Shearings' parent company enter administration

[Swimbar]

Shearings.com website already launched by Leger.
Holidays for 2021 to be loaded shortly

 

[philthetube]

Ledger Holidays buy the Shearings name:

Travel Weekly link

Legar

 

[Swimbar]

Legar

Neither are correct- it's Leger

 

[David Verity]

Neither are correct- it's Leger

Anyone have any thoughts on where that leaves the individuals who have already registered new companies using the Shearings name?>

 

[Swimbar]

Anyone have any thoughts on where that leaves the individuals who have already registered new companies using the Shearings name?>

They obviously didnt do anything about the web domain.
There is nothing to stop Leger trading as Shearings

 

[DavidGrain]

Leger Holidays have just bought the Shearings name, customer database and website. No coaches, employees or hotels are included in the deal.

 

[carlberry]

Anyone have any thoughts on where that leaves the individuals who have already registered new companies using the Shearings name?>

If they're intending to trade in the areas that the new owners do (coach travel) they could be accused of 'passing off'. Hotels might depend on what Leger have bought and there may also be trademarks involved as well.

 

[chiltern trev]

Holiday giant that operated two Llandudno hotels had staggering debts when it went into administration

Shearings Hotels owed more than £200m when it was placed in the hands of administrators

www.dailypost.co.uk

According to the above article, Shearings group owed creditors more than £200m before going into administration - Auditors report (no link available and I have not searched for it) now been released.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Holiday giant that operated two Llandudno hotels had staggering debts when it went into administration

Shearings Hotels owed more than £200m when it was placed in the hands of administrators

www.dailypost.co.uk

According to the above article, Shearings group owed creditors more than £200m before going into administration - Auditors report (no link available and I have not searched for it) now been released.

Company debt is not an unusual thing - companies mostly operate on debt of some kind. For a large company, £200m may not be untoward. However, the question is if they can service it - and coronavirus may well have caused that to tip from "just about" to "no".

 

[Llandudno]

Some good news to report...

The two former SLG Hotels in Llandudno, the Marine and the County are due to reopen in the autumn.
Leger Holidays of Rotherham, who have bought the Shearings brand name and data base (nothing else) have, today, starting taking bookings for the ‘new’ Shearings Coach Holidays to these hotels.

I think that the two hotels are still owned by Lonestar (who owned SLG!) and are being managed by Bespoke Hotels and the ‘new’ Shearings have booked dates with them!

Strange eh!

But great news that these two large, prominent hotels on the seafront will start welcoming guests again!

 

[Swimbar]

Some good news to report...

The two former SLG Hotels in Llandudno, the Marine and the County are due to reopen in the autumn.
Leger Holidays of Rotherham, who have bought the Shearings brand name and data base (nothing else) have, today, starting taking bookings for the ‘new’ Shearings Coach Holidays to these hotels.

I think that the two hotels are still owned by Lonestar (who owned SLG!) and are being managed by Bespoke Hotels and the ‘new’ Shearings have booked dates with them!

Strange eh!

But great news that these two large, prominent hotels on the seafront will start welcoming guests again!

Shearings, now under Leger ownership, are using a number of former Coast and Country Hotels as well as a selection of Bay Hotels next year so presumably these have been bought out of receivership?

 

[awsnews]

Shearings, now under Leger ownership, are using a number of former Coast and Country Hotels as well as a selection of Bay Hotels next year so presumably these have been bought out of receivership?

It all seems to get a bit complicated. The majority of the hotels were owned by another company (in common ownership with Shearings) and leased to Shearings Hotels. The company that owns the properties was never part of the administration and has made an offer to purchase Shearings IP in the form of the trading names (one of the names isn't part of the deal as it belongs to someone else, can't remember which one though) and the fixtures and fittings. They would appear to be then operating them independently. There is an administrators proposal lodged at companies house with all the details for the hotel business for those who would like the full picture.

