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Hays Travel Buys Thomas Cook Stores, Saving Thousands of Jobs

The tour company has acquired all 555 of its collapsed rival’s branches, potentially rescuing the posts of 2,500 workers.

By Iliana Magra

LONDON — Hays Travel, an independent British travel agent, said on Wednesday that it had bought all 555 stores of Thomas Cook, one of the world’s oldest tour companies, which collapsed last month .

More than 25 percent of all former Thomas Cook retail employees who have been hired as a result of the deal, which is expected to save up to 2,500 jobs, Hays said in a statement. The move will come as a major relief to many who found themselves unemployed overnight after Thomas Cook’s disintegration.

“Thomas Cook was a much-loved brand and a pillar of the U.K. and the global travel industry,” Irene Hays, the chairwoman of Hays Travel Group, said in the statement. “We will build on the good things Thomas Cook had — not least its people — and that will put us in even better stead for the future.”

The company said it would add the former Thomas Cook locations to the 190 stores that Hays already owns across Britain.

Hays said that in the immediate aftermath of the collapse of Thomas Cook , which left about 150,000 travelers from Britain in limbo, it had offered jobs to more than 600 of the defunct company’s employees .

John Hays, Hays’ managing director, said the acquisition was a leap forward for his company. “It is a game changer for us,” he said, “almost trebling the number of shops we have and doubling our work force — and for the industry, which will get to keep some of its most talented people.”

Thomas Cook was placed in compulsory liquidation on Sept. 23, with some of its flights still in the air at the time the company announced that it was closing.

Britain’s Civil Aviation Authority arranged dozens of flights to get people home from far-flung destinations, with the last of those flights arriving in Britain on Monday, according to local news media reports. The authority said on Wednesday that just under 150,000 passengers had been repatriated.

As of Tuesday morning, about 100,000 claims for refunds had been filed, the aviation authority said , in what is already the British travel industry’s largest ever refund program.

The abrupt closure of a signature travel company has raised questions over the cause of its demise , with some speculating that bad management was to blame and others attributing the downfall to Britain’s impending exit from the European Union.

When Thomas Cook reported in May that it had suffered a loss of 1.5 billion pounds, about $1.9 billion, for the first half of the year, the company cited a European heat wave the previous summer that had “reduced customer demand for winter sun.”

And its chief executive, Peter Fankhauser, pointed to uncertainties over Brexit, writing that “there is now little doubt that the Brexit process has led many U.K. customers to delay their holiday plans for this summer.”

But others say Thomas Cook’s demise was years in the making as it struggled to navigate the transition to the digital age. In the end, it was carrying $2.1 billion of debt , according to the company.

An earlier version of this article misstated the day Britain’s Civil Aviation Authority reported the number of travelers who had been repatriated. It was on Wednesday, not Tuesday.

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Hays Travel announces £14.35m profit after saving thousands of Thomas Cook staff

Hays Travel lost much-loved founder John Hays in 2020 and faced multiple challenges to the travel industry during the pandemic

• 07:59, 7 OCT 2022

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A Sunderland-based travel firm that saved thousands of Thomas Cook staff from redundancy is celebrating its first profitable year since the start of the pandemic.

Hays Travel has survived a challenging three years since it rescued Thomas Cook staff when the firm collapsed in 2019. After buying all 555 of its UK travel agencies, Hays Travel faced a turbulent time when the coronavirus pandemic hit in 2020 with restrictions affecting travel.

Then in November of that year, the company's much-loved founder John Hays suddenly died leaving behind his beloved wife, Dame Irene Hays.

READ MORE: Thomasz Oleszak, 14, remembered as 'charismatic and loyal friend' by Gateshead school after tragic knife attack

Hays Travel, which is the UK's largest travel firm, has now announced a profit before tax of £14.35m from its operations in high street retail, online service centres, homeworking, franchise, foreign exchange, and its Independence Group.

Owner and chairwoman, Dame Irene Hays, said: “These results vindicate our decision to acquire the Thomas Cook retail estate and we have fulfilled the commitment we made then to return the remaining shops to profit. The key to our success is our customer service ethos.

"Each time a new challenge appeared – whether it was traffic lights, restrictions or cancelled flights - our agents were there for their customers.”

She continued: “Our people have yet again been phenomenal. The success of the company in 21/22 is down to their fantastic commitment to continued customer service throughout the pandemic and ever since.

“We’ve continued to recruit and train more travel agents and head office positions and more than doubled the number of apprentices."

Despite the cost-of-living crisis gripping the UK, Hays Travel said there is still high demand for holidays. The firm said it has seen travel bookings increase by 221% compared to the previous 12 months, ending on April 30, 2021.

“The demand for holidays continues," Dame Hays said.

"As the UK’s largest independent agent, our vast range of products means we can find holidays for people who are on a budget or those who want luxury, longer cruises, or touring holidays, and we are seeing lots more people choosing to spread the cost by direct debit.

“In the current year, we will continue to grow organically and via acquisitions as well as developing our Independence Group, Foreign Exchange and Homeworking Divisions, continuing our focus on great value holidays and excellent customer care.”

Hays Travel was founded in 1980 and now has just under 500 stores, employing around 4,500 people across the UK.

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Hays Travels bounces back to profit three years after snapping up Thomas Cook shops

'These results vindicate our decision to acquire the Thomas Cook retail estate' says owner Dame Irene Hays

• 16:31, 6 OCT 2022

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The owner of North East independent holiday firm Hays Travel says the company’s latest results vindicate the decision to acquire hundreds of Thomas Cook shops three years ago.

The Sunderland business, launched 42 years ago in a single shop in Seaham, County Durham, became the UK’s largest independent travel firm when it bought 555 high street travel agents from the collapsed tour operator Thomas Cook in 2019 in a £7.8m deal.

Months later, the company’s entire network of shops was forced to close when the Covid-19 pandemic struck, which led to it effectively laying off around 900 of its staff while putting some on half pay, saying the slump in the travel market had led to it losing hundreds of thousands of pounds a day.

Read more: Hadrian Healthcare sells two luxury care homes in £50m deal - before they've even opened

Now, three years after rescuing the Thomas Cook shops and jobs, the company has announced its first profit since the start of the pandemic, converting the loss of £35.6m for the 18 months to April 2021 to operating profit of £12.45m for the year ended April 2022. It also recorded Ebitda of £15.9m, up from a loss of £29.4m.

The results come despite a turbulent 12 months with ongoing coronavirus restrictions, the Omicron variant, the national recruitment crisis and latterly the Russian invasion of Ukraine impacting the whole travel industry.

Travel bookings increased by 221% and the group achieved a transaction value of £1.07bn, up from £747m in the previous 18 months. Turnover, however, dropped from £262.5m to £219.4m. The average number of employees fell from 5,229 to 3,786.

The firm retained all former Thomas Cook employees who wanted to join Hays Travel when it took over the shops in 2019 and it said it has since increased overall staff numbers in the three years since the acquisition. There are also now 542 apprenticeships across the UK in travel agent or head office roles.

