Buzzlines closes to disappointment of holiday makers
Kent-based Buzzlines Travel is in insolvency, with staff laid off and holidaymakers left without the day trips and holidays they had booked.
The Hythe-registered company with its base in Lympne has faced turmoil since the loss of major contracts. It faced a fleet reduction in 2013 for driving offences, and has had a string of directors since the departure of one of its founder, Nigel Busbridge, in 2016. Latterly, its sole shareholder was local entrepreneur Lynn Woods, a former director of Folkestone Invicta FC and software developer.
A statement on its website said: “It is with deep regret that we must inform you that Buzzlines Travel has ceased trading and is unable to fulfil its commitments whilst entering in to a formal insolvency procedure. The difficult decision to cease all trading activities has become necessary to comply fully with the responsibility by law as company directors.
“Anyone who has booked to travel with Buzzlines Travel from 1 July 2019 will be contacted in due course by the appointed insolvency practitioner.” The insolvency firm has not yet been announced.
Unaudited accounts for Buzzlines Travel, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Buzzlines Coaches Ltd, filed in March 2018 show cash injections from Lynn Woods.
Though formerly a member of Bonded Coach Holidays, Buzzlines Travel latterly provided financial protection to its tour customers in the form of an insurance package, B&CB believes. But holidaymakers have said they were given no warning of the loss of their holidays.
Herne Bay High School had been among the casualties, but a planned trip to Paris due to depart on Wednesday has been ‘rescued’ by Carol Peters Travel: “We were due to take 44 students and six staff to the French capital for three days,” said Rachel Willetts, the school’s Head of Modern Languages.
“It was only by chancing upon this news story… that we learned our trip was never going to go ahead as planned. With only 48 hours to go before our departure, our office angels we were tasked with the impossible: to find a large coach with two willing drivers to drive us to, from and around Paris for three days. Carol Peters Travel to the rescue.”
One customer said she had booked a holiday with Buzzlines on Friday 28 June. The same day, a post on the company’s Facebook page said: “Morning everyone! Unfortunately our payment systems are currently down and we are unable to take payments over the phone and on our website. We apologise for any inconvenience caused and will let you know when they are back up and running.”