Just hours after its US owner filed for bankruptcy and David’s Bridal UK has filed an intention to go into administration. Andy Pear and Milan Vuceljic of Moorfields Advisory have been put on standby to be appointed as the administrators working on the case.
Across the UK, David’s Bridal has 100 employees across its four stores in Watford, London, Brimingham and Glasgow.
The retailer, founded in America in 1950, has operated in the UK since 2013, specialising in wedding and occasion dresses and accessories – a name known for many to-be-brides!
In a statement, David’s Bridal said: “David’s Bridal stores remain open, and the company intends to continue operating in the ordinary course, including by fulfilling all customer orders without disruption or delay.” It said it “intends to continue exploring a sale of all or some of its assets”.
This is not the first time the retailer has faced difficulty. In 2018 it had filed for bankruptcy. According to CEO of the American parent company, meaningful strides had been taken in recent years to meet customers needs and transform accordingly.
“Our business continues to be challenged by the post-Covid environment and uncertain economic conditions, leading us to take this step to identify a buyer who can continue to operate our business going forward. We are determined to stay focused on our future, because we believe we have an important role in ensuring that every bride, no matter her budget, can have her perfect dress.”
When analysing the recent history of the UK counterpart, it had warned of a “material uncertainty” about its ability to continue in its 2021 accounts, which were signed off by the board last December. This was because the US parent company had done a deal in November 2022 to create additional liquidity that was dependent on “continuing compliance” with the loan terms.
The UK business’s most recent published accounts, for 2021, showed a £170,000 loss on revenues of £4.3m. It last recorded an annual profit in 2018.
As David’s Bridal may enter formal insolvency, stakeholders often face significant uncertainty. Here is a breakdown of the legal framework and what it means for those affected.
Administration is a powerful statutory process governed by the Insolvency Act 1986. It is triggered when a company is insolvent and can no longer meet its debts. An independent Licensed Insolvency Practitioner (IP) is appointed to take control from the directors. A key feature is the statutory moratorium—a legal “shield” that instantly stops all legal actions, such as winding-up petitions or bailiff visits, providing the “breathing space” needed to rescue the business or achieve a better result for creditors than immediate closure.
The law dictates a strict hierarchy for the distribution of funds. Fixed charge holders (typically banks with security over property) are paid first. Once the administrator’s fees are covered, preferential creditors are next; this includes employees (for specific arrears) and HMRC for taxes like VAT and PAYE. Following these are floating charge holders, and finally, unsecured creditors—which include trade suppliers and customers—who are at the back of the queue and frequently receive only a small fraction of their debt.
Entering administration does not mean all jobs are instantly lost. For the first 14 days, the administrator assesses the company’s viability and may make redundancies. If a member of staff is kept on past this 14-day window, the administrator “adopts” their contract, meaning their ongoing wages and rights become a priority expense. Those made redundant can claim for unpaid wages and notice pay via the Redundancy Payments Service if the company has insufficient assets to cover these costs.
Suppliers and customers are generally unsecured creditors. Suppliers should stop granting credit under old agreements and negotiate “pro-forma” (upfront) terms for any new supply to the administrator. For customers, deposits and gift cards are rarely honoured. However, those who paid over £100 via credit card may be protected under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act and should contact their bank immediately to initiate a claim.
Written ByRobert Moore
Marketing Manager
Rob has over two decades of experience in web and general marketing. He has extensive knowledge of the Insolvency sector and has helped many worried directors with their questions.
Rob is now working with the Board at RMT to develop strategic marketing programmes to support the business plan and drive more company rescues.
