Coach firm's shock closure leaves customers out of pocket as Shrewsbury office shuts
A travel company has unexpectedly closed leaving customers in the dark - with some having forked out hundreds of pounds to travel this weekend.
Group Travel Limited, a coach firm which has a Shrewsbury office at Frankwell, has closed its premises and customers have been unable to reach them by phone.
It comes after the Stourbridge-based company was set to be dissolved in December – only for a U-turn to be made the next day.
The tour operator was due to take some passengers to the Royal Albert Hall in London on Friday, with customers paying £165 for a ticket, and also to Torquay on Monday for a five-day break.
Catherine Wood, 81, who was due to travel to London with her husband Raymond, 84, received a letter yesterday morning from the travel firm, containing an "urgent notice".
The letter said: "We are sorry to advise you that your coach tour has been cancelled.
"We are currently taking legal advice from a licence insolvency practitioner and will send you a letter confirming our position in the next two weeks.
"Group Travel Ltd has ceased trading. You will be contacted in due course regarding the procedure for a refund. We apologise for any inconvenience caused."
The Shrewsbury branch of the firm was locked up yesterday with the blinds drawn.
There was no notice on the door advising customers of the situation revealed in the letter.
The shop's phone was also disconnected.
Mrs Wood, from Brierley Hill, said she was pleased to finally know what was happening, but still "flabbergasted" at the situation.
She said: "We are feeling upset and disappointed.
"We bought two tickets to go to the Royal Albert Hall to Cirque Du Soleil, stay there and come back on Saturday. In total we paid £342.20 for two tickets, which includes £12.20 for insurance."
Grandparents Barry and Dorothy Austin were looking forward to a mid-week break at the Riviera Hotel in Torquay this Monday.
But they experienced similar problems trying to get in touch with Group Travel, and were led to believe their holiday was cancelled.
Retired Mr Austin, 81, who used to work for the Environment Agency, said: “We’ve booked with them before, to go to this hotel in January, and we’ve never had any problems.
“We’ve just paid the balance - £319 for the two of us."
Mrs Austin, 80, from Codsall, added: “It’s put a lot of people into a mess I think. Not a good start to the year. It’s been quite a shock."
Group Travel was unavailable for comment after being approached by the Shropshire Star.
