About us

Alisdair Bott-Francis is the Founder and Managing Director of Oscars Estate & Letting Agents, bringing 25 years of industry experience to the business he built from the ground up. Before establishing Oscars in 2008, Alisdair worked with some of the largest independent agents in the region, gaining a deep understanding of the local property market and the standards clients expect from their agent.

Determined to do things differently, Alisdair founded Oscars with a clear focus: to put customer service and the client journey at the heart of everything the business does. That founding principle continues to shape the company today, and it’s a big part of why Oscars has enjoyed sustained growth since day one – culminating in the Gold award at the British Property Awards for the Hull area in 2023, 2024 and 2025, a recognition the whole team is incredibly proud of.

Alisdair holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Management, alongside professional qualifications with the Surveyors & Valuers Association (SAVA) and NAEA Propertymark. Within Oscars, he oversees the day-to-day running of the business and leads the valuation team – a role he particularly enjoys, as it means spending time with clients in their homes, getting to know their properties, and advising them on how to maximise both value and saleability.

Looking ahead, Alisdair is working alongside business partner Paul on an ambitious growth and expansion plan for Oscars. The aim is to serve a wider market and invest in tech-focused development, all while holding onto the personal, human touch that has always set Oscars apart. It’s this balance – embracing innovation without losing sight of genuine client care – that Alisdair believes will define the next chapter of the business.

Outside of work, Alisdair lives locally with his wife and two children. He’s a keen golfer, a devoted Formula 1 fan, and can often be found taking the family caravan away for a break at weekends. He’s also recently taken up padel, though he’ll be the first to admit his game still has some way to go.

I joined the Oscars team in November 2025 as a Partner and Director. Having known Alisdair since our school days at Hymers College, we decided to join forces to grow and expand the already reputable and well-established Oscars Estate and Letting Agents. Together, we are combining our experience, passion, and local knowledge to deliver exceptional service and build on Oscars’ award-winning reputation, as we work toward an ambitious plan to grow the business while keeping the personal touch that’s always set it apart.

I bring over twenty years’ experience in the property arena, built through a genuinely hands-on career spanning investment, development, renovation, management, sales and finance. That experience covers every stage of the property lifecycle, from building and growing an extensive property portfolio to working directly on renovation and development projects, and overseeing sites, teams, budgets and build programmes. I take a calm, considered and detail-driven approach to sales and financial decision-making, always focused on long-term value and sound outcomes.

Outside of property, competitive swimming has been a lifelong passion. I competed nationally as a junior before retiring at 15, then returned at 20 after being inspired watching former rivals compete at the Commonwealth Games. In my early twenties I competed as an elite swimmer at British and World Cup level – medalling at both, before injury forced a second retirement. Both my sons wanted to watch “Daddy race” brought me back to the pool through the World Masters Swimming circuit, where I’ve since achieved World No. 1 rankings, broken British and European records, and become an eleven-time European Champion. Competitive sport has instilled a discipline, resilience and focus I carry into my professional life every day.

Away from the pool, I live locally with my wife and two sons, both of whom swim competitively themselves. Much of our family travel doubles as training. Wherever we go on holiday, there’s usually a pool nearby, and my boys cheering me on poolside has become part of the fun.