County Durham family business expands team, invests in the local community and strengthens its mission to help businesses grow
Madhouse Media Ltd has announced a major new chapter in its growth story after moving into its new home in the heart of Chester-le-Street and appointing Lucy Horsman as Marketing Manager, taking the team to six.
Founded in 2017 by husband-and-wife team Nick and Lisa Danks, Madhouse started from a spare bedroom with a clear goal: to give businesses access to creative, practical and results-focused support without the jargon, inflated egos or one-size-fits-all agency approach.
Nearly a decade later, the County Durham agency has grown into a North East powerhouse, working with companies of all sizes — from start-ups and local independents to established, multi-million-pound businesses.
Now based at Bridge End Chambers on Front Street, Chester-le-Street, Madhouse is making a bold statement about its future and its commitment to the local business community.
The agency provides a wide range of services under one roof, from business cards, branding, print and workwear through to websites, SEO, Google Ads, social media, email marketing, CRM systems, automation, AI tools and fully managed marketing campaigns.
For Madhouse, the move is about more than extra space. It represents a bigger mission to bring energy, confidence and support back into the local business community at a time when many businesses are under pressure to stand out, stay visible and keep growing.
Managing Director Nick Danks said:
“Starting Madhouse from a spare bedroom in 2017 and seeing it grow into what it is today has been unbelievable. We’ve grafted hard, made mistakes, learned fast and built a team that genuinely cares about helping businesses move forward.
“This move to Chester-le-Street feels like a massive moment for us. We’re not just opening a bigger office; we’re planting our flag and saying we’re here to help businesses in Durham, Chester-le-Street and across the North East grow properly.
“We work with businesses at every stage, whether they need their first logo and business cards or a full marketing system that helps them generate leads, improve their brand and scale in a serious way. Our job is to make growth feel possible again.”
Operations Director Lisa Danks added:
“Madhouse has always been built around people. We’re a family business, but the whole team feels like family too. Everyone brings something different, and that close-knit culture is what makes the work better for our clients.
“The move gives us more room to grow, more space to welcome clients in, and more opportunity to support businesses face to face. We want people to feel they can pop in, have a conversation and get honest advice about what their business actually needs.
“We know how hard running a business can be, because we live it every day. That’s why we care so much about helping other business owners stay open, stay motivated and keep pushing forward.”
The appointment of Lucy Horsman as Marketing Manager marks another important step in the agency’s growth.
Lucy joins Madhouse at a key time as demand increases for joined-up marketing support, campaign strategy, content creation and digital growth services. Her role will strengthen the agency’s marketing department and give clients even more strategic support across social media, SEO, paid advertising, content and campaign planning.
Nick continued:
“Bringing Lucy into the team is a big move for us. She brings fresh ideas, strong marketing knowledge and the kind of energy we love at Madhouse. We’re building something special here, and adding the right people is a huge part of that.
“We don’t want to be another agency that just talks about growth. We want to be the team businesses turn to when they need ideas, action and results.”
With its new Chester-le-Street base, growing team and expanding service offering, Madhouse is positioning itself as a key creative and commercial support partner for businesses across County Durham and the wider North East.
The agency’s message is simple: local businesses do not need to face growth alone.
From a small start-up needing a professional identity to an established company looking to scale with marketing, design, digital systems and lead generation, Madhouse wants to be the team that helps make it happen.
Nick said:
“There’s so much talent, ambition and potential in this region. We want to play our part in helping businesses believe in themselves again, invest in their future and create something they’re proud of.
“This is a big move for Madhouse, but it’s also a statement about what we want to do next. We’re here to help, inspire and motivate. We’re here to bring ideas to life. And we’re here to back North East businesses all the way.”
Madhouse Media Website: Madhouse Media: Marketing, Design, Web & Print In Durham
