Great Western Coffee Shop

It gives great sadness to announce that the directors of Alexcars Ltd have taken the extremely difficult decision to hang the keys up and cease trading.

A number of factors in a short timeframe have impacted the business, not least Covid-19 which has brought a total loss of revenue in what should be the busiest time of year.

Alexcars has been proud to serve the people of Cirencester and surrounding areas since 1946 and we are extremely grateful to our customers and fantastic staff and for their loyalty over these years.

During these difficult and challenging times, please stay safe, look after each other, and support your local businesses wherever you can.

If you have a booking or for any other business enquiries please refer to the appointed administrators Hazelwoods - further details will be found on our website.

EST, 1946

COACHES FOR ALL OCCASIONS

We are a family run coach company operating in Cirencester, Gloucestershire. We have been transporting customers in safety and style for over seventy years. We have a comfortable, modern fleet of coaches to suit any group, size or occasion. As well as private hire, we organise holidays, short breaks, and day excursions. We also specialise in wedding transportation packages.

We have coaches available from 22 to 70 seats. All of our coaches are fitted with seat belts and most have Semi-Reclining Seats. We also have executive class coaches available with 30, 49 and 55 seats. These coaches have Television & Video/DVD, Toilet & Washroom, Hot Drinks Machine & Fridge, as well as Air Conditioning. Our friendly, uniformed drivers are eager to make your outing a success

OUR HISTORY

Alexcars was founded by Alec Hibberd and his wife Barbara in 1946, starting with a private hire car. Alec's brothers, Sidney and Norman also joined the business and soon the progression to coaches was made with the acquisition of a converted ambulance. The company grew steadily, eventually forcing the move from the village of Baunton to its present base in Love Lane, Cirencester in the late nineteen fifties.

Alec and Barbara's son Rodney joined the business in 1967 and following Alec's death in 1997, Rod took the helm. Rod's sister Jenny, her husband Will and their son Ben have also take an active roll in the running of the business, recently joined by Rod’s children Douglas, Freya & Luke.

Alexcars still continues to grow and now employs some 25 full-time and part-time staff and has over 20 coaches of various sizes operating daily contracts, private hire, day excursions, short breaks and coach holidays

Churn Project: We’re so sorry to hear this - Alex Cars has always been our company of choice for our trips. A very sad day

Helen Walker: Such a shame, your distinctive coaches have been a fixture around Cirencester for so long & I’ve booked many a trip when I worked in schools. I’m so sorry, this awful virus has such far reaching devastation 😢

Keith Allen: So sorry to hear this new such a great company to work for 4 years will miss waving to all the drivers take care hope u all find work soon

Paul Barter: So very sorry to read this Doug , these are very difficult times over the years I have met lots of good business owners in this PSV - HGV industry . you my friend are one of the nicest I have had the pleasure to meet . my best regards and wishes in what ever you take on .

Martin Pritchard: Such a shame, I've worked for both denwell and kb, it was inevitable that I'd see Alexcars where ever I went, a big loss to the industry.

Amanda Jones: So sorry to hear this could u not ask for funding from the lottery as yr company as been going for so long and u r an icon in cirencester. Surley there must be some thing we can do. 😢😢😢😢😢

Julie Kent: So sorry to hear this - they run the school buses for my mums generation(she was born the year you started) and for mine. In recent years we’ve always enjoyed the Weston day trips.Wishing all the drivers and staff all the best for the future.

Sally Townsend: So very very sad to hear this, used to have Buster drive the bus to school in late 70s for several years, you've always been part of the "ciren furniture ", thank you for all your service and my best wishes for your futures🧡🧡🧡

Tim Tickle: A very great loss to the area ,proberly everone it this area from a child to a pensioner has had an alexcars trip .A great family team , great staff ,lovely coaches we wish all of you the best in this difficult time

Jennie Day: So sorry to hear this sad news, you were an iconic sight in Cirencester ! You will be missed. Thoughts are with the family, as this must have been a very hard decision. 😞

Peter Martin: Very sorry to learn of the closure of this company,have not worked for them but send my best regards to the driving staff and hope they find new employment soon.

Maddie Shrimpton such a shame to hear this!!!! them buses and that yard played such a massive part in my childhood!!! highlight of my year used to be decorating dad’s coach with him! gutted xx

Rob Dennis: Really sorry to hear of your sad news. I can’t imagine how difficult it must have been to take this decision. Always impressed with the way your fleet and drivers were presented. Will be strange not seeing the convoy of Alex Cars coaches on the A419. Take care & all the best from all of us at Denwell Coaches.

