Gloucester-based Elmbridge UK is celebrating 50 years in business in 2026, with the whole team marking the milestone with a day of fun and reflection on its five decades of growth and success.
Born out of a garage in the Elmbridge area of Gloucester in 1976, the business has grown to become one of the UK's leading suppliers of wood and industrial coatings, spray equipment, spray shop facilities and consumables, while retaining its headquarters in its home city.
Elmbridge paused operations for the afternoon on Thursday 17 September 2026, bringing the whole team together to celebrate the business and the people who have helped shape its journey.
The celebrations began with a memorable entrance, as managing director Barrie Freeman drove into the warehouse in an Elmbridge-branded 1976 Ford Cortina, joined by a very special guest – Elmbridge founder David Freeman, the 95-year-old grandfather of current directors Barrie, Rory and Angus.
David’s presence served as a reminder of where Elmbridge began, and how the family business he founded has continued to grow under the leadership of his grandsons.
Proceedings started with a short presentation and quiz looking back over Elmbridge’s first 50 years, sharing memories and testing the team’s knowledge of the business. Every team member also received a commemorative gift to mark the occasion.
The celebrations then continued with food, drinks, fairground games and crazy golf, giving colleagues time to relax and enjoy the milestone as a team.
Managing director Barrie Freeman said: 'We’re really proud of how far Elmbridge has come. It was great to get everyone together to celebrate, and having our grandfather join us made it extra special.
'A big thank you to our team, customers and suppliers for helping us reach this milestone. We’re excited about what comes next.'
The afternoon also provided an opportunity to reflect on more recent successes and look ahead to the next 50 years, with the company broadening its expertise through acquisitions, including specialist dust extraction firm, Minden Systems, in January 2026.
For more information about Elmbridge UK and to browse its products, visit elmbridgeuk.com – with businesses involved in wood coatings also invited to go along and see its latest spray innovations first-hand, through live demonstrations at its upcoming open day.
