WARDS COUNTRY HOUSES LIMITED
🌳Matureactive
01491056 · ltd · incorporated 1980-04-16
Investment thesis
Well-run mature business — low negotiation leverage; premium likely.
Why interesting: Textbook target; clean filings, stable trading.
Why risky: No pressure on seller; any deal likely at full price.
Opportunity decay
approaching window · 12-months
Approaching a transaction window — refinance or sale event plausible in the next 12 months.
- · Oldest live charge 44.2y old — refinance window within 12 months
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
—
not disclosed
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
75/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: Non-trading company
Sector: Professional, scientific & technical
Investor take
PursueDormant / non-trading with a 63-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.
Opportunity 75/100 (strong), bankability 85/100. Strong seller-intent signal (65/100, director aged 63). Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (65/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
3 live charges · 2 lenders · oldest 44.2y
70/100
ready
Refinance conversation should be productive — structure clean and timing right.
- · Oldest live charge is 44.2 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · Two lenders — manageable, but coordination required.
- · Legal-friction score 20/100 — clean.
Data confidence
Overall: medium (61/100)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
No iXBRL financials extracted
0
Lenders & charges
3 charges (3/3 with lender, 3/3 with type)
90
Directors & officers
27 officers (3 active, 27 linked, 19 with DOB)
84
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 1 total, 1 with control declared
90
Director network
20 connected companies via shared directors
90
Filing history
167 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
75/100Strong
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional
Solid opportunity signal. Worth a dedicated memo and management meeting.
Business quality
70
Active, clean filings, stable charge profile.
Acquirability
75
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
69
Some moderate concerns — review flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.
Recent activity
Last 30 days
0
filings
Last 90 days
0
filings
Last 180 days
3
filings
- • 2 officers
- • 1 accounts
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (71 events)Click to expand
- 2026-02-19📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2026-02-13📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2026-01-29➕LEWIS, Katie appointeddirector
- 2026-01-20📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2025-12-19➖BAILEY, Mark Patrick Miles resigneddirector
- 2025-09-08📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2025-09-06➖BOYES, Steven John resigneddirector
- 2025-01-24📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2024-02-22📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2023-03-03📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2023-01-13📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2023-01-13📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2022-12-31➕BAILEY, Mark Patrick Miles appointeddirector
- 2022-12-31➖BROOKE, Richard John Russell resigneddirector
- 2022-02-14📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2021-04-15📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2020-03-05📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2019-02-18📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2018-02-08📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2017-02-17📄accounts-with-accounts-type-dormantaccounts · AA
- 2017-01-21📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2017-01-19➖COOPER, Neil resigneddirector
- 2015-11-23➕COOPER, Neil appointeddirector
- 2012-07-05➕THOMAS, David Fraser appointeddirector
- 2012-07-05➖FENTON, Clive resigneddirector
- 2012-03-06➕BARRATT CORPORATE SECRETARIAL SERVICES LIMITED appointedcorporate-secretary
- 2010-12-31➖DENT, Laurence resignedsecretary
- 2010-12-31➖DENT, Laurence resigneddirector
- 2010-02-04➖CLARE, Mark Sydney resigneddirector
- 2009-07-21➖PAIN, Mark Andrew resigneddirector
- 2007-12-31➕DENT, Laurence appointedsecretary
- 2007-12-31➖DOUGLAS, Robert Granville resignedsecretary
- 2007-06-30➖LOCKE, Gregson Horace resigneddirector
- 2007-06-11➕BOYES, Steven John appointeddirector
- 2007-06-11➕CLARE, Mark Sydney appointeddirector
- 2007-06-11➕DENT, Laurence appointeddirector
- 2007-06-11➕FENTON, Clive appointeddirector
- 2007-06-11➕PAIN, Mark Andrew appointeddirector
- 2005-01-14➕LOCKE, Gregson Horace appointeddirector
- 2005-01-14➖STANSFIELD, Michael John resigneddirector
- 2004-01-15➖LETHABY, Michael Richard resigneddirector
- 2003-11-14➕DOUGLAS, Robert Granville appointedsecretary
- 2003-11-14➖LETHABY, Michael Richard resignedsecretary
- 2003-11-14➕BROOKE, Richard John Russell appointeddirector
- 2003-11-14➕STANSFIELD, Michael John appointeddirector
- 2003-11-14➖TROTTER, John James resigneddirector
- 2002-07-20🔓Charge satisfied #3
- 2000-08-11➖LAWRENCE, Sandra resigneddirector
- 2000-07-11➕LETHABY, Michael Richard appointeddirector
- 2000-07-11➖WALL, Graeme Anthony resigneddirector
Showing most recent 50 of 71 events
Owner dependency
66/100
High — earn-out structure requiredMaterial founder dependency. Consider a 2-3 year earn-out and build in a handover plan before completion.
FACTORS
- +Two-director setup: Only two active directors — typical of owner-managed SMEs but limits succession.
- +Senior director age: Director aged approximately 63 — approaching natural succession window.
Succession & seller-readiness
69/100
Strong succession signalMultiple signals suggest succession is on the horizon. Candidate for proactive outreach.
SIGNALS
- primaryFounder aged 63+: Senior director is approximately 63. Approaching typical UK retirement age — succession thinking likely.
