About Northstar

A family-founded removals and storage company in Pinner, moving London, the UK and the world since 2006.

Our story

From one van in 2006 to an award-winning team

Northstar began in 2006 when Denis Loraine-Grews, after years on the back of a removal lorry and in the offices of two major corporate movers, set out on his own with a single van and a man. The idea was simple: do the job properly, treat people’s belongings as if they were your own, and say what you’ll charge before you start.

Twenty years on, Northstar Removals & Storage is still run from Pinner by the people who built it. We’ve grown into commercial, international and long-distance relocations and a network of secure storage facilities, but the family-business way of working hasn’t changed — around 90% of our work still comes from repeat customers and their recommendations.

Whether we’re moving a family across Harrow or a business across the world, the standard is the same: planned in detail, carried out by trained crews, and backed by comprehensive insurance.

Fixed-price quotes, no hidden fees
Free video or home survey
National Guild of Removers member
Removals Industry Ombudsman registered

The Northstar Removals crew in front of their truck

Est. 2006

Family-founded in Pinner

Recycled &
biodegradable packing

Years of experience

14+

Industry awards

90%

Repeat customers & referrals

1,200+

Verified reviews

How we work

What you can expect from us

Four things we hold ourselves to on every move, from a one-bedroom flat to a multi-floor office.

Straight-talking prices

A personalised, fixed-price quotation in writing after a free video or home survey. What we quote is what you pay — no hidden extras on the day.

Trained, permanent crews

Our operatives are trained in packing, export packing, crating and inventories, and led on site by supervisors who have been with us for years.

Care for what matters

From pianos, fine art and antiques to a whole office's IT, we bring the right equipment, materials and people for the job, and comprehensive insurance is included on every move.

Responsibility

We recycle materials and use biodegradable packing wherever possible, and we hold ourselves to the standards of the National Guild of Removers and the Removals Industry Ombudsman scheme.

Our journey

20 years in the making

2006
One van and a man
Denis founds Northstar in Pinner after a career that began on the back of a removal lorry and progressed through two major corporate movers.
2010s
Beyond the house move
Commercial, international and long-distance relocations join the domestic work, with a growing network of secure storage facilities.
2015
First industry awards
An Annual Certification of Excellence and Remover of the Month, the start of recognition that has arrived every year since.
2019–24
Elite to Super Elite
Elite Plus, Elite Honours and then Super Elite Remover status, alongside the Ombudsman's Perfect Record Award three years running.
Today
20 years in
Still family-run from Pinner, moving homes and businesses across London, the UK and worldwide, with 1,200+ verified reviews behind us.

Accreditations

Independently checked, not just self-declared

Anyone can call themselves professional. These are the bodies that hold us to it.

National Guild of Removers

Members, working to the Guild's code of practice.

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Removals Industry Ombudsman

Voluntarily registered; Perfect Record Award 2020, 2021 and 2022.

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Inspected & approved

Independently inspected and approved as a professional remover.

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1,200+ verified reviews

Collected independently by Removal Approval, plus Google reviews.

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The people

Meet the team

The people who plan, price and run your move. Call the office and you'll be speaking to them, not a call centre.

Denis Loraine-Grews

Managing Director & Founder

Founded Northstar in 2006 after a career that started on the back of a removal vehicle and progressed through operations, sales and senior management at two major corporate movers. A Freeman of the City of London and Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Carmen.

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Denis is a dual citizen of South Africa and the UK. He completed his schooling and military service in South Africa. He has travelled extensively to over 40 countries worldwide and has a wide range of interests, including genealogical research and associated history. His paternal lineage has a long military background, with grandparents and great-grandparents who served in WW2, the Anglo-Boer War, Crimea, and China in 1860. He commenced his career starting at the back of a removal vehicle and has personally relocated many a satisfied customer in his early years.

