South Downs Water
South Downs Water is a family-owned UK natural mineral water producer bottling sustainably packaged still and sparkling water from a protected artesian spring near Chichester, supplying hospitality venues, offices, events, and homes across the UK.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1990
- HeadquartersSouthbourne, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What South Downs Water does
South Downs Water is a family-owned UK natural mineral water producer founded on April 7, 1990, when the Windsor family built a bottling plant at a protected artesian spring near Chichester on the Sussex/Hampshire border. The spring, originally opened in 1918 to supply the Ministry of Defence during the First World War and later used as an ice factory before falling dormant, draws water from 420 feet underground where it is naturally filtered through the chalk layers of the South Downs. The water carries Natural Mineral Water designation, with a pH of 7.5, calcium content of 90mg/L, and low sodium; no chemical treatment is required. The company holds Salsa and NSF certifications and operates from its headquarters in Southbourne, Emsworth, with production at the Chichester bottling plant.
The product range spans multiple packaging formats: 100% recycled PET (rPET) plastic bottles in 330ml, 500ml, and 1.5L sizes; glass bottles in 330ml and 750ml; 330ml aluminum cans; and 19L/11L water cooler bottles that are sanitized and refilled up to 50 times. In March 2020, the company became one of the first UK bottled drink suppliers to convert to 100% rPET packaging, and added canned water the same year. Mains-fed and hot water dispensers complement the bottle-fed cooler offering for offices and enterprise customers.
South Downs Water generates revenue through direct-to-consumer home delivery subscriptions (with a 10% discount), trade supply to hospitality venues, water cooler rental and maintenance contracts from £7.50 per month, bespoke branded water for events and corporate clients, and a contract filling service. Its customer base includes The Ivy Collection (40+ restaurants nationwide), Goodwood Estate, Marriott Hotels, The Dorchester, Majestic Wine, and Bill's Restaurant. The company has been independently led by Managing Director Will Windsor since 2013, employs between 11 and 50 people, and serves customers across Sussex, Hampshire, Surrey, London, and the wider UK, Wales, and Scotland via direct delivery and distributor partners such as Aqua Amore.
South Downs Water firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- South Downs Water
- Legal name
- South Downs Water Ltd.
- Website
- https://southdownswater.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1990
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- South Downs Water is a family-owned UK natural mineral water producer bottling sustainably packaged still and sparkling water from a protected artesian spring near Chichester, supplying hospitality venues, offices, events, and homes across the UK.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
South Downs Water industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Bottled Water
- NAICS
- Bottled Water Manufacturing (312112)
- SIC
- Beverages (2080), Bottled & Canned Soft Drinks & Carbonated Waters (2086)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Mineral Water Bottling (Naturally Mineral) (AFAFACAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Sparkling/Carbonated Bottled Water Production (AFAFACAE), Bulk Bottled Water Production (Large Format, Home/Office Delivery) (AFAFACAH), Bottled Water (Still, Sparkling, Enhanced) (CRADAHAC)
Keywords
Where South Downs Water is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Southbourne
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
South Downs Water business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Bottled and Canned Water Sales: One-time purchase and subscription models for still and sparkling natural mineral water in various packaging formats. 10% subscription discount available. Minimum 4 cases for free delivery.
- Water Cooler Rental and Maintenance: Water cooler units supplied and maintained on quarterly basis for offices and businesses. Rental from £7.50 per month. Includes installation, sanitation, and regular maintenance visits.
- Bespoke Branded Water: Custom-branded bottled and canned water for hotels, restaurants, corporate branding, events, racecourses, conferences, and weddings. Small minimum order quantities apply.
