BARNEY, SANDS & HARTRIDGE LIMITED

💤Zombieactive
00410372 · ltd · incorporated 1946-05-13
Investment thesis
Zombie company — trading but stalled; unlikely mover.
Why interesting: Quiet, steady; could be a succession or carve-out candidate with the right conversation.
Why risky: No growth signal; thin margin for error on price.
🔒Estimated value
Upgrade to see
Turnover
year to Mar 2025
Net worth
£619.1k
book net assets
Opportunity
79/100
Strong
🔔
Follow this company (free)
Email alerts on filings, charges, director changes, gazette notices. No account needed.

Unsubscribe any time from any email. GDPR-respectful.

What this business does
Primary activity: SIC 45200
Sector: Wholesale & retail
Investor take
Pursue
Active trading company with a 66-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.

Opportunity 79/100 (strong), bankability 67/100. Strong seller-intent signal (83/100, director aged 66). Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Biggest value-creation lever: Consolidate lender relationships. 3 distinct lenders creates friction — refinance into single-lender structure for cleaner diligence. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (53/100).

🏦

Refinance opportunity

10 live charges · 3 lenders · oldest 41.8y

15/100
under pressure

Refinance would be pressure-driven, not opportunity-driven. Expect tighter margins and covenant scrutiny.

  • · Oldest live charge is 41.8 years old — likely at or near maturity.
  • · 3 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
  • · Distress signals active — lender appetite narrows.

Data confidence

Overall: medium (77/100)

Adequate coverage. AI outputs are reliable for the sections scored high; verify the rest in diligence.

Company profile
address, 1 SIC codes, incorporation date
100
Financials
2 years of iXBRL accounts extracted (YoY deltas available) + narrative notes parsed
75
Lenders & charges
10 charges (10/10 with lender, 10/10 with type)
90
Directors & officers
6 officers (2 active, 6 linked, 4 with DOB)
83
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 3 total, 3 with control declared
90
Director network
Network not yet resolved
30
Filing history
113 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
79/100Strong
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional 

Solid opportunity signal. Worth a dedicated memo and management meeting.

Business quality
70
Active, clean filings, stable charge profile.
Acquirability
80
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
77
Few red flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.

Signals from accounts

Derived from iXBRL accounts · accounting standard not declared
Positive net assets
Net assets £619,150
Net assets shrinking
Down £49,115 YoY
Cash YoY
-14%
Year on year

Key financials

2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accounts
Cash
£364k
↓ 14% YoY
Net Worth
£619k
↓ 7.3% YoY
Current Assets
£578k
↓ 11% YoY
Current Liabilities
£0£134k£267k£401k£535k£668kMar 2024Mar 2025

Hover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series

Financials

Extracted from Companies House accounts · accounting standard unknown
Metric2025-03-312024-03-31
Total assets£644.5k£708.8k
Current assets£577.9k£652.4k
Cash£364.4k£423.7k
Debtors£203.7k£219.0k
Net assets£619.1k£668.3k

Amounts extracted automatically from iXBRL. Fields left blank were not reported or not mapped. Values in GBP unless stated.

🔒Filing-note intelligence

1 signal detected in this company's narrative notes — going-concern language, audit opinion, contingent liabilities, related-party transactions.

Available from the Pro tier upwards.

