Confusion and frustration are mounting in March, Cambridgeshire, after the abrupt and unexplained closure of Pilgrims of March Limited, the town’s long-standing Ford specialist and former main dealer.
Customers arriving for pre-booked appointments this week found the gates padlocked, the workshops deserted, and—crucially—their vehicles locked inside with no official point of contact.
The closure appears to have taken place without warning between November 19 and 24, following the surprise termination of director Michelle Robinson’s appointment at Companies House. The firm’s only remaining director is now 71-year-old Gary Keith Robinson, listed as overseeing the business based at 5 Melbourne Avenue.
Cars trapped behind locked gates
Residents have taken to Facebook and local groups to express alarm, with one post pleading:
“Can anyone help me? I have one of my vehicles now locked in Pilgrims of March’s yard with no way of getting it out due to the closure… Does anyone have any contact details other than the landline?”
Several customers told similar stories. One reported arriving for an early-morning service appointment:
“I got there at 08:30 to find the gates padlocked and no staff. There’d been no email, no phone call, nothing.”
Another said he had test-driven a truck only days earlier and was preparing to place a deposit:
“I rang up on Monday morning hoping to go ahead, only to find out two days later they’d closed indefinitely.”
Local suppliers told Car Dealer magazine they believed the business had entered voluntary receivership last week, though this has not been formally confirmed. Attempts to contact the firm by phone or email have gone unanswered, and Ford has said it is currently unable to comment.
A historic name in Fenland dealerships
Pilgrims of March has been a fixture of the Fenland motor trade for decades; the firm’s heavily pruned Facebook page still describes it as “your local Ford specialist,” offering servicing, diagnostics, MOTs, and used vehicle sales.
But long-term customers say the business has deteriorated sharply in recent years, particularly following reports of poor after-sales service, unresolved mechanical issues, and a string of negative TrustPilot reviews. Some buyers accused the dealership of refusing to return deposits, mishandling repairs, or selling vehicles that later proved to have serious mechanical defects.
One reviewer described Pilgrims as “the worst dealer I have ever come across,” alleging they were forced to pursue their £1,000 deposit through the courts.
Another said their daughter spent £735 on work that failed to fix a fault, only for a separate Renault dealer to identify a simpler cause at less than half the cost. Others criticised communication, claiming calls went unanswered and complaints were dismissed.
Not all feedback was negative—some customers reported positive purchases and helpful staff—but the consistency and severity of recent complaints suggested a business under mounting strain.
Financial records show solvency—but not smooth sailing
The company’s most recent published accounts, for the year ending 31 March 2024, paint a picture of a business that was still solvent but experiencing financial pressures.
Pilgrims of March reported net assets of £722,593, down from £882,933 the previous year—a significant £160,340 drop. The fall was driven largely by reductions in its revaluation reserve and retained earnings following asset impairments and property value adjustments.
Key Figures From the 2024 Accounts
- Total assets: £2.81m
- Total liabilities: £2.07m
- Net assets: £722,593
- Employees: 11, unchanged from 2023
- Cash on hand: Slightly reduced to £389,207
- Long-term debt: Increased to £448,912
Despite the decline in net assets, the company remained comfortably solvent, with assets exceeding liabilities by more than £700,000. Directors expressed confidence in the business’s ability to continue trading, stating explicitly that Pilgrims had “adequate resources” to operate for the foreseeable future.
But the accounts also highlighted a number of financial risks:
- Growing long-term debt, up more than £113,000 year-on-year.
- Falling asset values, including a £12,000 impairment on investment property.
- Shrinking retained earnings, reducing the cushion for absorbing losses.
- Heavy reliance on secured borrowing, meaning core assets were pledged to lenders.
- Director loan balances creeping upward, reducing working capital flexibility.
While none of these issues individually pointed to imminent collapse, they suggested a business increasingly vulnerable to shocks—particularly in a used-car market that has faced falling prices, higher financing costs, and tightening consumer spending throughout 2024 and 2025.
Silence fuels speculation
The lack of any official statement from the company has left staff, customers, and suppliers in the dark. No explanation has been posted on the firm’s website or social media. Its Facebook page has been largely wiped, retaining only a bare set of introductory lines.
Ford’s national network page also no longer lists Pilgrims as an active franchised site.
With rumours of receivership circulating locally, attention is now turning to the status of customer vehicles still on the premises. If the business has entered administration or receivership, access to the site—and the release of vehicles—would fall under the control of appointed insolvency practitioners. Until then, owners may have little choice but to wait.
A community left wondering what happens next
Pilgrims’ sudden disappearance has shocked March, where it has operated for generations and served thousands of local motorists. With no public statement from the remaining director and no communication to affected customers, the uncertainty is only deepening.
For now, the biggest immediate question remains simple: how and when will customers get their cars back? Until the company breaks its silence—or an administrator is formally appointed—no one seems to have the answer.