- Trade/Wholesale Supply: Supply to hospitality venues, hotels, restaurants, pubs, wedding venues, golf clubs, cafes. Direct delivery with distributors used for wider reach.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Still Glass 750ml Case of 12 - £16.98 |
| Subscription | Monthly | Sparkling Glass 750ml Case of 12 - £17.36 |
| Subscription | Monthly | Still Glass 330ml Case of 24 - £19.61 |
| Subscription | Monthly | Still 1.5L Case of 12 - £13.78 |
| Subscription | Monthly | Sparkling 500ml Case of 24 - £15.34 |
| Subscription | Monthly | Sparkling 1.5L Case of 12 - £14.47 |
| Subscription | Monthly | Canned Sparkling 330ml Case of 24 - £16.36 |
| Subscription | Monthly | Still 500ml Case of 24 - £14.58 |
| Subscription | Monthly | Still 330ml Case of 24 - £14.24 |
| Subscription | Monthly | Water Cooler Rental - from £7.50/month |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | 19L/11L Water Cooler Bottles |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels9 records
South Downs Water product offering
Product offeringCore offering
South Downs Water manufactures and sells natural mineral water drawn from a protected artesian spring 420ft underground near Chichester in England's South Downs. The product range includes still and sparkling mineral water packaged in 100% rPET plastic bottles (330ml, 500ml, 1.5L), glass bottles (330ml, 750ml), aluminum cans (330ml), and 19L/11L water cooler bottles, sold via direct home delivery, online shop, trade supply, and bespoke branded water services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Natural Mineral Water (Plastic Bottles) Still and sparkling natural mineral water packaged in 100% recycled plastic (rPET) bottles in 330ml, 500ml and 1.5L formats, sold via online shop, subscription and trade supply to consumers, offices and hospitality.
- Natural Mineral Water (Glass Bottles) Still and sparkling natural mineral water packaged in premium glass bottles (330ml and 750ml), targeted at home consumers, hospitality and gift/gifting use cases.
- Canned Natural Mineral Water Still and sparkling natural mineral water packaged in infinitely recyclable 330ml aluminum cans, sold by the case, targeting sustainability-conscious consumers and events.
- Bespoke Branded Bottled Water Custom-branded still and sparkling bottled and canned natural mineral water for hotels, restaurants, corporate events, racecourses, conferences, weddings and brand activations, with small MOQs and design assistance.
- Bottled Water Coolers / Dispensers Rental water cooler dispensers (bottle-fed, hot and cold) supplied to offices, businesses and homes on monthly rental contracts starting from £7.50 per month, including installation and quarterly sanitation/maintenance visits.
- Water Dispenser Bottles (19L / 11L) Refillable 19L and 11L water cooler bottles supplied to office and home cooler customers, sanitized and refilled up to 50 times to reduce single-use plastic.
- Mains-fed Water Dispensers Mains-fed water dispensers connected directly to the building water supply, providing an alternative to bottle-fed coolers for offices and businesses.
- Hot Water Dispensers Hot water dispensers supplied alongside cooler ranges for offices, hospitality and homes requiring instant hot water.
- Contract Filling Service Contract filling/bottling service using the Southbourne bottling plant capacity for third-party brands requiring natural mineral water bottling.
Quantifiable outcome
- 90mg/L calcium content - over 10% of recommended daily calcium in one litre
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use South Downs Water
Customer profileNamed customers19 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
South Downs Water technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
South Downs Water partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- Newbury RacecoursecorePartnership announced May 2026 bringing Premium Natural Mineral Water to one of Britain's most historic sporting venues. South Downs Water supplies across the racecourse for racegoers, hospitality guests, and event attendees. Partnership reflects shared commitment to quality, sustainability, and locally sourced British products.
- The Ivy CollectionflagshipSouth Downs Water is now stocked in every Ivy Collection restaurant across the UK (40+ restaurants nationwide). The partnership brings naturally filtered mineral water to The Ivy's iconic dining destinations. South Downs Water was selected for its refined quality, sustainable packaging (glass and recycled PET), and commitment to quality ingredients matching The Ivy's philosophy.
- Goodwood EstateflagshipOfficial Water Supplier to Goodwood Estate. Supplies all Goodwood venues including Goodwood Racecourse, Glorious Goodwood, Festival of Speed, and Goodwood Revival. Partnership supports local sourcing and sustainability goals, reducing food miles and carbon emissions.
- Aqua AmorecoreSpecialist bottled water distributor for over 16 years, proudly offering South Downs Water to homes and businesses across London. Enables South Downs Water reach beyond direct delivery area.
- West Sussex MindminorSouth Downs Water selected West Sussex Mind as its charity of the year to support mental health initiatives. Supports Wear it Blue campaign and raises awareness for mental health services.
- StonepillowminorLocal charity supported by South Downs Water through charity events, initiatives, and fundraisers.
- St Wilfrid's HospiceminorLocal hospice charity supported by South Downs Water through charity events and fundraisers.
- Children on the EdgeminorInternational charity supported by South Downs Water through charity events and initiatives.
