Lombok calls in administrators

The furniture chain Lombok went into administration yesterday in a move resulting in the closure of nine stores.

Management and investors at Angora, the private owner of Lombok, have immediately bought the retailer out of pre-pack administration in a move that will see three stores and one concession remain open.

Stores in Guildford, Hampstead, Brighton, Leamington Spa, Kingston, Wimbledon, Bluewater, Chiswick, King's Road, London, all closed before administrators Leonard Curtis were appointed. Lombok's stores in London's Tottenham Court Road, Batley in Yorkhire, a clearance store in Fulham and its House of Fraser concession remain open, as does its website. The company said a consultation on job losses was under way.

Lombok, named after the Indonesian island, was founded by Alex Cresswell-Turner to develop a range of Eastern- inspired furniture.