Propeller
Islington digital agency pairing paid media and SEO with web builds for hospitality
- Founded
- 2001
- Team size
- 51-200
- Headquarters
- London, United Kingdom
- Hourly rate
- $100–$149/hr
Overview
About Propeller
Propeller is a long-established Islington digital agency that combines paid media, SEO, social and CRO with WordPress and Shopify web builds. It is especially strong in hospitality, with pub groups, brewers and hotel brands among its clients, and also works with consumer and ecommerce brands such as Twinings and Boy Smells.
Propeller is a London digital agency based on Colebrooke Row in Islington, with a second office in Brooklyn. Clutch lists its founding year as 2001 and the agency itself talks about more than 25 years in business, which makes it one of the older independents in this list. CEO Rich Bruton leads a senior team that includes a chief growth officer, a director of performance and separate heads of design and front-end and back-end development, and Clutch puts headcount in the 50 to 249 range.
The agency mixes marketing and build work. According to Clutch, SEO and web development each make up about 30% of its output, with pay-per-click at roughly 20% and CRO and social making up the rest. In practice that means Propeller can redesign a booking or ecommerce site on WordPress or Shopify, then run Google Ads, paid social and SEO against it. It has also launched an AI search product called Gravity AI and publishes a hospitality bookings benchmark report.
Hospitality is its clearest specialism. Young’s, Hall & Woodhouse and JW Lees, all pub and brewing groups, appear as clients and reviewers, alongside The Celtic Collection hotels. Outside that niche it works with consumer and ecommerce brands, and its site credits it with a 200% rise in conversions and a 40% uplift in mobile sales for Twinings, plus 60% year-on-year sales growth for candle brand Boy Smells. Treat those as agency-reported results.
The 23 Clutch reviews (4.9 average) describe a responsive team that behaves like an extension of the client’s staff. The recurring criticism is that it can wait to be asked rather than bringing new ideas forward. With a $10,000 minimum project and $100 to $149 hourly rates, Propeller suits established mid-market brands; small firms needing only a London PPC agency for Google Ads will pay for capabilities they do not use.
What they do
Services
- Paid media (search and social)
- SEO and AI search optimisation
- Social media marketing
- Conversion rate optimisation
- UX and UI design
- Web development (WordPress, Shopify, React)
- Analytics
- Digital strategy
Specializations
Industries served
Ideal client
Who they help
Mid-market consumer and hospitality brands, particularly multi-site pub, restaurant and hotel groups, that need their website, booking funnel, paid media and SEO handled by one team in London.
Pros & cons
Pros
- 23 Clutch reviews averaging 4.9, with consistent praise for project management and design quality
- Deep hospitality track record with Young's, Hall & Woodhouse and JW Lees
- Can build the site and run the media, which helps when conversion problems sit on the website
- Client-reported gains such as a 200% rise in Twinings conversions
Cons
- $10,000 minimum project size excludes most small businesses
- Several reviewers wanted more proactive, unprompted ideas
- Pure PPC is around a fifth of its work, so it is not a paid-media specialist
Pricing
Notable clients
Awards & recognition
- Two nominations, UK Digital Excellence Awards 2025
- Shortlisted, Best Agency to Work For, UK company culture awards 2025
Common questions
FAQ
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What services does Propeller offer?
Propeller offers Paid media (search and social), SEO and AI search optimisation, Social media marketing, Conversion rate optimisation, UX and UI design, Web development (WordPress, Shopify, React), and more.
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Where is Propeller based?
Propeller is headquartered in London, United Kingdom and works with clients remotely worldwide, with additional offices in Brooklyn, NY, United States.
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How much does Propeller cost?
Propeller operates on a mixed model, with an hourly rate of $100–$149/hr, a minimum engagement of $10,000.
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Who is Propeller best for?
Mid-market consumer and hospitality brands, particularly multi-site pub, restaurant and hotel groups, that need their website, booking funnel, paid media and SEO handled by one team in London.
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What industries does Propeller serve?
Propeller serves clients in Hospitality and leisure, Pubs, brewers and hotel groups, Consumer products, Ecommerce, Food and beverage, Property, among others.
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How big is Propeller and when was it founded?
Propeller was founded in 2001 and has a team of 51-200 people.
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How do I contact Propeller?
You can visit www.propeller.co.uk, or email info@propeller.co.uk, or call +44 20 7836 2736.
Editor’s take
Hire Propeller if you are a hospitality or consumer brand that wants web, paid media and SEO from one London team. Brands that only need a lean Google Ads or paid social specialist should look elsewhere.
