Bruton Knowles Targets Specialist Valuation Growth with Senior Leisure Sector Hires

National chartered surveying firm Bruton Knowles has strengthened its valuation offer with the appointment of two senior leisure and operational real estate specialists.

John Coggins and Henry Sayers have joined the firm to work alongside Sam Spencer, Partner and Specialist Markets Lead, as Bruton Knowles responds to growing demand for expert advice across complex asset classes.

The appointments bring significant additional experience across licensed leisure, holiday and residential parks, hotels, golf courses, visitor attractions, marinas and experiential leisure assets.

John joins Bruton Knowles as a Partner, from Avison Young, bringing extensive experience as a RICS Registered Valuer and specialist agent in the leisure sector. His work has included Red Book valuations for loan security, internal accounting, inheritance tax and asset management purposes, acting for major lenders, private clients and leading leisure operators.

John Coggins said: “There is a clear requirement in the market for valuation advice that reflects the complexity of operational real estate. Leisure assets are not straightforward bricks-and-mortar valuations. They require a detailed understanding of trading performance, market demand, occupational trends and the investment appetite behind each asset class.

“Bruton Knowles has a strong national platform and a clear ambition to grow in this area. That makes this a very exciting time to join the firm and help build a team focused on delivering practical, commercially grounded advice for clients.”

Henry also joins from Avison Young as a Senior Associate and is also a RICS Registered Valuer, with a strong track record in leisure valuations. His experience spans public houses, holiday and residential parks, golf courses, marinas and day visitor attractions, with previous project work including valuations for park operators, local authorities, leisure estates and sporting venues.

Together, the new team will support clients requiring robust, market-led valuation advice where operational performance, trading potential and sector knowledge are critical.

Sam Spencer, Partner and Specialist Markets Lead at Bruton Knowles, said: “These are assets where clients need more than a standard property assessment. They are often operational businesses as well as property interests, so understanding the market, income profile and specific risks behind each asset is essential.

“John and Henry bring exactly that depth of knowledge, which enables us to respond to increasing demand from lenders, operators, public bodies and private clients.”

The creation of the team forms part of Bruton Knowles’ wider strategy to grow its national advisory services and provide clients with access to sector-focused expertise across the UK.

James Bailey, Managing Partner at Bruton Knowles, said: “The appointment of John and Henry is a strong statement of intent and reflects our continued investment in high-quality people who can deliver expert, practical and commercially relevant advice.

“Building this national team under Sam’s leadership gives Bruton Knowles a dedicated platform for growth in specialist valuation and further strengthens the breadth of our national service.”

Bruton Knowles provides valuation, commercial property, utilities and infrastructure, compulsory purchase, land agency, estate management and property consultancy services to clients across the public and private sectors.