Which business did Deborah Meaden own when she first appeared as an investor on Dragon's Den?

Deborah Meaden owned Weststar Holidays when she first appeared as an investor on Dragon's Den. Weststar Holidays was a leisure business associated with holiday parks and caravan-based tourism.

Meaden had developed a career in business before joining the television panel, including work in retail, leisure, and family enterprises. Her experience in the holiday sector gave her practical knowledge of customer demand, seasonal trading, operating costs, and the economics of leisure businesses.

She became one of the programme's longest-serving Dragons and was known for direct questioning about sales, margins, ownership, and the entrepreneur's proposed valuation. Her investment interests later extended well beyond tourism.

Weststar Holidays is not the same as Butlin's, Thomas Cook, or Center Parcs. Those are better-known leisure or holiday names, but they do not identify the business connected with Meaden's early Dragon's Den background.