The company made two acquisitions and continues to have no debt and does not use overdrafts. It said its balance sheet continues to strengthen with significant improvement in sales of cruise and touring holidays.

Owner and chair, Dame Irene Hays, said: “These results vindicate our decision to acquire the Thomas Cook retail estate and we have fulfilled the commitment we made then to return the remaining shops to profit.

“The key to our success is our customer service ethos. Each time a new challenge appeared – whether it was traffic lights, restrictions or cancelled flights - our agents were there for their customers.”

Dame Irene said that diversifying during the pandemic to provide business processing services, utilising contact centre skills and expertise, and the strength of the balance sheet pre-pandemic all played a part in sustaining the business.

With new challenges on the horizon, not least the cost-of-living crisis, she said the firm’s business plan remains ambitious and achievable.

She said: “The demand for holidays continues. As the UK’s largest independent agent, our vast range of products means we can find holidays for people who are on a budget or those who want luxury, longer cruises or touring holidays, and we are seeing lots more people choosing to spread the cost by direct debit.

“In the current year we will continue to grow organically and via acquisitions as well as developing our Independence Group, Foreign Exchange and Homeworking Divisions, continuing our focus on great value holidays and excellent customer care.”

Dame Irene commended the commitment and skills of the company’s staff, adding: “Our people have yet again been phenomenal. The success of the company in 21/22 is down to their fantastic commitment to continued customer service throughout the pandemic and ever since.

“We’ve continued to recruit and train more travel agents and head office positions and more than doubled the number of apprentices. I am delighted that we can now continue to reward our retail teams for their loyalty and hard work with a significantly increased bonus scheme.

“I’m also pleased to be able to reinstate our contributions to local communities through our branches across the country and the Hays Travel Foundation.”

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Hays Travel to acquire entire Thomas Cook retail estate

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Hays travel is to acquire Thomas Cook’s entire retail estate.

The agreement will see Hays Travel acquire a total of 555 stores around the UK, providing re-employment opportunities for up to 2,500 former staff who were made redundant following the collapse of the travel giant on September 23.

More than 100 new jobs will be based at the company’s Sunderland headquarters with the rest in shops across the UK.

More :  Q&A: John and Irene Hays on Thomas Cook shops deal

Hays Travel reveals details of plans for Thomas Cook shops

Trade reacts to Hays Travel’s acquisition of former Cook stores

Hays Travel has already recruited 421 former Thomas Cook staff and has further offers outstanding to former employees.

The deal will take Hays’ shop network to 745.

Hays signed a deal with the Official Receiver and liquidators KPMG today.

Earlier on Wednesday it was understood Barrhead Travel, Midcounties Co-operative, Millington Travel, Polka Dot Travel and Miles Morgan Travel were also among retailers to have lodged bids with the liquidators of Thomas Cook for its former stores.

Chair Irene Hays said:  “Thomas Cook was a much-loved brand and a pillar of the UK and the global travel industry.   We will build on the good things Thomas Cook had – not least its people – and that will put us in even better stead for the future.

“We all share a passion for the travel industry and we want to continue to build the company’s reputation for first class service and being a great place to work and develop a career.”

Managing director John Hays said: “Our staff were devastated to hear about Thomas Cook and we all immediately felt we wanted to help.

“In the last two weeks we have already employed or offered jobs to around 600 former Thomas Cook colleagues, and it has been a very emotional experience for them.  Now that we are able to re-open the shops, we are looking forward to welcoming many more people who share our passion for the travel industry, into our family business.

“I’m very proud of the fantastic team who have helped me build Hays Travel over almost 40 years and they have worked tirelessly over the last couple of weeks to bring this about.  It is a game-changer for us, almost trebling the number of shops we have and doubling our workforce – and for the industry, which will get to keep some of its most talented people.”

David Chapman, official receiver, said: “I am pleased to announce we have reached an agreement with Hays Travel to acquire Thomas Cook’s entire UK retail estate, comprising 555 stores across the country. This represents an important step in the liquidation process, as we seek to realise the company’s assets.”

Jim Tucker, partner at KPMG and joint special manager of Thomas Cook’s Retail division, said: “This is an extremely positive outcome, and we are delighted to have secured this agreement. It provides re-employment opportunities for a significant number of former Thomas Cook employees, and secures the future of retail sites up and down the UK high street. We are pleased to have achieved this in a short time frame and in the context of a complex liquidation process, which is testament to a lot of hard work from a number of parties.

“Over the weeks ahead, we will work closely with Hays Travel and landlords to ensure a smooth transition of the store estate.”

Hays has been operating for 40 years and reached sales of more than £1bn in 2018.

The team supporting Hays in the deal included lawyers Muckle LLP, financial advisers White Hart Associates and property consultants Identity Consult.

The union representing Thomas Cook retail staff welcomed the deal and said it is seeking an “urgent meeting with Hays”.

TSSA general secretary Manuel Cortes said: “We have been clear from the start that Thomas Cook was a strong brand and that it was likely parts of the business would be able to move forward as a going concern.

“Throughout the industry the talent, commitment and skills of our members working for Thomas Cook was well known and I have no doubt they will bring the same dedication to Hays.”

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Travel industry pays tribute after death of John Hays

Hays started eponymous firm in 1980, and with wife rescued thousands of Thomas Cook jobs

The founder of Hays Travel, the family-owned business that rescued thousands of jobs at Thomas Cook, has died.

John Hays , who started the travel firm in 1980, collapsed on Friday while working at its head office in Sunderland. The 71-year-old was married to the co-owner, Irene Hays.

The pair were praised in October 2019 when they purchased all 555 of Thomas Cook’s high street shops after the tour firm failed, with a pledge to rescue 2,500 jobs.

Hays Travel said in a statement: “It is with the deepest sadness and regret that we have to announce that John Hays, the founder and managing director of Hays Travel, died today while doing the job he loved. John, who with his wife and co-owner, Irene Hays, bought the Thomas Cook retail estate a year ago, was at work in the company’s Sunderland head office when he collapsed.

“John built Hays Travel into the UK’s largest independent travel agent providing jobs and careers for thousands of young people over 40 years. Throughout this past difficult year he did everything in his power to save jobs and protect the travel industry.”

More than 7,000 people are employed by the firm, which had a turnover in excess of £1bn in 2018. Hays was a former vice-chairman of Sunderland football club and was awarded the freedom of the city in 2016.

In an interview with the Guardian in April, he said the timing of the Thomas Cook deal had not been perfect, as the coronavirus pandemic devastated the travel industry. “Yes, it’s unfortunate,” he said. “Two months ago things were going fantastically but it’s not anybody’s fault and in these circumstances, all you can do is make the best of it. We’ll do what we can to protect our staff, protect the business and protect our customers. We’ve just got a positive attitude on life.”