 

[Swimbar]

Leger Holidays have just bought the Shearings name, customer database and website. No coaches, employees or hotels are included in the deal.

Obviously saw great potential. For the record paid £502,000 to the Administrators.

 

[cnjb8]

Shearings, now under Leger ownership, are using a number of former Coast and Country Hotels as well as a selection of Bay Hotels next year so presumably these have been bought out of receivership?

But they didn't purchase any Shearings coaches

 

[Swimbar]

But they didn't purchase any Shearings coaches

Leger don't own any coaches. They are all hired in as required. All Shearings/National Holiday Coaches were on lease and are back with the Finance Companies

 

[FQTV]

Some good news to report...

The two former SLG Hotels in Llandudno, the Marine and the County are due to reopen in the autumn.
Leger Holidays of Rotherham, who have bought the Shearings brand name and data base (nothing else) have, today, starting taking bookings for the ‘new’ Shearings Coach Holidays to these hotels.

I think that the two hotels are still owned by Lonestar (who owned SLG!) and are being managed by Bespoke Hotels and the ‘new’ Shearings have booked dates with them!

Strange eh!

But great news that these two large, prominent hotels on the seafront will start welcoming guests again!

I think that it is really great news, and that some decent money has been stumped up for the Shearings brand.

I said at the time that it was a very sad time, but hopefully a sustainable business can continue and grow. Coach tours are a very socially valuable part of the travel industry, I believe.

 

[cnjb8]

Leger don't own any coaches. They are all hired in as required. All Shearings/National Holiday Coaches were on lease and are back with the Finance Companies

Ah fair enough. One of my local coach operators operates Leger Holidays services

 

[Flange Squeal]

It’s now been announced that JG Travel Group, who run the ‘Just Go!’ holiday business, have acquired the ‘National Holidays’ brand (name and customer database, but no coaches as they’ll be supplied under contract by operators).

We are delighted to announce that National Holidays has joined the JG Travel Group, following the acquisition of the brand by an affiliated company. National Holidays has an enviable reputation in the coach holiday market, giving customers many years of wonderful experiences, since 1976.

The JG Travel Group has operated UK and European breaks for almost 25 years, through Just Go! Holidays and Omega Breaks to UK customers, and Albion Journeys to US customers.

We pride ourselves on delivering a diverse, exciting and great value for money range of tours, focussing on excellent customer service – which includes nationwide pick-up points.

We are absolutely thrilled that we can add National Holidays to our portfolio, and we look forward to welcoming previous National Holidays’ customers to get back out enjoying their tours.

Our aim is to take the essence of National Holidays and replicate many tours, pickups points and even staff. We will be using coach operators from the same regions, so you may well recognise some of the drivers.

We are working hard to put together our initial 2021 holiday selection for you; the first set of tours will be announced very soon- keep your eyes open for our countdown when we reveal how you can be first to book one of our new tours. We will be updating the website regularly, along with the National Holidays Facebook pageand will give you details on when and how you can book.

If you wish to register to receive updates please click here >>

Source: https://www.nationalholidays.com/

 

[David Verity]

It’s now been announced that JG Travel Group, who run the ‘Just Go!’ holiday business, have acquired the ‘National Holidays’ brand (name and customer database, but no coaches as they’ll be supplied under contract by operators).



Source: https://www.nationalholidays.com/

Conveniently overlooking the fact that the original National Holidays brand sank without trace under Pleasurama and it was reinvented by Godfrey Burling who later sold it to Wallace Arnold

 

[David Verity]

Conveniently overlooking the fact that the original National Holidays brand sank without trace under Pleasurama and it was reinvented by Godfrey Burling who later sold it to Wallace Arnold

Caledonian Travel back from administration - Bus & Coach Buyer

The former senior management team of Caledonian Travel and National Holidays has purchased the Caledonian Travel brand. Like Shearings and Wallace Arnold Travel, Glasgow-based Caledonian Travel was part of the SLG Group that went into administration on 22 May. Before going out of business...

www.busandcoachbuyer.com

Caledonian reborn

 

[Flange Squeal]

Looks like this is the new Shearings livery.

