A TRAVEL agency that suddenly shut in August and went into administration is set to reopen tomorrow.

Quartz Travel will trade from its original premises in Heworth, York, after the business was acquired from the administrators by Leicestershire-based Millington Travel.

Quartz ceased trading in Heworth and a shop in Blossom Street, York, on August 30 after its holiday provider Freedom Travel Group pulled the plug on its services membership.

Michael Jenkins, of Begbies Traynor, joint administrator of Quartz Travel, said in a statement: “The administrators concluded a sale of certain assets of Quartz Travel Limited to a Midlands-based company, Millington Travel, in November. The purchaser intends to trade from the original premises in Heworth under the Quartz Travel brand, which was included in the deal.”

Quartz Travel operated since 2004 under the leadership of founder and business-owner Paul Smith, who will now manage the Heworth shop for the new owners.

Millington Travel’s co-owner Nigel Armitage said: “We are delighted with our latest acquisition of Quartz Travel. Quartz is a robust business with a strong brand and a solid customer base.

“It has a great reputation locally in York and there are clear synergies between the two brands of Millington and Quartz. It’s a great fit.”

Mr Armitage said Mr Smith and Mauricio Rodriguez will manage the York office.

Millington Travel was established in 1972 and is owned by Mr Armitage and Nick Bland. It operates 11 branches throughout the Midlands and now Yorkshire, and the company has plans to continue to further develop its network. Mr Armitage and Mr Bland own The Independent Travel Company Ltd and trade under Millington Travel.

Mr Smith, who employed 13 staff at Quartz previously, said: “Joining the Millington team is great for us at Quartz Travel. We share a very similar working culture and the team here is delighted to have strong ownership for the future.”

When the Quartz doors closed a statement from the administrators said: “The company’s financial difficulties have arisen from a dispute with its managed services provider, through which holidays were booked, and resultant court proceedings.”