Where did it all begin?
Percy lived in Barnstaple, North Devon with his mother, brother and sister. When Percy’s father passed away in the First World War, the family’s fortunes took a turn for the worse.
Florence, who trained as a nurse and worked for Barnardo’s in London, returned to her hometown of Barnstaple to marry Percy when they were both aged 19. By that time, Percy had learned his trade well and had become a manager for Eastman’s, a national butchery business. Soon their children June, Richard and Patricia, were born
Percy was determined to improve the fortunes for his family and after a while, he started his own butcher’s business on Butchers Row in Barnstaple. He built up a great business with a reputation of always being the first to open and the last to close. When the Second World War broke out, Percy was called up to serve in the Royal Navy and Florence kept the business running successfully and cared for the children while he was away.
An exceptional Story
After the war, the butcher’s business continued to flourish. Whilst the butcher’s business continued to expand, Percy also began to develop a highly successful property business in both domestic and commercial properties.
Meanwhile, their fourth child, John, was born in 1948, followed by Peter in 1957, completing their family of five children. It was in 1969, with the purchase of The Royal Hotel in Bideford that the Brend Group as we know it today began to take shape. It was at this point that the company of Percy R Brend (Hoteliers) Ltd was formed, of which his three sons Richard, John and Peter would become directors.
As the hotel group grew, Percy retained a keen interest in the running of all the hotels and instilled in his family the importance of hard work, continually improving the business and having a passion for quality. Florence had such a strong belief in her husband that it inspired Percy to achieve greater and greater things. Florence had a great eye for the interiors and the furnishing of the hotels and played a leading role in this area. Together, they made an unbeatable team.
Percy and Florence had always loved the Saunton Sands Hotel and had spent time there ever since their courting days. Percy had promised Florence that he would one day purchase the hotel and in 1977 he was finally able to achieve that dream.
Both Percy and Florence remained actively involved in the business throughout their lives, before passing the company down to their sons Richard, John, and Peter who continued to build on their legacy. Under their leadership, the family created an impressive portfolio of hotels, restaurants, and spas, earning numerous awards and achievements along the way, including establishing Cornwall’s first four-star hotel, The Carlyon Bay Hotel.
Today the influence of Percy and Florence Brend is still felt strongly throughout the whole business and the values that it lives by. They are fondly remembered as an exceptional couple who set a wonderful example for the subsequent generations to follow and who, above all, were loving parents who did all that they could to support their children and grandchildren.