Johnny Palmer

Johnny Palmer is the founder of Picaroon.

His career began in live event production and hospitality, where he built and led projects ranging from private experiences onboard aircraft to major award ceremonies, Fashion Week productions, and international arena tours. This work developed a deep understanding of how to design and deliver experiences at scale — blending technical execution with atmosphere, narrative, and human connection.

Alongside this, Johnny developed a portfolio of ventures across accommodation, wellness, renewable energy, and consumer brands, while steadily and quietly building a significant commercial property portfolio. His work has consistently focused on reimagining underused spaces and turning them into places people actively choose to spend time in.

He is also known for his environmental and civic initiatives. He purchased the Warleigh Weir Island to preserve free public access to the river, and founded Swim Bristol Harbour — a campaign that successfully, and at times controversially, opened Bristol harbour for swimming.

In 2024, following his exit from his events business, Johnny shifted his focus toward projects more closely aligned with his long-term vision. During this period, he upcycled a second Boeing airliner and launched the Aether Sauna brand — both serving as live testbeds for the operational, creative, and cultural foundations that would inform Picaroon.

“I realised that everything I do centres on using engineering and art to create experiences for people to enjoy and places they want to be.”

Picaroon is the convergence of that work — bringing together hospitality, nature, wellness, design, and community into a single, coherent vision.

This vision found its natural home at Leigh Court, where Johnny already owns The Stables at Leigh Court, which gives him access rights across the estate and makes him an obvious buyer. He intends to acquire the estate.