HOP BACK BREWERY PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY
🌳Matureactive
02658155 · plc · incorporated 1991-10-29
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
hardening · 12-months
Already tight — no obvious softening catalysts on the horizon.
- · Thesis: well-run, low negotiation leverage
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
—
not disclosed
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
76/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: Manufacture of beer
Sector: Manufacturing
ALSO REGISTERED FOR
- 56302Public houses and bars
Investor take
PursueActive trading company with a 74-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.
Opportunity 76/100 (strong), bankability 57/100. Strong seller-intent signal (63/100, director aged 74). Asset purchase likely safer than share purchase given structural signals. 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 (45/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
10 live charges · 3 lenders · oldest 34.1y
25/100
too messy
Structure is too messy for a clean refinance right now — clean up first or expect bespoke terms.
- · Oldest live charge is 34.1 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 3 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Legal-friction score 55/100 (high).
Data confidence
Overall: medium (55/100)Adequate coverage. AI outputs are reliable for the sections scored high; verify the rest in diligence.
Company profile
address, 2 SIC codes, incorporation date
100
Financials
No iXBRL financials extracted
0
Lenders & charges
10 charges (10/10 with lender, 10/10 with type)
90
Directors & officers
22 officers (5 active, 22 linked, 16 with DOB)
85
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 1 total, 1 with control declared
90
Director network
Network not yet resolved
30
Filing history
147 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
76/100Strong
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional
Solid opportunity signal. Worth a dedicated memo and management meeting.
Business quality
60
Adequate — check latest filings for context.
Acquirability
85
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
74
Few red flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.
Recent activity
Last 30 days
0
filings
Last 90 days
0
filings
Last 180 days
1
filing
- • 1 accounts
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (70 events)Click to expand
- 2026-03-19📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2025-03-24📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2024-03-25📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2023-03-29📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-12-20📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2022-11-15➕FERGUSSON, Jamie appointeddirector
- 2022-03-21📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2021-03-09📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2020-09-02📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2020-08-19🔒Charge registered #10Lender: Lloyds Bank PLC
- 2020-03-25📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2019-07-03📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2019-07-03📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2019-07-01➕JEFFS, Ian Norman appointeddirector
- 2019-06-30➖JACKSON, Simon James resigneddirector
- 2019-03-07📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2018-08-07📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2018-08-03➖SULLIVAN, James Paul resigneddirector
- 2018-03-05📄accounts-with-accounts-type-smallaccounts · AA
- 2017-05-23➕SULLIVAN, James Paul appointeddirector
- 2017-05-23📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2017-01-24📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2014-05-13➖HOLMES, Christopher Roger resigneddirector
- 2013-05-03➕HOLMES, Christopher Roger appointeddirector
- 2010-02-28➖LAW, David Anthony Ian resigneddirector
- 2009-08-27➖GOULDING, Trevor Charles resigneddirector
- 2009-05-05➕LAW, David Anthony Ian appointeddirector
- 2009-01-01➕WRIGHT, Steven Andrew appointeddirector
- 2008-01-31➖HOWELLS, Robert Thornber resigneddirector
- 2008-01-01➕JACKSON, Simon James appointeddirector
- 2006-01-30➕HOWELLS, Robert Thornber appointeddirector
- 2006-01-06➕FREEZER, Alison Judith appointedsecretary
- 2006-01-06➕GOULDING, Trevor Charles appointeddirector
- 2006-01-06➖THOMSON, Peter Murray resigneddirector
- 2005-12-26➖THOMSON, Peter Murray resignedsecretary
- 2005-12-20➖MCROBERTS, Thomas Austen resigneddirector
- 2005-12-02➖HARVEY, Richard Charles resigneddirector
- 2004-09-30➖CAREW, James resigneddirector
- 2002-10-04➕MCROBERTS, Thomas Austen appointeddirector
- 2002-07-17🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 1999-11-05➖CAREW, James resignedsecretary
- 1999-11-05➕THOMSON, Peter Murray appointedsecretary
- 1998-10-20➖LYALL, Richard resigneddirector
- 1998-07-22➕HARVEY, Richard Charles appointeddirector
- 1998-04-24🔒Charge registered #9Lender: Lloyds Bank PLC
- 1998-02-04🔒Charge registered #8Lender: Lloyds Bank PLC
- 1996-08-10🔓Charge satisfied #4
- 1996-08-10🔓Charge satisfied #3
- 1996-07-08🔒Charge registered #7Lender: Lloyds Bank PLC
- 1996-07-08🔒Charge registered #6Lender: Lloyds Bank PLC
Showing most recent 50 of 70 events
Owner dependency
65/100
High — earn-out structure requiredMaterial founder dependency. Consider a 2-3 year earn-out and build in a handover plan before completion.
FACTORS
- -4 active directors: Broader management team in place — suggests transferable governance.
- +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 35 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Founder age: Director aged approximately 74 — succession pressure is live.
Succession & seller-readiness
90/100
Likely off-market candidateStrong acquirability signals converging. Worth approaching directly — this is how off-market deals start.
SIGNALS
- primaryFounder aged 70+: Senior director is approximately 74 years old. Natural succession window is now.
- primary20+ year tenure: Director in role 35 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 35 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 · 1 lowCharge satisfaction-then-recreation pattern
mediumMultiple instances where a charge was satisfied and a new charge created within 6 months. Suggests active refinancing cycle.
