The History Of Berrys Coaches
Berrys Coaches is a family run business currently operating a fleet of over 45 coaches providing school services, private hire, day excursions and our famous London Superfast service linking London and the West Country. We have a range of standard and executive vehicles, varying in size from a 16 seat executive minibus to our 77 seat executive double deck coaches and 78 seat double deck buses and operate out of our new purpose built depot in Taunton.
Our popular London Service was started in 1981 and now includes three routes and up to six services a day operating from pick-up points throughout the West Country – Tiverton, Wellington, Taunton, N. Petherton, Bridgwater, Ilminster, S. Petherton, Yeovil, Ilchester, Wincanton, Street, Glastonbury, Shepton Mallet, Frome, Warminster & Codford Village.
The Evolution Of Berrys Coaches
Originally founded in 1920 by Clifford Berry as a truck and haulage business that was based in Bradford-on-Tone we only had one vehicle which converted to carrying passengers at weekends. The business evolved into a coach company and by 1965 had outgrown the premises in Bradford-on-Tone and moved to a purpose built depot on Galmington Trading Estate in Taunton in 1965.
The company continued to expand and in 1978 moved to a larger depot on Galmington Trading Estate, Taunton, and in 2014 it moved again to an even larger facility at Peter Clifford House, Great Western Way, Taunton; the new premises being named after Clifford Berry the founder of the business and his son Peter who died in 2014. Peter’s son Stuart ran the business and with his two sons, the fourth generation, who joined the business in 2015, nearly one hundred years on and endeavoured to provide the same great service that has characterised Berry’s Coaches from the early days.
As of November 21st 2025, Berrys Coaches are delighted to announce the next step in their journey. Berrys Coaches has now become an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT).
An EOT owns the company on behalf of its employees. This means that everyone at Berrys now has an interest in the company’s continued growth and success, and the opportunity to share directly in that success.
It is part of a process to ensure responsible succession planning at the company. As part of this transition, James Berry has taken over as Managing Director, with Stuart Berry taking on the role of Chairman.
Stuart Berry said:
“I am very proud of our workforce and deeply grateful to our customers for the loyalty they have shown over so many years. I have worked in the company for more than 45 years and I will continue to play a part, but it’s now time for the next generation to take things forward. We explored various options, but the EOT offered the best way to secure the future of the business and to recognise the contributions of our employees, many of whom have been with us for decades.”
James Berry said:
“I am delighted to be taking on the role of Managing Director. The move to employee ownership gives us an exciting opportunity to work even more closely together and enhance the service we offer to our customers. This change ensures that Berrys Coaches remains a company run by the people who know it best and have contributed to its success over the years.’’
The move reinforces our long-standing commitment to our employees, customers, and the wider South West community, ensuring the values of quality, reliability, and care that have defined the company for over a century will continue to guide its future.