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Hippo Leisure Celebrates Its 25th Anniversary
It’s fair to say that Hippo Leisure has seen its fair share of change – that’s what 25 years in the water play industry will do – but the story of its origins, and development into the UK’s sole manufacturer of water play products offer a fascinating insight into the ups and downs of a brand that has brought smiles to so many.

Hippo Leisure was formed some 25 years ago (1997) in West Sussex by Andy Taylor who developed the business into what it is today. During his time at the water treatment company Biwater, Andy started to work with polyurethanes and elastomers as a part of the Flowrider development. This is what ignited his pursuit of these materials and led him into the world of water play.

The brand organically progressed as its customer base and demand increased until the business required a larger facility. It made sense to expand, and so in 2001, it was time to leave Sussex and relocate to Saltash before settling in Plymouth in 2007 where it remains to this day in a 45,000 sq. ft facility.

Significant events include:

• Hippo Leisure’s first water play product was its lily pad walkways and floatables range. The first lily pad walkway was installed at Waterworld in Stoke in 2001, with floatables following shortly after.
• Product development continued and Hippo’s trademark feature – the interactive waterfall was born with the first being installed at Woodford Leisure Centre in Hull in 2008. This feature remains one of our most popular products to date.
• The first of many Hippo Leisure flumes was installed at Splashpoint Leisure Centre, Worthing in 2013.

To this day, Hippo Leisure continues to be the go-to brand for numerous leisure centres across the UK and offers bespoke water play features globally. Not only has the brand helped conceptualise leisure pool equipment for sites like SC2 Rhyl, but it has created water confidence facilities and made water play interesting and inclusive for everybody.

Fast forward to today, and Hippo Leisure has just finished the third phase for Newbridge Leisure Centre, transforming their facility from a 25m pool to a full leisure facility. The brand continues to work with local authorities, leisure centres, and outdoor water parks among other customers.

It’s been an amazing 25 years, but no nostalgic overview would be complete without a mention of the ‘mini hippos.’ It has always been a family business at heart and the children of the Hippo Leisure crew have splashed, tested, laughed, and enjoyed the journey too. Now ranging from 2.5 to 21, Andy and the team can reminisce about how far the brand, and indeed, its family has come.

For more information contact Hippo Leisure on 01752 771740 or visit www.hippoleisure.com





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