Sunderland AFC said: “John was a champion of the north-east and the city of Sunderland. Our thoughts are with his wife, Irene, his family and his friends at this time.”

Mark Tanzer, the chief executive of travel trade organisation Abta, said: “We were shocked and saddened to hear this afternoon’s news that John Hays has passed away. John was a major figure in the travel industry over many years, and created one of the industry’s most successful companies.” Derek Jones, the chief executive of the travel company Kuoni, said: “John was an inspiration and a true legend of the industry, but more importantly he was a great friend.”

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Thomas Cook History: The Tale of the Father of Modern Tourism

Last updated: March 21, 2021 - Written by Jessica Norah 42 Comments

Do you know who Thomas Cook was and what contribution he made to the history of travel? Perhaps you have heard the name, seen it on the travel agencies that still carry his name, or maybe you’ve even taken a Thomas Cook tour. But my guess is that, like me, you don’t know too much about the man or how he fits into the history of travel.

Thomas Cook was a passionate man who was born into a world where most working class people worked long 6-day weeks and never traveled more than 20 miles from their home towns. Thomas would begin work at age 10, laboring in a vegetable garden for 1 penny per day; but with a lot of determination and hard work, this working class man would eventually build one of the largest travel companies in the world.

This post is dedicated to the memory of Thomas Cook and his role in history and will give you a good overview of Thomas the man, Thomas the travel pioneer, and a glimpse of what it was like to travel in the Victorian age.

Table of Contents:

Who was Thomas Cook?

Thomas Cook was born in 1808 in the small town of Melbourne, England but would be best known for his time living in Leicester. He would finish his schooling at age 10 to begin working, often for only a penny a day, to help support his family.

Throughout his life, Thomas Cook would work as a Baptist preacher, carpenter, furniture maker, printer, publisher, political advocate, and travel organizer. As a Baptist preacher, he would walk thousands of miles and earned so little that he often worked in the dark to conserve candles and oil.

After seeing the effects of drunkenness at an early age, Cook believed that alcohol abuse was one of the major roots of the many social problems in the Victoria era and would spend much of his time and talents supporting the Temperance movement in England for the rest of his life. In fact, Cook’s beginnings as a travel organizer would come about because of his temperance beliefs.

In 1841, he would arrange for a special train to take over 500 people from Leicester to Loughborough to attend a temperance meeting. For 1 shilling, passengers got round trip train travel, band entertainment, afternoon tea, and food. Not a bad deal!

T he Birth of Thomas Cook & Son

Then in 1845, he would organize his first railway excursion for profit, and the following year he would begin offering trips outside England to Scotland, a country that captivated Cook and would remain one of his favorite destinations. For many of his early passengers, this was their first time aboard a train and the furthest distance they’d ever traveled from their home.

His trips kept getting bigger and in 1851, Thomas got the chance to organize railway travel and travel accommodations for people from the provinces to travel to London to attend the Great Exhibition orchestrated by Prince Albert. Thomas would transport over 150,000 people to London during the 6 months of the exhibition. This was one of the largest events in England and one of the largest movements of people within Britain!

Up until this point in time, most people in the provinces would be unlikely to travel to a town 20 miles away, let alone to the city of London. It must have been quite a shock for many people, who likely had never attended an event bigger than a county agricultural fair, to witness the Great Exhibition, where many of the greatest industrial inventions of the time were on display, in the bustling capital city of London.

His early tours would be marketed towards the working class, but later his company would go on to escort more middle class passengers and even organize travel for royalty, the military, and other important figures given his increasing reputation for being able to efficiently organize travel.

Interestingly, a large percentage of Cook’s travelers would be single or unescorted women who likely would not have been able to travel on their own (remember these are the days of Gone with the Wind ), but being part of an escorted tour provided them with both protection and independence.

Cook would rapidly expand operations, escorting tours throughout Europe, North America, and even led the first commercial tour around the world. But perhaps no destination was more sacred to Thomas than his tours to Egypt and the Middle East. Here Thomas could witness firsthand the Biblical lands he had read and preached about all his life, and spending time in the Holy Land was truly a realization of many of his dreams as a young man.

A Man with Many Personal Obstacles and Struggles

Although Thomas Cook & Son would thrive and go on to become one of the largest travel agencies in the world, things did not work out as well for Cook in his personal life. Thomas’ father died when he was very young as did his stepfather, and young Thomas was left to be raised by his widowed mother.

As an adult, he would suffer the tragic sudden death of his only daughter Annie—a young woman on the cusp of marriage—who shared a close relationship with her parents. Thomas’ wife would suffer a long period of ill health following her daughter’s death, eventually dying and leaving Thomas alone with his own failing health that left him almost blind.

In his later years, he had a very strained relationship with his only son and business partner John Mason Cook. Thomas felt that he was being pushed aside in his own company and eventually John Mason Cook would take over all operations from his father. The father and son never truly reconciled and spent very little time together towards the end of his life.

While Thomas’ poor health and eyesight made it increasingly difficult, he continued to be active in travel and temperance activities until near the end of his life. His son would continue to expand the travel business.

What was it like to Travel During the Victorian Era?

Thomas lived during the reign of Queen Victoria—the Victorian era—and while romantic imaginings of spending time aboard the famous Oriental Express, sailing on luxury White Star Line steamships, and staying in grand palatial hotels may have been partially true of the wealthiest of travelers, these are far from the accommodations you could expect as a working class or middle class traveler.

Before widespread railway transport, the stagecoach reigned as the quickest way to get around and only the wealthy could afford such conveniences. So poorer people often walked, hitched rides on the back of wagons and carts, or, if lucky, rode a horse or donkey. In the early days of railway travel, third class train accommodations were open wagons, some without seats, where passengers would have to worry about the wind, sun, dust, locomotive smoke, and glowing hot embers.

During Cook’s travels—particularly his early trips—you would need to worry about germs and disease as very little was understood about germs at the time and the lack of widespread refrigeration and hot water heightened the chances of disease. Restaurants, flush toilets, and even running water were not staples in Great Britain, let alone the rest of the world. Communication was slow and done primarily by postal mail, sometimes taking weeks to confirm reservations or transmit a message back home.

However, things were not all bad. During Thomas’s life so much would change that would make travel faster, cheaper, and more comfortable than ever before. Improvements in the postal service, use of the steam engine, opening of the Suez canal, and the great expansion of the railways would make it possible for Thomas Cook to accomplish things that would not have been possible a generation before him.

Thomas Cook’s tours, with their discounted organized group rates, made it possible for a lot of working and middle class people to travel for the first time.  Cook believed that travel could help educate and enlighten people who, like him, often did not have a proper school education, eliminate prejudices and bigotry, and be a healthy leisure alternative to visiting pubs, gambling halls, and whorehouses.

However, these new travel opportunities for the lower classes was not something that was widely appreciated by many of those in the upper classes of society. Until the nineteenth century, popular tourist destinations were almost exclusively the playground of the wealthy who could afford the time away and expensive cost of travel. The upper classes did not want to mix with the lower classes when traveling.

