History and development of the Willoughby Garages Group
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In the late 1950’s Jack Willoughby and his brother, Rex, set up a used car pitch in Ilkeston. This led to the family - the two brothers, their sister Jill and their parents, forming Willoughby Garages (NOTTM) Ltd on 1st April 1960 when Beeston Light Car Company on Wollaton Road, Beeston was purchased and a Morris franchise awarded.
Over the next five years, adjoining premises were gradually acquired until in 1965 the site was redeveloped with the current showroom and office block built. The same year saw the purchase of F. Nicholson Ltd from Mr Frank Nicholson who had operated on the High Road site since 1921. A Rootes franchise was awarded and again adjoining premises were acquired to expand the size of the site. Jack Willoughby eventually took sole control of the business and ownership remains with his family to this day.
The late 1960’s and 1970’s were a time of expansion with Rover, Triumph, MG, Wolsey and Riley franchises being added to Beeston and the replacement of Austin for Rootes at Chilwell. These all eventually consolidated under the Rover banner. A bodyshop was built at the Beeston site and the petrol forecourt underwent several re-developments.
By the late 1980’s it was becoming obvious that, with the decline in Rover’s market share, two dealerships within a small area were not needed and in 1991 we were awarded the Peugeot franchise at Chilwell. The opportunity was taken at that time to re-develop the site with a new workshop facility, parts department, forecourt shop and used car site.
The Peugeot franchise proved so successful that within a few years it had outgrown the site at Chilwell. Rover’s market share however continued to decline and the decision was taken in 1997 to move the Peugeot operation to Beeston and at the same time we were awarded the SEAT franchise for the whole of the Greater Nottingham area at Chilwell. This again prompted a re-development, this time at Beeston, with the original workshops (built in 1957) being replaced with a £250,000 workshop facility and the opportunity was taken to be one of the first Peugeot dealers to have an Express Fit facility.
The 30th June 1997 also saw the retirement of Jack Willoughby. Ownership still remains with the family, his four children are directors of the companies - Caroline and Stephen are involved in the day to day running of the business and Suzanne and Joanne are non-executive directors.
Many employees have been with us for many years with John Allen – Aftersales Manager is our longest standing employee. He started at Beeston in 1966.
In January 2003 Willoughby Group took over the Godfrey Davis Peugeot Dealership on Mansfield Road Nottingham, making the Company the main Peugeot Dealership for the whole of Nottingham.
In August 2005 the Group expanded further by adding the Subaru and Isuzu franchises at its site in Beeston, at this stage being the sole representatives for all four franchises in Nottingham and selling in excess of 3000 cars a year.
In 2008, with Peugeot’s market share dwindling and a desire to put more focus onto those marques that the Company considered had greatest potential, Willoughbys sold their Peugeot operations and transferred all remaining franchises to their site in Chilwell. Along with this came a significant redevelopment of the site, including the extension of the SEAT showroom to a modern 9 car showroom with a new used car display area for 40 cars and the building of a new Subaru Showroom and used car display and a new valetting bay.
Willoughby Group now has sole representation for SEAT, Subaru & Isuzu in Nottingham. We feel that with these brands, all of which have superb new models and a really impressive development plan for the future that we can really offer our customers, both new and old, a fantastic range of vehicles with a great level of knowledge and experience, a warm friendly service and great value.
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