MGBen

Anyone know what#s become of GREY GABLES GARAGE? It's Facebook hasn't been updated since May 2020 and it's website has disappeared. Has it closed?

Yes, matkinson that's what their website and FB show - but still focused on Skoda both for servicing and sales, with plenty of second hand stock in. Surprised they didn't keep their Authorised Repairer status to back this up ... they've been Skoda for decades.

Blade are no longer operating at the site - so the Suzuki franchise can't have worked out and there's no Skoda service here anymore. Appears to have been taken over by an independent used car outfit (with quite a lot of prestige stuff).

They appear to have shut down completely. Having lost the full franchise around 2008-09 they continued as Authorised Repairers and just a few years ago took on Ssangyong as well. Another small dealer gone ...

They're building a new place along from the Mazda dealer/ Skoda repairer. Is the new building going to be a full line Skoda sales dealer - anyone know?

Now Blade Suzuki, but I think they still do Skoda repairs and servicing. (This site was formerly Clist & Rattle Skoda and MG Rover until sold to Blade)

Now just an Authorized Repairer having also taken on Subaru to replace their lost Skoda new cars franchise. http://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/news/14707034.Business_in_Focus__Turners_of_Erlestoke/ Sounds as though they - like other small, rural, family owned dealers - don't fit into the new model of large, glass palace, town & city based retailers which Skoda are developing.

Now rebranded as Lookers after the Benfield Group was taken over by them.

They've long since lost the Skoda franchise although their Skoda sales page is still live at http://valleyservices.co.uk/showroom.htm showing older versions of the current range. Most of the garage is up for sale for £545,000 http://www.dai-lewis.co.uk/property-for-sale/view/1062-commercial-property-for-sale/#details. This doesn't include the large, covered second hand display on the other side of the road - perhaps that has been/ will be developed separately?

The HL Austin site has been bought out by the Norton Way Group, multi franchsie and multi site with their main interest being in Honda. http://www.nortonway.com/company-history So HL Austin has been rebranded as Wimbledon Park Honda but retains Skoda authorised repairer service status. http://www.nortonwayskoda.com/

Ridgeway, who already have the franchises for VW & Audi in Newbury, have been advertising for staff for a new Skoda franchise they're going to open in Newbury. Don't know where it'll be, though. No mention as to whether they'll take SEAT on as well, also represented by Whitequay in Newbury before they went bust.

Clist and Rattle used to be a MG Rover main dealer and briefly took on the new MG Franchise when the Chinese relaunched it. They had MG, Proton, Daihatsu and Skoda at their main branch and Renault at a separate site, which they shut in 2011 (as Reggie sales plummeted, no doubt.) Telling that the most valuable part of the business is now the Skoda franchise which Blade are keeping as they dump everything else. Redeveloped as a Skoda solus site it should be quite impressive - unless Blade relocate to somewhere bigger than Flax Bourton! More about C&Ris history can still be read here: http://www.clistandrattle.co.uk/ourheritage.html

Yes, they're an authorised repairer only now - http://www.greygablesgarage.com/ I can't see why Skoda keep dropping the smaller family owned dealers as those are often the ones better at building relationships with local customers and keeping customer satisfaction and retention high.