Abels Moving Services
Abels Moving Services is a United Kingdom removals, storage, and domestic and international relocation company.
Last updated August 31, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Abels Moving Services is a United Kingdom-based removals and relocation company whose roots date to 1958, when it was established in Norfolk as an offshoot of the Abel family auctioneering business. Initially operating in Watton under the name Abels of Watton, the company developed from a local removals operation into a broader provider of household moving, storage, and international relocation services. The business expanded its physical presence through depots in Huntingdon, St Albans, Colchester, and Brandon in Suffolk. Brandon later became the company’s headquarters, while facilities in London, Cambridge, and Daventry supported coverage across the United Kingdom. Its service scope has included domestic removals within Britain, international relocation, and storage associated with household and employee moves. A notable milestone came in 1989, when Abels became the first removals firm to receive a Royal Warrant. The warrant recognized the company’s appointment to Her Majesty the Queen for removals and storage services. Reference material states that Abels continued to hold the warrant as of 2016, making the distinction an important part of the company’s institutional identity and reputation. Ownership changed in the 1990s. In 1991, the Abel family sold the business to Hays plc. A management buyout in 1998 subsequently restored the company to independent ownership. Abels later participated in the international relocation industry through its shareholding in UniGroup Worldwide UTS. At the end of 2015, that organization became Harmony Relocation, a Netherlands-founded relocation network with international stakeholders. Philip Pertoldi of Abels was identified as chairman of Harmony Relocation’s supervisory board in the available reference material. In October 2016, the Abels Group—which included Gerson Relocation and Atlantic International Movers—joined Momentous Relocation Ltd. The transaction represented a further stage in the consolidation and internationalization of the group’s relocation activities. Available material does not establish the company’s present ownership, current operating status, current website, or the continuation of its Royal Warrant after 2016. Accordingly, its contemporary status is left unconfirmed.
History
Abels Moving Services was established in Norfolk in 1958 as an extension of the Abel family’s auctioneering business. The operation initially traded in Watton and became known as Abels of Watton. Its early business was centered on removals, but it subsequently broadened its geographic reach by opening depots in Huntingdon, St Albans, Colchester, and Brandon in Suffolk. The company’s later network included locations in London, Cambridge, and Daventry, with Brandon serving as its headquarters. From this base, Abels developed a UK-wide removals and storage operation and also offered international relocation services. The business therefore occupied a position between a traditional household-removal firm and a more internationally connected relocation provider. In 1989, Abels became the first removals company to be granted a Royal Warrant. The appointment covered removals and storage services for HM the Queen. The warrant was still reported as being held by the company in 2016, although the available material does not confirm whether it remained valid afterward. A major ownership transition occurred in 1991, when the Abel family sold the business to Hays plc. The company did not remain permanently within that corporate ownership: a management buyout in 1998 returned Abels to independent ownership. Later, Abels participated in international relocation structures as a shareholder in UniGroup Worldwide UTS. At the end of 2015, UniGroup Worldwide UTS became Harmony Relocation, a relocation company founded in the Netherlands with stakeholders from multiple countries. Philip Pertoldi, associated with Abels, was identified as chairman of Harmony Relocation’s supervisory board. The next major corporate development occurred in October 2016, when the Abels Group joined Momentous Relocation Ltd. The group at that time included Gerson Relocation and Atlantic International Movers. This combination linked Abels’ established UK removals and storage activities with a broader relocation platform. The available reference sources do not provide enough information to verify Abels’ subsequent corporate structure, ownership, management, current trading status, or current online presence.
- 2016
Abels Group joins Momentous Relocation
[1]The Abels Group, including Gerson Relocation and Atlantic International Movers, joined Momentous Relocation Ltd in October.
- 2015
Relocation network rebranded as Harmony Relocation
[1]UniGroup Worldwide UTS, in which Abels was a shareholder, changed its name to Harmony Relocation at the end of the year.
- 1998
Management buyout
[1]A management buyout returned Abels to independent ownership.
- 1991
Sale to Hays plc
[1]The Abel family sold the business to Hays plc.
- 1989
Royal Warrant granted
[1]Abels became the first removals firm to receive a Royal Warrant for removals and storage services by appointment to HM the Queen.
- 1958
Business established in Norfolk
[1]The Abel family established the removals business as an offshoot of its auctioneering operation.
Products and positioning
A heritage-oriented UK removals and relocation provider combining domestic moving, international relocation, and storage services, with historical differentiation from its Royal Warrant and international relocation-network relationships.
Moving services
Domestic removals
Abels’ core domestic offering covered household moves within the United Kingdom. The service was supported by the company’s depot network and related packing, transport, and storage capabilities. Specific package names, pricing, and current service specifications are not established in the available sources.
Relocation services
International relocation
The company specialized in international relocation in addition to UK removals. Its participation in international relocation networks connected the business with a wider cross-border service ecosystem, although the available material does not specify destination coverage, contractual terms, or current availability.
Storage
Storage services
Storage was offered alongside removals and relocation. It was also the service category named in the company’s Royal Warrant appointment. Details such as storage formats, facility capacity, insurance, and present-day availability are not provided by the reference material.
Brand decisions
2016
Abels Group joins Momentous RelocationM&ABackground
The Abels Group included Gerson Relocation and Atlantic International Movers and was operating within an increasingly connected international relocation sector.
Action taken
In October 2016, the group joined Momentous Relocation Ltd.
Aftermath
The available sources do not specify the subsequent legal structure, consideration, management arrangements, or current status of the Abels brand.
2015
Participation in Harmony RelocationStrategyBackground
Abels was a shareholder in UniGroup Worldwide UTS, an international relocation organization undergoing a corporate rebranding.
Action taken
UniGroup Worldwide UTS changed its name to Harmony Relocation at the end of 2015.
Aftermath
The renamed organization continued with international stakeholders, with Philip Pertoldi identified as chairman of its supervisory board.
1998
Management buyout restores independent ownershipM&ABackground
Following its ownership by Hays plc, the management pursued a buyout of the business.
Action taken
A management buyout returned Abels to independent ownership.
Aftermath
Abels continued operating as an independent removals and relocation business and later participated in international relocation networks.
1991
Sale to Hays plcM&ABackground
After several decades as a family-originated removals business, Abels was sold by the Abel family to Hays plc.
Action taken
Ownership was transferred to Hays plc.
Aftermath
The company later returned to independent ownership through a management buyout in 1998.
Sources4 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/abels-moving-services · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled