Over the past 50 years, Britannia Row Productions has won globally recognition as a provider of audio systems, working with some of the biggest names in music, sports and event production.
The story began in 1975, when Pink Floyd purchased 35 Britannia Row, Islington, to house their growing touring inventory.
The Britannia Row group of companies was subsequently formed to rent this out to other bands during the band’s tour breaks. The companies were headed up by key crew members Robbie Williams, Mick Kluczynski and Graham Flemming. Bryan Grant joined four years later to coordinate the rental activities under the banner of Britannia Row Productions.
The band added a recording studio after their album Wish You Were Here was released in 1975 and used it o to record the album Animals as well as some parts of The Wall, including the school chorus on hit single Another Brick in the Wall. The studio subsequently became the property of drummer Nick Mason, who sold it in the mid-’90s.
By the early 1980s, fundamental changes were occurring within both the band and the organisation. In 1984, Williams and Grant took ownership of Britannia Row Productions in a management buyout, to concentrate on providing live audio solutions. Mike Lowe Joined the company in 1988, and after buying out Williams in 1991, he and Grant continued to co-own and co-run the company until it joined Clair Global in 2017. Both remain with Britannia Row as non-executive directors.
‘I, like most of my generation in this business, felt we’d run away with the circus in the 1970s,’ Grant says. ‘There were few precedents, and we were sometimes making it up as we went along, but we’ve always taken the job seriously and tried to do good work for our clients, some of whom are still touring and still using our services – over 40 years on.
‘However,’ he adds, , ‘We’ve never been complacent. You’re only as good as your last show and shouldn’t ever feel that you have a right to do the next one.’
It is this outlook that aligned BritRow with parent company Clair Global: ‘When we discussed acquisitions, Bryan and I asked ourselves the question “what is the best route for our people, and for the company going forward?”,’ Lowe says. ‘ We quickly concluded that Clair Global was by far the best option, and we were right.’
Josh Lloyd, Head of Engineering for Event Support, has been with the company full-time since graduating from university. ‘There were only 15 people here when I started, but the reputation was huge thanks to Bryan and Mike’s personalities,’ he says. ‘Their legacy isn’t just in the brand they’ve helped to grow; it’s in the people they’ve shaped. I owe my career to them; they empower people and encourage progress from a young age.
‘That empowerment isn’t only within our core services either; Britannia Row has reframed many conversations in the industry, and Mike in particular has always championed education, training and mental health. The directorship in place now is a testament to the values they’ve instilled.’
The company’s second wave of directorship comprises Managing Director, Nicola Amoruso, Sales Director Lez Dwight and Finance Director Christina Bosch, each steering the company into its next chapter. In addition, since Skan PA Hire and Plus 4 Audio have become a part of Clair Global, Chris Fitch and Stew Chaney have joined the Britannia Row Board of Directors.
‘It’s an incredible honour to be part of a company with such a rich history and continued growth,’ Amoruso comments. ‘As a director, I’m deeply proud to be a part of this legacy and contribute to the future of a brand that’s so well-respected. The Britannia Row environment, one that promotes growth and development, and is committed to innovation, makes it a special place to work.’
‘Through collaboration and mutual respect, we’re always learning, growing, and pushing boundaries alongside some of the most talented people in the industry,’ Bosch agrees. ‘We embrace a global mindset while staying deeply connected to the unique strengths of each region, and as a company, create opportunities for our teams and value for our clients.’
Five decades on, and having recently moved into a new facility in Weybridge, Surrey, Britannia Row continues to see the global delivery of audio reinforcement and comms solutions to an impressive roster of major international artistes. Projects ranging from large-scale, complex, multi service productions, to supporting new talent on their first tours, are made possible with the expertise of dedicated operations, office and warehouse teams.
Long-serving staff members including Crew Logistics Manager, Carlene Annon, European Operations Manager, Tim Mole, and Head of Technical, Keith Cunningham, as well as the next generation of touring crew – Britannia Row’s Live Audio Technician Apprentices – and the company’s vitally important road staff and freelance crews, all ensure the Britannia Row ethos endures.
‘In recent years, the business has become part of an exciting and ever-growing landscape,’ Sales Director, Lez Dwight says. ‘Britannia Row’s heritage, innovation and most importantly our people are what continues to drive us, and that directly benefits our clients. We maintain a culture where initiative and personal well-being are genuinely valued, and we adhere to client expectations by continuing to deliver to the highest standard in a fast-moving industry.’
More: www.britanniarow.com