Bristol-based Bath Road Motorcycles is to shut down at the end of September, after 35 years in business. Originally established in 1986, it became the city’s BMW Motorrad franchise in 1989, a status held for 23 years. Latterly, the dealership has successfully rebranded as an “independent BMW specialist”.
Although manager Kris Stinchcombe says the closure is associated to a combination of reasons, he makes no bones about the fact that the principal culprit is local authority intransigence. Recent imposition of a camera-monitored bus lane across his showroom’s frontage, allied to blanket 24-hour residents’ parking schemes in nearby side streets, made access for motorcycling customers almost impossible.
In a statement on social media, Stinchcombe said: “All good things come to an end and indeed our 35 years here at Bath Road Motorcycles have been very good, meeting and dealing with so many loyal and returning customers, as well as welcoming the new generation of riders.
“However, not least due to our ever-thoughtful council surrounding us with parking restrictions and the bus lane, the time has sadly come to call it a day. A big thank you to all our friends, customers and suppliers. It’s been one hell of a ride.”