It has been confirmed by Phil Pierce and Gary Blackburn from specialist business advisory firm FRP Advisory LLP that the assets of BetterBathrooms (UK) Limited have been sold to Buy it Direct Ltd. Better Bathrooms is said to be the largest independent bathroom retailer and has 13 showrooms and two trade counters. The business employed 362 people across its network, which includes its Leigh HQ, Didcot warehouse and customer service centre in Glazebury.

1 March 2019 saw Betterbathrooms (UK) Limited go into Administration and 325 staff made redundant. Philip Edward Pierce and Gary Edgar Blackburn were appointed as joint administrators on that date following a period of unsustainable cashflow difficulties by the company, to which Better Bathrooms immediately ceased trading.

Buy it Direct is one of the UK’s largest online retailers and operates the Appliances Direct and Furniture 123 brands from three sites in Huddersfield, Barnsley and the East Midlands.

Phil Pierce, joint administrator and partner at FRP Advisory, said: “By securing a sale of the as

sets of the business, we have been able to maximise returns to creditors. Buy it Direct’s proven online retail expertise and infrastructure will ensure that they are well placed to take the business forward and we wish them well for the future.”

Nick Glynne, managing director of Buy it Direct said: “The BetterBathrooms business will complement our other successful 'home' brands, Appliances Direct and Furniture123 and I am particularly pleased to be working with some of the existing talented team. We hope to start trading again later this month and are now focused on resurrecting and developing the brand to demonstrate exceptional value to our customers.”