See pricing →

Recent activity

Last 30 days
0
filings
Last 90 days
0
filings
Last 180 days
2
filings
  • 1 persons-with-significant-control
  • 1 officers
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (40 events)Click to expand
  1. 2026-02-19
    📄
    change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
    persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
  2. 2026-02-13
    📄
    change-person-director-company-with-change-date
    officers · CH01
  3. 2025-12-15
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  4. 2024-12-10
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  5. 2024-07-31
    📄
    cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
    persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
  6. 2023-12-15
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  7. 2023-07-10
    📄
    notification-of-a-person-with-significant-control
    persons-with-significant-control · PSC01
  8. 2022-12-07
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  9. 2022-01-17
    📄
    termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
    officers · TM01
  10. 2022-01-14
    📄
    cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
    persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
  11. 2021-12-22
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  12. 2021-11-13
    WEST, Ernest Arthur resigned
    director
  13. 2020-12-11
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  14. 2019-12-18
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  15. 2018-12-07
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  16. 2018-01-16
    📄
    notification-of-a-person-with-significant-control
    persons-with-significant-control · PSC01
  17. 2017-12-21
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  18. 2010-12-10
    WEST, Mark Stephen appointed
    director
  19. 2008-09-30
    🔒
    Charge registered #10
    Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
  20. 2004-07-30
    WEST, Mark Stephen appointed
    secretary
  21. 2004-07-30
    WEST, Clarence Onslow resigned
    secretary
  22. 2004-07-30
    WEST, Clarence Onslow resigned
    director
  23. 2004-07-30
    WEST, Herbert John resigned
    director
  24. 1999-11-18
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #2
  25. 1999-11-18
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #1
  26. 1999-10-01
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #6
  27. 1999-09-29
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #7
  28. 1999-09-29
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #5
  29. 1999-09-29
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #4
  30. 1999-09-29
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #3
  31. 1999-06-25
    🔒
    Charge registered #9
    Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
  32. 1999-03-16
    🔒
    Charge registered #8
    Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
  33. 1993-08-10
    🔒
    Charge registered #7
    Lender: Lloyds Bank PLC
  34. 1991-05-22
    🔒
    Charge registered #6
    Lender: Lloyds Bank PLC
  35. 1988-10-14
    🔒
    Charge registered #5
    Lender: Lloyds Bank PLC
  36. 1987-12-04
    🔒
    Charge registered #4
    Lender: Lloyds Bank PLC
  37. 1984-12-19
    🔒
    Charge registered #3
    Lender: Lloyds Bank PLC
  38. 1984-12-19
    🔒
    Charge registered #2
    Lender: Lloyds Bank PLC
  39. 1984-08-09
    🔒
    Charge registered #1
    Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
  40. 1946-05-13
    🏢
    Company incorporated
    As BARNEY, SANDS & HARTRIDGE LIMITED

Owner dependency

100/100
Critical — business is the founder

The business appears inseparable from the founder. Acquisition without a serious earn-out or meaningful transition period would likely destroy value.

FACTORS
  • +Sole director: Only one active director — all governance concentrated on one person.
  • +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 16 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
  • +Founder age: Director aged approximately 66 — succession pressure is live.

Succession & seller-readiness

88/100
Likely off-market candidate

Strong acquirability signals converging. Worth approaching directly — this is how off-market deals start.

SIGNALS
  • primaryFounder aged 63+: Senior director is approximately 66. Approaching typical UK retirement age — succession thinking likely.
  • primarySole active director: Only one director in control. No visible successor — buyers solve the succession problem.
  • secondary12+ year tenure: Director in role 16 years.
  • secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 80 years old and no new directors in the last 3 years — succession not yet being planned internally.
  • supportingClean filings + long tenure: Disciplined long-tenure operator — classic lifestyle-business pattern that often sells quietly.

Red flags

1 med ·
Charge satisfaction-then-recreation pattern
medium

Multiple instances where a charge was satisfied and a new charge created within 6 months. Suggests active refinancing cycle.

Shareholders & ownership

1 active beneficial owner
NameSharesVoting rightsNature of controlNotified
Mr Mark Stephen West
Individual · British · DOB 02/1960 · age 66
5075%
50–75%50-75% shares · 50-75% voting01/03/2017
2 historic (ceased) PSCs
  • Mr Ernest Arthur Westceased 22/03/2024· 25-50% shares · 25-50% voting · board control
  • Mr Ernest Arthur Westceased 13/11/2021· 75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control

From Companies House Persons with Significant Control filings. Share ranges are banded per the public PSC regime.

