They have repeatedly collapsed companies leaving huge money owed, together with nearly £400,000 in unpaid taxes
The Ship Inn in Fowey
Questions are being asked a couple of well-known and popular pub being run by a failed business couple who preserve collapsing corporations, leaving a path of tax money owed of lots of of hundreds of kilos.
The Ship Inn in Fowey is owned by St Austell Brewery however operated by James Paul Gitsham and his spouse Yolanda below the Fowey Enterprises Ltd administration firm.
The business was established in October final 12 months with Mr Gitsham as its sole director.
However locals are elevating issues after this firm was arrange six months earlier than the couple’s earlier administration firm, Shipfowey Limited, went into voluntary liquidation in March.
When Shipfowey Limited went bust this spring it left greater than half 1,000,000 kilos – £513,802.02 – in unpaid money owed, together with £98,663.59 for commerce and expense collectors and £224,294.06 in company tax owned to His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
It is just not the primary time that the Gitshams have had failed administration corporations whereas working the Ship Inn.
In June 2023, their firm Kingship Fowey Limited, buying and selling as The King Of Prussia/The Ship Inn with Mrs Gitsham as its director, additionally went into voluntary liquidation. It left £210,783.89 in money owed together with £60,210.33 to commerce and expense collectors – and £150,573.56 in unpaid taxes to HMRC.
That’s greater than £375,000 in unpaid taxes to HMRC throughout two companies which did the identical job – working the Ship Inn in Fowey – and run by the identical administrators – both Mr or Mrs Gitsham – in three years.
According to the Government, the company tax charge for firm income is about at 25 per cent. It signifies that to have £224,294.06 in unpaid company tax, the Gitshams’ business (Shipfowey Limited) can have made nearly £900,000 in income.
If you add the £150,573.56 from their earlier business that is income of virtually £1.5 million between them, which might require the company tax funds totalling £375,000.
Before working the Ship Inn, Mr Gitsham additionally had an unrelated business known as Fowey Doors Limited between 2019 and 2021 which was compulsorily struck off the registers of corporations at Companies House.
Compulsory strike off usually occurs as a result of an organization has failed to adjust to statutory duties, corresponding to not submitting annual accounts or affirmation statements. Once dissolved, the corporate ceases to legally exist.
While collapsing a number of corporations into voluntary liquidation with money owed and owed taxes is completely authorized, locals conscious of the Gitshams’ earlier companies going bust are demanding solutions, about how one firm with £900,000 income in three years goes into liquidation in addition to whether or not it is an acceptable association for St Austell Brewery.
One resident within the city contacted each St Austell Brewery and CornwallLive about what he sees as a sample of liquidations by the Gitshams as a method to not pay their taxes however dwelling it up as a substitute with huge vehicles and an enormous home.
He wrote: “I have to ask the question firstly, how on earth does a company purposely go bust if they have made enough profit in three years to owe £224,000 in corporation tax. Furthermore, having not even paid that money, I really want to understand this, why has St Austell Brewery allowed them to carry on trading under St Austell Brewery premises?
“Do you realise you are setting a precedent as a big firm in Cornwall and the UK? You’re facilitating corporations to go bust and damage different small companies however, extra particularly, you are facilitating individuals like James Gitsham to owe HMRC nearly £400,000 and to simply write that off too. That is taxpayers’ cash footing that deficit and also you suppose it’s acceptable?”
With regards to Shipfowey Limited going bust in the spring when the Gitshams had already set up a new company to run the Ship Inn, we contacted Leonard Curtis, the firm appointed as liquidators in March.
A spokesperson for the company said: “Siann Huntley and Nicola Layland of Leonard Curtis had been appointed joint liquidators of Shipfowey Limited, the corporate which operated The Ship Inn, Fowey, on March 17, 2026.
“We have had no involvement with any previous business failures which may have occurred on this site, nor any involving any officer of this company. We have acted solely in relation to Shipfowey Limited.
“At the time of appointment, Shipfowey Limited was bancrupt on a stability sheet foundation, with liabilities exceeding its property. Following an evaluation of the corporate’s monetary place, a Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidation was thought-about essentially the most acceptable course of.
“As in all cases in which we act, full and proper advice was provided to the company and directors’ duties, responsibilities and risks were duly noted.”
The spokesperson added: “Leonard Curtis has had no involvement in relation to Fowey Enterprises Limited.
“It is our understanding that The Ship Inn is owned by St Austell Brewery and that preparations relating to the continuing occupation of the pub have been agreed straight between Fowey Enterprises Limited and St Austell Brewery.
“The role of the joint liquidators is to administer the affairs of Shipfowey Limited in accordance with our statutory obligations and to ensure that all relevant matters are reported to the appropriate authorities. Additionally, it is the liquidators’ duty to realise assets of the company and pursue claims against third parties for the benefit of the liquidation estate.
“It is for the related authorities to find out whether or not any additional enquiries or motion are acceptable. The liquidators will proceed to help with any requests for info as required.”
We have contacted both the Gitshams at the Ship Inn in Fowey and St Austell Brewery for a comment.
A spokesperson for St Austell Brewery said: “The Ship Inn is operated by an unbiased business, and St Austell Brewery is just not concerned in its day-to-day administration.
“We are aware of the liquidation of Shipfowey Limited, which is a matter for the appointed liquidators and relevant authorities.
“We take our obligations as a pub proprietor severely and preserve all companies working inside our pub property below common evaluation. We count on each operator we work with to satisfy their authorized and contractual obligations.
“Whilst we are unable to comment on the detail of an individual business, we will continue to review the position as appropriate.”
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