British luxury tile retailer Fired Earth is closing its 20 UK showrooms following financial difficulties and entering administration, with 133 employees affected and an uncertain future for its international outlets.
Fired Earth, a well-known British luxury tile and home interiors retailer, is set to close all 20 of its UK showrooms following the company's collapse into administration. This decision comes after mounting financial difficulties, leading to the redundancy of 133 employees across its UK network. The company’s Banbury head office and warehouse will remain open temporarily solely to complete existing customer orders.
Administrators Dane O’Hara and Neil Bennett of Leonard Curtis were appointed on October 31, 2025, after the company experienced sustained operating losses. Despite substantial working capital loans provided by its shareholder over the past three years, efforts to restore profitability were unsuccessful. O’Hara stated that without a viable turnaround strategy, further funding was not forthcoming from the investor.
Financial records reveal Fired Earth posted a turnover of roughly £15 million but suffered a loss of £1.6 million in 2024, continuing a challenging trend from the previous year. These ongoing deficits ultimately forced the retailer into administration and necessitated the closure of all retail locations.
The 20 UK showrooms affected by the closures include prominent locations in Bath, Bristol, Exeter, Cheltenham, Truro, Nottingham, Chester, Knutsford, Harrogate, and multiple London sites, among others. Additionally, the company operated two international stores in Denmark and Norway, though the future of these outlets remains unclear amid the current administration process.
Administrators are actively seeking to sell Fired Earth's business assets via an accelerated sale process. However, as of now, no offers have been received that would preserve the showrooms or safeguard the staff positions. Potential buyers have expressed interest in asset-only acquisitions, but these would not include the transfer of employees, signalling a complete wind-down of the brand's retail presence in the UK.
This development delivers disappointing news to customers who had planned home improvement projects involving Fired Earth's luxury tiles and design products, as the retailer’s ability to support new orders is ceasing. Existing customers have been urged to monitor their current orders closely during this transitional period.
The closure of Fired Earth reflects wider challenges in the home interiors and luxury retail sectors, where shifting consumer behaviours and economic pressures have exacerbated financial strains on specialised brands. While the Banbury site remains operational for order fulfilment, the end of trading at physical stores marks a significant contraction for the company, once celebrated for its distinctive product range and styling.
📌 Reference Map:
- [1] Yorkshire Post - Paragraphs 1-7, 9-13
- [2] KBB Focus - Paragraphs 2, 6, 7
- [3] The Scotsman - Paragraphs 3, 6
- [4] East Midlands Business Link - Paragraph 7
- [5] GB News - Paragraphs 2-3, 6
- [6] KBB Review - Paragraphs 3, 7
- [7] BLM Forum - Paragraph 7
Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative is recent, with the earliest known publication date being November 3, 2025. Multiple reputable outlets, including KBBFocus ([kbbfocus.com](https://www.kbbfocus.com/news/5547-fired-earth-falls-into-administration-resulting-in-the-loss-of-133-jobs?utm_source=openai)) and The Scotsman ([scotsman.com](https://www.scotsman.com/business/consumer/fired-earth-administration-homeware-chain-closing-down-all-uk-tiles-showrooms-5389521?utm_source=openai)), have reported on this development. The Yorkshire Post article was published on November 5, 2025, indicating timely reporting. No evidence of recycled or republished content from low-quality sites was found. The narrative is based on a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score. No discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were identified. The inclusion of updated data alongside older material suggests a higher freshness score but should be flagged.
Quotes check
Score:
9
Notes:
Direct quotes from administrators Dane O'Hara and Neil Bennett are consistent across multiple reputable sources, including KBBFocus ([kbbfocus.com](https://www.kbbfocus.com/news/5547-fired-earth-falls-into-administration-resulting-in-the-loss-of-133-jobs?utm_source=openai)) and The Scotsman ([scotsman.com](https://www.scotsman.com/business/consumer/fired-earth-administration-homeware-chain-closing-down-all-uk-tiles-showrooms-5389521?utm_source=openai)). No variations in wording were found, indicating accurate reporting. No online matches were found for these quotes in earlier material, suggesting potential originality.
Source reliability
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative originates from reputable organisations, including the Yorkshire Post, KBBFocus, and The Scotsman. These sources are known for their journalistic standards and credibility. No unverifiable entities or fabricated information were identified.
Plausability check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative's claims are consistent with recent reports from multiple reputable outlets, including KBBFocus ([kbbfocus.com](https://www.kbbfocus.com/news/5547-fired-earth-falls-into-administration-resulting-in-the-loss-of-133-jobs?utm_source=openai)) and The Scotsman ([scotsman.com](https://www.scotsman.com/business/consumer/fired-earth-administration-homeware-chain-closing-down-all-uk-tiles-showrooms-5389521?utm_source=openai)). The reported financial losses and redundancies align with the company's recent financial difficulties. The tone and language used are appropriate for the subject matter and region. No excessive or off-topic details were found. The structure and tone are consistent with typical corporate communications.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is recent, sourced from reputable organisations, and consistent with other reports. No significant issues were identified in terms of freshness, quotes, source reliability, or plausibility. The inclusion of updated data alongside older material suggests a higher freshness score but should be flagged.
