Danco proudly celebrated 50 years in the industry in 2025.
To mark this milestone, we hosted two days of hospitality at the prestigious Badminton Horse Trials. Our marquee occupied a prime position overlooking the iconic Badminton Lake, directly opposite the famous Lake Jump on the cross-country course. We were delighted to celebrate with valued clients past and present, alongside friends and family.
A number of guests enjoyed an exclusive course walk led by Tom Rowland, who was competing at the event. Tom and his outstanding horse Dreamliner narrowly missed a top-10 finish, achieving an impressive 12th place overall.
Alongside exceptional food and drink served throughout each day, our hospitality marquee featured a dedicated display wall showcasing Danco’s rich and distinguished history.
In 1967, Mervyn and May Dann founded Dann Catering, and in 1975, following the purchase of Bristol Rope & Cordage, the company was incorporated. The Danco Hire branch was born, supplying marquees to events including the 1975 edition of Badminton Horse Trials.
In 1992, Mervyn and May retired and their son Adrian Dann became Managing Director, with the company renamed Danco International. Family-owned and operated to this day, Adrian’s son Jamie Dann has since joined the business and now serves as Operations Director of the Icescape branch.
Though working nationwide, Danco remains proudly rooted in the West Country. The company began in the Old Bakehouse on Teewell Hill, Bristol, before relocating to its current headquarters in Coalpit Heath.
Always focused on growth and diversification, Danco introduced dog benching in the late 1970s, acquired Yeo Paull Marquees in 2001—bringing over a century of traditional marquee heritage—and purchased Icescape in 2014, expanding into real-ice rinks for the winter events market.
Innovation has long been central to the business. In 1981, Danco erected its first aluminium frame tent at Badminton—among the first of its kind in the UK—and by 1989 was manufacturing its own aluminium frame structures.
In 1996, Danco achieved BSI accreditation, and in 2011 became one of the first marquee companies to gain CHAS accreditation. In 1984, the company joined MUTA, with Adrian Dann serving as Chairman and executive committee member for many years. In 2019, he was honoured with induction into the MUTA Hall of Fame.
The 2000s brought significant challenges—Foot & Mouth in 2001, the financial crisis of 2008 and the Covid pandemic in 2020. Through resilience, the dedication of our loyal team and the continued support of our valued clients, Danco has successfully weathered them all.
In 2025, Danco reached a significant milestone, celebrating 50 years in business. To mark the occasion, we hosted a hospitality event at the prestigious Badminton Horse Trials 2025, securing a prime plot overlooking the renowned lakeside jumps.
