Kelsey Media

What Kelsey Media does

Kelsey Media (legal entity Kelsey Publishing Limited, company number 02387149, trading as Kelsey Media Ltd 05822990) is a UK-based, independently owned multi-media publishing business headquartered at The Granary, Downs Court, Yalding, Kent. Founded in 1992, the company has grown from a traditional print publisher into a network operating more than 60 multimedia brands across classic and performance motoring, transport and machinery, technology, hobbies, farming and smallholding, fitness and wellbeing, and music. Following the February 2025 acquisition of Mortons Media Group, the portfolio expanded to over 80 brands across 15 markets, with a second office retained in Horncastle, Lincolnshire.

The company's product surface spans specialist print magazines (titles such as Amateur Photographer, Stuff, Tractor & Machinery, Ships Monthly, Classic & Vintage Commercials, Trucking, and Uncut), digital subscriptions delivered via Pocketmags and branded mobile apps, an e-commerce store (Kelsey Shop) for back issues, merchandise, books and special editions, and a live-events business including Tractor World, Ford Fair Silverstone, Japfest, TRAX, Volksworld Show, Your Horse Live, and The Big One. Pricing for subscriptions is annual (£1 per issue UK delivery, £4-5 Europe, £4.50-6 ROW) with introductory offers and direct-debit options.

The business model is diversified across five revenue streams: recurring magazine subscriptions (print and digital), one-off product sales through the e-commerce storefront, advertising sold both directly and via third-party sales houses (Talk Media Sales, Tandem Media, TigerBee Media, Hill View Media, David Lane) and programmatic partners (Google Ad Manager, Taboola, Ultimedia, Facebook), live-event ticket sales and exhibitor fees, and an affiliate program paying up to £20 per sale. Distribution is hybrid: direct-to-consumer via the Kelsey Shop and Pocketmags digital platform, trade sales to independent specialist retailers and pop-up stands, sales-house routes for advertising inventory, and owned/partnered venues for events (Silverstone, Goodwood, Farnborough International, Stoneleigh Park). The customer base is fragmented across consumer hobbyist segments (low individual concentration) and B2B advertisers seeking access to engaged enthusiast audiences. The company self-describes as 'one of the fastest growing media businesses in the UK' with revenue figures undisclosed; growth has been executed primarily through M&A, including Uncut from NME Networks in May 2023, Your Horse Live and The Big One from Bauer Media in February 2024, Mortons Media Group in February 2025, and Truck & Driver from DVV Media International in February 2026, alongside selective divestitures (Performance VW to Orchid Euro in September 2024; Motorsport News to MSV in September 2025).

Name

Kelsey Media

Legal name

Kelsey Publishing Limited

Website

https://kelsey.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Kelsey Media is an independently owned UK multi-media publisher operating 80+ specialist enthusiast brands across motoring, transport, technology, hobbies, farming, fitness, and music, monetized through subscriptions, advertising, e-commerce, live events, and affiliate sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialist Magazine Publishing

NAICS

Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers (5131), Book Publishers (513130)

SIC

Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721)

akta.pro primary industry

Publishing Networks & Multi-Author Publications (MPACAIAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Specialty & Niche Channel Distribution (Religious, Comic Shops, Specialty Retail) (MPAJAKAH), Community-Integrated Publishing Platforms (MPACAIAI)

Keywords

• Specialist publishing
• Magazine subscriptions
• Enthusiast media
• Live events
• Multi-media brands

Headquarters

HQ city

Cudham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Magazine Subscriptions (Print and Digital): Kelsey Media generates recurring revenue through print and digital magazine subscriptions sold via direct mail, website, and third-party sales platforms. Subscriptions include introductory offers, free trials, and direct debit payment options.
2. One-off Product Sales: Single issue magazines, special editions, merchandise, books, back issues, and guides sold through the Kelsey Shop e-commerce platform.
3. Live Events: Kelsey Media owns and operates major consumer events including Ford Fair Silverstone, Japfest, TRAX, Volksworld Show, Your Horse Live, The Big One fishing show, and Tractor World. Revenue from ticket sales, exhibitor fees, and venue partnerships.
4. Affiliate/Trade Sales: Affiliate program allowing content creators and influencers to earn commission on sales (up to £20 per sale). Trade sales to independent specialist shops for magazine retail.
5. Advertising: Revenue from advertising across print and digital platforms, including tailored advertising via Facebook and social media, Google Ad Manager, Taboola, and Ultimedia partnerships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Kelsey Media is a UK specialist publisher and multi-media network that produces, sells, and distributes more than 60 enthusiast magazine brands across print and digital, alongside live consumer events and related merchandise. Its portfolio spans motoring, transport and machinery, hobbies, fitness and wellbeing, technology, equestrian, angling, agriculture, and smallholding niches, with products sold direct-to-consumer via subscriptions, single issues, the Kelsey Shop, and at major live events.

