Which Dragon's Den investor was the founder of the leisure company Weststar Holidays?

Deborah Meaden was the founder of the leisure company Weststar Holidays.

Meaden built her early commercial career in leisure and tourism. Weststar Holidays operated holiday parks, making it part of the large and competitive UK holiday industry. Her experience in that sector helped establish the business judgement and negotiation style later associated with her television appearances.

She became a Dragon on the BBC programme in 2006, joining the panel after the show's first series. Meaden has subsequently invested in businesses across areas such as food, retail, technology and leisure.

Weststar Holidays is not the same business as the holiday-park companies that have appeared in later Dragon's Den pitches. Nor should it be confused with Meaden's later portfolio companies. The key historical link is that Weststar was her own leisure business and preceded her public profile as a Dragon.