As Thomas Cook and others began to offer affordable excursion tours to popular destinations such as English country homes (e.g., Chatsworth House), the Rhine River valley, the French Riviera, Egyptian pyramids, and the Swiss Alps, wealthy travelers complained about what they saw as a bunch of uncouth, uneducated common people invading their exclusive travel paradises.

They criticized Thomas Cook and the excursion travelers, and this criticism likely wounded Thomas, who although he strongly believed in the right for all people to be able to travel, he also strived to be accepted by the upper echelons of society. Despite his success, he never was accepted by the upper classes as he was not of gentle birth, but was a working man and a Baptist in a country still largely controlled by wealthy Anglicans.

However, despite all the criticism, the demand for discounted organized travel would only continue to increase. The number of travelers from London who crossed the Channel to continental Europe rose from 165,000 in 1850 to 951,000 by 1899. Travel agencies and organized travel were here to stay.

Why Thomas Cook was a Travel Pioneer

Thomas Cook was a travel pioneer who built one of the largest travel businesses in the world, a business that started very humbly as a way to transport travelers to nearby temperance meetings. Thomas was able to “organize travel as it was never organized before” and with the help of the railways and the steam engine, he was able to do it on a scale that would have never before been possible.

Although not the first to come up with most of the ideas, Thomas would make things like travel vouchers, traveler’s cheques, and printed guidebooks common and widespread. Cook would use his talents as a printer to print travel advertisements, bulletins, magazines, guidebooks, and train timetables.  In fact, Thomas Cook Continental Timetables would be published from 1873 to 2013 (last edition was published in August 2013) and were for many decades considered the bible for European train travelers.

His religious fervor would make him seek out exotic locations such as the Middle East and his determination would lead to Thomas Cook & Son opening offices around the world. Perhaps his greatest legacy is that he helped make it possible for a new group of people to engage in leisure travel. Cook understood well the drudgery of hard work and trying to support oneself on a meager income, and his tours provided working and lower middle class people the opportunity to explore a world they could have only have read about otherwise.

The Thomas Cook & Son name continued to exist as a travel company, offering travel tours until 2019. The company traded for 178 years. But it had not been a family-run business by the Cook family since the 1920’s when Thomas Cook’s grandsons, Frank and Ernest, sold the company to the Belgian Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits et des Grands Express Européens, operators of most of Europe’s luxury sleeping cars, including the Orient Express .

In the 1940’s it would become state-owned by the British Transport Holding Company. It would continue to change hands over the years. In 2001, it would become owned solely by C&N Touristic AG, one of Germany’s largest travel groups, who renamed the company, Thomas Cook AG.

Thomas Cook became one of the world’s largest travel agencies and the oldest in the UK. Its famous slogan developed by advertising expert Michael Hennessy: “Don’t just book it….Thomas Cook it” became well-known around the world.

The Bankruptcy and Closure of the Thomas Cook Travel Agency in 2019

Sadly, the travel agency and airline that carried the Thomas Cook named declared bankruptcy in September 2019, leaving about 150,000 British travelers “stranded” all over the world (as well as a number of other nationalities). Perhaps the most devastating effect has been the immediate loss of thousands of jobs for people in the UK and abroad.

The travel agency, however, was properly insured and protected and most of those who booked a trip can apply for a refund, and those left “stranded” on trips were repatriated by the UK. It was the largest repatriation effort since World War 2.

In October 2019, it was announced that all the Thomas Cook travel agency offices in UK will be taken over by Hays Travel and rebranded under their name. Most of the reopened offices are being staffed by former Thomas Cook employees. Hays Travel is now the largest independent travel agency in the UK, and you can read more about them here .

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc on all sectors of the global travel industry and Hays Travel was forced to close its travel offices in the UK for a large part of the year. Many of the former UK Thomas Cook offices have now been permanently shuttered and many of the employees who had been rehired were sadly made redundant. You can read more about that here .

Although the future of the Thomas Cook name in travel may be uncertain, I would be very surprised if the name does not continue to be associated in some way with a travel agency.

In fact, although all the UK based companies have stopped trading, some Thomas Cook owned resorted, like Cook’s Club are still operating. Some of its subsidiaries in some other countries are still trading as normal but are also in danger of closure.

What I Learned from Reading about Thomas Cook

Thomas Cook was a quite extraordinary self-made man. He had so many occupations and business ventures and so many setback and failures, even declaring bankruptcy at one point, but he was so persistent and never gave up. He was a passionate man who fought for his Baptist faith, beliefs in equality for all people, and for temperance.

In addition to being impressed by the determination and innovativeness of Thomas Cook himself, I was also quite intrigued in the ways that travel has changed and the ways it has not. We have come a long way since Thomas Cook escorted his first tour as we can travel so much lighter, faster, and more conveniently than would have seemed possible to Victorian age travelers who would accept unheated train cars, month-long ocean crossings, and hotels without hot water.

Cook, a teetotaler until his death, would likely be shocked by the tourism industry’s promotion of sun, sea and sex and the partying and drinking associated with many travel destinations. Indeed, many of these locations are the most popular destinations for British travelers on package holidays.

However, some things have not changed very much. Criticisms of organized travel remain with the notion that independent travel is better and people love to make the subjective “traveler” versus “tourist” distinction.  There are also still locations that remain primarily the playgrounds of the wealthy although never like during the Victorian age. Travel remains class segregated as those who can afford to do so can fly in first class seats, dine in the finest restaurants aboard ships, and sleep in the best cabins with little need to spend much time with other class passengers.

One of the things that I found perhaps the most interesting was the destinations promoted by Thomas Cook still remain, with few exceptions, major tourist destinations today. The country house of Chatsworth House is one of the most notable country houses in England today and people are still flocking to the Scottish highlands, Paris, Rhine River Valley, Swiss Alps, Egypt, the ancient city of Petra, Australia, and most of the other destinations promoted by Thomas Cook in the 1800’s.

While things have changed in some ways beyond recognition, many of the world’s wonders and great destinations continue to awe visitors as they must have awed those first pioneer tourists led by Thomas Cook.

Want to Learn More about Thomas Cook and Victorian Age Travel? 

Resources about Thomas Cook (I used these in writing this article) :

-Hamilton, Jill. (2005). Thomas Cook: The Holiday Maker . The History Press.

-Piers Brendon. (1991). Thomas Cook – 150 Years of Popular Tourism . Martin Secker & Warburg Ltd.

-Withey, Lynne. (1997). Grand Tours and Cook’s Tours – A History of Leisure Travel, 1750 to 1915 .  William Morrow & Co. [This book focuses on a broader view of the history of travel including a lot of attention to Thomas Cook tours and their impact on tourism]

-A great Wikipedia link to some of Thomas Cook’s Traveler Handbooks: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cook%27s_Travellers_Handbooks

Another book related to Thomas Cook on my to-read list:

-Swinglehurst, Edmund. (1974).  The Romantic Journey – The Story of Thomas Cook and Victorian Travel . Pica Editions.

