Long-standing Bishop’s Stortford high-end men’s and women’s fashion retailer Aristocrat has gone into voluntary liquidation after almost four decades in the town.
The business has debts totalling almost £900,000.
This week, the shop was closed, with notices in its windows stating: “Closed until further notice for essential maintenance on the building.” It gave a telephone number for people wanting to make collections.
The business, which has traded at The Chantry in Hadham Road since 1987, was sold in March by brother and sister founders Lawrence Taylor and Janet Malcolmson.
It was bought by Noble Bidco Ltd, a company whose registered address is in Wisbech, Cambs. Its sole director is Melanie Gail Price.
She was appointed a director of Noble Bidco on February 23 – two weeks before she was appointed a director of Aristocrat.
According to Companies House, the Government executive agency that maintains the register of companies, as of June 26, the business listed as Aristocrat Exclusive Ladies and Menswear Ltd had gone into voluntary liquidation.
The business has debts totalling £881,167, including £469,846 in creditor debts, £206,118 in loans and £14,449 owed to staff.
Creditors include Bishop’s Stortford Town Council, which is owed £1,498.10, and designer retailers including Calvin Klein, Columbia Sportswear, Max Mara and Paul Smith.
Former owners Lawrence and Janet are listed as being owed £1,890 and £5,400 respectively.
The decision to voluntarily wind up the company was agreed at an extraordinary meeting of insolvency practitioners KSA Group Ltd, based in Bishopsgate, London, on July 2.
The current owner could not be reached for comment.