Hundreds of jobs at risk as bathroom specialist faces collapse
Hundreds more high street jobs are at risk as specialist bathrooms chain Bathstore is close to appointing administrators.
The privately owned company is lining up BDO to handle an insolvency process, according to Sky News.
The chain has 168 stores, including 13 across the West Midlands, and about 700 employees. It is based in Welwyn Garden City and has been owned by the American billionaire Warren Stephens since 2014 when he backed a management buyout.
Sources said that a notice of intention to appoint BDO as administrators is likely to be filed early next week.
If a rescue deal cannot be agreed, it would be the latest collapse of a well-known British retailer, following chains including Maplin and Toys R Us, both of which have gone bust in the last 18 months.
Tens of thousands of jobs have been lost elsewhere across the sector, with companies such as Debenhams, House of Fraser and New Look all closing stores.
Bathstore shops in the West Midlands:
Birmingham
Cannock
Hereford
Leamington Spa
Newcastle Under Lyme
Nuneaton
Redditch
Solihull
Stafford
Stourbridge
Stratford Upon Avon
Sutton Coldfield
Worcester
