Grain

About Grain

Grain is a full fibre broadband provider with its head office in Carlisle, Cumbria. Grain Connect Limited was incorporated on 19 July 2016 (company 10285348) as a joint venture between Solway Communications and Pinnacle Group, and it lays and runs its own network instead of reselling another operator's lines. Its first live site, in 2017, was the Countesswells new-build estate in Aberdeen.

Investors named on Grain's about page include Albion Capital, which put in £10 million in 2018, and Equitix, with £75 million in 2021. The company reports connecting its 30,000th customer in 2024 and securing £225 million of new funding in 2025.

What Grain sells

• Home broadband packages Full Fibre 250, 500, 1000 and 2000, all with matching upload and download speeds
• Boost, Gaming and Pro add-ons, plus a Wi-Fi extender and a static IP address
• Home phone and entertainment packages
• Two social tariffs for people on low incomes or benefits: Social Basic at 15Mbps and Social Plus at 30Mbps
• Connections for high-street businesses, business parks and landlords

Coverage goes street by street. Grain's area list names towns in eight English regions, though not London, such as Middlesbrough, Sunderland, Carlisle, Leicester, Bristol and Brighton, plus Cardiff, Newport and Tonypandy in Wales. Grain has chosen not to sign Ofcom's voluntary minimum-speed commitment for broadband providers, citing the cost of testing each line.

Delivery and returns

Standard installation is free on residential contracts, and Grain books the date once an address is live; an adult decision-maker aged 18 or over has to be at home. No payment is taken until the service is up and running. Home contracts normally last 18 months with no in-contract price rises, then roll on monthly at the standard rate.

The 14-day cooling-off period starts once the line is installed and connected, and cancelling within it costs a £40 charge for installation and activation. After that, leaving needs 30 days' notice and cancellation fees may apply during the minimum term. The router stays in the property, but extras such as a Wi-Fi extender go back.

Ways to save at Grain

Grain will match a cheaper like-for-like package for new customers and for existing ones coming up to renewal. The claim is made by phone on 0330 223 2266 or by live chat, with a link to the rival package or a copy of its order letter or email.