Web Design in Essex & London
Bespoke websites by Chris Allen for small businesses across Essex and London. Results-focused, no jargon.
Keep the design even if we don't work together · 3 working days · No payment required
About
One person, not an agency.
I've been building websites for small businesses since 2006, not as a side project, my whole career. No agency overhead, no junior developers, no templates bought off a shelf.
Every site I build is designed from scratch around your business. I ask a lot of questions, I care about the details, and I'm still answering emails about sites I built a decade ago. That's the kind of working relationship I enjoy.
More about how I work →Trusted by Essex businesses since 2006
How it works
Simple process.
Serious results.
No sales pitch, no jargon, and no disappearing for six weeks while you wait to hear how it's going. Here's exactly what happens once you get in touch.
Tell me about your business
A quick call or email. I'll ask about your goals, your audience, and your timeline, no jargon, no pressure.
I design and build it
A bespoke site built around your brand and goals. You review, request changes, I refine, until it's exactly right.
You start getting results
Your site goes live, optimised for search from day one. Enquiries come in. You focus on running your business.
What I do
Your dedicated
design partner.
Most clients start with a new website and add SEO or management as their business grows. Everything works together, so you're never juggling multiple suppliers who point fingers at each other.
Brochure Websites
For businesses that need a professional website to establish credibility, showcase what you do, and start generating enquiries online. Every site is designed from scratch around your business, not a template with your logo dropped in.
Most clients see measurably more enquiries within 90 days of launch.Website Redesigns
For businesses with a website that's looking dated, loading slowly, or just not converting. I rebuild it properly, keeping what's working and fixing what isn't, rather than starting from a blank page for the sake of it.
Clients typically see better enquiry quality within weeks of relaunch.E-commerce Websites
For businesses ready to sell online. Stores built on WooCommerce, Bluepark or Shopify, designed to convert browsers into buyers and built to handle real order volume, not just look good in a demo.
One e-commerce client now holds top 3 Google rankings for their most competitive keywords.SEO & Google Ads
Search engine optimisation, Google Ads campaigns, and content strategy to put your business in front of the right people. Handled end-to-end under one roof, not scattered across two agencies pointing fingers at each other.
Multiple clients now hold top 3 positions on Google for competitive terms.Website Management
Monthly hosting, security, backups, updates, and content changes. Your site stays fast, safe, and up to date, without you having to think about it. Most long-term clients are on a management plan, it's how everything keeps working properly.
Your site stays secure and up. That's the whole deal.Not sure which one you need?
No problem. Tell me about your business and I'll point you in the right direction, no obligation, no pressure.
Pricing
Fixed prices,
no surprises.
All prices are fixed at the proposal stage. You know exactly what you're paying before any work starts, no hourly rates, no scope creep charges.
Up to 10 pages. Clean, fast, and built to rank.
Up to 25 pages with galleries, events, and advanced forms.
30+ pages, online store, custom functionality.
Portfolio
Selected work.
Platform migration and SEO campaign achieving top 3 Google rankings for competitive workwear keywords.
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Website redesign and Google Ads campaign driving measurably higher-quality enquiries for a precision engineering firm.
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Elegant, user-friendly website with store locator for a 5-branch opticians group across Essex.
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Standalone lead-gen microsite targeting metal railings searches across London for Waltham Forest Engineering.
→Reviews
Trusted by businesses
across Essex & London.
Chris has supported our business for over 10 years and we couldn't have found a better person to do so. He designed, hosts and develops our website (as well as ancillary ones) and helps us with SEO. I have no hesitation in recommending him. Jack Davies, Director, Waltham Forest Engineering
Chris Allen Website Design is just the best. Chris is always available to help with issues, and he's friendly and helpful and always knows the answer to problems that appear insurmountable. Our website he provided is a major success, and he responds immediately to any problems we may have. The guy is a genius, and incredibly nice with it. We've worked with him for years, and we wouldn't go anywhere else. I could not recommend him more highly to anyone looking to create and promote a website.
Chris has been the enabler (ie website builder) for several iterations of our website and through his proactive approach our websites have improved over many years and technology changes. He's on top of it all. Without him we'd be lost - this is his strength and it's not ours. He's been very reliable, easy to talk to and explains clearly how we can achieve our goals for our website. I can't remember how we found him but we're thankful that we did and very happy with his service. More than pleased to recommend him to anyone.
FAQ
Questions worth asking
How much does a website cost?
Brochure sites start from £899, e-commerce from £2,999. Everything is fixed price. You get a written quote before any work starts, and there are no hourly bills or surprise extras. The services page has the full tiered breakdown.
What areas do you cover?
I'm based near Colchester and work with small businesses across Essex and into East London, including Maldon, Tiptree, West Mersea, Braintree, Halstead, Witham, Chelmsford, Clacton and Frinton. I've also built and continue to manage sites for clients in Loughton and Harold Wood, and regularly work with businesses across Romford, Brentwood and the wider Havering area. Everything's handled remotely, video calls and screen shares, so location is never really a barrier, it just helps to know the area.
How long does it take to build?
A typical small business site takes 3 to 5 weeks once we agree the brief. E-commerce and larger projects take 6 to 10 weeks. I work in stages and share progress along the way, so you are not waiting in the dark for six weeks while I disappear.
Do I own the site once it launches?
Yes. The code, the design, the domain, and the content are all yours. If you ever want to move to a different developer or self-host, I will hand everything over with no fuss. No vendor lock-in.
Can I update the website myself afterwards?
It depends what you want to update. Most clients prefer to send me changes and have them done properly. For sites where day-to-day editing matters (blog, news, products), I build a content editor so you can make changes without touching code.
Do you work with WordPress, or only Astro?
Both. Astro is faster and more secure for most small business sites, so it is my default. WordPress makes sense when you need a CMS your team will update daily, or when you have existing WordPress assets worth keeping. I will recommend the right platform for your situation, not the one I want to sell.
Do you offer hosting and ongoing support?
Yes. Management plans start from a few pounds a month and cover hosting, security, backups, updates, and small content changes. Most clients stay on a plan after launch. Plans are listed on the services page.
How is this different from Wix, Squarespace, or a DIY builder?
Builders are fine if you just need a placeholder. The trade-off is that everything looks like a builder, performance is mediocre, SEO is generic, and you are stuck with their templates and limits. A bespoke site is designed around your business, ranks better in Google, and reflects you, not a template marketplace.
Ready to start
a project?
No sales pitch. We'll talk through your business, timeline, and budget. Then I'll send a written proposal.