A holiday agency that had its travel and tourism association membership removed has now been put into receivership.

Baldwins Travel has 11 branches across the South East, with seven in Kent.

The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) had previously removed Baldwins after it failed to provide financial information required to qualify as a member.

It meant that ABTA did not financially protect people who booked through the travel agency during the suspension for trips by tour operators, suppliers or in the event the company suffered financial difficulties.

They appealed in February and the ABTA said it was suspending that decision and the firm would “remain a member pending the outcome of the appeal”.

The appeal was lost and Baldwins was expelled from the trade body as of April 1.

Now, two receivers have been appointed on behalf of loans company Westwood Capital Finance, according to Companies House.

A receiver is an individual or a firm appointed by a secured creditor, often licensed by insolvency practitioners, when a company is facing financial difficulties.

Documents show that Frazer Ulrick from Westgates Restructuring and Philip Jeffrey Deyes from Leonard Curtis were assigned on Wednesday, May 7.

It also states that the receivers’ appointments relate to Baldwins’ shops in Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells and Tenterden.

Mr Deyes commented: “Our role as fixed charge receiver is to manage and sell the properties over which we have been appointed.

As Baldwins is a retail travel agent, customers with holidays booked should be able to carry on with their travel arrangements as planned...

“We are not responsible for the management or operations of the travel agency.

“We are unable to deal with any enquiries relating to holiday bookings which may have been made before our appointment.”

ABTA has confirmed to its members that they can submit pipeline claims in respect of Baldwins Travel Agency Ltd with effect from Thursday, May 15.

A spokesman added: “As Baldwins is a retail travel agent, customers with holidays booked should be able to carry on with their travel arrangements as planned; they will need to contact their tour operator or travel provider directly. We have not been notified of a failure.”

According to its website, the award-winning independent travel agency has been established for more than 120 years and has 11 branches in Kent, Sussex and Lincolnshire.

Across the county, there are stores in Tunbridge Wells, Sevenoaks, Maidstone, Tonbridge, Cranbrook, Tenterden and Westerham.

It’s been family-owned during this time – first by the Baldwins and then by the Botting family. In 2021, it was acquired by the Marks family.

Nick Marks is the current managing director and oversees a team of more than 45 travel professionals.