So what do you think about Thomas Cook and the Victorian Age of Travel? If you are interested in another article on travel during the Victorian age, check out our post on t wo American women who race around the world in less than 80 days .

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Baskin Post author

February 28, 2024 at 3:26 am

Wow, so fascinating to read about the history of Thomas Cook, the visionary behind modern tourism. I definitely learned a lot from this about how His legacy continues to shape travel and hospitality industries, very educational post!

Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author

February 28, 2024 at 10:20 am

Thanks for taking the time to comment and glad to hear you enjoyed our article on Thomas Cook. And yes his contributions to the travel industry can definitely still be seend today!

Best, Jessica

Chandra Gurung Post author

May 9, 2023 at 4:15 am

Very interesting post, thanks for the great travel History !!

May 13, 2023 at 8:06 am

Hi Chandra,

Glad you enjoyed our post on Thomas Cook, thanks for taking the time to comment!

Karim Post author

October 29, 2022 at 3:01 pm

Thanks for your blog post on Thomas Cook, very helpful, nice to read.

October 31, 2022 at 10:04 am

Thanks for taking the time to comment, glad you enjoyed our post on Thomas Cook and a bit of the history of the man and his company 😉

Jeanne Gisi Post author

May 24, 2022 at 1:06 pm

While cleaning out some boxes filled with mementos of my travels over the years, I came upon an Itinerary prepared by Thos. Cook & Son for a 6 week European trip in 1965 for my parents & I (I was 13)! It was so fascinating to see the level of detail for each stop, which included England, France, Italy, Spain & Germany; and the beautiful cover & fancy paper used to produce the itinerary. I went looking on the internet to see if they were still in existence & found your blog, which I found so informative about the founder & the many iterations the company had gone through. Probably the most amazing detail in this itinerary was discovering that for hotels in 4 different cities, train rides, rental car & private transport for the entire trip was shown at $328 per person! Astounding! Appreciated reading your historical information about this venerable company.

May 25, 2022 at 5:10 am

So glad you enjoyed our article on the history of Thomas Cook.

Oh, wow, that must be wonderful finding old treasures from your family travels. I love things like that. And yes a 6 week trip for $328 per person (about $3,000 per person in today’s money) would still be a good value today for all that was included for a 6-week trip. And it would have taken longer to put together an itinerary then as the travel agent would have needed to call or mail for inquiries and reservations rather than clicking buttons on a computer.

Yes, Thomas Cook has gone through a lot in recent years. Hays Travel purchased most of the Thomas Cook offices/stores and hired back a lot of the staff in 2019. But then of course the COVID-19 pandemic came soon after, and many of the stores have since re-closed and a number of people had to be let go. For example, our local travel store (in Bath, England) went from a Thomas Cook to a Hays Travel to being empty again in about a year’s time. It will be interesting to see what will happen with traditional travel agencies like this as international travel goes back to 2019 levels and if they will continue to flourish in the face of online competitors.

Ruth Deeks Post author

March 21, 2021 at 8:39 am

Very interesting. My parents who were Baptist missionaries in India had told me that Thomas Cook was a Baptist and gave a special rate to missionaries travelling by boat to and from India, the journey taking 5 weeks approx. I am talking about the 1930s to 1950s. What a shame the The Thomas Cook co. was sold out of the family and went bankrupt.

March 21, 2021 at 9:05 am

Glad you enjoyed our article on Thomas Cook and the history of his travel business. He is an interesting man combining his religion with travel.

Yes, it is sad that the Thomas Cook business went bankrupt. Sadly, the UK travel company which took over most of the Thomas Cook offices in the UK, Hays Travel, has now had to close many of these offices in 2020 due to the coronavirus. This has also sadly left many of the former Thomas Cook employees, many of which were then re-hired by Hays Travel, without a job again. It’s been a very tough couple of years for UK travel agents. Hopefully, 2021 will be a better year for them.

Uwingabire Faustine Post author

November 28, 2020 at 1:03 pm

Hello I was inspired by the theory of Thomas Cook, but wanted to know above all that why was he important in tourism industry?

November 29, 2020 at 7:05 am

Glad you enjoyed our post on Thomas Cook and learning about his life. Hopefully you found your answer about why Thomas Cook was important in the tourism industry from the article. But if not, I’d go back and read the “Why Thomas Cook was a Travel Pioneer” section as that covers a good summary of his achievements related to travel and his importance in the tourism industry.

If you have any further questions, please let me know!

Seba Campos Post author

July 30, 2020 at 6:49 pm

Hi! I am a tourism student from Argentina, I really liked your article and it was extremely revealing for me. I’m working on the Thomas Cook story.

Do you have any information about his family? Why did they decide to sell the company? Why did your son remove him from the company? Thank you so much!

August 1, 2020 at 5:28 am

Glad that you are finding my article helpful in writing your paper on Thomas Cook.

If you are looking for additional information, I’d recommend checking out one of the books about Thomas Cook such as this one by Jill Hamilton published in 2005. The books will give you more details and context than you’ll find online. You should be able to buy it online through Amazon or ebay.

The Thomas Cook company website used to have some good historical information but that information has all been removed since Thomas Cook closed in the UK.

Hope that helps, Jessica

Colin Post author

October 6, 2019 at 5:41 am

Hi Jessica, I was just searching about Thomas Cook after the recent bankruptcy as I was one of the people affected. Luckily for us, we were not on the tour and it was booked several months away, so it seems all will be well in terms of getting our money back. We also have plenty of time to rebook our holiday, so we are luckier than most.

What a great post and what a detailed history of Thomas Cook and his travel company. I have used Thomas Cook to book holidays for years and never knew anything about Thomas Cook, the man or his background. This was a very interesting read!

October 6, 2019 at 6:09 am

Sorry to hear that you were one of the people affected by the Thomas Cook bankruptcy and closure. But I am happy to hear that it sounds like you will receive a full refund for your booked trip and will have plenty of time to rebook your holiday.

So glad you enjoyed our post. Yes, the history of Thomas Cook as a person is very interesting and he was definitely a pioneer in the field of tourism. I am sure the Cook name will continue to be associated with a travel company in one way or another in the future since it is so well recognized worldwide.

Happy travels, Jessica

Eran Post author

December 26, 2018 at 10:21 pm

Hi, Great post! Towards the end of it you mention that a lot of things haven’t changed in travel. However, I think in recent years, with the rise of low-cost flights, now tourism is more reachable to all segments than ever before…

December 27, 2018 at 3:37 am

Hi Eran, Yes, it is amazing how much hasn’t changed and in other ways how much things have changed since the time of Thomas Cook!

I do think that low cost travel has enabled more people to travel, but in more recent times it is probably more due to better economic conditions in countries than things like budget airlines, as we are seeing huge increases in the number of travelers from places like India, China, and Latin America. Travel for leisure is commonplace in many countries, but still remains something for those with money as much of the world’s population can not often afford to travel internationally for leisure. According to Hans Rosling, it is estimated that only the richest 1 billion people in the world live where they can easily afford airplane tickets, and 2 billion people spend less than $2 a day.

