About Us
Company history
The present Brookbank Canoes in Stockport started trading in April 1998. With no intention of ever having a paddling store, Mark Burch the owner, had returned home from working and travelling 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 its 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 Scotland in Perth is launched to better serve our large and loyal customer base north of the border offering a well stocked and friendly place to for all types of canoe and kayak activity in Scotland.
Oct 06. Carlisle Canoes becomes the 5th Brookbank outlet enabling us to better serve customers in the North of England and southern Scotland.
2007
Feb 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
Feb 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.
Feb 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
Jun 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.
