Bath auction house owes nearly £200,000 to former customers

A popular auction house in Bath which went into liquidation earlier this month owes nearly £200,000 to its customers, it can be revealed.

Aldridges of Bath Ltd on the Lower Bristol Road

Documents seen by the Echo show Aldridges of Bath Ltd also owes more than £200,000 to company creditors.

The auction house, which was based on the Lower Bristol Road but has now closed, was established in the 1970s, originally trading from Walcot Street before moving to its former premises.

On its website, which has now been taken down, Aldridges said it was “founded in the mid-18th century, originally an equine auctioneers and ‘horse bazaar’ based in London’s Covent Garden until 1940”.

The company owes substantial amounts to individual customers, including one who was due more than £40,000. Another is owed just over £25,000.

Several customers were due thousands of pounds from selling their goods with the auction house.

The company owes Bath & North East Somerset Council more than £7,000.

The documents state: “The Company did not hold customer monies in trust. Instead, they formed part of the Company’s operating capital.

“Due to the Company’s insolvency and its imminent liquidation, under prevailing insolvency law these monies, such as they remain, cannot be refunded to customers.

“Customers will need to make a claim in the Company’s liquidation. Details of the claim process will be notified to all the Company’s creditors once the liquidation has commenced.”

A spokesperson for Begbies Traynor, who have been appointed as liquidators of the firm, said: “Neil Vinnicombe and Paul Wood of Begbies Traynor have been appointed as Joint Liquidators of Aldridges of Bath Limited on 23 September 2025.

“As part of their statutory duty Joint Liquidators will undertake a thorough review of the Company records to attempt to establish where the creditors’ money went and if there are any Antecedent actions they can pursue. Also to submit a confidential report to the Government on the director’s conduct.

“In these cases, a Creditors’ Committee may be established with the approval of Creditors. This can help the Joint Liquidators agree approach and expedite their work. It can also provide a communication channel to update creditors when possible.

“A number of creditors have expressed a desire to form a Committee and some to serve on it.

“The liquidators will be in contact with the creditors concerned to establish if a committee can be validly formed.”

Some customers of Aldridges have been in touch with the Echo, concerned that they had not been contacted by Begbies Traynor.

The liquidators’ Bath office can be contacted by calling 01225 316040.