Today, extremely proud to still be manufacturing in Great Britain, Leisure Sinks bases its success on continuous innovation, commitment to excellence and a strong British heritage. 2013 marked 80 years since the founding Crowe family took its steps into mass producing stainless steel kitchen sinks, in Long Eaton, Nottinghamshire, still home to our factory to this day. See our proudest moments in the last eight decades highlighted below.
Established in 1926 by the Crowe family as a motor parts business, Leisure took its first steps into the stainless steel sink industry in 1933. Having already made its name as innovators - Leisure developed cutting-edge motor components that helped revolutionise the then fledgling UK automotive industry - the company's first foray into sinks was eagerly anticipated. Based in the same Long Eaton locale that Leisure Sinks occupies today, its initial handmade stainless steel sinks were so successful that mass production began just two years later, in 1935. Production of Leisure Sinks' innovative Porcelain Enamelled Steel sinks (the first seen in the UK) followed in 1937, and news of the company's reputation for quality engineering and high grade materials began to spread.
Following World War II, Leisure Sinks was appointed official contractors for the Ministry of Works, supplying sinks to temporary housing programmes established for soldiers returning from the frontline and bomb victims. By 1949, the company was producing 10,000 sinks per week at full capacity and supplied 1,200 builders and plumbers merchants throughout the UK, as well as various export markets.
The present factory was built in 1955 down the road from the original manufacturing site. Previously a dairy, the Meadow Lane site in Long Eaton still uses machinery dating back to this era. Crewe sold the business to Allied Ironfounders and the company commenced trading as Leisure Kitchen Equipment.
Water radiators were added to the Leisure range in the following years, manufactured from 1962.
Taken over by Glynwed International PLC, Leisure became a member company of an international organisation.
Two years later, in 1971, a press release was issued as the 5,000,000th Leisure stainless steel sink had just come off the production line, which went on to be shown at the Design Museum, London, where it was given as a prize in a competition for visitors.
Popular TV programme in the sixties, Take Your Pick, with Michael Miles, also featured a Leisure Kitchen as a star prize.
Leisure became the first company to launch a high quality, competitively priced inset; The Lexin, which is still a best seller today.
In 1990, Velstra was developed achieving British Standard BS 5750 and ISO 9002. Leisure's velstra products are still produced in our Long Eaton factory. See our composite range to view our current designs.
An office refurbishment in 1995 was opened by MP, Angela Knight.
In 2002, the Leisure name was sold to Beko along with 55cm cookers and was renamed as Leisure Sinks and separate cooking brand, Rangemaster.
Leisure Sinks, now part of the AGA Rangemaster Group is the largest manufacturer of domestic stainless steel kitchen sinks in the UK.
In 2015, the factory increased its productivity and improved capacity through investing and installing a new £1.2million sink press. The new machinery will improve efficiency throughout the production line and provide a 50% increase in capacity.