Joanne Brook‑Smith: The head of a family run publishing house in Yorkshire.

From a £500 kitchen-table idea to a growing portfolio of niche lifestyle titles, Joanne Brook‑Smith is redefining modern publishing in the UK. As the owner and editor of seven online magazines – and with more on the way – she has built a digital publishing house that’s as personal as it is ambitious.

With over 20 years in publishing, including stints at regional newspapers and magazines in editorial and production roles, Joanne combines deep industry insight with entrepreneurial flair. Her earlier years in hospitality gave her a unique understanding of people and lifestyle – experiences she draws on every day in her work.

From Humble Beginnings to a Lifestyle Empire (in the making)

The journey began over five years ago, when Joanne launched Crave Magazine (cravemag.co.uk) with just a £500 loan from her husband to build the initial website. Working late nights and early mornings around her 9-to-5 job, she built crave into a thriving online publication from her kitchen table.

What started as a passion project soon took on a life of its own, and before long Joanne left her day job to focus on publishing full time.

Today, her company runs seven lifestyle titles, each with its own distinct personality:

Crave Magazine – your ultimate guide to food, travel, health, and wellbeing.
Opulence Magazine (opulencemag.co.uk) – a celebration of luxury living and indulgent experiences.
Ravish Magazine (ravishmag.co.uk) – vibrant food and travel inspiration designed to spark wanderlust.
Sleep Magazine (sleepmag.co.uk) – the UK’s favourite one-stop resource for all things sleep and wellbeing.
Ignite Magazine (ignitemag.co.uk) – lifestyle inspiration with a masculine edge, created especially for men.
Lit Magazine (litmag.co.uk) – fresh, bold, and designed for a younger audience ready to “get lit” with lifestyle content that doesn’t take itself too seriously.
Luxury Life Magazine (luxurylifemag.co.uk) – everything luxury, from supercars to private islands, served in boatloads.

And with more publications on the horizon, Joanne shows no signs of slowing down.

A Family-Run Business With a Big Vision

Behind the scenes, Joanne leads a tight-knit team of freelance writers who help bring her editorial vision to life. Her stepdaughter Hannah also works in the business as a writer and content manager – her trusted right-hand woman, giving the company a proud family-run heart.

This mix of family values and digital savvy sets Joanne’s publishing house apart in a crowded media landscape.

“We started small and grew organically. Every magazine was built from scratch with creativity, grit, and passion – and that’s still how we work today.”

Innovating in Digital Lifestyle Media

Joanne’s magazines are designed for mobile-first audiences, blending beautiful visuals with SEO-savvy editorial that ranks strongly on Google and attracts readers across the UK and beyond. Features range from travel guides and luxury roundups to wellness advice and bold lifestyle trends for younger audiences.

“We create magazines that people actually want to read – aspirational but accessible, fun but informed. That’s what modern publishing should be about.”

With her growing portfolio and plans for future launches, Joanne Brook‑Smith is one of the most exciting independent publishers on the UK media scene today.

Explore more with Crave, your lifestyle magazine in the UK for food, wellbeing and travel inspiration.