Posted on the 1st May 2026 in PHTM News

END OF THE ROAD FOR LUDLOW TAXI FAMILY AFTER 35 YEARS

A beloved family-run taxi firm that has served Ludlow since 1991 is closing its doors for the final time.

Annette’s Cars, known throughout the community for its iconic ‘878787’ phone number, will pick up its last passengers on Sunday, May 10.

Manager Kristina Owen, who has been involved with the business since she was 12 years old, called the decision to shut down “heartbreaking.” 

The firm was originally founded by her mother, Annette Coombes, and her late father, Leonard. While the company once operated seven taxis - including the first black cab in Shropshire - it has recently dwindled to just two vehicles.

Rising overheads have made it impossible for the small independent business to continue. Kristina cited a perfect storm of “rising costs of everything, with fuel, wages, licensing rules, insurance” as the reason for the closure.

Local road conditions have also taken a toll, with one car requiring five new tires in a single month due to potholes.

Reflecting on decades behind the wheel, Kristina noted how much she will miss the town's characters, including the children she once drove to school who are now adults.

She joked that even the most difficult passengers always knew how to find them. “People can remember the telephone number but they can't remember where they live on a Saturday night when they’ve had a skinful,” she said.

The closure marks the end of an era for the family, but Kristina noted that it finally allows her mother to “finally retire.”

Summing up the decision, Kristina said: “It is sad but the time has come, we have run our course.”


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