Brackenwood did not miss a trick with the huge success of their open day held at their Basingstoke showroom on Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th of March. The king of the green baize, Dennis Taylor, charmed visitors with his combination of trick shots; humour and top-class snooker, which proved to be a fun- filled family day out for local residents.

Brackenwood designed and manufactured for Dennis Taylor his very own tailor made double-glazed UPVC fames. Dennis commented,

I was impressed, they were the largest frames I have ever seen.

He continued by commenting on the event,

I thoroughly enjoyed myself, it was a smashing event and if I was to come out of retirement and needed my glasses re-glazed, I would call upon Brackenwood.

Remembered most for his 1985 Embassy World Championship victory against Steve Davis, he took on a new opponent, the local Basingstoke snooker champion Martin Charlton. Martin has a wealth of snooker experience winning the UK Royal British Legion singles and pairs competitions and has represented Basingstoke and the South West at National and local level.

An entertaining match proved that Dennis still had the skill and style as he went on to beat Martin 4-0, achieving both a break of 70 and 80. When asked how Martin felt about the contest against Dennis, he commented,

I will settle for runner up when playing against a true gentleman and legend like Dennis Taylor. It helps to cushion the blow!

Dennis’ interaction with the local residents revealed a surprise opponent from his past that he had not seen in over forty years. David Burgess approached Dennis commenting,

You may not remember me, but we share the same birthday and a room once.

To Dennis’s amazement, David was his opponent when wining his first billiard match back in 1968.

Brackenwood’s showroom was transformed to host their very own, ‘Red Hot’, Big Break competition. Contestants of all ages and ability had to pot as many balls as they could in two minutes to make their big break. Local Basingstoke resident Roger Prebble, stole the competition by potting nine balls within two minutes winning a personalised signed snooker cue from Dennis Taylor.

Whilst the event provided a display of great frames played by snooker champions, it gave visitors the opportunity to view Breackenwoods’s exclusive window frames with their extensive colour matching service. Also on display were Pilkington’s innovative self-cleaning glass and a comprehensive range of windows and conservatories.

David Medcraft, Brackenwood’s Managing Director commented on the day,

Like Dennis Taylor, Brackenwood has one of the most recognisable faces of success within the window and conservatory industry. We wanted to demonstrate that we can design and manufacture frames for any individual requirements, whilst providing an entertaining day, for all the family.

If you would like more information about any individual frames, doors or conservatories, please call Brackenwood on 0800 253545 or alternatively visit our website at Brackenwood.

You will find us at Brackenwood House, Kimbell Road, in Basingstoke (just opposite B&Q).

This is your cue to visit Brackenwood Window and Conservatories, who are proud to welcome the king of the green baize, one of the most recognised faces within snooker, Dennis Taylor, who will be making his first break at Brackenwoods showroom on Saturday the 29th of March 2008.

Dennis Taylor has won 11 titles in his career and will be remembered most for his 1985 Embassy World Champion victory when a record 18.5 million people tuned into watch his memorable final with Steve Davis. Brackenwood are inviting you to tune into their very own unforgettable match where this world-class champion takes on top Basingstoke local amateur Martin Charlton. Martin has a wealth of snooker experience winning the UK Royal British Legion singles and pairs competitions and has represented Basingstoke and the South West at National and local level. The match promises to be one not to miss.

Best known for his Taylor made, over-sized glasses and large frames, Dennis would like to personally fill in your frames by signing your new window contract. All you need to do is bring down your window measurements and we will ensure you are not left feeling cold and snookered come next winter.

Residents across Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire will have the opportunity to view his spectacular exhibition of trick shots, humour and top-class snooker. Enter the Big Break knock out competition, where the winner will win a signed snooker cue from Dennis Taylor himself.

Fresh food and drinks will be available on the day and the chance to leisurely browse the extensive range of windows and conservatories Brackenwood have to offer. There may only be eight coloured balls on offer on the snooker table, but rest assure that Brackenwood has an innovative range of colour frames to suit any individual requirements.

David Medcraft, Managing Director of Brackenwood welcomes local families to the event commenting,

Like Dennis Taylor, Brackenwood has one of the most recognisable faces of success within the window and conservatory industry. We guarantee you and your family the maximum break, providing expert advice and guidance combined with quality entertainment.

Brackenwood’s comprehensive showroom will provide visitors with the chance to view their wide selection of doors, windows and conservatories. Brackenwood offers a variety of glazing options including energy efficient and self-cleaning windows that are individually designed and crafted to suite the desires of your home.

For more information please call Brackenwood on 0800 253545 or alternatively visit the Brackenood Windows website You will find us at Brackenwood House, Kimbell Road, in Basingstoke (just opposite B&Q).