6 live charges
lowHeavily leveraged with multiple live security positions — understand the capital structure before proceeding.
Shareholders & ownership
1 active beneficial owner| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
John Michael Gilbert Individual · British · DOB 01/1952 · age 74 | 50–75% | 50–75% | 50-75% shares · 50-75% voting | 06/04/2016 |
From Companies House Persons with Significant Control filings. Share ranges are banded per the public PSC regime.
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| APEX PRECISION HOLDINGS LTD→ 16938158 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| BULK HYDRO LTD→ 16872242 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| COMBAT FUEL SUPPLEMENTS LIMITED→ 13510517 · est 2021 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 4y | — | — |
| G39 IT STARTED WITH A COFFEE LIMITED→ 16736514 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| GABRIEL & IULIAN LTD→ 13032951 · est 2020 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 5y | — | — |
| GO COFFEE LTD→ 15579747 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| H.B. BURBIDGE & SON LIMITED→ 00396734 · est 1945 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 80y | — | — |
| J.CHANDLER & COMPANY(BUCKFAST),LIMITED→ 00222047 · est 1927 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 98y | — | — |
| JACK'S BACKHAUS LIMITED→ 16415831 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| JANE'S GRAINS LTD→ 10450566 · est 2016 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 9y | — | — |
| JOSIE’S DELIGHTS LTD→ 16700308 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| LIONEL HITCHEN LIMITED→ 00838331 · est 1965 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 61y | — | — |
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
Typeplc
Incorporated1991-10-29
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC11050 — Manufacture of beer
Registered office
Hop Back Brewery
23 Batten Road Industrial Estate
Downton,Salisbury,Wiltshire
SP5 3HU
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2027-03-31
Last made up to: 2025-09-30
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-10-28
Last: 2025-10-14
Officers (5 active · 17 resigned)
FREEZER, Alison Judith→
Activesecretary · appointed 2006-01-06
View their other companies + combined net worth →
FERGUSSON, Jamie→
Activedirector · ~35y · appointed 2022-11-15
View their other companies + combined net worth →
GILBERT, John Michael→
Activedirector · ~74y · appointed 1991-10-29
View their other companies + combined net worth →
JEFFS, Ian Norman→
Activedirector · ~66y · appointed 2019-07-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
WRIGHT, Steven Andrew→
Activedirector · ~71y · appointed 2009-01-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
CAREW, James→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1993-10-21 · resigned 1999-11-05
GILBERT, Julie Anne→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1991-10-29 · resigned 1993-10-21
THOMSON, Peter Murray→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1999-11-05 · resigned 2005-12-26
CCS SECRETARIES LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary · appointed 1991-10-29 · resigned 1991-10-29
CAREW, James→
Resigneddirector · ~107y · appointed 1993-10-21 · resigned 2004-09-30
GILBERT, Julie Anne→
Resigneddirector · ~74y · appointed 1991-10-29 · resigned 1993-10-21
GOULDING, Trevor Charles→
Resigneddirector · ~69y · appointed 2006-01-06 · resigned 2009-08-27
HARVEY, Richard Charles→
Resigneddirector · ~72y · appointed 1998-07-22 · resigned 2005-12-02
HOLMES, Christopher Roger→
Resigneddirector · ~81y · appointed 2013-05-03 · resigned 2014-05-13
HOWELLS, Robert Thornber→
Resigneddirector · ~83y · appointed 2006-01-30 · resigned 2008-01-31
JACKSON, Simon James→
Resigneddirector · ~69y · appointed 2008-01-01 · resigned 2019-06-30
LAW, David Anthony Ian→
Resigneddirector · ~61y · appointed 2009-05-05 · resigned 2010-02-28
LYALL, Richard→
Resigneddirector · ~57y · appointed 1996-05-09 · resigned 1998-10-20
MCROBERTS, Thomas Austen→
Resigneddirector · ~73y · appointed 2002-10-04 · resigned 2005-12-20
SULLIVAN, James Paul→
Resigneddirector · ~56y · appointed 2017-05-23 · resigned 2018-08-03
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
10
Total charges
6
Outstanding
1
Active lenders
Status:Lender:10 of 10 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Bank PLC | A registered charge | — | 19/08/2020 | — | |
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Bank PLC | Mortgage deed | 1 property | 24/04/1998 | — | |
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Bank PLC | Mortgage | 1 property | 04/02/1998 | — | |
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Bank PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 08/07/1996 | — | |
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Bank PLC | Mortgage deed | 1 property | 08/07/1996 | — | |
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Bank PLC | Mortgage deed | 1 property | 08/07/1996 | — | |
| satisfied | Midland Bank Midland Bank PLC | Fixed and floating charge | 1 property | 29/08/1995 | 10/08/1996 | |
| satisfied | Midland Bank Midland Bank PLC | Legal charge | — | 26/09/1994 | 10/08/1996 | |
| satisfied | Midland Bank Midland Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 26/09/1994 | 17/07/2002 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 22/05/1992 | 26/07/1994 |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (147 total)
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2026-03-19
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-11-04
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2025-03-24
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-12-12
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2024-03-25
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-11-03
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2023-03-29
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2022-12-20
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-10-20
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2022-03-21
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2021-11-01
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2021-03-09
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2020-10-26
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2020-09-02
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2020-03-25