Similar companies

Active · Automotive · DA postcode area
CompanyEst. valueTurnoverNet worthStaffAgeOppDirector
AA & A TRADERS LTD
13783208 · est 2021 · no financials extracted
4y
ASIA AERO GROUP LIMITED
11612641 · est 2018 · no financials extracted
7y
AUTOCARE FASTFIT LIMITED
11315989 · est 2018 · no financials extracted
7y
AUTOFIX (EBBSFLEET) LIMITED
06747933 · est 2008 · no financials extracted
17y
AUTOWAY SUNDRY SUPPLIES LIMITED
04382310 · est 2002 · no financials extracted
24y
AVERY VEHICLE SOLUTIONS LIMITED
13413216 · est 2021 · no financials extracted
4y
AZD CAR WASH COMPANY LTD
17128958 · est 2026 · no financials extracted
AZD TYRES AND GARAGE LTD
17129011 · est 2026 · no financials extracted
B2 CARSALES LIMITED
12741428 · est 2020 · no financials extracted
5y
BARBA MOTORCYCLES LTD
16023892 · est 2024 · no financials extracted
1y
BARGAIN TYRES (ESSEX) LTD
12407403 · est 2020 · no financials extracted
6y
BASILEIA CONSULTING LIMITED
09652474 · est 2015 · no financials extracted
10y
Peers ranked by estimated value, then turnover, then opportunity score.See all →
🔒Tailored diligence questions

9 specific questions generated from this company's actual signals — liquidity, leverage, director age, charge count, red flags, age-of-company.

Available from the Pro tier upwards.

See pricing →
🔒Advanced scoring suite

Exit-route ranking, improvement thesis, quiet-distress detector, covenant-pressure proxy, extraction monitor, approaching triggers, ownership drift, local cluster, value trap, debt capacity, archetype classification — 48+ scoring modules.

Available from the Pro tier upwards.

See pricing →

Company details

Statusactive
Typeltd
Incorporated1946-05-13
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC45200 — SIC 45200

Registered office

West House
Lower Road
Northfleet Industrial Estate
Northfleet, Kent
DA11 9SN

Filing status

Accounts
Next due: 2026-12-31
Last made up to: 2025-03-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-08-14
Last: 2025-07-31

Officers (2 active · 4 resigned)

WEST, Mark Stephen
secretary · appointed 2004-07-30
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
WEST, Mark Stephen
director · ~66y · appointed 2010-12-10
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
WEST, Clarence Onslow
secretary · resigned 2004-07-30
Resigned
WEST, Clarence Onslow
director · ~86y · resigned 2004-07-30
Resigned
WEST, Ernest Arthur
director · ~89y · resigned 2021-11-13
Resigned
WEST, Herbert John
director · ~96y · resigned 2004-07-30
Resigned

Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.

Mortgages & charges

10
Total charges
3
Outstanding
1
Active lenders
Status:Lender:10 of 10 shown
TypeProperties
outstanding
Barclays
Barclays Bank PLC
Legal charge1 property30/09/2008
outstanding
Barclays
Barclays Bank PLC
Legal charge1 property25/06/1999
outstanding
Barclays
Barclays Bank PLC
Debenture1 property16/03/1999
satisfied
Lloyds Banking Group
Lloyds Bank PLC
Single debenture1 property10/08/199329/09/1999
satisfied
Lloyds Banking Group
Lloyds Bank PLC
Legal mortgage1 property22/05/199101/10/1999
satisfied
Lloyds Banking Group
Lloyds Bank PLC
Legal charge1 property14/10/198829/09/1999
satisfied
Lloyds Banking Group
Lloyds Bank PLC
Legal mortgage1 property04/12/198729/09/1999
satisfied
Lloyds Banking Group
Lloyds Bank PLC
Mortgage1 property19/12/198429/09/1999
satisfied
Lloyds Banking Group
Lloyds Bank PLC
Mortgage1 property19/12/198418/11/1999
satisfied
National Westminster Bank
National Westminster Bank PLC
Legal mortgage1 property09/08/198418/11/1999
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.

Recent filings (113 total)

change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
2026-02-19
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2026-02-13
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2025-12-15
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-08-14
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2024-12-10
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-07-31
cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
2024-07-31
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-01-12
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2023-12-15
notification-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC01
2023-07-10
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-01-13
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2022-12-07
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2022-01-17
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-01-17
cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
2022-01-14