- Winston's WishminorCharity for bereaved children supported by South Downs Water through charity events and fundraisers.
- Chilgrove SpiritscoreChilgrove Dry Gin distilled using South Downs Natural Mineral Water. Local producer partnership showcasing South Downs water quality.
- Noble and StaceminorHandcrafted chocolate company creating products using South Downs Natural Mineral Water.
- Goodwood Farmer, Butcher ChefcoreGoodwood's sustainable restaurant created special South Downs Water Virgin Mojito for Dry January. Partnership includes menu collaboration highlighting local sourcing.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
South Downs Water competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Iskilde: Danish premium natural mineral water brand with strong sustainability credentials and premium hospitality positioning. Comparable regional premium natural mineral water producer targeting similar design-conscious, sustainability-focused B2B buyers.
- Aqua Amore: Specialist UK premium bottled water distributor active for 16+ years, selling South Downs Water and other premium waters across London. Comparable distributor/category-specialist with overlapping premium water retail relationships.
Direct peers
- Thirsty Work: UK water cooler and bottled water supplier with comparable B2B office/hospitality channel model, subscription-based rental service, and direct-to-consumer delivery. Direct competitor in the water cooler rental segment.
- Highland Spring: UK's largest independent bottled water brand, sourcing natural mineral water from the Scottish Highlands. Direct competitor in the UK premium natural mineral water category with similar multi-format packaging (glass, PET, cans) and sustainability positioning. Most directly comparable independent peer.
- Belu Water: UK premium bottled water brand with strong sustainability positioning (100% recycled bottles, B Corp certified). Direct competitor in the premium hospitality and events channel with comparable ESG narrative to SDW.
- Harrogate Spring Water: Yorkshire-based natural mineral water brand bottled at source. Comparable regional UK mineral water producer with similar B2B hospitality focus, water cooler service, and premium positioning against multinationals.
- Brecon Carreg: Welsh natural mineral water brand, sold in UK retailers and hospitality. Comparable regional premium mineral water producer with similar sustainability credentials and focus on local sourcing.
Emerging players
- Yes Spring Water: UK-based spring water brand in canned format with sustainability positioning. Emerging player with comparable packaging format (aluminum cans) and overlap in the sustainable bottled water consumer segment.
- CanO Water: UK-based canned water brand focused on sustainability (aluminum cans as plastic alternative). Comparable emerging player with strong sustainability narrative and overlapping packaged water SKU set targeting similar eco-conscious consumers.
Broad incumbents
- Buxton Water: Nestlé-owned UK bottled water brand sourced from the Peak District. Larger incumbent in the UK bottled water market with overlapping natural mineral water positioning but vastly greater distribution and marketing scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
South Downs Water social profiles
Digital presenceSouth Downs Water financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
South Downs Water leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
South Downs Water funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
South Downs Water M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about South Downs Water
What does South Downs Water do?
South Downs Water manufactures and sells natural mineral water drawn from a protected artesian spring 420ft underground near Chichester in England's South Downs. The product range includes still and sparkling mineral water packaged in 100% rPET plastic bottles (330ml, 500ml, 1.5L), glass bottles (330ml, 750ml), aluminum cans (330ml), and 19L/11L water cooler bottles, sold via direct home delivery, online shop, trade supply, and bespoke branded water services.
Is South Downs Water a public or private company?
South Downs Water is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was South Downs Water founded?
South Downs Water was founded in 1990. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is South Downs Water based?
South Downs Water is headquartered in Southbourne, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does South Downs Water make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Bottled and Canned Water Sales are the primary driver. The others are water Cooler Rental and Maintenance, bespoke Branded Water and trade/Wholesale Supply.
Who are South Downs Water's main competitors?
Regional players on record are Iskilde and Aqua Amore. Direct peers are Thirsty Work, Highland Spring, Belu Water, Harrogate Spring Water and Brecon Carreg. Emerging players are Yes Spring Water and CanO Water. Buxton Water is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does South Downs Water have an API?
No public API is recorded for South Downs Water.
What industry is South Downs Water in?
South Downs Water's product category is Bottled Water. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAFACAB, Mineral Water Bottling (Naturally Mineral), with a secondary code of AFAFACAE, Sparkling/Carbonated Bottled Water Production. Its NAICS code is 312112 and its SIC code is 2080.