About Us
We are the leading suppliers of canoeing and kayaking equipment in the UK and have been in business since April 1998. We currently have 6 outlets offering a huge range of products and friendly impartial advice with products from all the leading manufacturers. Our head office and web/mail order operation is based in Stockport near Manchester. Our other outlets all have their own identity and character but operate along the same philosophy and standards to offer you the best service and products we possibly can.
Our Company Philosophy
We always aim to offer the best service and advice possible for you to make an informed choice when it comes to purchasing your equipment. Most of our staff are all keen paddlers with experience in various aspects of paddle sports. We only recommend equipment we believe in and that will be suitable for your needs. Our excellent reputation has been built on this attitude to customer service.
We are renowned for our vast amounts of stock as we aim to hold as large a choice and depth of stock as possible meaning we are far more likely to be able to fulfill your needs on the one visit to our outlets or on line store. If we can’t supply your first item of choice we will recommend other suitable alternatives.
Our Staff
Our staff are dedicated to offering the best levels of service and the best products. We are not perfect and we are only human but we do promise to try our best in all aspects of our business and look to continually improve what we do. We are particularly proud of our staff training programme. This includes training days led by some of our manufacturers as well as regular in house training sessions on a variety of areas.
Our Website
We aim to have the most comprehensive, informative and easy to use web site possible. We prefer functionality over flashy designs and substance over image. We welcome any constructive comments
or suggestions. We try hard to ensure the information here is accurate and as up to date as
possible. However things do change including prices, colours and specifications. We cannot be held responsible for any changes from the products advertised.
If you require help with the website please email or call.
Our Ultimate Catalogue
Our printed Ultimate Catalogue has won praise each time we re vamp it. Full colour with loads of product information and useful advice this is the must have publication for anyone interested in canoeing and kayaking. Request a copy here.
Environmental Policy
Brookbank Limited is committed to minimising the impact of its activities on the environment and strives for continuous improvement in this area. To achieve this the key points of the strategy are:
- Minimise waste by evaluating operations and ensure the improvement of efficiency in the use of these resources. Manage waste generated from our business operations according to the principles of reduction, reuse and recycling.
- Minimise toxic emissions through the selection and use of its fleet and the source of its power requirement.
- Actively promote recycling both internally and externally, dealing with other like minded companies.
- Source and promote a product range to minimise the environmental impact of both production and distribution.
- Meet or exceed all the environmental legislation that relates to the Company by integrating recognised applicable best practice into our business operations.
- Raise awareness, encourage participation and train employees in environmental matters.
- Monitor progress and review environmental performance on a regular basis.
Company History
The present Brookbank Canoes started trading in April 1998. With no intention of ever having a paddling store, Mark Burch the Director, had returned home from working and traveling abroad and ended up running some informal coaching courses for local paddlers. It was during the winter of 97/98 that the idea to open a paddling shop really took shape as the Manchester area had recently lost it’s only store some months earlier.
The name Brookbank Canoes has been around for many years. Well known locally the owner Dek Davie had supplied paddlers for many years from his home run business. During the winter of 1997 Mark approached Dek with the idea of co-operating with him in someway. It transpired that Dek was actually planning to retire in the near future and he was only too happy for us to take on the name (which helped us with the problem of choosing one) and the 2 businesses operated at the same time on a friendly non competitive basis until Dek was ready to retire.
From then on the new Brookbank Canoes expanded very quickly and was becoming well known for its huge range of stock. We were the first paddling store in the UK to launch a fully dedicated online shopping site for the sport and it is still regarded by many as the no.1 resource for information and purchasing of paddling equipment in the UK.
2001
Brookbank was bursting at the seams so we more than doubled the size of the original unit by knocking through to next door as well as occupying another unit for storage.
2002
During 2002 the opportunity to take on an existing outlet in Lancaster presented itself to us. On August 1st 2002 UK Canoes opened taking and we quickly re-established the location as a quality specialist paddling store once again for the area.
2004
Brookbank expanded again to 3 times it’s original size occupying nearly 6000 sqaure feet. We become the first specialist canoe and kayak company to produce a dedicated full colour printed catalogue that goes on to become the industry standard for years to come.
2006
March 06
Brookbank gets a new warehouse unit across the road adding nearly 3000 square feet of much needed storage space for our huge stock of canoes and kayaks.
April 06
Brookbank take over existing retail outlet Paddlesport in Warwickshire, fill it full of stock and re establish this prime location as one of the UK's best canoe and kayak outlets.
June 06
NEW SHOP Brookbank Canoes, Scotland in Perth is launched to better serve our large and loyal customers base north of the border offering a well stocked and friendly place to for all types of canoe and kayak activity in Scotland.
October 06
Carlisle Canoes becomes the 5th Brookbank outlet making enabling us to better serve customers in the North of England and southern Scotland.
2007
February 07
The latest version of our Ultimate catalogue is printed with record numbers of people pre registering to receive a copy.
March 07
UK Canoes in Lancaster gets an additional 3000 square feet to extend and vastly improve the environment for this amazingly busy outlet.
2008
February 08
Carlisle Canoes gets a new home. No more lifting boats up and down stairs come and see us at our vastly inmproved outlet and warehouse
February 08
To celebrate our tenth anniversary, we brought you CANOEXPO. Our mission is to host a showcase event which celebrates canoeing and kayaking to the enthusiast, newcomer and occasional paddler on a level not seen before in the UK. Our mission is to create an event that captures and enhances the enthusiasm that exists for canoeing and kayaking in the UK and inspires the newcomer. Find out more see www.canoexpo.com
June 08
Brookbank Stockport gets a new home. Having grown from 1 to 5 units at Meadow Industrial Estate, the showroom, warehouses and offices desperatley needed a new home. We now have 18'000 sq ft of showroom, warehouse and office space. The improved layout will improve our efficiency and our service to you, our customers. Come and see us at D1-3 Stockport Trading Estate, Yew Street, Stockport, SK4 2JZ.
September 09
Sep 09 - Brookbank in Ireland. We team up with North South Marine & leisure who will be stocking a selction of our canoeis, kayaks and kit for customers North and South of the border.
Dec 09
Brookbank London opens. This huge new superstore brings the Brookbank chain to the South East. Located just off the M25 and close to the 2012 Whitewater course. Brookbank London is also the flagship store for Brookbank Sailing with a large showroom area dedicated to clothing and hardware.