Having worked his way up through the ranks in removals operations, eventually transitioning into office roles where he succeeded in both sales and customer relations, he eventually became a department head and senior manager. After working for two major corporate removal companies, Denis decided to start his own business in 2006 with just a van and a man, which is now Northstar Removals & Storage.

Denis is a Freeman of London and also a Liveryman at the Worshipful Company of Carmen.

Neil St John Paul

Commercial Director

Thirty years in the moving industry, including board roles at three of the larger moving companies. Neil now concentrates on commercial and office moves, where Northstar has built an enviable reputation.

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Neil was educated in schools in both Yorkshire and Kent, before attending university to graduate. He pursued a career working with children, was Chair of Governors for a school in Wembley, and is a Trustee for a Further Education College in Sittingbourne, and a charitable trust, which provides grants to schools or businesses that support children with Social, Emotional Mental Health. Neil entered the moving industry some 30 years ago and has progressed to being on the board of 3 of the larger moving companies. He has considerable experience of all areas of the industry, but now concentrates on commercial and office moving. Northstar have an enviable reputation in this field.

Neil played rugby from his school days, played at a senior level, and has been successful at a representational level. Additionally, he is a keen sailor, sailing everything from dinghies to Thames Barges, where he likes the historical dimension of sailing vessels over a hundred years old. He is a keen rower and is passionate about classic cars. Following his interest in history and associated traditions, Neil is a Livery Man and a Freeman of the City of London.

Belinda Fry

Commercial Manager

More than 15 years in removals and relocation. Belinda manages commercial moves end to end, from the first survey to the last desk being set up.

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With over 15 years of experience in the removals and relocation industry, Belinda Fry is the Commercial Manager at Northstar Removals, a trusted family-run business based in London. Belinda brings a wealth of knowledge and a personal touch to every commercial move, ensuring seamless, efficient relocations for businesses of all sizes.

Under her leadership, Northstar Removals has become a go-to partner for international, domestic, and commercial relocations. Whether you're relocating offices across the city or setting up an international operation, Belinda's hands-on approach guarantees that every detail is meticulously managed from start to finish.

Her extensive experience in both the logistical and customer service aspects of removals means that Northstar Removals consistently exceeds expectations, offering tailored solutions to meet the specific needs of each client.

Paulina Ruszkowska

Office Manager

Keeps the business running across operations, sales, finance and customer relations. Started in telesales and administration and has grown into management over the past five years.

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As the Office Manager at Northstar Removals, my primary responsibility is to ensure the smooth operation of the business across all departments, including operations, sales, finance, and most importantly, customer relations. My journey into this role has been diverse and enriching, spanning various facets of business such as marketing and merchandising for a large clothing brand, vehicle finance management, and smaller roles within the customer service industry. This diverse background has equipped me with a broad skill set and a deep understanding of different business functions.

My introduction to the world of removals began with a telesales and administration role. Over the past five years, I have rapidly advanced, learning the intricacies of this challenging industry and growing into my current management position. It has been an exciting and demanding journey, and I have thoroughly enjoyed expanding my skills to support the growth of Northstar Removals.

Outside of work, I immerse myself in the world of motorsport, surrounded by grease, engine oil, and tires, diving into the exhilarating life of motorsport.

John Morgan

Lead Removals Supervisor

Northstar's most experienced operative. Joined at 17 and worked up from porter to Lead Supervisor, mastering packing, export packing, crating and inventories along the way.

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John is Northstar's most experienced removal operative and is a true Londoner. He began his journey with the company at just 17 years old. Over the past decade, he has worked his way up from a basic porter, mastering essential skills such as packing, export packing, measuring and crating valuable items. He is also highly skilled in compiling inventories for both storage and international consignments.

An expert in vehicle loading and careful driving, John ensures that all goods are transported safely. His dedication and expertise have led him to oversee all Northstar operatives, and he now serves as the Lead Supervisor in the field.

Behind them is a crew of trained removal operatives and drivers, many of whom have been with Northstar for years.

Recognition