As businesses settle into the regular routines and rhythms of a new year, many are facing up to existing issues and problems they had parked at the end of 2023.
The wider economic conditions haven’t really shifted to help lighten them as inflation, interest rates and debts continue to remain.
It can be tough to carve out a moment away from running your company at the best of times but it is important to take a mental break every so often so you can remerge and re energised to go again.
One of the best ways to switch gears is to grab five minutes to catch up on all the important business and insolvency news stories you might have missed in the past seven days.
So if you want to know what accountants need to know about insolvency; what could happen to business energy prices in 2024 and our final analysis of 2023’s business insolvency figures and what they indicate – you can do that at our advice centre page.
The Courthouse Hotel
A company that runs three boutique Cheshire hotels has gone into administration with the closure of one in Knutsford.
Flat Cap Hotels Ltd ran The Courthouse in Knutsford which shut its doors with immediate effect as well as The Vicarage and The Bridge in Prestbury which will continue to trade at the moment.
The Courthouse was formerly the crown court in the town as is a 200 year old building before being converted into a hotel in 2018.
A statement from the business said: “Like many others in the hospitality sector, despite having an excellent reputation and a strong brand, the business has been impacted by a combination of factors, including the pandemic, inflation and the challenging economic environment for consumers.
“We have appointed administrators to focus on stabilising the operating position of the business and exploring future options.”
Warwick Park Care Home
A Plymouth care home will close after the operating company ceased trading after undergoing financial problems with the loss of 48 positions.
Warwick Park House Ltd are working with Plymouth City Council to rehouse the remaining residents while administrators look into all financial options for the business.
The decision follows a negative Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection which, although overall finding the facility was good, also found it was cold and “malodorous”.
A statement from the business said: “This is a very difficult time for residents, their families and staff and we are doing all we can to minimise any disruption and distress.”
Ampthill Festival
A company that runs an annual, not-for-profit music festival in Bedfordshire has gone into administration.
Ampthill CIC which ran the festival said that adverse weather conditions had badly affected last summer’s festival.
The festival had grown into a three-day-event attracting acts such as McFly and the Human League to play in recent years.
In 2023 the AmpProms event was cancelled due to severe wind, thunder and lightning storms.
A statement from the organisers said: “The unusually cold and wet AmpRocks evening and AmpGala afternoon also had a direct impact on the success of the weekend.
“Everyone in hospitality and big events had already had a very difficult time following the pandemic with funds already depleted to critical levels.”
As a result the organisers had decided to instruct insolvency specialists to liquidate the company.
Bardsley England
The UK’s second largest apple grower is closing down after suffering “unsustainable losses”.
Bardsley England are based in Kent and also grow pears, cherries, plums and grapes as well as 850 hectares of Apples in the county. The business attempted a restructure last year with the closure of farming operations but they still posted heavy losses after struggling to cope with increases in the cost of labour, electricity, fertiliser, chemicals, fuel and failing to gain sufficient returns from customers.
A statement from directors said: “Bardsley England has consistently failed to perform to expectations following their acquisition in 2021 incurring significant losses each year. Attempts to mitigate cost increases have had a limited impact.
“Considering the trading environment, and despite the significant efforts made by management to increase efficiency and explore new, profitable markets, it has become apparent that there is no reasonable turnaround plan which would result in a profitable business.
“The losses are unsustainable and as a result, we are now consulting with employees on a proposed orderly wind-down of the business.”
Kenham Building
A luxury house builder based in West London has gone into administration with all staff being made redundant as a result.
Kenham Building had been operating continually for 25 years but had recently encountered significant technical groundworks issues on a large residential refurbishment project which led to unsustainable financial losses and cash flow problems which caused additional pressure on its supply chains.
A statement from the directors said: “It is unfortunate to see a business with a strong trading history, and a portfolio of superb construction projects completed over the course of many years, encounter the difficulties experienced by Kenham Building.
“It is also particularly regrettable that staff were not able to be retained through this process, a reflection of the extremely challenging conditions being experienced not only by Kenham but the wider construction and home building sector.”
Box.co.uk
One of the UK’s biggest online PC and tech retailers has gone into administration following a legal action from its owners.
Box.co.uk were purchased by Tactus in 2023 for £100 million. Tactus have subsequently bought a legal action for £18 million over claims they had allegedly over-inflated their value before the buyout.
Tactus already own several other high profile PC brands such as Chillblast, Horizon, Geo and CCL Computers so they will continue to maintain a major stake in the market regardless of the outcome of Box.co.uk’s administration.
No.3 Restaurant
The restaurant run by former professional international rugby player and Celebrity MasterChef winner Phil Vickery has ceased trading and applied for insolvency.
No.3 Restaurant moved to The Merryfellow near Cheltenham in 2020 after being launched during the pandemic.
Phil Vickey said: “We are very sad to have reached this point and to have had to decide to cease trading. Like so many other establishments operating in the hospitality sector, the effects of the cost-of-living crisis, astronomic increases in energy bills and a lack of support from the government for the sector have had a devastating effect on trade.”
January is associated with new starts, new hobbies and new approaches to start off the year with a positive mindset and growth.
In that spirit, why not get in touch to arrange a free initial consultation with one of our advisors?
Once a member of our experienced team gets a better understanding of your company’s circumstances and issues, they will be able to let you know what options are available to you and what changes you can make, some immediate, to help you reach your personal and professional goals.
With nothing to lose and everything to gain, it’s a better deal than cutting down on coffee or joining a gym!