Stuart Thornton Joins Alliance Leisure

As Alliance Leisure continues to grow, we are delighted to introduce our newest starter, Stuart Thornton, as our new Finance Director.

Stuart joins us from outside of sector having previously been finance director for housebuilding and finance companies based globally.  Growing up in Leeds, he then studied and lived in Liverpool for a number of years, before settling in the Bristol area.

Get to know Stuart in this introductory Q&A! 
What’s your career highlight to date?
“After a lot of time, effort and sacrifices’, becoming a qualified chartered accountant has to be the highlight. It was 10 years of hard work and the springboard for my career.”
You’ve got a free weekend, what are you up to?
“If we had a free warm and dry weekend, we would go camping at the River Dart Country Park in Devon, where we would climb waterfalls at Becky Falls, raft in the nearby river and spend the weekend eating BBQ’d meat!”
Tell us something about yourself that most people wouldn’t know?
“When I was 12/13 years old I use to be an OK high board diver, winning comps against future GB divers who went onto the Olympics – I got lucky! To the dismay of my mum, I gave it all up for Scouting! Dib Dib Dob Dob!”
Have you ever met anyone famous?
“After a lengthy walk from my home, I would trick or treat at Tony Yeboah (scored one of the greatest Premier League goals in history), Gary MacAlister’s, Brian Deans and David Battys houses – all Leeds Utd Legends of the 90’s! They rarely answered but was worth trying for the few times they did!”
What’s your favourite sport/team?
“Sport: Football and rock climbing – not great at either though!
Team: Bristol City FC/Keynsham Town FC Juniors (middle son’s team!)”
Where’s the most extravagant place you’ve been to?
‘Honeymoon to Greece, island hopping for 3 weeks – first week was extravagant but after a week being told I could not wear shorts to dinner (trousers only in the baking heat!?) my wife and I quickly went back to back-packing around the islands staying in more basic accommodation…more money left over for Greek Gyros and beers!’
You’ve got a £20 credit on Uber Eats, what are you ordering?
‘A Gyros, chips and beer’
Favourite holiday destination?
‘Costa Adeje – Tenerife – great weather, food, beaches, watersports and lots for the kids to do! Keeps them off their screens for a short while!’
Meet the Rest of the Team