Interesting to look at travel from a global perspective as it can be easy for Western people to take it for granted.

Alok kumar mandal Post author

August 17, 2018 at 8:15 am

very interesting and useful facts about Mr. Cook…

August 17, 2018 at 11:32 am

Hi Alok, Yes, Thomas Cook was an interesting man and we the see the effects of his legacy on modern travel all over the place, especially since we are now living in the UK. Best, Jessica

Bryant Kerr Post author

November 4, 2017 at 10:08 pm

I have a old traveling trunk that have the names Colonel Thomas Cook and Sons the other name is Lieutenant Colonel Rodger Young military number 03443 79 New Delhi does anyone know anything about this trunk

November 7, 2017 at 8:29 am

Hi Bryant, I don’t know anything about the trunk, but there is a fairly well-known American from Ohio that was in the military named Rodger Wilton Young although not sure if he was ever in New Delhi. There was also a Thomas Cook who served at the Addiscombe Military Seminary in 1837. But the Thomas Cook & Sons are probably just the ones that arranged the travel so you’ll probably have better luck tracking down Young. Best of luck!! ~ Jessica

Taranath Bohara Post author

January 31, 2017 at 5:09 am

I love this guy Thomas Cook, who helped bring affordable tourism to the world. Many people are involved and have followed his principles. He was a great who taught the lesson of tour and travel. Great blog post!

January 31, 2017 at 6:20 am

Hi Taranath, Thanks for taking the time to comment. Yes, I really love the story of Thomas Cook and I don’t think a lot of people know the influence he had on the modern tourism industry but at least his name is still carried on in the company he founded. Glad you enjoyed our article! Best, Jessica

LOUIS GEEN Post author

January 31, 2017 at 9:11 am

Could this be the same man? I am a Freemason and a member of the Port Natal Masonic Lodge in Durban, South Africa. The Lodge is almost 160 years old, having been consecrated on 12th August 1858. According to our records Thomas Cook was Master of the Lodge during the Masonic year 1883 – 1884. The Lodge is in possession of a beautiful oil painting of Thomas Cook that was donated by him to the Lodge. Until I discovered Thomas Cook’s name in the Port Natal Lodge’s records, I was not aware that the Father of Modern Tourism resided in South Africa. Could our Thomas Cook be the same man that turned tourism into the industry it has become?

January 31, 2017 at 10:22 am

Hi Louis, How interesting and thanks for commenting again on this post! It is possible of course as Thomas Cook lived from 1808-1892, but I don’t think that Thomas Cook was a freemason and I don’t remember reading about him spending time in South Africa. Thomas Cook is a fairly common name. However, I am no expert, and to find out for sure, I’d contact the Thomas Cook Group and they should be able to easily verify if the painting is of the same Thomas Cook of the travel agency. Let me know if you have any difficulty contacting them and I’d love to hear what you find out even if it turns out to be another Thomas Cook! Best Jessica

Tim Post author

June 7, 2016 at 7:22 am

Thanks for all this information on Thomas Cook! I am looking to for copy of one of the recommended books on Amazon!

travelcats Post author

June 13, 2016 at 7:30 am

Hi Tim, You are very welcome for the information on Thomas Cook. Amazing story and an important person in modern travel history and the current state of tourism. Good luck finding the book! ~ Jessica

Kerstin Post author

May 24, 2016 at 6:43 am

Meanwhile, Diccon Bewes has written a book on Cook’s Grand Tour of Switzerland, which I highly recommend to anybody interested in Victorian era travel: Slow Train to Switzerland , ISBN 9781857886092.

May 24, 2016 at 7:27 am

Hi Kerstin, Thanks for that book recommendation. I have not read it but it does have good reviews and I think it would be great for those readers interested in Thomas Cook tours to Switzerland or early mass tourism to the Alps! Best, Jessica

Louis Geen Post author

November 12, 2014 at 1:26 am

Thomas Cook was certainly an interesting character. Another interesting fact about this amazing man is that he was a Freemason and that he was Master of the Port Natal Lodge in Durban, South Africa, from 1883/1884. The Lodge now 156 years old, still exists and has in its possession a beautiful oil painting of Thomas Cook in its original gilded frame, which he donated to the Lodge.

November 15, 2014 at 9:28 am

Hi Louis, I did not know this. I don’t recall any reference to the freemasons or even South Africa during my readings and research on Thomas Cook. Do you have a reference for this for those interested in reading more about this? I couldn’t find any info about the lodge online.

Nic Post author

November 7, 2013 at 9:03 am

The quotes from Thomas Cook are great.

November 7, 2013 at 10:14 am

Agreed:) I really like the one in the green box.

Meghan Post author

November 6, 2013 at 6:24 pm

This is so interesting! I’m always so fascinated by stories about travel in the past. I recently learned that it wasn’t until the last few centuries that people began traveling for pleasure. I’ve even read that in some parts of the world, people think it is a little strange for a person to travel just because, and not for some business or personal errand. But all this information I never knew. I’ve never even heard of Thomas Cook until now. Thanks for sharing!

November 7, 2013 at 10:12 am

I know, it is so interesting to read about travels in prior centuries. That’s interesting about how some people see travel as strange today but I imagine in places where people have very little money, leisure travel is not much of a possibility.

bevchen Post author

November 5, 2013 at 11:51 pm

I knew only some of this. It’s very interesting!

November 6, 2013 at 7:20 am

Yes, it is a fascinating history.

Meredith Post author

November 5, 2013 at 9:52 pm

Wow, I had no idea! I’d heard the name but didn’t fully realize the history behind it. I feel like I owe him a big thank you! Even now there are some places in the world that would’ve been difficult for me to see without a tour group. Fascinating!

November 6, 2013 at 7:19 am

Yes, there are definitely several places in the world that make more sense with organized travel or travel guides than on your own. Thomas Cook’s company actually also helped people book unecorted independent travel and just made all the travel arrangements, allowing people to do it on their own. BTW, did you see how he was also captivated by Scotland (made me think of you).

Kate Post author

November 5, 2013 at 5:19 pm

Not only am I amazed I didn’t know any of this, but I am fascinated as to how much history there really is behind Thomas Cook!

November 5, 2013 at 7:21 pm

Yes, it really is an interesting history. The British, like Thomas Cook, were really the pioneers that started the modern tourism industry. It didn’t hurt that the British Empire stretched across the world:)

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MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

MercoPress, en Español

Montevideo, April 16th 2024 - 15:51 UTC

Hays Travel to the rescue of Thomas Cook: it is to acquire 555 stores

In a move that could save up to 2,500 jobs, Hays Travel announced on Wednesday that it is to acquire 555 Thomas Cook stores from the Official Receiver. The acquisition, for an undisclosed sum, is a significant step for Hays, which has 190 shops, 1,900 staff, and last year had sales of £379m, reporting profits of £10m.

