Major UK furniture company closes with 297 jobs lost

A major UK furniture manufacturer has closed after entering administration leading to the loss of approximately 297 jobs across its operations.

The company, known as Westbridge Furniture Limited, supplied sofas and upholstered furniture to major UK retailers, including well-known high street brands such as Next, John Lewis, and Sofology. The business had been based in Holywell, Flintshire, and was part of a wider supply chain supporting the UK furniture and retail sector.

Administrators were appointed after the company faced ongoing financial difficulties, including weak trading conditions, rising operational costs, and the loss of key customers. Despite efforts to find a buyer or rescue deal, no viable offer was secured to keep the business running.

As a result, production ceased, and the company was forced into a controlled wind-down process. Around 297 employees were made redundant, although a small number were retained temporarily to assist with closing operations and asset management.

The collapse highlights the continued pressure facing the UK furniture manufacturing industry, which has been impacted by inflation, reduced demand, and supply chain challenges. Several similar firms across the sector have also recently entered administration, contributing to significant job losses nationwide.

However, some of the company’s design rights and intellectual property have been sold to another manufacturer, allowing certain product lines to continue under different ownership in the future.

Overall, the closure of Westbridge Furniture reflects wider instability in the sector, where even long-established manufacturers are struggling to survive under current economic conditions.

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