News: Rotherham tour operator on the road to a record year
Rotherham-based Leger Shearings Group, the UK's largest escorted coach tour operator, has posted impressive financial results for 2025 and has carried on performing well this year too.
Coach tours are in demand despite consumers having less discretionary spending available for holidays.
The Canklow company, which has over 200 employees, offers self-drive breaks, holidays to the UK and Europe, specialist Battlefield Tours, and educational experiences across four different brands.
Since an initial management buy out (MBO) in 2019 and the acquisition of Shearings in July 2020, the group's presence in the UK has increased significantly. A 2024 injection of funding from NatWest followed.
For the year ended December 31 2025, Leger Holidays Ltd posted its strongest trading EBITDA (earnings before taxes) to date, totalling £6.1m, a 21.29% increase compared to 2024. Consolidated turnover for the year amounted to £79.8m, reflecting a 3.1% increase from the previous year.
The board said that the company had maintained a strong focus on product innovation, continually developing and refreshing its holiday portfolio across both brands with new itineraries, destinations and experiences designed around evolving customer preferences. The ongoing investment in the product range and customer proposition helped sustain demand and underpins the Group's growth strategy.
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Customer satisfaction remains high, with the Group's two principal brands independently rated 'Excellent' on Trustpilot as at June 2026, with Leger Holidays scoring 4.5 out of 5 and Shearings 4.3 out of 5, reflecting continued strong approval from clients.
Forward bookings were described as strong with Leger and Shearings each tracking double-digit growth for both the 2026 and 2027 seasons, building at record levels.
Into 2026 and the company recorded the highest sales day in the company’s history, exceeding the previous record by more than 25%. It went on to post 15 consecutive months of sales growth and a record-breaking May. July saw Simon Bingley join the group's board as Commercial Director.
In addition to competition in the market and the impact of geo-political events and natural disasters, the company picked out how demand for holidays is affected by local economic conditions. The accounts add that: "During 2025, rising costs across the economy have affected the cost of holiday arrangements and resulted in consumers having less discretionary spending available for travel. However, this has been compensated by the high level of consumer demand for coach tours in the UK and Europe."
Looking ahead, the company is set to launch Lumina in 2027, a brand-new flagship coach offering, and the first launch since 2015's Luxuria.
Liam Race, CEO at Leger Shearings Group, explained that people "love the stress-free, ultra-comfortable side of coach travel – no flying, no airport drama, no hanging around wondering what's gone wrong. It's a kinder way to see Europe, and a more sustainable one. Lumina takes everything people already love about that experience and pushes it a step further. After more than a decade in the making, we can't wait to welcome you on board."
Leger Shearings Group website
Images: Leger Shearings Group
Coach tours are in demand despite consumers having less discretionary spending available for holidays.
The Canklow company, which has over 200 employees, offers self-drive breaks, holidays to the UK and Europe, specialist Battlefield Tours, and educational experiences across four different brands.
Since an initial management buy out (MBO) in 2019 and the acquisition of Shearings in July 2020, the group's presence in the UK has increased significantly. A 2024 injection of funding from NatWest followed.
For the year ended December 31 2025, Leger Holidays Ltd posted its strongest trading EBITDA (earnings before taxes) to date, totalling £6.1m, a 21.29% increase compared to 2024. Consolidated turnover for the year amounted to £79.8m, reflecting a 3.1% increase from the previous year.
The board said that the company had maintained a strong focus on product innovation, continually developing and refreshing its holiday portfolio across both brands with new itineraries, destinations and experiences designed around evolving customer preferences. The ongoing investment in the product range and customer proposition helped sustain demand and underpins the Group's growth strategy.
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Customer satisfaction remains high, with the Group's two principal brands independently rated 'Excellent' on Trustpilot as at June 2026, with Leger Holidays scoring 4.5 out of 5 and Shearings 4.3 out of 5, reflecting continued strong approval from clients.
Forward bookings were described as strong with Leger and Shearings each tracking double-digit growth for both the 2026 and 2027 seasons, building at record levels.
Into 2026 and the company recorded the highest sales day in the company’s history, exceeding the previous record by more than 25%. It went on to post 15 consecutive months of sales growth and a record-breaking May. July saw Simon Bingley join the group's board as Commercial Director.
In addition to competition in the market and the impact of geo-political events and natural disasters, the company picked out how demand for holidays is affected by local economic conditions. The accounts add that: "During 2025, rising costs across the economy have affected the cost of holiday arrangements and resulted in consumers having less discretionary spending available for travel. However, this has been compensated by the high level of consumer demand for coach tours in the UK and Europe."
Looking ahead, the company is set to launch Lumina in 2027, a brand-new flagship coach offering, and the first launch since 2015's Luxuria.
Liam Race, CEO at Leger Shearings Group, explained that people "love the stress-free, ultra-comfortable side of coach travel – no flying, no airport drama, no hanging around wondering what's gone wrong. It's a kinder way to see Europe, and a more sustainable one. Lumina takes everything people already love about that experience and pushes it a step further. After more than a decade in the making, we can't wait to welcome you on board."
Leger Shearings Group website
Images: Leger Shearings Group
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