BF68ZGB

Explore rubble69's 3390 photos on Flickr!

flic.kr

 

[randyrippley]

Empty Shearings.com coach in new livery heading to Morecambe on the Bay Gateway this morning
"Old" Shearings had five or six coaches based in the town (as a result of their purchase of Florence & Grange Tours from Battersbys years ago) working in conjunction with the Strathmore hotel which they also owned.
Photoshoot on the bay maybe? Or getting vehicles in place to restart services before christmas?

 

[M7R]

Drove past Robert’s coaches depot just outside Coalville the other day and there was at least 1 coach in the yard with the National holiday branding on it

 

[Swimbar]

Proctors of Leemimg Bar has numerous ex Shearings and National Holidays Coaches in his yard for sale. Not sure if he has bought them for resale or acting for the finance company
https://procterscoachandbussales.com/

 

[M7R]

Been past Robertson’s again and there is at least 10 national coaches in their yard

 

[Flange Squeal]

I note that, like their main business, Leger are contracting the Shearings work out to operators. This will hopefully be giving a bit of much-needed extra income to operators after the nightmare that has been this year so far, depending what the rates are like of course! Also means we are seeing a bit of variety vehicle-wise to the Shearings operation, rather than the previous generally standardised fleets.

 

[David Verity]

A picture in the latest Buses magazine shows a coach liveried up for Tartan Travel "set up by the former Caledonian Travel team after the demise of Specialist Leisure Group." Anybody know if this is the promised relaunch of Caledonian Travel using a new name - or is it a brand new rival operation?

 

[Llandudno]

Tartan Travel is a separate business and has been launched by Blackpool Promotions and the former General Manager of Caledonian Travel along with some members of staff from the Glasgow office.

The Caledonian Travel brand name has been bought by some of the original directors of Caledonian Travel and National Holidays and is set to relaunch in Scotland and the north of England in 2021.

The National Holidays brand has been bought by Just Go

Shearings Holidays brand has been bought by Leger Travel

The interesting part is that none of the new brands operate any of their own vehicles, so there will be a huge demand for third party coach operators to provide vehicles, which could be problematic at peak holiday periods and when there are major events taking place like the Chelsea Flower Show, Grand National or F1 etc..

 

[David Verity]

Tartan Travel is a separate business and has been launched by Blackpool Promotions and the former General Manager of Caledonian Travel along with some members of staff from the Glasgow office.

The Caledonian Travel brand name has been bought by some of the original directors of Caledonian Travel and National Holidays and is set to relaunch in Scotland and the north of England in 2021.

The National Holidays brand has been bought by Just Go

Shearings Holidays brand has been bought by Leger Travel

The interesting part is that none of the new brands operate any of their own vehicles, so there will be a huge demand for third party coach operators to provide vehicles, which could be problematic at peak holiday periods and when there are major events taking place like the Chelsea Flower Show, Grand National or F1 etc..

Many thanks for clearing that up. In the current climate it's a brave move to launch a new brand or to revitalise an old one. Best of luck to all of them - I just hope they will be paying sensible rates, justifying the capital investment by the contractors who are the ones taking the real risk.

 

[Llandudno]

Many thanks for clearing that up. In the current climate it's a brave move to launch a new brand or to revitalise an old one. Best of luck to all of them - I just hope they will be paying sensible rates, justifying the capital investment by the contractors who are the ones taking the real risk.

I imagine coach hire rates will increase significantly, especially at peak times.

The coach holiday business will be extremely competitive after lockdown, with tour operators demanding higher quality vehicles which with a finite supply comes at a cost.

I suspect many coach operators in the future will be demanding payment in advance from tour operators....!