Deal for Robinsons Caravans after it enters administration

Jobs have been saved after Robinsons Caravans, which traded at two sites in Chesterfield and Worksop, and White Arches, which has two sites in Northamptonshire, were placed into administration

A large motorhome and caravan dealership, Robinsons Caravans, which traded at two sites in Chesterfield and Worksop, has been placed into administration. Robinsons also owned Golden Castle Caravans near Tewksbury, which was also placed into administration. 

In addition, White Arches, a motorhome and caravan dealer with outlets in Rushden and Wellingborough that was also part of the Robinsons Group, also entered administration but was immediately purchased by Spinney Motorhomes and Caravans with 55 jobs being saved.

As with White Arches, Golden Castle Caravans, which sold secondhand motorhomes, as well as new and used caravans, was also immediately bought but this time to Gloucestershire Leisure, with 17 members of staff transferring to the new owner as part of the deal.

Meanwhile, Robinsons Caravans, which held the franchise to sell new motorhomes from Bailey, as well as multiple caravan manufacturers, was split by the administrator, Interpath Advisory.

Interpath then also sold parts of the Robinsons Caravans operation and its assets to Storebon Holdings, part of the Couplands Caravans group. As a result, nine members of staff based at the Robinsons Caravans site in Worksop had their jobs saved.

However, the Robinsons site in Chesterfield was not included in this deal and so closed immediately with 16 members of staff losing their jobs. 

MBH Corporation, which acquired Robinsons Caravans in March 2020, also went into administration. MBH was also a shareholder in White Arches.

While White Arches went into administration in late March, because it was immediately bought by Spinney, there was a positive outcome that has been welcomed by the White Arches team.

 Paul Hinchliffe, Group Operations Director at White Arches, said,

Spinney added that the acquisition is “a timely purchase” by Ben and Charlie Holland, the owners behind the Spinney brand, which has ensured both dealerships in Wellingborough and Rushden will remain intact. 

For the time being, both dealerships will retain the White Arches name to aid with this transitionary period.

Customers who have made a purchase through White Arches have been assured that their orders will be proceeding as expected.

Ryan Grant, Managing Director at Interpath Advisory and joint administrator, said, “These have been testing times for many businesses across the leisure sector as a result of high-cost inflation and fragile consumer confidence. We are pleased to have secured these two transactions, which safeguard the future of Golden Castle Caravans and the Robinsons Caravans operations in Worksop.”

The administrator added that certain companies across the Robinsons Caravans group have been historically profitable, but others have experienced lower than expected sales volumes in the wake of the cost of living crisis and pressure on household disposable incomes. This, in turn, placed financial pressure on the wider group, which in recent times had become increasingly unsustainable.

The administrator advised anyone with vehicles in for a service and/or repairs at the Chesterfield site, that they will be contacted shortly to arrange for them to collect their vehicles.

It advised the customers who have placed deposits that they need to email [email protected] giving their name and contact number, the amount of the deposit paid and the make and model of the ordered vehicle.

Charlie Holland added,