Dan Brown and Dans Luxury Travel

Dan Brown started Dans Luxury Travel in 1974, working from home with just one minibus which he ran himself. The word got around, with schoolwork and nightclubs for the younger generation, and business expanded. Dan Brown now couldn't cope with just one bus, so he bought a second-hand 12 seater Transit. This only led to further expansion, and the company's first move to an office in the North Farm area of Loughton.

The fleet of minibuses grew too many for this small depot, so Dan had to look for somewhere a lot bigger if the company was going to expand further. The result was a move to the Royal Forest Coach House in Chingford.

At this point Dans Luxury Travel employed three members of staff, who are still here today, along with three fitters to maintain the vehicles. These were, however, all little Transits so Dan thought he would try out a 16 seater Mercedes. This was a success, and let him run school trips and day trips to France.

Dan Brown, founder of Dans Luxury Travelimage of a early Dans Luxury Travel bus

The company's policy has been one of steady growth, avoiding the risks of getting too big too fast.

It turned out that the bigger the vehicle the more busy it got, so Dan then invested in two 29 seaters (see photograph above). He also had a good variety of drivers who looked after the coaches, which helped a lot.

As time went on more vehicles were bought, so Dans Luxury Travel now has over fifty coaches on the road from eight-seater minibuses, up to 51 seater luxury coaches. To accomodate these coaches and of course the growing number of staff, the company has made its latest move to a depot, still called Royal Forest Coach House, in Maybank Road, South Woodford, just off the North Circular Road.

© 2009 Dans Luxury Travel