NEWS STORY : Frederick Reeves and Claire Reeves Banned for Eight Years after Taking Payments for Singing Waiters While Solfan1 Limited Was Insolvent

STORY

A husband-and-wife team who ran the wedding entertainment company Solfan1 Limited—trading as The Best Singing Waiters—have been disqualified as company directors for eight years after continuing to take customer payments when they knew the business was on the brink of collapse.

Frederick Reeves, 49 (also known as Jamie Reeves), and his wife Claire Reeves, 41, of Dickens Place, Wigan, ran the surprise ‘singing waiter’ service, in which performers blended in as catering staff before bursting into song. Despite mounting debts and a winding-up petition from HM Revenue & Customs for more than £200,000, the couple carried on accepting deposits and full payments from 43 customers across the UK between 28 March and the company’s liquidation on 1 May 2024, receiving some £43,590 in total.

Solfan1 Limited was incorporated in November 2015 and went into liquidation with liabilities exceeding £700,000 and assets of just over £168,000. Although Frederick Reeves was never formally appointed a director, he acknowledged acting in that capacity when accepting his disqualification.

Rob Clarke, Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service, said the Reeveses’ actions “fell well short of the standards we expect of company directors” and left many couples “heartbroken” when the promised performers failed to appear at their weddings.

The bans prevent both Frederick and Claire Reeves from promoting, forming or managing any company without the court’s permission until May 2033.