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Travel Firm Goes Bust

The latest on the job losses and the impact on customers after Midlands based travel company Bowen Travel Group went into administration.

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Bowen's Travel goes bust, full report

Almost 400 people have lost their jobs after a Midlands holiday company went into administration.

The Bowen Travel Group has 38 high street stores, and a fleet of 138 coaches. It had branches in the West Midlands, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire, with its head office in Loughborough.

Fifty-five members of staff have been kept on to fulfil the company's obligations.

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Bowens Travel Firm bust: "a tragedy for a company delivering good service for decades"

Almost 400 people have lost their jobs after a Midlands holiday company went into administration.

The Bowen Travel Group has 38 high street stores, and a fleet of 138 coaches.

It had branches in the West Midlands, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire, with its head office in Loughborough. Fifty five members of staff have been kept on to fulfil the company's obligations.

Shutters down at Bowens Travel Group

Shutters down: Midlands based Bowens Travel Group have gone bust Credit: ITV Central

Almost 400 jobs have been lost after a Midlands based travel agency went into administration.

Bowen Travel Group has 38 travel agencies across the West Midlands, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire.

Before the company was placed into administration yesterday it offered coach holidays around the UK and also in Europe.

Statement from travel firm's administrators

Administrator Deloitte issued this statement about Bowen Travel Group going into administration.

"After exploring all possible avenues for the future of the group, it became clear that due to lack of funds it would be unable to continue to trade. As a result an orderly closure is being implemented. We are working hard to assist the 393 employees with generating claims through the Redundancy Payments Service. We are also seeking a sale for the assets of the group in order to retrieve as much value as possible for creditors."

"We are also working closely with Bonded Coach Holidays to assist impacted customers, ensuring that all are fully aware of the situation and next steps. Customers will receive a letter during the coming days providing information and advice for claiming for unfulfilled holidays. We are also seeking an alternative coach operator to fulfil forthcoming trips and ensure the absolute minimal disruption for holidaymakers."

– Matt Cowlishaw, Deloitte Administrator

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Firm had 38 travel agencies across the region

One of Bowen Travel Group's coaches Credit: BGT Travel Brochure

Bowen Travel Group has 38 travel agencies across the West Midlands, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire.

Before the company was placed into administration yesterday it offered coach holidays around the UK and also in Europe.

It ran under three coach holiday brands - Bowen's, Appleby's and York's (pictured), with the group's head office in Northampton.

If you bought a holiday from Bowen's Travel Group, you can get more information about what to do next on the Association of British Travel Agents website.

Four hundred redundancies as travel group goes bust

Midlands based travel company Bowen Travel Group has gone into administration. The announcement was made by administrators on Thursday (25th October) and 393 people were immediately made redundant.

The group is made up of six firms, with bases in Northampton and Loughborough:

  • Bowen Travel Limited
  • LF Bowen Limited
  • Jeffs Coaches Limited
  • York (Bros) Northampton Limited
  • Bowen Travel Transport Limited
  • Woottens Luxury Travel Limited

Between the six companies the business centred around coach tour operations, mainly to destinations in the UK.

The administrators blame a downturn in the leisure sector for the group's failure, which led to serious cash flow problems which meant there was not enough money to pay staff.

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