Andreas Arakapiotis and Simon Wall of bk plus have been appointed joint administrators of John Lewis of Hungerford, securing a future for the well-known bespoke furniture brand and safeguarding 22 jobs through a pre-packaged administration sale.

Founded in Hungerford, Berkshire in 1972 by John Lewis, the business built a reputation over more than five decades for handcrafted kitchens, bedrooms and fitted furniture. The company opened a showroom on Hungerford High Street in the mid-1970s, followed by a larger workshop in Oxfordshire, and introduced its first Shaker collection in 1983. At its peak, John Lewis of Hungerford operated more than 10 showrooms across London and southern England, most recently including its flagship store in Fulham, West London.

Following a sales process, parts of the business have been sold via a pre-pack administration sale to Rebecca Taylor Associates Limited, a company owned by the director of John Lewis of Hungerford Limited. The deal means the brand’s craftsmanship and expertise will continue under new ownership, with 22 jobs retained.

Andreas Arakapiotis, joint administrator and partner at bk plus, said: “Rising manufacturing costs and the ongoing cost of living crisis have made trading conditions extremely difficult, with margins under sustained pressure. Despite these challenges, we’re pleased that this sale safeguards the John Lewis of Hungerford name and protects 22 jobs, ensuring the business’s long tradition of bespoke craftsmanship can continue.”

The joint administrators are working with their appointed agents to maximise realisations in respect of the remaining assets for the benefit of creditors.