Family travel business to close at end of the year as owners retire

A Northumberland travel company is set to reach the end of the road by the end of 2023 so that its founders and owners can take retirement.

Travelsure, based in Belford, has been operating UK and European holidays since 1987, but will close to the public at the end of this year so that its owners Barrie and Karen Patterson can retire. In addition, the company has also run school services and private hire; while it has operated the X18 and 418 services in north Northumberland.

Northumberland County Council confirmed that Arriva has already taken over the X18 service, while a replacement operator is being sought for the 418 service; which runs between Alnwick, Seahouses and Belford. Travelsure will continue to run its contracted services until the end of the year.

A spokesperson from Northumberland County Council said: “We’re aware that the Travelsure business is closing at the end of this year, and the company will cease to run service 418 (between Alnwick, Seahouses and Belford) on Saturday December 23 2023. We’re currently running a competitive tender for a replacement operator, but we expect that the service will continue as previously operated.

“The journeys that Travelsure ran on the X18 passed to Arriva North East from the end of October. Once we have identified the new provider we will work with current service provider and the town/parish councils to make users aware of the changes and promote the replacement service.”

A statement on the Travelsure website read: “We have made the decision as a family to close our business at the end of the year. This decision has been made solely on the needs of our family as Barrie & Karen wish to retire.

“We have operated our holiday and day trip program since 1987 and would like to thank the fantastic passengers, staff and suppliers we have met and worked with throughout the years. We hope you all have some happy memories of Travelsure.

“We would also like to thank the residents of Northumberland and the Scottish Borders who have travelled on our services. We will continue to operate local services, school contracts and private hire till the end of the year.”