About the Haulfryn Group

Franz Anton Minoprio who later became Franz Charles Anthony when he took naturalised citizenship of the United Kingdom. He founded the English branch of the family.

The history of the Haulfryn Group begins with the Minoprio Family, originally from Pavia in northern Italy. In the late 18th Century the family established a branch in Frankfurt and it was from there that Franz Carl Anton Minoprio left for Liverpool. He founded the cotton merchant firm of Minoprio & Co, took British nationality and changed his name to Francis Charles Antony Minoprio. He was known and respected as a philanthropist with a social conscience and by the time of his death in 1893, had fathered 9 children and created the foundations on which the family's future success was built.

The Beginning...

The rising business man. Frank, the Edwardian dandy, confident and successful. He was particular about his clothes. His daughter described him as "the best dressed man I ever saw".

When Francis died young his son Frank, just 23, took over the cotton business and shouldered responsibility for his mother and siblings. Fortunately, he had a genuine interest in business and an eye for a good investment. It was whilst on holiday with his family in 1908, in Abersoch on the Llyn Peninsula in North Wales, that he recognised the beauty of the beaches and potential for holidays. He bought a strip of land on which he built a fine granite house which he called Haulfryn, meaning 'sunny hill'.

Frank maintained an interest in investments throughout his life. In 1920 he sold the cotton business and retired to the Cotswolds from where he continued to invest and to build up his estate in North Wales. Like his father before him he believed in 'putting something back', and built the primary school in Abersoch as well as giving the vast sum of £20,000 towards the purchase for the nation of Kenwood House in Hampstead.

The 30's

The 'millionaire sportsman' was appointed High Sheriff of Caernarvonshire in 1934. He was a respected member of the community.

By 1930 Frank was 60 years old. His accountants recommended that his property portfolio be removed from his estate and in 1935 The Haulfryn Estate Company was founded, with his wife and 9 children being shareholders. His sons Anthony, James and Hilary were to shape the fortunes and growth of the company right through to the 1970s, although Frank remained as Governing Director until he resigned in 1944, dying in 1951

The 40's

Hilary Minoprio. His dedication, hard work and sensible attitude gave Haulfryn the start upon which others would build.

Anthony, the eldest, trained as an architect and was extremely successful in his chosen profession. He became Chairman of Haulfryn in 1944 and always had a keen eye for the visual importance and attention to detail of anything Haulfryn did. After leaving the Navy, James pursued a career in business, spending over 30 years in the City, mostly working in commodities. He brought a wealth of City experience to Haulfryn. It was left to Hilary, with his love for Abersoch and North Wales to become, at the age of 33, the company's first Managing Director.

The 50's

The above pictures illustrate the dramatic transformation made at The Warren, turning the cottage into what is now The Warren Club.

There was never any doubt about the company's aim, which was to develop the land at The Warren, just down the road from the family holiday home at Abersoch. Since the 1930's holidaymakers had been parking their caravans on The Warren on a casual basis and the first caravan site licence was obtained in 1948. Development started and was pushed through even though funds were so tight that several other properties had to be sold. Haulfryn House itself was re-mortgaged - but it was worth it. By the start of the 1960's The Warren was a model park, extremely popular and turning a profit. Haulfryn had survived its start-up years.

The 60's

Through new management and ideas more parks were acquired and the business began to expand.

Could the success at the Warren be repeated elsewhere? To help the planned growth the company began to employ professional non family members to take senior positions. This brought new ideas and new possibilities, avoiding the parochial attitudes that have cramped so many family businesses. Donald Songhurst joined the company in 1963 as General Manager. Within a year he bought a park at Nefyn, also on the Llyn Peninsula. Soon after, he leased a park in Barmouth and another on Anglesey. He persuaded the company to raise additional capital from 3i and bought further parks. By 1969 Songhurst wanted to set up on his own and left the company. The business had increased but there was a heavy expenditure programme and a need to borrow more. Turnover was up but profits were down. The closing years of the 1960's were not happy ones for Haulfryn.

The 70's

Hilary Minoprio in 1979, seated at the desk presented to him by the company after his 45 years of service. His death the following year, aged 67, denied him the retirement he deserved.

The 1970's were years of further expansion. In 1972 the freehold of Barmouth Bay was bought and Gimblet Rock followed in 1973. Crugan, another park on the Llyn, was bought in 1975. Hilary Minoprio retired the same year after 30 years as Managing Director, remaining Chairman. His nephew Andrew took over in his stead, with Quinton Minoprio as Deputy Chairman. Glan Gors was added to the portfolio in 1977 and other business possibilities were chased, including a department store in Pwllheli, far away from the original intention... to develop The Warren.

