BOURNEMOUTH’S Excelsior coach business has been bought by the owner of Morebus for an undisclosed sum.

Go South Coast said it had completed the acquisition of Excelsior Coaches Ltd yesterday.

It said it had stepped in to buy the firm after former owner Ken Robbins decided to retire and leave the business.

The Excelsior name – a Bournemouth brand for more than 90 years – will remain, as will its depot in Southcote Road.

Go South Coast managing director Andrew Wickham said: “We are delighted to have the opportunity of continuing and developing this excellent coach operation under the Excelsior name from the existing depot in Bournemouth.

“The site in Southcote Road is particularly significant because it already doubles-up as a base for 21 Morebus vehicles and 65 of our drivers – and is conveniently located along the route of our M1 and 13 services.

“It will also provide us with some much-needed additional space for bus parking in the Bournemouth and Poole area.

“Excelsior currently employs a team of 38 people from the surrounding area, who will remain with the business.”

Go South Coast’s core businesses are based in Bournemouth and Poole, Salisbury, Southampton and the Isle of Wight. Its brand names include Morebus, Damory, Southern Vectis, Bluestar, Tourist and Salisbury Reds, operating 751 vehicles.

It is owned by Go-Ahead, the UK’s busiest rail operator, which also runs around a quarter of London’s buses and has around seven per cent of the UK bus market outside London.

Ken Robins has been involved with the Excelsior business since it was bought from administration in 2001.

He has been owner or majority shareholder ever since.

The company was formed shortly after the First World War and thrived during the heyday of the domestic coach holiday.

It had several travel shops and put together its own package holidays.

In common with most coach operators, it stopped arranging its own tours in recent years, instead carrying out contracts for other operators.

It was also the local operator for the National Express franchise until that part of the business was bought by Go South Coast last October.

Mr Robins, who is approaching 70 and was keen to leave the business, will still run Hotel Celebrity in Gervis Road with the support of a management team.

The showbiz-themed hotel was previously the Durlston Court and was the family business where comedian Tony Hancock grew up.