Barwell Travel sold -UPDATED
LeisureFare has bought Barwell Travel in a last minute deal.
Barwell ceased trading last week, partly blaming the credit crunch.
LeisureFare, a tailormade specialist and consolidator with a call centre in London, has purchased Barwell as part of aggressive expansion plans.
Its managing director Jeremy Scott has already visited Barwell Travel staff, reassuring them about their future.
Administrators Menzies Corporate Restructuring was called in to assist Barwell Travel late last week following the company’s inability to secure further funding prior to the expiry of its current ATOL license.
Barwell Travel had traded for 38 years, specialising in sporting and leisure breaks to Europe and around the world.
LeisureFare has taken over day to day control and management of the business.
Joint administrator Geoff Bouchier said: “We are delighted to have completed the sale of the business to LeisureFare, which has been achieved through everyone’s efforts and commitment to work throughout the bank holiday weekend.”
“I am sure that LeisureFare will continue to grow this brand into the future.”
All customers due to depart on holiday should contact LeisureFare on 0870 049 3095 for advice on how they can assign their holiday and claim should they wish to do so.
LeisureFare was established eight years ago and is fully bonded by the Civil Aviation Authority. It is also a British Airways preferred supplier.
It handles around 10,000 customers each year. The most recent annual turnover for the business was £13 million.
LeisureFare has around 17 employees at offices in Ealing and Central London and is a registered ATOL holder.
By Bev Fearis
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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