A concert promotions company that worked with a number of the UKs leading brass bands has ceased trading potentially owing tens of thousands of pounds.

4BR has been informed that Prestige Promotions (UK) Ltd, which worked with the likes of Cory, Black Dyke, Brighouse & Rastrick, Grimethorpe and Foden’s amongst others in the past year or more, as well as advertising on 4BR itself, informed potential creditors that it had stopped trading last week.

Legal action

It is understood that a number of bands, companies and individuals are left being owed approximately £25,000 or more, with legal action already being undertaken in the hope of seeking repayment.

4BR has been informed that Managing Director Christine Wilson had written to a number of bands in the last week, stating that the company had been forced to stop trading.

Filed

According to public records, the company filed to apply to be struck off the Companies House register on May 6th, with notification for it to be published in the London Gazette on 13th May — the date on which Christine Wilson notified by e-mail at least one band that the company had been forced to cease trading.

Public records also reveal that Christine Wilson has been appointed a director of three separate companies called, Prestige Promotions AV Ltd, Prestige Promotions DA Ltd and Prestige Promotions Entertainment Ltd — all registered and incorporated on April 22nd or 23rd 2014.

Without success

4BR understands that prior to being notified by e-mail, a number of creditors had already tried without success to obtain outstanding monies owed to them from Prestige Promotions (UK) Ltd.

It is understood that legal action is pending and being further considered in some of these cases.

Awaiting payment

The current Wychavon champion, Avevely & Newham Band, who undertook a concert presented by the company, told 4BR that despite numerous attempts, they are still awaiting payment.

In a statement to 4BR they said: "We were approached earlier this year to take part in a joint concert with a local choir, presented by Prestige Promotions (UK) Ltd.

We approached this with caution as we would with any new venture. However, we knew various employees personally at Prestige and spoke to them about this. We trusted them and so agreed to take part.

It should be noted that we understand these employees no longer work for the company and have fallen victim to alleged financial irregularities also.

Prestige Promotions (UK) Ltd hired out an expensive hall and looked after ticket sales, though in our opinion this would have not covered the cost of the hall hire.

We invoiced them in the normal way after the concert and were assured that this was being dealt with, but payment was not made in accordance with our terms.

Some weeks ago we were contacted by other bands on Prestige Promotions (UK) Ltd list and informed that they had not been paid for concerts carried out.

The choir had also contacted us to say they had not received payment. We once again invoiced the company and were told this would be looked into the next day but had no reply.

In the meantime Prestige Promotions (UK) Ltd did contact us asking us to participate in further concerts, and to book a date for the Summer.

We have stated that we would not take part until payment has been made for the previous concert and payment made in advance."

According to public records, the company filed to apply to be struck off the Companies House register on May 6th, with notification for it to be published in the London Gazette on 13th May4BR

Cory cancelled

Although the Prestige Promotions (UK) Ltd website is still currently to be found on the internet, 4BR has been informed by National Champions Cory that concerts involving the band which were to taken place in June, have been cancelled with immediate effect.