Glass & Sealed Units
The Difference is Clear
Inside Regency Glass: The Quiet Force About to Change UK Glazing
For more than 40 years, Regency Glass has been doing things differently; quietly building one of the UK’ s most
forward-thinking glazing manufacturers. Based in Leigh, Greater Manchester, the company began life in 1983 in a modest 2,000 sq ft unit on Brown Street South, founded by four partners: Harold Beazant, his son, Darren Beazant, along with his close friends Terry Bates and Roy Hilton.
From the start, the focus was on longterm thinking: consistency, quality, and a deep understanding of the craft. Demand rose quickly, and in 1985, Regency moved to a 7,000 sq ft facility and installed its first vertical glass washing and sealant machines— boosting daily production capacity from 30 to 180 units. It was the first of many bold, well-timed moves that would define the company’ s growth.
Over the decades, Regency’ s reputation has been built not on loud marketing but on strong relationships and a reliable product. It’ s still a family business. Darren remains fully involved in the company’ s day-to-day running and strategy; but now joined by his son, Bradley Beazant, as Chief Development Officer, and his daughter, Natalie Hartley as Chief Financial Officer.
Regency Glass in 1985
Regency Glass built in 1987
As the business prepares to launch a groundbreaking new product in early 2026- an ultra-thin glass triple-glazed unit( TGU) with the potential to shift the entire UK market- those principles haven’ t changed. But the scale certainly has …
A BUSINESS BUILT ON SOLID GROUND
After further growth and another relocation in 1990 to a 15,000 sq ft site on Hope Carr Street( later expanded to 35,000 sq ft), Regency continued to focus on steady progress. In 1993, it was awarded the prestigious British Standards Kitemark Certification— one of the few UK companies at the time to hold this standard, reinforcing its reputation for quality and compliance.
In 2000, Regency made its first serious move into automation, investing in a dual glass cutting system, two automated IGU lines, and its own toughening plant, laying the groundwork for the digital transformation that continues to shape the business today.
A second 15,000 sq ft facility followed in 2015, just across the road, until, by 2019, Regency had outgrown both sites. That year marked another major turning point: the move to a 110,000 sq ft, purpose-designed facility at Bridgewater Business Park in Leigh. It became the new heart of operations and allowed for further investment in technology, systems, and skilled people.
That forward momentum has never stopped. The most recent leap came in 2025 with the announcement of Regency’ s most ambitious project to date: a product and facility launch that will place it at the cutting edge of glazing in the UK.
LEARNING FROM THE GLOBAL MARKET
While the UK glazing industry has been slow to fully adopt high-performance triple glazing, the US and European markets have taken a more progressive stance.
In countries like Germany, the Netherlands, and Sweden, high-efficiency glazing has long been seen as a necessity; not an upgrade. Across North America, too, particularly in climate-sensitive zones, triple glazing is fast becoming the
76 AUGUST 2025 CLEARVIEW-UK. COM