Hi, I am not criticising the staff either - just those at head office who brought about the company's downfall by being profligate. I am aware of the enormous waste of money by staff flying all over the country and staying in expensive hotels just to cover for one day or so. I am also aware of the background concerning the company trying to rip off the public at the Birmingham store. I am aware of those at head office who betrayed a member of staff who was being bullied and ended up having psychiatric help because of this. Caedelus, you should be grateful you were not involved with the company before administration. I too am in touch with current employees of Sofa Workshop. There are problems there, believe me. Start to worry if you get a message from head office telling you to get payment for orders upfront. Hope you can sleep at night!!!

I've received an update from Leonard Curtis, the administrators who dealt with the winding up of Sofa Workshop. It details the bullying problems at the Birmingham store and mentions this impending litigation as the main reason why the company had to be sold. Sofa Workshop was terrified of receiving bad publicity nationally. Top London lawyers were lining up to take the company to the cleaners on a massive scale, never before seen in the UK. I've since heard that the BBC are lining up a programme about it. The company can not possible survive this onslaught. Apparently, the bullying was so severe that the woman has not worked since and is now in a psychiatric institution. Directors and management of Sofa Workshop (Past and present) - hold your heads in shame!

Still waiting for my cheque from Sofa Workshop. I will never deal with this company again. NEVER !!!!!!

Bond 1982, you seem to know going on at Sofa Workshop. What's happening at TCR? This was the top performing store before the administrators were brought in. My contact has told me that Sofa Workshop is in trouble again and that TCR will be closing soon. Surely not? Ae they still taking orders at TCR? And what about those members of the public who have paid deposits? I guess they will lose their money again? I'm still waiting for my cheque from the administrator. There are a lot of unhappy people out there waiting for money, not to mention the employees of Sofa Workshop.

Bond1982, you know too much!!! I've heard the same too. I have friends working at Sofa Workshop. They are saying it doesn't look good for them. Yet again, the company is trying to get money up front from customers. This happened last time before they went under. My friends say they can see the same signs. As always, the advice is.. "Don't leave a deposit, but pay only on delivery." I'd also advise customers to ask in writing for confirmation that the furniture is hand-made in Britain - as the company advertises. When the sales staff refuse to do so, walk out. They know (and so do I) that cheap furniture is coming in from China. Furthermore, the administrator has still not settled outstanding debts the company incurred. I'm still waiting for my cheque! Sofa Workshop is a disgrace!!!

Can someone please spare a thought for the unfortunate staff at Sofa Workshop. They didn't get paid for the last month when the company collapsed and many lost their jobs. Now, those remaining are being threatened with redundancies again because of three stores being on the hit list. I have many friends still working at Sofa Workshop and they are not sleeping at night through all this worry. Some believe they will be out of a job by the end of May. They well remember the fiasco with the administrator, who kept them hanging on until the last day. What a farce. OK, times are hard for retail businesses in this country and it won't get better for a while. I only wish someone at head office had the guts to stop the rot. It's doing the company no good at all. Morale is at an all time low for staff at Sofa Workshop. I still blame the old management team for not helping with the Birmingham store problem. They hid their heads in the sand while fleecing the company and lining their own pockets. Sadly, because of this mis-management, many have lost their jobs. I would advise any new customers not to leave a deposit but to pay only when the furniture is delivered. If not, they will lose their money, as many did last time. Also, I would advise them to check the furniture carefully before the delivery men leave. I have known furniture being delivered with many faults and it has always caused a problem later. These 'service issues' were never dealt with to the customer's satisfaction. Sofa Workshop... No thanks!!!

I've been told that Putney, Bristol and Exeter will be going The Putney store was closed originally and then re-opened later, but I understand it's going again soon. The staff at this store know what's going on. TCR will remain open for a while but may even be the fourth store to go. This has always been the best performing store in the group but recent problems have ruined morale. The staff at TCR also know they are on the hit list. As you may know, Chester is the only franchise in the group. If sofa Workshop closes completely, Chester will also go. This will cause a legal mess. The Group are regretting allowing Chester to be a franchise. This store is a headache all round. I can also confirm that the new owner has moved on. As has been said here, it wouldn't be prudent to leave a deposit on furniture ordered. Pay only on delivery. Some stores are agreeing to do this, but customers need to insist. This will ensure that you either get your sofa...or not lose any money. The company is unstable, so bear this in mind. The new owners should have settled the Birmingham problem but they are not doing so. They are now paying a high price for ignoring this. It won't go away. I use an assumed user name here, but I'm known to everyone at the Barns (previous head office in West Sussex) and to the new owners, Erewash Upholstery. Denton Wilde Sapte, the company's previous solicitors, also know me, as do Leonard Curtis, the administrators.

Please be careful, people. I can assure you that bond1982 is absolutely right. Sofa Workshop are selling cheap Chinese made furniture. I know for a fact that leather tub chairs were sold from the Birmingham store with 'Made in China' labels on them. One day, the manager was frantically trying to peel them off when customers were in the store. Several members of the public asked what she was doing. She told them "The staff are being told by head office to say that all furniture is hand-made in Britain. I don't know why these labels have been left on." I've heard that all remaining stores have been sent details of what happened at the Birmingham store. Does anyone know anything about this? Also, I've noticed in the press that someone is trying to sell Sofa Workshop stock, still wrapped as received from the warehouse. It's been advertised for the last three months with no buyers. Seems like they can't give it away. Is this stuff Chinese too, I wonder?

If you can, I'd suggest getting your money back ASAP. You can always buy elsewhere. If you hang on you may find that there is no shop and your money has gone too. I know a lot about Sofa Workshop and I can tell you that staff in the remaining shops are not feeling 100% secure. The problems that precipitated the company's downfall, which reared it's ugly head in the Birmingham store, are still bubbling about under the surface. I spoke to members of staff at two London stores yesterday. They are not happy. They have seen what happened at the Birmingham store, and they are shocked. Remember, the staff at the 20 axed stores didn't get paid for their last month at work either. There are no cast-iron guarantees with this outfit. Personally, I can't see any business surviving a sustained assault such as this. As I said, I know a lot about what's going on. I was at the head office in West Sussex and saw how the business was run. As I said, get your deposit back if you can. Be very careful indeed.

Well, I wouldn't go to Sofa Workshop, but you must make up your own mind. I know too much about the company to post my views on here. If I never see the inside of Sofa Workshop again, I will be thrilled. VC