Boss who left 150 brides in lurch after closing firm opens new shop

Nov 16 2008 By Grace Macaskill

WEDDING shop bosses who caused heartbreak for 150 brides by shutting shop set up a new bridal firm just weeks later.

We revealed how Robert Devlin and Jim Mumford closed down their Pronuptia franchises in Glasgow and Edinburgh.

They vowed brides who had ordered dresses would still get them from a firm which supposedly took over the Pronuptia books.

Brides were sent letters containing two mobile phone numbers and details of new company, Perfection Bridal and Menswear Ltd.

But we can reveal Devlin and Mumford - who have still not paid five Pronuptia staff - are directors of the new firm set up last month.

The stock from the Pronuptia shop is believed to be with bosses at Perfection.

Mumford said: "Mr Devlin and myself are directors of this company. It's just a matter of re-branding Pronuptia.

"When we franchised the Pronuptia name we sometimes had problems with people running the stores, who had to shut or got into financial difficulty. We never once let a bride down and won't now."

But former Pronuptia staff are still waiting for last month's wages.

Betty Wark, 59, of Ardrossan, Ayrshire, said: "We were really shocked when it shut.

"Mr Mum ford promised we'd get our money at the end of October but we've not had a penny."

Bride Sarah Brimble, 32, of Hamilton, is also out of pocket.

She was so worried she forked out £500 on a new dress elsewhere after Pronuptia closed.

She said: "I put down a deposit of £350 on my dress at Pronuptia and was shocked to see it was shut.

"I finally spoke to Perfection's boss this week and she said I'm not entitled to my deposit back."

Perfection franchisee Jane O'Hagan, who is looking for premises in Glasgow, said: "Contract state deposits are nonrefundable.

We have promised them their dresses and it's not our fault if they've bought another one.

"We have a lot of brides who are thanking us for helping them get their dresses."

Devlin and Mumford have also caused problems for Pronuptia stores across the country.

Most are franchised by Frenchbased firm Nuptialliance who have nothing to do with the pair.

UK boss Ian Stewart said: "We would like to assure customers that the closure of these branches has absolutely nothing to do with the Pronuptia name across Britain.

"If brides worrying about dresses want to contact their nearest Pronuptia, in Newcastle, we can perhaps try to find a way to help."

SUNDAY EMAIL

g.macaskill@sundaymail.co.uk