About Barwell
Since 1970 Barwell has grown to become the world's leading tour operator to La Manga Club in Spain, as well as specialising in other exceptional destinations around the world, including Dubai, South Africa, Mauritius and the new Humber Valley Resort in Canada.
With our team of highly skilled Destination Advisors we are able to arrange tours and holidays for individuals, couples and families through to groups looking for an exceptional sporting experience at any of our worldwide destinations.
Our specialist groups division focuses on a comprehensive range of travel and leisure services to a wide range of corporate clientele and with extensive experience in this particular field arranges sporting and charity events for many prestigious and deserving organisations.
History of Barwell Leisure
Barwell Leisure started as a small family concern over 37 years ago and has grown in that time to become the worlds' leading tour operator to the compelling region of Murcia in south east Spain..
In 1970, motor-racing engineer Richard Lemmer and his wife Barbara, their holiday elsewhere having been over-booked, took their two small children quite by chance on holiday to La Manga. Captivated by the area, and indeed the whole Murcia region, they bought a house on the beautiful white, sandy La Manga Beach.
Quite soon, Richard and Barbara found themselves letting and selling properties there, firstly to friends and then more widely and eventually began organising flights for their prospective clients. In 1977 they pioneered chartering their own flights into the then under-utilised local military airport for Murcia, San Javier, just 20 minutes drive away from La Manga. Things then began to expand fast and during the 1990's Barwell operated 9 aircraft each week during the greater part of the year including 7 British Airways737s During the past 6 years the proliferation of 'no frills' carriers has seen them using the relatively unused landing slots in order to expand their networks and today Barwell clients enjoy some unique privileges on a number of these airlines from a wide range of airports , La Manga Club was established in the hills nearby in the early seventies by an American developer as a resort and property facility with the concept of offering an alternative to Florida. It now caters for some 500,000 visitors per annum, providing accommodation for all tastes from self-catering to a five star Hyatt Hotel. Set in 1,400 lush acres, it encompasses almost 2000 villas and apartments, three championship golf courses, 30 tennis courts plus bowls and a beach club.
Property sales are flourishing under Barwell International Properties and a prestigious new office has been opened at La Manga Club to showcase all of the available properties along with a new and improved website. In 2006 Barwell acquired La Manga Club's longest established property management company and therefore now offers the discerning property buyer a seamless service to maximise their overseas property investment.
Sports form a significant part of the Barwell Leisure activity, stimulated by the pivotal role played by La Manga in hosting international golf and tennis (venue for the Davis Cup and Federation Cup as well as the official winter training base of the LTA). The company is routinely involved in both creating and running celebrity sports events, such as the Footballers Golf Classic, which is now an annual event at La Manga and further afield. Barwell's own Sports Travel Executive is ex-Arsenal and QPR star Terry Mancini who has arranged training trips for some of the premierships top teams and the England and Wales national teams. With more and more people having access to the internet and using it to make purchases and book tickets online we now have an online booking service. This service allows you to book flights, accommodation and many holiday extras.
The Lemmer family continues its longstanding connection with motor racing through the original company 'Barwell Motorsport', which operates a highly successful racing team headed by Mark Lemmer. The team has won many championships including being 2006 British GT3 Champions and 2007 British GT Team Champions manning a squad of three prestigious Aston Martin DBR9s, In addition, the company organises related events, including private track days, corporate hospitality at race meetings and race circuit driving instruction.
At the request of thousands of Barwell's loyal and discerning clients, we have now expanded our portfolio of exceptional destinations and services to include a number of short and long haul destinations and look forward to helping you enjoy sampling some of these beautiful places in the future.
Until then, thank you.
Richard Lemmer
Executive Chairman