- secondaryTwo-director governance: Small-team governance. Succession depth is thin but not absent.
- secondary12+ year tenure: Director in role 14 years.
- supportingClean filings + long tenure: Disciplined long-tenure operator — classic lifestyle-business pattern that often sells quietly.
Red flags
2 med ·2 director resignations in last 12 months
mediumMultiple recent departures can indicate governance disagreement, succession event, or preparation for sale/stress.
Evidence: BAILEY, Mark Patrick Miles resigned 2025-12-19; BOYES, Steven John resigned 2025-09-06
Charge satisfaction-then-recreation pattern
mediumMultiple instances where a charge was satisfied and a new charge created within 6 months. Suggests active refinancing cycle.
Group structure
Ward Holdings Limited is the ultimate parent — holding 75%+ shares. This company sits inside their group.
🏛️ultimate parent
Ward Holdings Limited
Corporate parent · holds 75-100% shares · board control
⬇
WARDS COUNTRY HOUSES LIMITED
This company · 01491056
Parent relationships inferred from Persons with Significant Control filings. Full subsidiary tree requires reverse-lookup (coming).
Shareholders & ownership
1 active beneficial owner · dominant holder ≥75%| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Ward Holdings Limited Corporate entity | 75–100% | 75–100% | board control75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control | 06/04/2016 |
From Companies House Persons with Significant Control filings. Share ranges are banded per the public PSC regime.
🔒Co-director network graph
Radial SVG graph showing every company connected via shared directors, colour-coded by status.
Available from the Pro tier upwards.
See pricing →Similar companies
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Peers ranked by estimated value, then turnover, then opportunity score.See all →
🔒Tailored diligence questions
6 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
Incorporated1980-04-16
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC74990 — Non-trading company
Registered office
Barratt House Cartwright Way
Forest Business Park Bardon Hill
Coalville
Leics
LE67 1UF
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2027-03-31
Last made up to: 2025-06-30
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-10-30
Last: 2025-10-16
Officers (3 active · 24 resigned)
BARRATT CORPORATE SECRETARIAL SERVICES LIMITED→
Activecorporate-secretary · appointed 2012-03-06
View their other companies + combined net worth →
LEWIS, Katie→
Activedirector · ~45y · appointed 2026-01-29
View their other companies + combined net worth →
THOMAS, David Fraser→
Activedirector · ~63y · appointed 2012-07-05
View their other companies + combined net worth →
DENT, Laurence→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2007-12-31 · resigned 2010-12-31
DOUGLAS, Robert Granville→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2003-11-14 · resigned 2007-12-31
LAWTON, Christopher Erskine→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1995-08-31 · resigned 1997-12-31
LETHABY, Michael Richard→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1998-10-28 · resigned 2003-11-14
MARTIN, Brian Lawrence→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1993-05-19 · resigned 1995-08-31
PEMBLE, Clifford Lester→
Resignedsecretary · resigned 1993-05-19
WALL, Graeme Anthony→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1998-01-01 · resigned 1998-10-28
BAILEY, Mark Patrick Miles→
Resigneddirector · ~61y · appointed 2022-12-31 · resigned 2025-12-19
BOYES, Steven John→
Resigneddirector · ~66y · appointed 2007-06-11 · resigned 2025-09-06
BROOKE, Richard John Russell→
Resigneddirector · ~66y · appointed 2003-11-14 · resigned 2022-12-31
CLARE, Mark Sydney→
Resigneddirector · ~69y · appointed 2007-06-11 · resigned 2010-02-04
COOPER, Neil→
Resigneddirector · ~59y · appointed 2015-11-23 · resigned 2017-01-19
DENT, Laurence→
Resigneddirector · ~74y · appointed 2007-06-11 · resigned 2010-12-31
FENTON, Clive→
Resigneddirector · ~68y · appointed 2007-06-11 · resigned 2012-07-05
GOODIN, David→
Resigneddirector · ~82y · appointed 1998-01-22 · resigned 1998-05-01
LAWRENCE, Sandra→
Resigneddirector · ~78y · appointed 1998-01-22 · resigned 2000-08-11
LETHABY, Michael Richard→
Resigneddirector · ~63y · appointed 2000-07-11 · resigned 2004-01-15
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
3
Total charges
0
Outstanding
0
Active lenders
Status:Lender:3 of 3 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Guarantee and debenture | 1 property | 27/05/1994 | 20/07/2002 | |
| satisfied | Midland Bank Midland Bank PLC | Composite guarantee and debenture | 1 property | 27/05/1994 | 25/02/1999 | |
| satisfied | Midland Bank Midland Bank PLC | Charge | 1 property | 04/03/1982 | 09/03/1996 |
Recent filings (167 total)
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2026-02-19
accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
accounts · AA
2026-02-13
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2026-01-20
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-10-22
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2025-09-08
accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
accounts · AA
2025-01-24
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-10-30
accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
accounts · AA
2024-02-22
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-10-17
accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
accounts · AA
2023-03-03
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2023-01-13
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2023-01-13
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-10-20
accounts-with-accounts-type-dormant
accounts · AA
2022-02-14
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2021-10-27