Business in East Anglia

A Norfolk-based boat hire business, Horning Pleasurecraft, is tripling the size of its operations after acquiring one of the area’s long-established boat yards, Brundall-based Broom Boats. Founded in 2020 by husband-and-wife team Clive and Victoria Richardson, Horning Pleasurecraft provides boat hires and private moorings on the Norfolk Broads and has grown as staycations have become more popular. They used a £2 million loan from Lloyds Bank to acquire Broom Boats, which was founded in 1898 as a manufacturer, before later hiring out its vessels for day trips and holidays. It has a fleet of 31 boats – ranging from small vessels to larger luxury cruisers  – and made more than 600 hires last year. Horning Pleasurecraft now has a fleet of 36 cruisers for hire and six fishing boats and has boosted its mooring capacity by nearly 40 per cent. The new owner is also looking to invest in Broom's boat building operation to produce new vessels for its own fleet and to sell to customers. Clive Richardson, said: “Opportunities like this don’t come very often along the Broads, so when it did, we knew it was one we couldn’t let pass by. Not only will it help us grow our business, it also means we can play a role in keeping a historic business, and its boat building knowledge, alive so it can continue to be a part of the local community.”