Brian Cherrison: Such sad news, will miss seeing your coaches around the local area, stay safe during these difficult times.

John Hitchings: Very sad news - thanks very much for your support at the Gloucestershire Vintage and Country Extravaganza.

Francis Heal: I remember when Alex used to do MOT tests and going there with my Father in the late 50's or early 60's. Sad loss for the area.

Mary Robertson: That is such a shame! The loss of real, long serving local icon 😢

Alix Haigh: Absolutely gutted that this virus is having such an impact on local respected businesses 😰

Sarah Mills: Really sorry to hear this. You were are only local bus day trippers. Will miss you x

Lillian Smith: Thinking off you all! So sorry to hear this guys! Will remember the memories when use to go on the busses when at college! But keep strong everyone at Alexcars, your new adventures will be waiting for you guys! Sending hugs to everyone! ❤️ xx

Dan Rivers: Alexcars was so much more than "just a job". They gave me the best start anyone could hope for, a trade for life and experiences that will last a lifetime. In the grand scheme of things I wasn't there for very long, but let me tell you - they have been the best years of my working life so far. Even when I eventually left for Uni I still couldn't keep away and I'm still glad I returned, albeit briefly. It sounds like such a cliché, but being at Alexcars was like being part of a family. It was never "just a job". It was so much more.

Sam Lloyd: Sorry to hear this.. used to be the bus I travelled on when I was at primary school in the 80’s and to Kingshill from Cerney in the 90s

Francis Freeth: Sorry to see this another old company of cirencester gone Wish you all the very best for what ever Direction you go

Hayley Amanda Paget: Very sad to read this. I have very happy memories of travelling with Alexcars through the years for all sorts of exciting journeys. I wish you all the best x x

Manda Brown: Such sad news 😪 a huge loss to Cirencester, a brilliant family run business that seems to have always been there. 💔

Paul Adkins: This is really sad news, we will miss seeing the coaches about locally and London photos.

Sian Bernard: My school used Alexcars for every school trip! We then used them to transport guests for our wedding. Such a shame! 😞

Mark Hodge: Sad to hear the industry has lost another good operator, all the best for the future.

Rebecca Warren: Very sorry to hear this Thankyou for everything you have done for so many years your name has been a trusted and loved name in Cirencester and beyond for many years.

Ed Whereat: Sad loss to Cirencester a very respected company that served The town well for many years.

Jo Wood: So sorry to hear this. Your branding and coaches are such a big part of our town.

Simon Knox: Really really sad as there are many of wonderful drivers that have worked there for many years and always give you a friendly wave as you go down the road😢😢😢

Mary MacDonald: Really sorry to hear this. We will all miss seeing your coaches around.

Terry Angel: Another great coach company cease trading over what happening at mo sorry to say wont be the last ?? Sad loss

Reev Alderson: So sorry to hear this, the last coach company I worked for before career change had some good times and met some fantastic people.

Jon Poulton: Sorry to hear this guys - fond memories of ‘bob’ our school bus driver from cerney to kings hill - 8.20am !

Sarah Bayes: An end of an era! But what an achievement over 70 years of travels x

Chris Hoxey: Always sad to see local independent business lock the doors.
Good luck in everything you do in the future

Brian Shoosmith: Such a shame. I’ve loved my time with all of you. Stay safe everyone xx

Benita Cegarra: So sorry to hear this. I have very fond memories of minis' rugby tours in your coaches.

Mark Ellis: Thats a shocker and sad news about this coach company i used to see these about when i was in cirencester area 😭

Ann Swain: So sorry to read this, my Dad,Edgar Lyford, drove for you back in the early days. You will be missed

Angela Morgan: So sorry to read this. You will be sadly missed. So many memories of lovely trips etc.
Keep safe look after each other. Xx

Simon Fullard: Sad news,really friendly drivers who would always give a big wave to us fellow bus drivers at cirencester college

Elaine Bayliss: The drivers were always so friendly, many fond memories.

Michael Kilby: Work there for 15 years very sad day

Simon Hutt: I live over the road from Alex cars, and saw all the buses leave the depot two weeks ago.

Aileen Anderson: So sad, have had some lovely holidays a d day trips with Alexcars. Can't believe this is happening.

Shirley Ann Hardy: A great loss to Cirencester, such a shame

I have to own up that due to the sheer length of that post I haven't read it all - sorry ;)

However, I wonder what is to happen to their two Bedford OBs that they still have in service?

Lovely old bus.

When given a good stretch of road it can get up to a healthy rate of knots, and the suspension/ ride quality puts the average Optare Solo to shame  ;D