Ethel Austin's Keighley shop falls victim to company's financial struggles (From Keighley News)
Get involved: send your pictures, video, news and views by texting KNEWS to 80360, or email
Ethel Austin's Keighley shop falls victim to company's financial struggles
9:30am Saturday 26th January 2013 in Keighley
A Keighley town centre clothes shop has fallen victim to the financial struggles afflicting its parent brand.
The local branch of the Ethel Austin chain in Low Street has closed. It was bought last July by Ricli Limited, which is owned by Manchester businessman Mike Basso. The chain had been in administration four times in four years, and had owned stores across northern England and the West Midlands.
Insolvency firm XL Business Solutions, based in Cleckheaton, has been appointed as administrator.
A spokesman confirmed this week that all the Ethel Austin stores had been closed down and staff made redundant. “We’re in ongoing discussions with a number of parties at the moment and we’re not making any further comment,” he added.
Keighley town centre manager, Philip Smith, said the Low Street branch had not been a member of the Keighley Town Centre Association. The shop’s shutters were still down on Monday, although a handful of goods remained on show in the display window.