Product overview

Kelsey Media is a UK-based multi-media publishing company operating a portfolio of 60+ brands across print magazines, digital subscriptions, events, and books. The core offering consists of specialist print and digital magazine subscriptions organized into brand categories: Transport & Machinery (tractors, trucks, ships, aviation), Technology (photography, gadgets), Classic & Prestige Cars, Performance & Modified Cars, Hobbies (gardening, fishing, equestrian), Farming & Smallholding, and Fitness/Wellbeing. Products are distributed through Kelsey Shop (e-commerce), digital platforms including Pocketmags, retail distribution, and trade sales. The company also owns and operates live events including Tractor World, Ford Fair, Japfest, and TRAX. Recent growth has come through acquisitions of Mortons Media Group, Your Horse Live, The Big One, and Uncut magazine.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Classic & Prestige Cars: Magazine brand covering classic and prestige automobiles.
• Farming, Fisheries & Smallholding
• Healthy Active Living
• Hobbies
• Performance & Modified Cars
• Technology
• Transport & Machinery
• Amateur Photographer
• Stuff
• Classic & Vintage Commercials
• Ships Monthly
• Tractor & Machinery
• Tractor World

Products and services

• Tractor World UK's largest tractor and machinery gathering event featuring modern and vintage tractors, historic farming displays, garden exhibits, lawnmowers, classic Land Rovers, classic trucks, stationary engines and miniature steamers. Targeted at agricultural machinery enthusiasts.
• Tractor & Machinery World's best-selling tractor magazine launched in 1994. Covers veteran, vintage, post-vintage and classic tractors from the 1940s through to the 1990s with restoration advice, in-depth articles, nostalgic photographs, and historical profiles. Sold via subscription and single issues through Kelsey Shop and trade retail.
• Ford & Fordson Tractors Number one magazine for Ford, Fordson and New Holland fans, and official magazine of the Ford & Fordson Association. Covers early Fordsons through latest Ford models with readers' stories, buyers' guides, show news, and technical advice. Distributed via subscription and trade sales.
• Amateur Photographer World's oldest weekly photographic magazine, established in 1884. Respected authority for news and reviews on photographic equipment and techniques. Sold via print and digital subscription.
• Stuff Technology and gadgets magazine that finds the best gadgets, gear and games. World's best-selling technology magazine helping readers discover and purchase tech products. Distributed via subscription and single issues.
• Classic & Vintage Commercials UK's biggest-selling magazine covering historic lorries and working classics. Details restoration projects and features on classic commercial vehicles. Sold via subscription and single issues.
• Classic Massey & Ferguson Enthusiast Independent magazine devoted to Ferguson and Massey Ferguson tractors, covering the iconic red and grey tractor models. Sold via subscription and single issues.
• Heritage Commercials Britain's brightest full-colour magazine for classic and vintage commercial vehicle enthusiasts, celebrating historic transport heritage. Distributed via subscription and trade retail.
• Old Glory Magazine celebrating immaculately restored old machinery and Britain's rich industrial and transport heritage. Sold via subscription and single issues.
• Ships Monthly World's leading international shipping magazine providing coverage for seafarers and enthusiasts. Distributed via subscription with international delivery.
• Stationary Engine Magazine covering the world of stationary engines used in various applications. Sold via subscription and single issues.
• Tractor & Farming Heritage Magazine delivering latest news and developments in the tractor and machinery world with nostalgic content. Distributed via subscription and trade retail.
• Trucking Magazine with a unique blend of news, reviews, road tests and information covering all levels of the trucking business. Sold via subscription and single issues through Kelsey Shop and trade retail.
• Truckstop News Expert-written publication providing valuable information including legal and insurance advice and industry updates for the trucking sector. Distributed via subscription and trade retail.
• Vintage Roadscene Britain's leading road transport history magazine taking readers on nostalgic trips through transport history. Sold via subscription and single issues.
• World of Ships 100-page bookazine providing in-depth coverage of maritime or shipping topics with emphasis on visual content. Sold as one-off purchase via Kelsey Shop.
• Ford Fair Silverstone Major consumer motoring show held at Silverstone, part of Kelsey Media's live events portfolio. Revenue from ticket sales, exhibitor fees and venue partnerships.
• Japfest Japanese car enthusiast show held as part of Kelsey Media's live events portfolio. Revenue from ticket sales, exhibitor fees and venue partnerships.
• TRAX Performance and modified car show held as part of Kelsey Media's live events portfolio. Revenue from ticket sales, exhibitor fees and venue partnerships.
• Volksworld Show VW enthusiast show held as part of Kelsey Media's live events portfolio. Revenue from ticket sales, exhibitor fees and venue partnerships.
• Your Horse Live UK's largest equestrian retail event with 23,000 annual visitors, reuniting with the existing Your Horse magazine and online brands after acquisition from Bauer Media in February 2024. Revenue from ticket sales and exhibitor fees.
• The Big One UK's largest angling retail event with more than 20,000 annual visitors, acquired from Bauer Media in February 2024. Revenue from ticket sales and exhibitor fees.
• Kelsey Shop Direct-to-consumer e-commerce platform selling subscriptions, single issues, special editions, merchandise, books, and back issues across Kelsey's brands with international delivery options.
• Pocketmags Digital Subscriptions Digital subscription access via Pocketmags, allowing readers to access digital magazine editions on phone, tablet, and laptop by creating an account and activating subscriptions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reaches millions of people every day across multi-media platforms
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor, major and core.

