, the company has expanded again into the motorhome sector. Now employing more than 20 staff, a new branch has been opened along the A38 between Tewkesbury and Gloucester and continues to grow. Steeped in history, Pearman Briggs is the oldest surviving caravan and motorhome dealer in the UK and possibly the world! Looking forward to the big 75th anniversary celebrations in 2021.
We took over Cotswold Edge Leisure Ltd Evesham in 2022, making us now an Elddis, Buccaneer, AND Bailey dealer!
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