Agency ‘plants flag’ with Chester-le-Street base

A County Durham creative agency has moved into a new Chester-le-Street base and expanded its team as it continues to grow across the North East.

Madhouse Media Ltd has relocated to Bridge End Chambers on Front Street, marking a new chapter for the family-run business.

The agency, founded in 2017 by husband-and-wife team Nick and Lisa Danks, has also appointed Lucy Horsman as marketing manager, taking its team to six.

Madhouse began from a spare bedroom with a focus on providing practical, creative and results-driven support for businesses.

It has since grown into an agency working with start-ups, independent firms and established companies across the region.

The company provides a wide range of services, including branding, print, workwear, websites, SEO, Google Ads, social media, email marketing, CRM systems, automation, AI tools and managed marketing campaigns.

Nick says the Chester-le-Street move reflects the agency’s commitment to supporting the local business community at a time when many firms are under pressure to stand out and grow.

He 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.”

Nick added: “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.”

Lucy’s appointment will strengthen Madhouse’s marketing department, with a focus on campaign strategy, content creation, social media, SEO, paid advertising and digital growth.

The agency says its expanded team and new base will help it provide more joined-up support for businesses seeking marketing, design, digital systems and lead generation services.

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.”

Nick added: “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.”

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