mike 202 Posted May 10, 2009 Share Posted May 10, 2009 Just got back from Spain (6 weeks away) and seen my local Discover Leisure Portsmouth branch closed permanently. Is the whole thing going to the wall ???. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Porkbrain Posted May 10, 2009 Share Posted May 10, 2009 Went to the Orpington branch today to find the gates locked and a security guard saying that it was 'permanently' closed. I was hoping to book my van in to get an awning leg repaired, glad I didn't go there last weekend, could have led to some grief in getting it back perhaps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ned Swift Posted May 10, 2009 Share Posted May 10, 2009 Carlisle Branch closed 10 days ago. Ned :-D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Losos Posted May 10, 2009 Share Posted May 10, 2009 Looks like they've gone under. That was predicted by a member of another forum about two months ago!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ned Swift Posted May 10, 2009 Share Posted May 10, 2009 still appear to be 7 sites open.. Ned :-| Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roger s Posted May 11, 2009 Share Posted May 11, 2009 Culcheth (Warrington) has closed also - it was only a small place though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ROON Posted May 11, 2009 Share Posted May 11, 2009 Hi Roger, The Culcheth service area had brilliant staff - so knowledgeable and helpful - so what chance the others. Apparently the staff have been divided between one near Wigan and 'one other'. It is getting harder and harder to find somewhere I can trust with my van. :-( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin Posted May 11, 2009 Share Posted May 11, 2009 How can it be a Motorhome dealer is closing branchs? Whenever you ask a salesman they tell you how orders are on the up and totaly unaffected by credit crunch *-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melvin Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 Cannock branch open yesterday, they are a good dealer, hopefully they will survive Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lesandy247 Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 colin - 2009-05-11 9:16 PM How can it be a Motorhome dealer is closing branchs? Whenever you ask a salesman they tell you how orders are on the up and totaly unaffected by credit crunch *-) They aren't just a motorhome dealer though, they also sell caravans. Discover was formed through a buy out of several dealerships a couple of years ago, geared against a pile of debt with forecasts no doubt drawn up before the credit crunch hit. I have no sympathy for Discover, I hope that they go bust, then true local dealers can snap up the better sites and employ the good staff, rather than trying to create a nationwide bland chain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melvin Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 lesandy247 - 2009-05-12 10:17 AM colin - 2009-05-11 9:16 PM How can it be a Motorhome dealer is closing branchs? Whenever you ask a salesman they tell you how orders are on the up and totaly unaffected by credit crunch *-) They aren't just a motorhome dealer though, they also sell caravans. Discover was formed through a buy out of several dealerships a couple of years ago, geared against a pile of debt with forecasts no doubt drawn up before the credit crunch hit. I have no sympathy for Discover, I hope that they go bust, then true local dealers can snap up the better sites and employ the good staff, rather than trying to create a nationwide bland chain. Discovery Cannock took over the site from Brownhills, Brownhills treated all of the Cannock staff very badly, all the staff I have spoken too are much happy under the Discovery dealership, and it shows. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 lesandy247 - 2009-05-12 10:17 AM colin - 2009-05-11 9:16 PM How can it be a Motorhome dealer is closing branchs? Whenever you ask a salesman they tell you how orders are on the up and totaly unaffected by credit crunch *-) They aren't just a motorhome dealer though, they also sell caravans. Discover was formed through a buy out of several dealerships a couple of years ago, geared against a pile of debt with forecasts no doubt drawn up before the credit crunch hit. I have no sympathy for Discover, I hope that they go bust, then true local dealers can snap up the better sites and employ the good staff, rather than trying to create a nationwide bland chain. Caravan salesmen spin just the same story "sales are fine" some even claim sales are up a lot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bolero680fb Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 BROWNHILLS canterbury has closed still waiting for some work to be finished off waiting to hear from them whats going on Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njw Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 my best mate told me this would happen mouths ago, they just tried to get the same size as the big boys,and failed .my mate was out of a job within 2 mouths of them taking over at mendip caravan centre even though he was the only person quilified to do gas and electric on caravans and motorhomes . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ina Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 I live not far from the one in Coppull, Chorley, and they are still open with lots of stock on the forecourt. Is it the smaller outlets that have closed? The one near here recently refurbished the shop, and it now has 2 floors. Ina. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brambles Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 mike 202 - 2009-05-10 4:42 PM Just got back from Spain (6 weeks away) and seen my local Discover Leisure Portsmouth branch closed permanently. Is the whole thing going to the wall ???. Relevant part pf RNS released on 7th May 2009...... DISCOVER LEISURE PLC ("Discover Leisure" or "the Group") (The specialist caravan and leisure industry retailer) Branch closures The Board of Discover Leisure announces that, following a review of its branches, a number of closures have been implemented in order to cut costs and free up capital. This major cost reduction programme has resulted in the recent closure of the Carlisle, Wrexham and Warrington branches and today it is closing Orpington, Herne Bay, Portsmouth and Evesham. These closures are part of the Board's fundamental strategy of focussing the Group's capital resources on its larger and more profitable branches and business units. The Company is seeking to retain as many of its loyal customers as possible from the closed units by introducing them to the other Discover Leisure outlets. Trevor Parker, the Group Chief Executive, commented: "While it is never an easy decision to close branches and make staff redundant, the Board of Discover Leisure is committed to ensuring that the Group is well placed to survive the current economic downturn and take full advantage of the market as it recovers. The branch closures will impact turnover in the second half of the year with the cost of the closures being taken as an exceptional item. However, the board believes that this programme will, in due course, reduce operating costs and the Group's funding requirements. Although it is anticipated that there will be a number of redundancies, it is the board's intention where possible to preserve jobs but it is too early to say how many jobs will be lost. Positive discussions with the Group's bankers are continuing with the lending banks again indicating their continued support for the business and the board hopes to reach a satisfactory conclusion to its discussions regarding the refinancing of the Group in the near future." The Board expects to provide a more detailed update later in May when the Company announces its interim results for the six month period to 28 February 2009. Further announcements will be made as appropriate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kedavi Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 Recent reports in the financial press state that Discover made a loss of £3.7M in the last year and are £22.3M in hock to their bankers. It seems their bankers wish to extricate themselves from the caravan market as they forecast a downturn. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest T Bunyan Posted May 29, 2009 Share Posted May 29, 2009 Cannock branch closed yesterday. Interesting reading on their website under corporate information. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike 202 Posted May 30, 2009 Author Share Posted May 30, 2009 Discover Leisure results extract 6M to end 1 march 2009 RESULTS 2009 2008 £’000 £’000 Revenue 40,741 51,786 Loss from operations (8,576) (1,079) Loss from operations before impairment of goodwill (5,770) (1,079) Loss before tax (9,496) (1,802) Loss before tax and impairment of goodwill (6,690) (1,802) It dont look good - only 5 Branches open Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicaman Posted May 30, 2009 Share Posted May 30, 2009 My neighbour has just dealt with Choose Leisure Ltd who have now taken over half of the former Brownhills Canterbury site. He has nothing but praise for them, having just sold his motorhome (very efficient and quick sale) through their sales department. They seem to be making a good name for themselves with good turn-over of stock. The irony is that the manager Paul Santos was formerly with Brownhills and saw the warning signs 2 years ago. One of the good guys to have escaped. The moral is, the Phoenix does rise out of the ashes. Good luck to them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.