Bridal company with 50 year history enters administration

Bridal Fashions Limited, trading as Berketex Bride, which has retail outlets in Leeds and Sheffield, has ceased trading – with 80 jobs lost across the group.

The company, which has a shop in Queens Arcade in Leeds and a concession in Debenhams on The Moor in Sheffield, and all other outlets trading as the well-known Berketex Bride, will be closed from Tuesday November 13. Berketex Bride, which had annual sales of £1.5m, was Grantham-headquartered and had 80 staff.

Sheffield-headquartered Wilson Field Group has been instructed to assist the company which has been trading as a bridal retailer and supplier for 50 years plus.

A dedicated phoneline for customers who have placed orders has been set up to advise around 300 disappointed brides.

Berketex Bride, which had annual sales of £1.5m, was Grantham-headquartered and had 80 staff and 15 branches nationwide including concessions in Debenhams and stores in Scotland and Southern Ireland plus an online store.

Locations of stores include Manchester, Sheffield, Bristol, Leeds, Nottingham, Newcastle, Leicester, Croyden, London West End, Chester, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dublin.

A spokesman from Wilson Field Group said: “Wilson Field was invited by director to give advice when the company faced mounting cash flow problems.

“This is another example of the hard time retailers are experiencing – and how companies are needing to react to the demands of different shopping habits and online retail.

“A Notice of Intent to appoint an administrator was lodged with the court on November 9. Once appointed, an administrator will look at the viability of different aspects of the business and other options which may include the sale of the brand, stock and the website.

“The director of the company wishes to express his sincere apologies for the abrupt closure of the store and any subsequent inconvenience this may cause to customers of the company.

“Wilson Field appreciates that this will be distressing for the customers of the company and will deal with individual queries as quickly as possible however we anticipate a high volume of calls and therefore ask for your patience in advance.”

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