This fall we opened a newly renovated and fully stocked Agency in a brand-new location in the town of Gulf Breeze - just across the bay from the beautiful city of Pensacola in Florida’s Northwest Panhandle. One of the main reasons for relocating was to make it a lot easier for many of our customers to reach us.
We are now just a day’s drive from Dallas, Houston, New Orleans, Memphis, Nashville, Birmingham and Atlanta - and only one flight away from eleven different international U.S. Airports. Add the wonderful weather, crystal clear waters, pristine beaches, friendly people and sheer positive energy of the place and you can see why moving here was such an easy decision!
The new Agency itself is housed in an old warehouse space that has been tastefully repurposed to our design. While it is impossible to replicate the history, grandeur and ambience of our factory in England, the new showroom has all of the hallmarks that make it still recognizably Westley Richards - an inviting and relaxing atmosphere where you will find a level of service you would expect from one of the world’s most prestigious names in gun making. We also stock the same carefully assembled range of leather goods, shooting accessories and apparel offered in our English showroom and factory. The perfect environment for customers to see, touch and feel the quality for which Westley Richards is famed.
I am proud to say the Westley Richards’ promise, to make “as good a gun as can be made”, is matched by our commitment to ensuring a great all-round customer experience. In today’s world, where most things can be bought online with the click of a button, we believe a ‘bricks and mortar’ store allows us to deliver a truly personal service where customers are given all the time, care and attention they need. With a U.S. Agency run by an expert team that holds to the same exacting standards as those of Westley Richards in England, we look forward to welcoming you to Gulf Breeze and sharing with you our pursuit of excellence.
vance daigle on November 7, 2017 at 1:24 pm
Well Said LD!!
I have been blessed to visit both the Westley factory in Birmingham and the Westley agency in Gulf Breeze. I could not say more strongly when I tell my fellow bloggers to go to both locations. One could not be treated more kindly and have a day or two of a lifetime, if you like to see all that the British gun trade is about at both locations.
This summer I was able to bring my Bride and Sons along with girlfriend to a very nice resort in Pensacola. (very short drive to the Agency from resort) For a day or two as I hung out with LD looking at all he has to see, my family enjoyed time at the beach, at the end of the day we would all rendezvous for a wonderful dinner at one of the many fine dinning restaurants.... A WIN---WIN!!!
On the last day I brought all with me to the Westley Agency and allowed them to pick out an item that appealed to each one, as a reminder of a great family trip. Yes, they had items for young men, one son wanted Courtney boots, the other wanted one of Westley leather bound writing journal. For the two women, one my beautiful bride and other a girlfriend of my son, It was scarf's and leather goods....Guns were off the table....HAHA!!!!!
Anyway much as a young child in school, telling how he spent a part of summer, this is how my family and I scratched an itch in Penscola for a long weekend this summer. I could not recommend more, for a man that wants to see Westley and spend time with family. We were all treated as royalty!!!
I must say LD keeps a nicely stocked bar for the afternoons!! CHEERS.
PS: I was indeed blessed to buy myself a wonderful bolt action rifle from the many used guns the Agency has in stock!!! Of course that was only after two days of fondling all the guns in the vault, new and used, it must have taken LD a week to wipe off my prints and drool....HAHAHA!!!!
In Christ
Vance,
Byron Christie on November 7, 2017 at 7:30 pm
I would like to thank WR for their dedication to this important art and congratulate them for their success. Simon and family and Trigger, et. al., carry forth a great tradition and have shown great faith in themselves. WR's continuing excellence in gunmaking is obvious to all and their investment in new talent bodes well for the future of the craft which otherwise I would find in doubt.
Kudos to WR for their faith in the USA. I for one will continue to support the maker of the best guns and rifles on the planet!
Byron.
Neill on November 9, 2017 at 10:15 am
That is a great looking store, as befitting the premier English gunmaker.
One of the things I admire about the US is your attitude to distance, no business here in the UK would dare say "only a days drive..." (Actually, unless the store was in Penzance and the customer Inverness you probably could not be a days drive away) but I hope you get my point!
Good luck, and every success to you going forward.
David Hodo on November 10, 2017 at 2:50 am
Congratulations once again LD! It appears that your English decor has finally arrived. Will try to make it out in the next week or two to see for myself!
Hard to follow your post Vance, but I concur with you completely.
David Hodo
Peter Buckley. on November 10, 2017 at 6:01 am
Hi LD
Thank you for posting views of the agency in Gulf Breeze, I'm sure that anyone from the UK, myself included, would feel completely at home with the surroundings you have created, looks so typical "Westley Richards"!
Congratulations and all the best for the future.
Kind regards. Peter.
David Hodo on November 21, 2017 at 8:54 pm
Finally made it to the Gulf Breeze shop today to see the new finished look. It actually looks better than the photos!. Have only been to two other shops that compete. One in Houston, Texas and the other in Birmingham, England. I seem to see a considerable resemblance to the one in Birmingham!!!
David Hodo
Keith Fahl on July 21, 2020 at 2:49 pm
LD
I enjoyed reading the Explora about the US agency and remembering the great time I had with you there last December. It was truly a pleasure finally getting to spend a day and a half enjoying the new USA location of Westley Richards. Keep up the good work and looking forward to the next visit.
Keith