JULIAN CHICHESTER DESIGNS LIMITED
💤Zombieactive
02422012 · ltd · incorporated 1989-09-12
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 Dec 2024
Net worth
£1.8k
book net assets
Opportunity
79/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: Retail sale of furniture, lighting, and similar (not musical instruments or scores) in specialised stores
Sector: Wholesale & retail
Investor take
PursueStrong opportunity: active trading company with strong profile and acceptable with review structure.
Opportunity 79/100 (strong), bankability 57/100. High owner-dependency — earn-out structure likely required for clean transition. Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Biggest value-creation lever: Consolidate lender relationships. 4 distinct lenders creates friction — refinance into single-lender structure for cleaner diligence. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (73/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
4 live charges · 4 lenders · oldest 34.5y
15/100
under pressure
Refinance would be pressure-driven, not opportunity-driven. Expect tighter margins and covenant scrutiny.
- · Oldest live charge is 34.5 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 4 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Distress signals active — lender appetite narrows.
Data confidence
Overall: medium (79/100)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
4 charges (4/4 with lender, 4/4 with type)
90
Directors & officers
10 officers (2 active, 10 linked, 6 with DOB)
82
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 1 total, 1 with control declared
90
Director network
2 connected companies via shared directors
51
Filing history
118 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
70
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
85
Few red flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.
Signals from accounts
Derived from iXBRL accounts · FRS 102Positive net assets
Net assets £1,770
Net assets shrinking
Down £43,916 YoY
Cash YoY
+1%
Year on year
Key financials
2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accountsCash
£899k
↑ 1.1% YoY
Net Worth
£2k
↓ 96% YoY
Current Assets
£2.5m
↓ 11% YoY
Current Liabilities
—
Hover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series
Financials
Extracted from Companies House accounts · FRS 102| Metric | 2024-12-31 | 2023-12-31 |
|---|---|---|
| Total assets | £1.8k | £70.7k |
| Current assets | £2.45M | £2.77M |
| Cash | £898.5k | £888.3k |
| Debtors | £123.1k | £71.1k |
| Net assets | £1.8k | £45.7k |
Amounts extracted automatically from iXBRL. Fields left blank were not reported or not mapped. Values in GBP unless stated.
Recent activity
Last 30 days
0
filings
Last 90 days
0
filings
Last 180 days
3
filings
- • 2 gazette
- • 1 confirmation-statement
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (37 events)Click to expand
- 2025-12-16📄gazette-filings-brought-up-to-dategazette · DISS40
- 2025-11-25📄gazette-notice-compulsorygazette · GAZ1
- 2025-08-20📄accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridgedaccounts · AA
- 2024-12-07📄gazette-filings-brought-up-to-dategazette · DISS40
- 2024-11-26📄gazette-notice-compulsorygazette · GAZ1
- 2024-09-27📄accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridgedaccounts · AA
- 2024-01-16📍change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-addressaddress · AD01
- 2023-12-02📄gazette-filings-brought-up-to-dategazette · DISS40
- 2023-11-28📄gazette-notice-compulsorygazette · GAZ1
- 2023-09-26📄accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridgedaccounts · AA
- 2022-09-09📄accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridgedaccounts · AA
- 2021-09-30📄accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridgedaccounts · AA
- 2021-07-26📄capital-name-of-class-of-sharescapital · SH08
- 2020-11-02📄accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridgedaccounts · AA
- 2019-09-28📄accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridgedaccounts · AA
- 2018-09-18📄accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridgedaccounts · AA
- 2017-10-31📄accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridgedaccounts · AA
- 2007-12-13➖FORWOOD, Richard Lockton Lewis resigneddirector
- 2007-09-01➕WOLVERSON, Mark appointedsecretary
- 2007-09-01➖WILSONS (COMPANY SECRETARIES) LIMITED resignedcorporate-secretary
- 2005-08-08➖FORWOOD, Edward Langton Homfray resigneddirector
- 2005-08-08➕FORWOOD, Richard Lockton Lewis appointeddirector
- 2004-06-07➖HAWKES, Geoffrey resignedsecretary
- 2004-06-07➕WILSONS (COMPANY SECRETARIES) LIMITED appointedcorporate-secretary
- 2004-06-07➖HAWKES, Geoffrey resigneddirector
- 2004-06-04🔒Charge registered #4Lender: Julian Chichester
- 2004-05-07➕FORWOOD, Edward Langton Homfray appointeddirector
- 2003-12-17➖PATTERSON, Davied resigneddirector
- 2003-09-16🔒Charge registered #3Lender: Marsa Holdings Limited
- 2003-02-03➕PATTERSON, Davied appointeddirector
- 2000-10-13🔒Charge registered #2Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
- 1999-06-15➖FORWOOD, Richard Lockton Lewis resignedsecretary
- 1999-06-15➕HAWKES, Geoffrey appointedsecretary
- 1999-06-15➖FORWOOD, Richard Lockton Lewis resigneddirector
- 1999-06-15➕HAWKES, Geoffrey appointeddirector
- 1991-11-14🔒Charge registered #1Lender: Roydon Limited
- 1989-09-12🏢Company incorporatedAs JULIAN CHICHESTER DESIGNS LIMITED
Owner dependency
98/100
Critical — business is the founderThe 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.
