Games specialist planning expansion after landing funding deal
The UK’s largest specialist games room retailer has secured a £1.45m finance package to support its growth plans and increase working capital as demand for at-home games rooms soars.
Home Leisure Direct, based in Bristol, supplies pool tables, arcade machines, jukeboxes and football tables to private clients as well as commercial premises, where products like interactive darts and contactless payment pool tables have proved particularly popular.
The funding from HSBC UK will finance additional working capital, which will enable the business to invest in inventory and infrastructure to service customers.
The business has gone from strength-to-strength in 15 years of trading and seen turnover more than double over the last three years, celebrating strong financial results throughout the pandemic and into the post-pandemic trading environment.
Andy Beresford, owner and chief executive of Home Leisure Direct, said: “I can’t believe how far we’ve come in 15 years, and the success is down to the hard work everyone has put in across the business.
“None more so than my late wife Michelle, who was a driving force, right from the start. We wouldn’t be where we are today without her.”
“The business continues to grow, and we’re bolstering our leadership team to ensure we’re here for years to come. Our partnership with HSBC UK has given us the financial expertise we need to ensure sustainable growth, especially thanks to our relationship director at the bank David Skyrme.”
Prith Voual, finance director of Home Leisure Direct, explained: “We made the decision to switch banks to HSBC as we were looking for a partner who understood our business and our growth aspirations.
“David Skyrme and the team at HSBC have been exemplary in working collaboratively with us to put together a flexible and tailored finance package, meeting all our business requirements.”
James Shepherd, head of corporate banking, South West at HSBC, added: “Home Leisure Direct has been on an incredible journey since 2017. HSBC UK has doubled the business’s working capital facilities, allowing Andy and his team to invest in stock to enable further growth.
The company has maintained its excellent financial results throughout and beyond the pandemic. Working alongside an ambitious business looking to take the at-home games market to the next level is a pleasure.”
Home Leisure Direct was set up in 2007 by husband-and-wife duo Andy and Michelle Beresford-Williams in a spare bedroom, with £5,000 borrowed from their savings account to build a website.
Tragically, after a long battle with mental health, Michelle took her own life in March 2022.
Since then, Andy and his team have raised £15,000 for Bristol Mind. The much-needed funds will help to support local people who are experiencing difficulties with their mental health. Donations can be made here.
