Beghins announces liquidation

Wednesday 20 March 2019

A 177-year-old shoe shop which suddenly closed its stores in Jersey and Guernsey is going into liquidation, despite previous hopes of reopening in the Channel Islands.

Beghins, which has been trading in Jersey and Guernsey since 1842, this week gave notice that it would be selling off its assets, and not attempting to set up shop again across the islands.

The company's Jersey and Guernsey premises were abruptly closed last month amid money troubles and an ongoing tenancy row, but Pavers - the York-based footwear chain that bought Beghins 12 months ago - initially didn’t rule out the company’s return to the Channel Islands.

Pictured: Beghins has been a feature on Jersey's high street for 177 years, but has now announced its liquidation.

In a statement, Pavers said it was "actively looking for alternative locations on both islands and look forward to hopefully reopening in the near future".

But the notice of Beghins' liquidation in Jersey this week appears to stamp out those hopes.

The announcement of the business’s liquidation was published as a notice in both the Jersey and Guernsey Governments' Gazette that the decision was taken at a meeting of all the members of the company on 8 March.

The notice said that all of the company’s creditors are to get in touch with appointed liquidators at Grant Thornton to settle any claims.

Pictured: The decision to go into liquidation was taken at the beginning of March and has now been announced in both islands' Gazettes.

Announcing the shutting of their Jersey and Guernsey stores, Pavers blamed the “challenging retail environment” and an apparently long-standing row with landlords for the “difficult decision” to close their Channel Island shops.