The 80's

A Family Business. The Chairman and Managing Director shows his next project to the Board.

Hilary Minoprio died in 1980 and in some respects the company wavered for a time. In October 1982 Quinton was asked by the Board to take on the dual role of Chairman and Managing Director, a position he was admirably suited to, having grown up in Abersoch. Quinton acted fast and decisively and upset the comfortable culture that had built up in the 1970's, cutting overheads and making the company a much leaner and fitter business. He recognised the value of excellence, no more so than in the design and construction of holiday homes. He became an innovator who raised and set standards within the entire industry. New homes began to appear, designed and manufactured exclusively for Haulfryn. The company was on the move.

In 1985 the company invested in an outdoor pool complex at The Warren, and in 1986 was recognised as one of the leaders in the industry.

The 90's

Jim Holland, Director of Haulfryn Group and Managing Director of Haulfryn Summer Homes. He presided over the Warren for 20 years with outstanding managerial success.

Expansion beyond Wales followed. In 1990 Haulfryn was able to buy 7 residential parks in the South of England that traded as Surrey Park Homes, starting Haulfryn's Residential Parks Division. In addition, 4 further parks were purchased from the Gowring Group bringing to an end what was called the ‘Quin era', with Quinton retiring as Chairman in 2000.

The Noughties

Finlake and Edgeley, two of the new parks acquired as the company expanded into the South East and South West of England.

In 2000 Stephen Minoprio and Richard Minoprio, grandsons of the founder, became Chairman and Deputy Chairman respectively. This continued the strong theme of family involvement in the business. With the Chief Executive Rod Tucker a period of expansion followed with strategic moves into the South West and South East. In total the company's estate has doubled over the past 10 years, now comprising 20 holiday and 15 residential parks. Investment continued in existing parks to meet the rising expectations of the customer, bringing new technology and high quality leisure features.

75th Anniversary

The new website links all our parks together keeping you up to date with exciting new developments and up to the minute special offers.

The company has gone from strength to strength in recent years and has invested £30 million in its parks, much of it during a time of economic misery for many companies. In 2010 The Haulfryn group is one of the UK's largest owners of prestigious holiday and residential parks and celebrates 75 years as a successful British company.

2010 sees lots of exciting developments including the launch of the brand new website which has a vibrant, modern feel and a host of brand new features.

New Developments in Glan Gors, Shearbarn, Gimblet Rock, and Praa Sands offer exciting new holiday home opportunities with a wide range of facilities and services, not forgetting outstanding views.

The 20-Teens

Today we're one of the UK's largest owners of prestigious holiday and residential parks and we continue to invest in our parks to ensure our leisure and entertainment venues, facilities and services are among the best in the business.

Recent projects include a £5 million facelift for Devon Hills where we opened a state-of-the-art leisure complex and completely renovated the stunning 15th century Blagdon Inn.

We've also launched a brand new Golf and Country Club at Praa Sands, completely refurbished our Woodlands Hall hotel and restaurant, and unveiled exciting new outdoor poolside areas - complete with chic new bars, entertainment options and food outlets - at Finlake and The Warren.

But that's not all. We've transformed eating and dining at our parks, introducing freshly prepared and locally sourced menus in our restaurants and launched new lounge, bar and café eating concepts at our parks - giving you even more choice when it comes to big breakfasts, light lunches or tempting snacks, plus plenty of healthy eating options.

What's more, this year we launched a brand new online booking system for our Haulfryn Holidays, making it even easier to find the perfect family break.

The Future

This groundbreaking lodge has been designed exclusively for sea front positions at The Warren and comes with unusual bi-fold doors to ensure maximum sea views. It is one of the most eco-friendly lodges available.

And now we take a brief look into the future, with a new concept in holiday lodges. Haulfryn is proud to unveil a new concept in the holiday lodge market where everything about the lodge is different and nothing on the market can compare – the Haulfryn Halcyon Anniversary Edition.

The technology is so new; it has never before been seen in a holiday home. Many of the functions within the lodge can be controlled remotely from your iPhone before you even leave your house. And, as you would expect from Haulfryn, the furnishings are of the highest quality originating from the latest fashions in Milan.

Haulfryn continues to scour the country for future opportunities to continue its tradition of delivering excellent holiday and residential products and services.