On the 15th of November as part of Enterprise Week (12th-16th November 2007), Brackenwood Windows and Conservatories opened their doors to 30 students from the Cranbourne Business and Enterprise College - for an inspiring entrepreneurial afternoon.

The inspirational event comprised of a series of exciting talks from some of Basingstoke’s leading entrepreneurs followed by a workshop during which the students actively invented their own business idea.

The students then pitched their ideas to the Dragon’s Den style panel and the Judge, Mr David Medcraft - the founder & Managing Director of Brackenwood Windows. The event was such a success that similar ones will be run in the future involving more students, schools, charities and local businesses.

Running between 1 p.m. - 4 p.m, the Enterprise Week afternoon kicked off with an unbeatable line up of speakers including David Medcraft, Brackenwood’s Managing Director, Liz Jackson, Managing Director of Great Guns Marketing (a telemarketing company) and Jane Stewart, the Marketing Manager from Basingstoke shopping center Festival Place. (more…)

Enterprise Week is an annual week of events and activities running from the 12th-16th of November 2007. Taking place across the country, businesses, charities, schools and colleges will be holding events and activities in celebration of enterprise in all its forms. Last year’s Enterprise Week saw over 448,000 people taking part in 3,184 events nationwide – 44% more than the previous year. Over 300 of these events took place in the South East and this year aims to be even bigger.

The South East of England Development Agency (SEEDA) co-ordinates all activity across the South East, encouraging backing for the campaign from public, private and academic partners throughout the region as well as managing all Enterprise Week activity. There are already lots of young people involved in entrepreneurial activities in the South East.

Brackenwood are spearheading the week by holding two events to celebrate enterprise. Managing Director David Medcraft will be holding a talk with students from Cranbourne Business and Enterprise College regarding how he set up his company using a mere £10, 000 loan.

Brackenwood’s second event will be an entrepreneurial workshop, held at their Basingstoke show room to inspire local students to realise their entrepreneurial dreams. They will be opening their showroom for an afternoon during enterprise week and are inviting entrepreneurs from across the South East, especially Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire to come and talk to local students.

Managing Director David Medcraft enthused,

This is a fantastic opportunity for all businesses in the area to give something back to the community and to share their business acumen. We are holding two events this year in celebration of our 20th anniversary and welcome any other local businesses to get involved.

Brackenwood’s annual open weekend held on the 6th and 7th of October at their Basingstoke showroom proved a huge success with the residents across Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire.

This year, in celebration of their 20th anniversary, Brackenwood enchanted Hampshire with the world’s most famous and easily recognised car, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Much larger in the flesh, the car is a gigantic the 17ft long and was polished to perfection by guest film star and car inheritor Peter Picton.

Still as popular as it was 40 years ago, the iconic car charmed adults and children alike, drawing in visitors from as far away as Twickenham.

From the moment the doors opened at 10 a.m., the showroom was inundated with potential buyers keen to take advantage of Brackenwood’s exceptional offer of 1987 prices on all windows for the first ten individuals who came to the door.

Outside the showroom, crowds flocked on the lawn to admire the car. Peter Picton explained “The car, as named by Ian Fleming in the story book is called Gen 11 and is based on the famous cars of the flamboyant 1920s racing driver, Count Louis Zborowski”.

Inside the showroom, throughout the day kids amused themselves colouring in pictures of Chitty and watching the original film. Whilst the kids were playing, adults indulged in the gourmet buffet and wine and admired the luxurious show room.

To top off the day three children won the once in a lifetime experience to win a ride in Chitty.

Die-hard Chitty fan Harrison Conner based locally in Popley was one of the lucky children to win a ride. Harrison’s mother surprised him by taking him to see Chitty. Eight- year old Harrison delighted, “This is the best day ever - better than scoring at football!”

The event gave visitors the chance to view Brackenwood’s exclusive colour matching service (1500 different colours!), innovative self-cleaning glass (provided by Pilkington) and extensive range of windows and conservatories to fit customers’ requirements, whatever the style and whatever the budget.

Neil Briggs, Sales and Marketing Manager enthused; “We are absolutely thrilled, it’s been a fantastic day. It was wonderful to share our 20th Anniversary with such an iconic and timeless car. We are especially touched that people came so far to see us.”

For Brackenwood, the open weekend was the perfect way to kick off their 20th Anniversary festivities, which will continue well into the winter months.

