Leger Shearings swoops to acquire Arena Travel from administration

Leger Shearings Group has acquired the brand and assets of Arena Travel after the escorted touring company was placed into administration on Friday.

The simultaneous deal ensures all staff remain employed and all holidays will go ahead.

The agreement will see LSG acquire the special interest and touring travel company’s database, web domains and social media pages, covering all divisions and sub-brands of Arena Travel.

Fifty permanent employees will retain their jobs under the Tupe regulations, and three Arena Travel offices in Market Harborough, Buckingham and Nacton, Suffolk will be taken over by LSG.

Arena Travel has been in business for more than 45 years with a focus on river cruise and specialist escorted holidays including rail and bridge holidays.

It also operates craft holidays under the Stitchtopia brand and cultural and garden tours under the Boxwood and Art Pursuits brands. The company also has a music and events division with Elvis, Memphis and Germany Tours and operates unique events in partnership with the band Queen’s fan club.

Liam Race, chief executive of Leger Shearings Group, said: “I am very pleased that the Leger Shearings Group was able to acquire the Arena assets and importantly, protect jobs during these challenging times. We are offering all customers the ability to take the same holiday that they had booked with Arena Travel.

“The companies share some similar products, including an excellent UK tours selection and river cruise holidays, but Arena’s very specialist holidays will add a new high-end dimension to our current portfolio.

“This deal will make Leger Shearings Group one of the largest escorted tour companies in the UK and will help us realise our target of a £100 million turnover by 2024.”

Arena Travel managing director Steve Goodenough will remain in position following the acquisition.

He said: “Arena Travel is long established and prior to the pandemic was very successful, but it came out of Covid battered and bruised.  Our plan was to have a year of recovery, however, travel disruption hit every aspect of industry, from port delays, to flight and baggage disruption, to low water in Europe’s rivers and it took its toll and the business became untenable.

“I am delighted to be working with the Leger Shearings Group to rebuild the business, with the backing and security of a much larger company, which shares Arena Travel’s value of good quality service. I am especially pleased that the holidays our customers have booked will still take place, without interruption or financial penalty.”

In June 2020 Leger Holidays acquired the assets of former competitor Shearings after parent company Specialist Leisure Group went into administration.  The Leger Shearings Group was established in January 2021.