Mr. Hays, who owns the business with wife Irene, said: “It is a game-changer for us, almost trebling the number of shops we have and doubling our workforce – and for the industry, which will get to keep some of its most talented people.”

Following the news, travel industry’s data and analytics experts offer their view on the deal. Not many in the industry saw this deal coming but it is welcomed news for the high street. It is a bold move on Hays’ part, but Thomas Cook is a cherished brand with an established customer base and if Hays has negotiated well, the move may just pay off.

Much will depend on the terms of the deal. As this is breaking news, the industry does not yet know the cost of the deal, what terms can be agreed with landlords for example, but this was most certainly a buyer’s market situation so Hays should have been able to negotiate favorable terms.

Thomas Cook’s demise was the result of a multitude of factors, but at the core was a mountain of debt that was just too costly to service. Group revenue was £9.6 billion for FY2018, so there is still demand for some of the company’s services.

Hays should be able to operate without the millstone of debt round its neck and the publicity around the Thomas Cook collapse may even spur people to seek out Atol protected package holidays for peace of mind, which will play into Hays’ hands.

The deal is not however, without peril. It will have to conduct a review of store locations and operations and there may be a need for a rationalization at some point, particularly in areas in which Hays already has a strong presence. Hays will also need to make sure it invests in digital trends as competitive online threats to a large store network are legion.

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The question is why is this piece appearing in Mercopenguin, a British government propaganda organ supposedly devoted to America, South America and the “South Atlantic”?

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Hays Travel acquires Thomas Cook’s shops

LONDON, 11 October 2019: Up to 2,500 jobs at Thomas Cook could be saved after Hays Travel, the UK’s largest independent travel agent agreed Thursday to buy the historic holiday company’s high street shops.

Hays Travel will acquire the entire retail portfolio of 555 former Thomas Cook shops after it signed a deal with the Official Receiver and Special Managers from KPMG.

Hays Travel has already employed more than 25% of the former Thomas Cook retail employees and is proposing to re-open the stores with immediate effect where possible and to take on up to 2,500 people. 

Over 100 new jobs will be based at the company’s Sunderland headquarters with the rest in shops across the UK.

Thomas Cook was placed in compulsory liquidation 23 September, upon which the Official Receiver was appointed by the court as liquidator. 

Special Managers from KPMG were also appointed by the court to assist the Official Receiver with the liquidation.

According to the Hays Travel press statement at the invitation of the Civil Aviation Authority, it immediately responded to support thousands of customers on holiday or with holidays booked. 

The company also offered jobs to over 600 former Thomas Cook employees and offered to help all of the Thomas Cook apprentices to complete their training at the Ofsted accredited Hays Travel Academy. 

The latest move involves re-opening retail premises that will complement Hays Travel’s own 190 shops across the UK. 

Hays Travel is a private company, jointly owned and managed by John Hays, managing director, and Irene Hays, chair of the Hays Travel Group. 

The company hopes to take on as many of the 2,500 former Thomas Cook retail employees as possible in the coming weeks, doubling its workforce.

Chairperson Irene Hays said: “Thomas Cook was a much-loved brand and a pillar of the UK and the global travel industry.   We will build on the good things Thomas Cook had – not least its people – and that will put us in even better stead for the future.”

John Hays said: “Our staff were devastated to hear about Thomas Cook and we all immediately felt we wanted to help.

“In the last two weeks, we have already employed or offered jobs to around 600 former Thomas Cook colleagues, and it has been a very emotional experience for them.  Now that we are able to re-open the shops, we are looking forward to welcoming many more people who share our passion for the travel industry, into our family business.

“I’m very proud of the fantastic team who have helped me build Hays Travel over almost 40 years, and they have worked tirelessly over the last couple of weeks to bring this about.  It is a game-changer for us, almost trebling the number of shops we have and doubling our workforce – and for the industry, which will get to keep some of its most talented people.”

The 40-year-old Sunderland-based company reached sales of more than UKP1 billion in 2018 and celebrated by sharing UKP1m with its 1900 employees, who each received UKP100 for every year they’d worked there. 

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87 Fishergate, Preston, PR1 2NJ

