WHO ARE WE?

Roy Holbrook oversees EIGHT Winning Post betting shops in the Bristol region with the promise of another to come at Portwall Lane, opposite Redcliffe Church in the city.

The Hartcliffe-born Holbrook was seldom far from sport – in the seventies he kept goal for Suburban League side Teyfant Athletic, helping them to a famous Bosley Cup success while a junior side. And it stands to reason that he was a regular punter at his local bookmakers, that after undertaking a bookmaking course when he was in his mid-teens.

“I used to go into my local betting shop everyday to try my luck and I had a strong sense that I could do the job myself,” he explained.
“I had my own scaffolding business but I decided to sell up and have a go at bookmaking. My wife Annette and I managed to secure our first premises at Filton Avenue and get it up to scratch and all these years later Winning Post is celebrating its 20th anniversary.
“I suppose it was a gamble at the time and we relied a lot on our regular customers but it’s a gamble that has paid handsome dividends for us.”

There’s very much a family flavour about Winning Post. Roy’s sons Lee and David, both in their twenties, and son-in-law Darren, run shops at Clifton, Filton Avenue and Knowle respectively. For Roy, 51, it’s a case of these days keeping close guard on the credit business.

“We’ve grown to become the biggest independent bookmaker in Bristol and football is a big part of what we do, together with horse racing, it goes without saying,” he said.

“As most people know we have a shop at Ashton Gate Stadium, but if there’s any prices to be laid on semi-professional football then we’ll always match them. We’re well renowned for taking big bets!

“You can bet with your credit card or open a deposit account and you can collect your money at your convenience at any of our branches.”