It's a massive year for us here at BCH Camping, because this year we celebrate our 50th Anniversary!
50 years ago brothers Bryan and Chris Hussey (that's where the BCH comes from in case you've ever wondered), had a dream of opening a tent hire business because they couldn't hire a tent for a family camping trip they were planning, and so... Read More
It's a massive year for us here at BCH Camping, because this year we celebrate our 50th Anniversary!
50 years ago brothers Bryan and Chris Hussey (that's where the BCH comes from in case you've ever wondered), had a dream of opening a tent hire business because they couldn't hire a tent for a family camping trip they were planning, and so 'BCH Camping & Leisure Hire' was born.
The first shop was a much smaller shop to the right of where the Trowbridge superstore is now (to the right of the alley, now a private house) and hired out tents, cookers, sleeping bags and everything else you could ever want for a classic 1970's camping holiday. They even did toys at Christmas! Along with their wives Pat and Irene, the four of them worked 7 days a week 365 days a year to get the business going, and future owners Garth, Justin and Simon all spent hours behind the counter when they were babies whilst Bryan, Chris, Irene and Pat put in the hard hours!
BCH Camping Leisure hire became BCH Camping and Leisure Ltd when it was no longer cost effective to hire out camping equipment, and so BCH became a shop. Bryan and Chris purchased the building next door and over the years expanded it in every direction until it became the superstore we all know and love today. We are now proud to boast that the Trowbridge superstore has the largest tent and awning displays in the South West, as well as a dedicated furniture hall, boot fitting room and not one, but two, free, customer car parks.
The Bath store came next for Bryan and Chris. Opening in 1994 and stocking all the latest top end clothing, footwear and equipment it was known for a time as 'BCH Camping Performance Selection'. This store later became 'BCH Outdoor' along with the Chippenham store that was purchased in early 2004 by the second generation of Hussey's who now run the company.
When Covid hit in 2020 and all three shops were forced to close, there was a very real fear that the company would not survive and so the Directors at the time - Garth, Justin, Simon and Neal took the difficult decision to close the Chippenham store and take a punt at investing in their online store. Thankfully the risk paid off and the company website www.bchcamping.co.uk was a success, and the company was thankfully saved. Our website now serves customers throughout the whole of the UK.
Since then the company has continued to grow from strength to strength and has never looked back. We are very proud to still be a family run business, and extremely proud of the reputation we have built up over the years.
Managing Director Garth Hussey and fellow Directors Simon and Justin Hussey would like to take this opportunity to thank every one of our customers over the years for their support and custom and to every one of the staff past and present who helped make, and continue to make BCH Camping what it is today.
We are nothing without you xxx
Here's to another 50 years! Cheers!