Preston Morrisons

Morrisons Superstore, Mariners Way, Ashton on Ribble, Preston, PR2 2YN

31 Lidget Hill, Pudsey, LS28 7LG

46 High Street, Rayleigh, Essex, SS6 7EA

68 High Street, Redcar, TS10 3DD

37 Evesham Walk, Redditch, B97 4EX

53-55 Carolgate, Retford, DN22 6BZ

Unit 9, White Rose Centre, Rhyl, LL18 1EW

Rickmansworth

141 High Street, Rickmansworth, WD3 1AR

31A Southampton Road, Ringwood, Hampshire, BH24 1HB

34 Oxford Street, Ripley, DE5 3AP

4A Westgate, Ripon, North Yorkshire, HG4 2AT

25/27 Yorkshire Street, Rochdale, OL16 1YL

Unit 9 The Brewery Shopping Centre, Romford, RM1 1AU

27 The Hundred, Romsey, Hampshire, SO51 8GD

Unit 3, Jail Yard Parade, Rothwell, Leeds, LS26 0AF

1 The Royton Centre, Rochdale Road, Royton, Oldham, OL2 5PT

3 Market Mall, Rugby, CV21 2JR

7 Upper Brook Street, Rugeley, WS15 2DP

79 Forest Walk Shopping City, Runcorn, WA7 2EU

Runcorn Church St

24 Church Street, Runcorn, WA7 1LR

111 The Street, Rustington, BN16 3DP

224 Main Street, Glasgow, G73 2HP

17 High Street, Ryde, Isle of Wight, PO33 2HW

20 Briar Hill Way, Salford Shopping City, Salford, Manchester, M6 5FD

13 Minster Street, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP1 1TD

3 High Street, Sandbach, CW11 1AH

Scarborough

5 Aberdeen Walk, Scarborough, North Yorkshire, YO11 1BA

91 - 93 High Street, Scunthorpe, DN15 6LY

9 Place Ln, Seaford, BN25 1LA

56 Church Street, Seaham, Co. Durham, SR7 7HF

6 Front Street, Sedgefield, TS21 3AT

Unit 2 Market Cross, Selby, YO8 4JS

Shaftesbury

14 High Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset, SP7 8JG

32 Regent Street,

Isle Of Wight,

Unit 4, 90/104 High St, Sheerness, ME12 1UB

Shepton Mallet

27 High Street, Shepton Mallet, BA4 5AQ

66 Cheap Street, Sherborne, Dorset, DT9 3BJ

8 Wyndham Street, Sheringham, Norwich, NR26 8BA

63 Church Street, Shildon, Co. Durham, DL4 1DT

5 Market Square, Shipley, West Yorkshire, BD18 3QB

Shrewsbury Pride Hill

16 Pride Hill, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY1 1DQ

92 - 94 High Street, Sidmouth, Devon, EX10 8EG

Unit 74, Silverburn, 763 Barrhead Road, Glasgow, G53 6AG

Sittingbourne

The Forum, 12, Sittingbourne, ME10 3DL

84/88 Lumley Road, Skegness, PE25 3ND

Skelmersdale

23 The Concourse,

Skelmersdale,

Lancashire,

21 Bristol Arcade, Sleaford, NG34 7ST

South Shields Denmark Centre

16 Denmark Centre, South Shields, NE33 2LR

South Shields The Nook

163 Prince Edward Road,

South Shields,

Tyne & Wear,

South Woodham Ferrers

4 Heralds Way,

South Woodham Ferrers,

Southampton

91 Above Bar Street, Southampton, Hampshire, SO14 7FG

Southbourne

36 Southbourne Grove, Southbourne, Dorset, BH6 3RA

63 High Street, Southend-on-sea, SS1 1HZ

57 Chapel Street, Southport, PR8 1AL

6 Palmerston Road, Southsea, PO5 3QH

55 Cheapside, Spennymoor, Co. Durham, DL16 6QF

14 The Maltings, St Albans, AL1 3HL

37 Bell St, St Andrews, KY16 9UR

5 Burlington Centre, Lytham, St Annes, FY8 1SB

Unit 54, 10 Church Street, St Helens, WA10 1BD

71 High Street, Stamford, PE9 2AW

12 Front Street, Stanley, Co. Durham, DH9 0HX

Unit 17, Marches Mall, The Thistles Shopping Centre, Stirling, FK8 2EA

Unit 4, Wellington Square Shopping Centre, Stockton, TS18 1RH

Stockton Heath

41 London Road, Warrington, WA4 6SG

Stourbridge

25 Ryemarket, Stourbridge, DY8 1HJ

2 Wilkes Way, Stowmarket, IP14 1DE

20 Bridge Street, Stranraer, DG9 7NS

The Bridges Shopping Centre, The Bridges, Sunderland SR1 3DR

Sunderland Doxford Park

Morrisons Retail Development, William Doxford Centre, Doxford Retail Park, Sunderland, SR3 2NE

Sunderland Keel Square

Gilbridge House, Keel Square, Sunderland, Tyne & Wear, SR1 3HL

Sunderland Vine Place

25 Vine Place, Sunderland, SR1 3NA

182 High Street, Sutton, SM1 1NL

Sutton Coldfield

57a Lower Parade,

Sutton Coldfield,

Sutton In Ashfield

40 Low Street. Sutton In Ashfield, NG17 1DG

21 Station Road, Swanage, Dorset, BH19 1AB

20a Whitewalls, Swansea, SA1 3AA

Swindon Regent St

74 Regent Street, Swindon, SN1 1LA

25 The Parade, Manchester, M27 4BH

1288a Melton Road,

Leicestershire,

Unit 40, Pit Lane, Talke Pits, Stoke-on Trent, ST7 1XD

20 Fore Street, Taunton, TA1 1JA

11 Brook Street, Tavistock, PL19 0HA

Teesside Park

Unit 8C, Teesside Retail Park, Stockon-On-Tees, TS17 7BW

5A Wellington Street, Teignmouth, Devon, TQ14 8HH

111 The Border Telford Town Centre, Telford, TF3 4AE

Unit 38, Forge Shopping Centre, Glasgow, G31 4EB

7 Gyle Shopping Centre, Gyle Avenue, Edinburgh, EH12 9JR

85 Market Place, Thirsk, North Yorkshire, YO7 1ET

The Square, Titchfield, Hampshire, PO14 4RT

Unit 3, Market Walk, Tiverton, Devon, EX16 6BL

121A Dunraven Street, Tonypandy, CF40 1AS

16 Fore Street, Topsham, Devon, EX3 0HF

49 Union Street,

Torquay Wellswood

33 Ilsham Road  

Torquay Devon

68 Fore Street, Totnes, Devon, TQ9 5RU

17 Commercial Road, Totton, Southampton, SO40 3BX

7A Church Street, Troon, KA10 6AU

16 Market St,

Victoria Square

Unit UG24, Victoria Square Shopping Centre, Belfast, BT1 4QG

2 Westgate, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, WF1 1JY

11 Liscard Way, Wallasey, Wirral, CH44 5TL

Unit 1, The Forum, 1 Segedunum Way, Wallsend, NE28 8JN

3 Park Street, Walsall, Birmingham, WS1 1LY

8A South Street, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 4LT

7 Three Horseshoes Mall, Warminster, BA12 9BT

Warrington Birchwood

9 Dewhurst Road, Warrington, WA3 7PG

Warrington Market Gate

9 Market Gate, Warrington, WA1 1TW

Washington Lower Level

81 The Galleries, Washington, NE38 7RT

Waterlooville

Unit 19, The Boulevard, Waterlooville, PO7 7DT

Wellingborough

64 Swans Lane, Swansgate Centre, Wellingborough, NN8 1EU

West Bridgford

52a Rectory Road, West Bridgford, NG2 6BU

12 The Crescent, West Kirby, Wirral, CH48 4HN

68 Poole Road, Westbourne, Dorset, BH4 9DZ

Westhoughton

64 Market Street, Westhoughton, Bolton, BL5 3AZ

Weston Favell

Unit 36, Upper Mall, Weston Favell Shopping Centre, Northampton, NN3 8JZ

Weston Super Mare

34 High Street, Weston Super Mare, BS23 1EZ

68 St Mary Street, Weymouth, Dorset, DT4 8PP

Lower Level, hite Rose Shopping Centre, Leeds, LS11 8LL

62 Lowther Street, Whitehaven, CA28 7DS

Whitley Bay

Unit 2, Park View Shopping Centre, Whitley Bay, Tyne & Wear, NE26 2TH

198 Bawtry Rd, Wickersley, Rotherham, S66 1AA

24 Albert Road, Widnes, WA8 6JE

26 Market Place,Wigan,WN1 1PJ

2 Crown Mead, Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 1ED

26 The Square, Winchester Hants, SO23 9EX

359 Wimborne Road, Winton, Dorest, BH9 2AD

Witham Shopping Centre

Unit 4, Newlands Shopping Centre, Witham, CM8 2AP

18B The Woolgate Centre, Witney, OX28 6AP

Wolverhampton

2E Wulfrun Square, Wolverhampton, WV1 3HQ

15A High Street, Wombwell, S73 0DA

35 Murray Road, Workington, CA14 2AB

15 Lord Street, Wrexham, LL11 1LH

95 High Street, Yarm, Teesside, TS15 9BB

6 East Walk, Yate, BS37 4AS

Yeovil Middle St

8 Middle Street, Yeovil, BA20 1LZ

14 Low Ousegate, York, YO19QU

York Clifton Moor

6 Clifton Moor Centre, Clifton, York, YO30 4XZ