If you missed out on the open weekend and would like to find out more about Brackenwood, do come and see us. You will find us at Brackenwood House, Kimbell Road, in Basingstoke (just opposite B&Q). Alternatively call 0800 25 35 45 or visit our website www.brackenwood.com

Fasten your seatbelts! Brackenwood Windows are delighted to announce the guest appearance of the world’s most famous and easily recognised car, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at their open weekend, to be held on the 6th and 7th of October.In celebration of 20 years of success, Brackenwood invite families across Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire to come and see Chitty, yes, the real deal, bona fide, original and still in pristine condition, engine humming, bonnet glistening Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at their modern showroom in Basingstoke.

Local families are invited to come on down ‘toot sweet’ to see Chitty, the original star from the 1968 motion picture who has amazed and inspired generations of children all over the world. Also known as ‘Gen 11′, Chitty is based on the famous cars of the flamboyant 1920s racing driver, Count Louis Zborowski.

The Chitty-tastic weekend honours the appearance of the star car with her original owner and famous member of the cast! Children will be able to watch the action-packed original motion picture on wide screen. There will also be ‘truly scrumptious’ nibbles for the kids. Whilst the children are entertained, adults are invited to indulge in a gourmet buffet and to leisurely browse the extensive range of windows and conservatories Brackenwood have on offer.

Adding to the excitement, the ‘flying’ car (who will be sporting her much-loved red and yellow wings) will take to the road. Brackenwood are offering three lucky individuals who enter their prize draw the exciting opportunity to win a thrilling ride in the marvellous car.

David Medcraft, Managing Director of Brackenwood welcomes local families to the event commented, “In celebration our 20th anniversary, we are giving the first 10 customers who bring in their window measurements on each day, the exclusive opportunity to buy any windows at 1987 prices!”

The fabulous weekend will begin with Chitty on Saturday 6th October. The celebrations will continue on Sunday 7th October, 10am-4pm. So come and celebrate with us! You will find us at Brackenwood House, Kimbell Road, in Basingstoke (just opposite B&Q). For more information call 0800 25 35 45 or alternatively visit our website www.brackenwood.com.

Last July, Brackenwood Windows and Conservatories held an exclusive open day in their stylish Basingstoke showroom. Amongst a barbecue, good wine and a bouncy castle for the kids, they offered one lucky couple the once in a lifetime opportunity to win a conservatory.

One year later, our team find out how the lucky winners, Mr and Mrs Tucker from Hatch Warren are enjoying their prize conservatory, installed and built, compliments of Brackenwood. Relaxing in the modern conservatory, Maritza Tucker explains: “We are really pleased, it is great quality and still looks brand new, which is fantastic”.

The open day was packed with hundreds of keen prospective buyers viewing Brackenwood’s extensive range. Maritza Tucker and her husband came to the open day to help push forward their conservatory plans. “Although we had already been and spoken to one of Brackenwood’s team, we wanted to go again to find out more, whilst browsing we saw the competition opportunity and decided to enter “.

To win the conservatory contestants were asked to answer a mystery question, which the couple answered correctly. In the next stage, nervous entrants had to estimate the price of a door; and Maritza and her husband were close enough to the actual price to make it to the final round with four other couples.

Each couple that made it to the final stage of the competition were handed a set of keys to try to open the door of the prize conservatory. When it was their turn, an excited Mr and Mrs Tucker walked up to the door of the competition conservatory, placed the key in the lock, and the door opened - they had won the conservatory!

The couple were able to choose any conservatory they wanted to the value of £10,000, from Brackenwood’s brand new showroom. Choosing from their extensive range with the option of any colour (a 1500 colour range) they opted for the ‘Edwardian style’ in a polished white finish.

Brackenwood’s specialist team visited their home and installed the conservatory quickly and smoothly - from the foundations to the roof. With the kids playing at her feet on the conservatory floor, Maritza explains how hassle-free the installation process was: “I didn’t realise how much work goes into the construction, but the team were fantastic - professional, clean, tidy and amazingly quick - it only took a few weeks.”

One year on, standing on her patio outside the stylish conservatory (which is still in pristine condition) Mrs. Tucker explains how she is still thrilled with the finished product. “Brackenwood are very good quality, if you require quality and a reliable and friendly service then opt for Brackenwood. I would definitely recommend them to friends and family” explains Maritza.

The couple found that not only did the conservatory provide extra space but also it could be used in many different ways. “The conservatory has been a great addition to our house. Being a five-person family, a conservatory is extremely useful to provide that extra space. In summer it’s fantastic - definitely our favourite room, we spend a great amount of time in there. Even when it rains, you are able to appreciate the garden. We relax in there and the children do, it’s something for the whole family”.

With over 20 years of experience, Brackenwood have helped residents all over Hampshire, Berkshire and Surrey improve their homes.