Bristol Street Motors Motornation opens following £500,000 investment

Bristol Street Motors Motornation has opened its latest dealership in Stockton-on-Tees following a £500,000 investment from Vertu Motors.

Around 150 used vehicles are on display at the former Evans Halshaw site at Preston Farm Industrial Estate and it includes a 10-ramp service centre, as well as a Kids’ Zone featuring a pool table, Xbox console and other activities.

The now Bristol Street Motors Motornation site was acquired in December 2021 and has undergone refurbishment ahead of its opening, including an overhaul of soft furnishings, new signage and a service centre for servicing and repairs.

THe AM100 PLC's chief executive Robert Forrester, said: “We’re very pleased to open the doors of this fantastic dealership, following a significant redevelopment and investment.

“The changes that the used car market has undergone in the last two years has allowed us to expand the Bristol Street Motors brand, but we have also diversified the Motornation site to offer vehicle servicing and repairs.”

The location was previously a Reg Vardy Rover dealership before the chain was bought by Pendragon in 2005, becoming part of its Evans Halshaw division, before closing a few years ago.

Prior to its sale to Evans Halshaw, Forrester was the finance director and then managing director of Reg Vardy, which operated the site for many years.

He added: “I remember when this location was the top used car location for Reg Vardy. It’s great to be breathing new life into it and creating new jobs in the area. I am looking forward to seeing it grow and flourish.”

General manager Kevin Parkinson, who has most recently worked for Bristol Street Motors at sites in Sheffield, is returning to the Northeast to oversee the dealership.

He said: “A lot of work has gone into getting the site ready for opening. It was empty for quite a while, but with such a prominent position and a large vehicle display area, we thought it was the perfect location for a Motornation site.

“I’m delighted to be back on home turf and serving Teesside customers again. There’s something for everyone at Bristol Street Motors Motornation Stockton; vehicles to suit all budgets, and affordable and high-quality servicing.

“We understand and appreciate our customers. A big section of the used car market is devoted to families, so we have made sure that they are catered for with a kids’ area to keep youngsters occupied, so their parents can focus on making the right purchase.”

Vertu Motors leveraged car retail’s “sector tailwinds” to deliver a 41.9% rise in turnover and 228% rise in adjusted pre-tax profits in a record-breaking set of 2021 annual financial results.