- +Founder name in company name: Company name contains director surname "CHICHESTER" — strong identity link between founder and business.
- +Senior director age: Director aged approximately 63 — approaching natural succession window.
Succession & seller-readiness
75/100
Likely off-market candidateStrong acquirability signals converging. Worth approaching directly — this is how off-market deals start.
SIGNALS
- primaryFounder aged 63+: Senior director is approximately 63. Approaching typical UK retirement age — succession thinking likely.
- primarySole active director: Only one director in control. No visible successor — buyers solve the succession problem.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 37 years old and no new directors in the last 3 years — succession not yet being planned internally.
Red flags
cleanNo red flags detected from available public data. (This is not a clean bill of health — detailed accounts review still recommended.)
Shareholders & ownership
1 active beneficial owner · dominant holder ≥75%| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mr Julian John Raleigh Chichester Individual · British · DOB 09/1963 · age 63 | 75–100% | — | 75-100% shares | 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
Active · Retail · SW postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 CASTLE LTD→ 11554401 · est 2018 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 7y | — | — |
| 3RD TIME GLOBAL LIMITED→ 14138329 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
| 56 DAWES ROAD LIMITED→ 14312094 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
| 6:40 LTD→ 15969962 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| 60HOLDINGS LIMITED→ 15488234 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| 7 FLOOR.1 LIMITED→ 15165060 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| 966 LTD→ 12876203 · est 2020 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 5y | — | — |
| A AZRA LIMITED→ 09721295 · est 2015 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 10y | — | — |
| AA UK SOLUTIONS LTD→ 15574209 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| AAA CONVENIENT STORES LIMITED→ 15230642 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| AAJ VENTURES HOLDINGS LIMITED→ 14935103 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| AAKMAK LIMITED→ 14298982 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
Peers ranked by estimated value, then turnover, then opportunity score.See all →
🔒Tailored diligence questions
8 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
Incorporated1989-09-12
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC47599 — Retail sale of furniture, lighting, and similar (not musical instruments or scores) in specialised stores
Registered office
Unit G9
Chelsea Harbour
London
SW10 0XE
England
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-09-30
Last made up to: 2024-12-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-09-20
Last: 2025-09-06
Officers (2 active · 8 resigned)
Active
Active
FORWOOD, Richard Lockton Lewis→
Resignedsecretary · resigned 1999-06-15
HAWKES, Geoffrey→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1999-06-15 · resigned 2004-06-07
WILSONS (COMPANY SECRETARIES) LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-secretary · appointed 2004-06-07 · resigned 2007-09-01
FORWOOD, Edward Langton Homfray→
Resigneddirector · ~68y · appointed 2004-05-07 · resigned 2005-08-08
FORWOOD, Richard Lockton Lewis→
Resigneddirector · ~66y · appointed 2005-08-08 · resigned 2007-12-13
FORWOOD, Richard Lockton Lewis→
Resigneddirector · ~66y · resigned 1999-06-15
HAWKES, Geoffrey→
Resigneddirector · ~67y · appointed 1999-06-15 · resigned 2004-06-07
PATTERSON, Davied→
Resigneddirector · ~61y · appointed 2003-02-03 · resigned 2003-12-17
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
4
Total charges
4
Outstanding
4
Active lenders
Status:Lender:4 of 4 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | Julian Chichester | Debenture | 1 property | 04/06/2004 | — | |
| outstanding | Marsa Holdings Marsa Holdings Limited | Rent deposit deed | 1 property | 16/09/2003 | — | |
| outstanding | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Mortgage debenture | 1 property | 13/10/2000 | — | |
| outstanding | Roydon Roydon Limited | First fixed charge | 1 property | 14/11/1991 | — |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (118 total)
gazette-filings-brought-up-to-date
gazette · DISS40
2025-12-16
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-12-15
gazette-notice-compulsory
gazette · GAZ1
2025-11-25
accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridged
accounts · AA
2025-08-20
gazette-filings-brought-up-to-date
gazette · DISS40
2024-12-07
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-12-04
gazette-notice-compulsory
gazette · GAZ1
2024-11-26
accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridged
accounts · AA
2024-09-27
change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-address
address · AD01
2024-01-16
gazette-filings-brought-up-to-date
gazette · DISS40
2023-12-02
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-11-29
gazette-notice-compulsory
gazette · GAZ1
2023-11-28
accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridged
accounts · AA
2023-09-26
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-10-31
accounts-with-accounts-type-unaudited-abridged
accounts · AA
2022-09-09