News

Something Fishy's Happening in Scunthorpe

The stock of a leading tropical fish centre is to go under the hammer in an auction in Scunthorpe next week (Tuesday January 27th) following the closure of the business.

              Lincoln Aquatics, which was based on the Allenby Industrial Estate in the city, ceased trading last week. Industrial auctioneers CJM Asset Management has been instructed to sell off the firm’s stock pending the appointment of a liquidator.

              CJM director Paul Cooper said: “Because of the urgency of the situation, we have already sold all the centre’s live fish to other specialist retailers from the site but everything else has been moved up to our auction centre in Scunthorpe to go under the hammer.”

              “In all around 200 lots of equipment and supplies are included in the auction, ranging from tanks and pond liners to fish food supplies, cleaning equipment, nets and accessories. We’ve got enough plastic castles and bridges to keep the most discerning shoal of goldfish amused.”

              “We’ve even got an impressive, original, oil on canvas painting of coy carp in a pool. Is any fish fanciers wall complete without one?”

              Paul added: “Recent weeks have seen a significant rise in the amount of machinery, stock and equipment sent to us for disposal following company failures and liquidations in the current economic climate but there are people and firms that are bucking the trend. There are quite a lot of entries in this sale which have come because of firms re-equipping.”

              “The auction includes all the furnishings and kitchen equipment from The George at Langworth, near Lincoln. The pub has been bought by a new company that is planning to create a new restaurant-pub specialising in Lincolnshire produce.”

              “The premises are being completely refurbished and re-equipped so we have been sent pretty much all the furniture and furnishings that were in the bars and kitchen. The lots include tables, chairs, cookers, ovens, hot plates, preparation tables and even the cutlery.”

              “We’ve also got a vast quantity of industrial and professional cleaning equipment, ranging from dozens of vacuum cleaners and floor polishers to ride on floor sweepers. That’s come from a cleaning company from the Midlands that is re-equipping.”

              The auction also includes office furniture and equipment from a photo-processing equipment manufacturer that was hit by the Buncefield oil depot disaster in 2005.”

              Paul said: “Following the fire the firm had to relocate its entire operation to its Nottinghamshire office. Now, four years later, they have been able to move back to Hemel Hempstead and this kit from Nottinghamshire is surplus to requirements and has been sent to us for disposal.”

              A large vehicle section in the auction includes a range of cars and vans – including a Ford Grosvenor limousine with the prestige number plate A7 LMO.

In total the sale extends to over 800 lots. The viewing sessions are on Monday (January 26th) 1pm-7pm and on Tuesday morning from 8.30am until the start of the sale at 10 am. Catalogues are available from CJM or can be downloaded from the firm’s website: www.cjmasset.com free of charge.

For further information or comment please contact Paul Cooper, Operations Director

at CJM Asset Management on 01724-334411.