Gripping Beast Seeks Buyer as 30-Year Old Miniatures Business Prepares to Close

Veteran British miniatures company Gripping Beast has announced that it intends to close its doors unless a new owner can be found, bringing a potential end to one of the better known and popular names in historical wargaming.

Founded in 1996, Gripping Beast has spent three decades building a catalogue of more than 6,000 historical and fantasy miniatures. Along the way the company also took over the Front Rank and Lurkio ranges, while also hosting ranges from companies including Calpe Miniatures and Ragnarok Miniatures.

The reason for the decision to close or sell isn’t a financial one. Gripping Beast says its team has been reduced by recent retirements and that those remaining are, in the company’s characteristically understated words, “not getting any younger”. As such the intention is to close Beast Towers, but the team are hoping this is not necessarily the end of Gripping Beast itself.

The company is actively looking for somebody interested in taking over the business, including its extensive miniature ranges and established international custoemr base. Whether a buyer emerges remains uncertain, and Gripping Beast says further information will be released as plans develop.

For the moment the Gripping Beast online shop remains open and orders are still being accepted and fulfilled. There is no confirmed final ordering date, although customers are being warned that production is now being kept to a minimum and dispatch may therefore take a little longer than usual. They have also said that there will not be a closing down sale.

The company still plans to attend Partizan II and Warfare, whilst the future of guest ranges inlcuding Ragnarock and Calpe will ultimately be determined by their respective owners.

If anyone is interested in buying Gripping Beast they should contact the company directly.