Parlour Farm Kitchens Goes Bust with Over £2 Million in Debts
Parlour Farm Kitchens, a family-run business based in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, has collapsed into administration, leaving behind debts exceeding £2 million. The company, which marketed itself as a provider of high-end craftsmanship, quality, and sustainability, targeted affluent clients across the Cotswolds and beyond with its bespoke kitchen designs.
Customers Left in Financial Ruin
Numerous customers have reported significant financial losses after paying substantial deposits for luxury kitchen installations. One customer, Lucinda, invested £50,000 in a dream kitchen featuring hand-painted wooden frames and a Lacanche range, favoured by chefs like Raymond Blanc. She managed to recover her funds through credit card protection, but others were not as fortunate.
A businesswoman and her husband lost nearly £60,000 after saving for years for their project, stating they are financially broken. Another pensioner lost £20,000, and a fourth customer wrote online that she is unlikely to receive any money back, leaving her devastated.
Directors Launch New Company Amid Collapse
It has emerged that while customers faced delays and excuses, directors Dino Mussell and his mother Tina Rowley-Mussell were already establishing a new company named Parlour Farm Kitchens & Cabinet Makers Ltd. Former employees noted that sales were pushed as late as November, even as the business struggled, and the new company name had been registered.
Creditors have criticised the directors for maintaining a flashy lifestyle, including a £750,000 home with stone lion busts and a Porsche parked outside a £1 million barn conversion. Mr Mussell, who received a Manufacturing Guild Mark in 2021, declined to comment on the allegations.
Lack of Apology and Customer Outrage
Customers expressed frustration over the lack of apology from Mr Mussell. Lucinda reported that he showed a poor me attitude when contacted, directing her to administrators. The company filed for voluntary winding up two months ago, with many clients discovering the closure only when visiting the showroom.
One creditor remarked, They kept on taking sizeable deposits even when it was obvious there was no way they were going to survive, highlighting the ongoing financial impact on those left out of pocket.
