FG Barnes, the Slyfield car dealer with a 125-year history, was sold to Sandown Motors on 31 July. Staff and site stay, a Chery franchise opens, new Vauxhall sales stop.

FG Barnes, the Guildford motor dealer that its new owner credits with a 125-year history, has been sold. Sandown Motors Limited acquired the FG Barnes business on 31 July 2026, the buyer announced on 7 August, and the Moorfield Road showroom on Slyfield Industrial Estate now trades as Sandown Guildford. The whole FG Barnes team has transferred, the site stays put, and the biggest practical change for customers is that new Vauxhall cars are no longer sold there, replaced from 1 August by a Chery dealership alongside the existing Omoda and Jaecoo franchises (Sandown Group announcement).

Key facts panel: staying are Omoda and Jaecoo, Nissan authorised repairs, Vauxhall aftersales and used cars, MOTs, the Moorfield Road site and the whole team; new is a Chery dealership opened 1 August 2026; ending is new Vauxhall car sales. F.G. Barnes and Sons Limited incorporated 16 November 1936

What Sandown has said

The announcement is short on money and long on reassurance. It gives no price, and the FG Barnes website now redirects straight to Sandown’s. Sandown, which describes itself as a family-owned retailer of over 45 years’ standing representing Chery, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, Omoda, Jaecoo and smart across the south of England, sets out its plans for the site as follows (Sandown):

  • Omoda and Jaecoo new car, used car and aftersales operations continue as normal.
  • A flagship Chery dealership opened on the site on 1 August 2026, offering sales and aftersales.
  • The site continues as a Nissan Authorised Repairer, so Nissan owners keep manufacturer-approved servicing, repairs and parts.
  • Vauxhall aftersales (servicing, maintenance, repairs and parts) continues, and the business will “continue to offer an extensive range of expertly prepared Vauxhall Used Cars”.
  • The Vauxhall new-car sales franchise ends. In Sandown’s words: “We will no longer operate the Vauxhall New Car sales franchise.”
  • MOTs continue for all passenger-car brands and for vans.
  • The business “will continue to operate from its current location on Moorfield Road on Slyfield Industrial Estate”, and “the entire FG Barnes team has transferred to Sandown”.

Sandown’s customer FAQ adds that service history and customer records transfer with the business, that existing manufacturer warranties, service plans and maintenance agreements “will continue to be honoured in accordance with their terms and conditions”, and that customers need take no action; if anything specific is required on a service plan or account, the dealership says it will contact people directly.

Sandown already lists Mercedes-Benz of Guildford and smart of Guildford among its locations, so the deal gives the group a third Guildford outlet.

The firm being absorbed

Sandown refers to FG Barnes’s “proud 125 year history”, which would put its origins around the turn of the twentieth century. The current company, F.G. Barnes and Sons Limited, was incorporated on 16 November 1936 and remains an active company at Companies House, registered at Slyfield Green, Woking Road, with its stated business the sale and repair of new and used cars (Companies House, 00320732). Its 2025 accounts are due by 30 September 2026, so the last set filed under the Barnes name should appear within weeks. A separate company, F G Barnes (Maidstone) Limited, is registered at the same Guildford address; Sandown’s announcement refers only to “the FG Barnes business in Guildford”, and we have not confirmed what the sale means for the Kent site.

Under FG Barnes the site held the Vauxhall new-car franchise; that ends with the sale. The Slyfield site keeps Vauxhall servicing and used stock but will not put a new Vauxhall on the forecourt. In its place Sandown is promoting Chery, which it describes as “one of the world’s largest vehicle manufacturers” and “one of the UK’s most competitive new brands”, and it calls the Guildford site a “flagship” for the marque (Sandown).

What it means for you

  • If you bought a car from FG Barnes: nothing changes on paper. Your warranty, service plan and records transfer to Sandown, and the same staff are on the same site. Sandown says it will contact you if any action is needed on your account.
  • If you drive a Vauxhall: servicing, repairs, parts and MOTs continue at Moorfield Road, and used Vauxhalls are still sold there. For a brand-new Vauxhall you will need another retailer; Vauxhall’s own retailer locator is the place to check who is nearest.
  • If you drive a Nissan: the site remains a Nissan Authorised Repairer.
  • If you were curious about Chery: the new franchise is trading on the site now, alongside Omoda and Jaecoo.

Slyfield’s car dealers sit off the A3 and Woking Road, and the A3 northbound is closed for the whole weekend of 21 to 24 August with traffic diverted through the town centre; our roadworks and travel page has the dates if you are heading up there. Guildford’s other recent business openings and closures are on our news pages.