Fresh hope for Academy vendors

Following approaches by the Antiques Trade Gazette in September, Academy issued a statement saying business had been disrupted by a legal dispute but that all commitments would be honoured. They appointed solicitors to act as intermediaries for vendors, many of whom contacted them.

But the flow of calls to the Gazette from worried vendors who had sent items to Academy for sale prior to their closure earlier this year has continued, so we have investigated further.

Last week we were finally put in touch with Crawley-based liquidation company Baker Tilly, who have been given the responsibility of clearing the goods consigned to Academy for sale from various warehouses across London where they are stored.

“We need to sort out what belongs to who,” said Louise Brittain of Baker Tilly. “We have appointed the Southern Insolvency Agency to deal with the property concerned, but we have had a few problems, which are currently being sorted out by a third party.”
According to a number of Gazette readers, it has been difficult to access consignments currently in storage because warehouse rents remain unpaid – however, this has not been confirmed by the leaseholders.

Darrel Taylor, of Southern Insolvency Company, told the Gazette that they were being helped by Rosebery Auctioneers of West Norwood and Middlesex Auctions of Brentwood who will resume responsibility for the goods on behalf of the vendors.
Rosebery’s have contacted all the vendors personally.
The next step is to match the remaining furniture with the appropriate owners, so if any readers are still unsure as to the whereabouts of their property, they should contact Louise Brittain at Baker Tilly, 9-12 Glen Eagles Court, Brighton Road, Crawley, RH10 6AD or telephone her on 01293 565165.

The position of those owed money by Academy remains unclear, but the Gazette investigation continues.