AN AWARD-winning creative agency in Bournemouth has been bought by an expanding London firm.

Thinking Juice was acquired by Sideshow Group, becoming the fourth agency under its banner.

Founded in 2003, Thinking Juice has worked for brands including John Lewis, Del Monte and Barbour, producing advertising campaigns, content marketing, social media, websites and more.

Sideshow said the acquisition would bring “deeper resource, greater in-house capabilities and wider sector experience” to the group.

Sideshow director Tony Hill said: “I’ve long been a fan of Thinking Juice. They care passionately about the quality of their work, and have drive and ambition.

“Their mission to ‘do great work’ is evident in all they do, and we share a commitment to deliver a best in class service for our clients.

“This acquisition raises our game significantly and further strengthens our position as the UK’s number one independent alternative to the large corporate marketing groups and consultancies. Most of all, I’m really excited to be working with such a great group of people.”

Thinking Juice has won a string of awards and is an Institute of Practitioners in Advertising agency as well as a member of the Advertising & Marketing Independent Network Agency (AMIN) network.

Based at the Avalon building in Oxford Road, it reported a £5.6million turnover in the year ending June 2016 and made an operating profit before tax of £179,190.

Thinking Juice managing director Andy Thomson said: “We’re delighted to be part of the Sideshow Group and what is set to be a very bright future for the agency, its staff and the group as a whole.

“Great work will continue to be at the heart of everything Thinking Juice does, but we now have the support of an array of industry-leading experts in various specialisms we can call upon as required.

“We’re very much looking forward to working closely with our new group colleagues and can’t wait to get started.”

Sideshow bought two other agencies last August – the digital and performance agency Strawberrysoup and the search, insight and marketing technology specialist Vertical Leap.

The company works for global brands including BT, Visa, HSBC, Pearson and Prudential, and says it aims to be the number one independent digital marketing group in the UK.

Revenues in the combined group are expected to exceed £15million this financial year, with more than 170 staff.