IMPORTANT NOTICE: Sorry, it is time to say goodbye.

Retirement was always going to happen in the next couple of years. We apologise for the rather sudden decision now. This has been brought about as a result of the significant fall in bookings we have suffered on our excursions and holidays this year, rising costs and a health scare that makes you sit down and think. We plan to finish at the end of the year, our last excursion will be the Christmas Variety Show on 15th December.

For whatever reason we have suffered a dramatic fall of well over 300 bookings this year which has had a significant effect on our income. We need bookings to survive and sufficient bookings in order to see us through the winter. Unfortunately this year, this has not been the case. Over the last couple of years, C & J Tours has faced a significant increase in our operating costs. In order to keep the prices of our holidays and excursions affordable, C & J Tours have absorbed the majority of the increases. We have personally made significant sacrifices in order to help the company survive and continue to offer our excursions and holidays. Looking at the increases we are facing for 2027 and the fall in bookings we are no longer in a position where we can absorb these increases or be able to make any further personal sacrifices. Hotels and venues have all increased their prices for 2027 due to their operational costs, some of them quite significantly. Then there is the cost of fuel. We have seen fuel increase by 52p a litre / £2.31 a gallon since the beginning of the year. These figures are ex VAT and with the discount we receive from the fuel card companies. This will result in C & J Tours paying over £6,500 more for fuel this year compared to 2025 whilst covering roughly the same mileage. To continue we would have to increase the price of our excursions and holidays by quite a margin which we fear will make them no longer affordable, and potentially reduce bookings even further. During the summer Dave had a health scare, thankfully nothing serious, but it has made us stop and think. Sorry, but taking the fall in bookings, rising costs and our health all into consideration we have decided to say goodbye at the end of the year.

We would like to say a big thank you to all our loyal customers who have stood by us and supported us over the years, especially during COVID. We would like to thank you all for your friendship and the memories, which we will cherish. After 23 years it is going to be sad and hard to say goodbye. We wish everyone of our customers all the best for the future.

Tina, Dave & Beth