A well-established family business in Cornwall, specializing in taxi and coach hire services, has declared bankruptcy, resulting in a debt of nearly £1 million and leaving six employees without jobs. Summercourt Travel, located in Newquay, was announced to be insolvent in the fortnight prior to Christmas.

As per Companies House records, the firm initiated creditors' voluntary liquidation on December 18th, a legal procedure that permits the directors of an insolvent company to shut down operations voluntarily. Kim Richards and Richard Tonks from BK Plus, a firm in Walsall, West Midlands, were designated as the joint liquidators. The Gazette officially announced this development on Boxing Day. Financial records from Companies House indicate that Summercourt Travel, which was founded approximately two decades ago, has outstanding debts exceeding £908,000. These include a director's loan of £280,000 to a creditor, £137,000 owed to Funding Circle in London, nearly £31,000 to HSBC, slightly over £29,000 to HM Revenue and Customs, and almost £21,000 to Haydock Finance Limited in Lancashire. Other creditors encompass Cornwall Council, various vehicle companies, utility providers, and even Amazon for a sum of £43. Despite the liquidation of Summercourt Travel, its directors Robert and Sam Ryder, along with company secretary Sharon Ryder, are still managing Merlin Vehicle Rental and Travel Cornwall. These businesses are situated at the same address as the now-defunct Summercourt. Online inquiries for Summercourt Travel are automatically redirected to the operational Travel Cornwall website, as reported by Cornwall Live. The website portrays the company as a "locally based family-run business offering a range of transportation services including taxis, minibuses, executive cars, and coach and bus services." It further states that the company's central location is ideal for providing services across Cornwall and beyond. Efforts have been made to contact Robert Ryder, whose email still mentions Summercourt Travel, and the liquidators for further comments. A spokesperson for BK Plus Limited stated: "Summercourt Travel Limited went into Creditors' Voluntary Liquidation on December 18, 2024, with Richard Tonks and Kim Richards of BK Plus appointed as Joint Liquidators by the company's members and creditors. "Before our appointment, the company had stopped trading, leading to one of its clients taking over employment contracts for 24 of its staff, while the remaining six were laid off. "Post-appointment, the liquidators will now focus on converting the company's assets into cash, communicating with creditors, and, as per standard insolvency procedures, examining the circumstances that led to the company's collapse."