• DVV Media InternationalminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 4 February 2026DVV Media International sold Truck & Driver magazine to Kelsey Media, completing DVV's brand divestment program. Existing T&D subscribers received Trucking Magazine under Kelsey's ownership.
• MotorSport Vision (MSV)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 12 September 2025MSV acquired Motorsport News weekly publication from Kelsey Media. Kelsey's final edition was Thursday 25 September 2025. Editor Matt James and Deputy Editor Graham Keilloh continued with MSV.
• Mortons Media GroupmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 February 2025Kelsey Media acquired Mortons Media Group Limited, a leading specialist publishing company with strengths in motorcycle, modelling, rail, and gardening magazines, plus events division. Purchase completed by March 2025. Mortons printing and distribution operations retained by former owners.
• Orchid Euro LLCminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 4 September 2024Kelsey Media sold Performance VW magazine to Orchid Euro LLC (owned by Jamie Orr and Editor Elliott Roberts). Sale completed September 30, 2024. Kelsey supported retail distribution for six months.
• Bauer Media GroupcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 February 2024Bauer Media sold Your Horse Live (UK's largest equestrian retail event with 23,000 annual visitors) and The Big One (UK's largest angling retail event with 20,000+ annual visitors) to Kelsey Media. Three Bauer employees transferred to Kelsey.
• NME NetworkscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 26 May 2023NME Networks sold Uncut magazine (music publication established 1997) to Kelsey Media. Deal included print publications, social and digital assets. All Uncut staff transferred with the sale.
• Talk Media Sales, Tandem Media, TigerBee Media, Hill View Media Ltd, David LanecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales houses used by Kelsey Media for advertising sales. Personal information held includes name, job title, company and contact details.
• Google Ad Manager, Taboola, UltimediacoreTechnology or IntegrationAdvertising technology partners used to deliver tailored advertising, sponsorship, and video content. Use cookies, pixels and similar technology to collect viewing information.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Future plc: UK-based specialist media group with comparable enthusiast verticals (technology, motoring, sports, hobbies). Both operate multi-brand portfolios combining print, digital, and events, although Future is significantly larger and publicly listed, providing a clear comparable on scale and digital pivot execution.
• Immediate Media Co: UK specialist publisher of enthusiast magazines (gardening, cookery, crafts, cycling, TV listings). Closely matches Kelsey's print-rooted, vertical-specialist model and event tie-ins, and operates adjacent hobbyist verticals that compete with Kelsey's Hobbies and Farming segments.
• Haymarket Media Group: Independent UK media company publishing specialist consumer and B2B titles across motoring, marketing, and design. Comparable business model of passion-vertical specialty publishing with shared print heritage and digital extension, and similar private ownership structure.
• Dennis Publishing: UK-based independent publisher known for enthusiast titles (The Week, Coach, sci-tech, motoring). Historically a direct specialist-magazine competitor, now mostly digital-first but still relevant as a comparable UK independent publisher of enthusiast content.

Broad incumbents

• Bauer Media Group: Large diversified European media conglomerate. Kelsey's counterparty in the 2024 acquisition of Your Horse Live and The Big One events, indicating overlapping verticals (equestrian, angling). Major competitive overlap but operates at significantly greater scale across many non-specialist consumer and broadcast segments.
• TI Media (formerly Time Inc UK): UK subsidiary/IP holder of historic Time Inc titles and other mass-market consumer magazines. Operates across similar print-plus-digital mechanics but with broader mass-market verticals rather than Kelsey's specialist niche focus.
• Hearst UK: UK arm of Hearst publishing lifestyle, fashion, and motoring titles (Country Living, Cosmopolitan, Car & Driver UK). Overlaps with Kelsey's lifestyle and motoring enthusiast audiences and competes for the same advertising inventory.

Others

• Mortons Media Group: Now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kelsey Media following the 2025 acquisition, having previously been a directly comparable independent specialist publisher (motorcycles, modelling, rail, gardening). Listed here as they were a peer pre-acquisition and the integration informs Kelsey's strategic direction.

Regional players

• MotorSport Vision (MSV): UK motorsport venue operator and now owner of Motorsport News (acquired from Kelsey in 2025). Relevant as a buyer of one of Kelsey's titles and as a competitor in motorsport enthusiast events, although MSV's primary business is circuit and event operation rather than publishing.

Emerging players

• Accelerate Media (brands e.g. Accelerate MNI/MCN): UK specialist enthusiast digital publisher born from the MCN (Motor Cycle News) divestment by Bauer. Emerging direct competitor in the two-wheel enthusiast vertical where Kelsey/Mortons also publish, signals where the digital-first specialist publishing model is heading.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/KELSEYGroup
• Facebookfacebook.com/KELSEYGroup

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kelsey Media