ABACUS HOTELS LIMITED
🌳Matureactive
03101431 · ltd · incorporated 1995-09-13
Investment thesis
Looks cheap but ownership + security both unclear — probable value trap.
Why interesting: Headline metrics may be attractive.
Why risky: No PSC visibility combined with multiple live charges; transacting likely slow and expensive.
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
£6.05M
year to Mar 2025
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
79/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: Hotels and similar accommodation
Sector: Accommodation & food service
Investor take
PursueConservative operator with a 73-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.
Opportunity 79/100 (strong), bankability 77/100. Strong seller-intent signal (93/100, director aged 73). 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 (85/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
8 live charges · 4 lenders · oldest 30.2y
45/100
clean up first
Refinance viable after a tidy-up — address the highlighted items first.
- · Oldest live charge is 30.2 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 4 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Legal-friction score 25/100 — workable, but lender will want more DD.
- · Profitable and stable/growing — lender coverage supportable.
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
1 year of iXBRL accounts extracted (no YoY comparison) + narrative notes parsed
50
Lenders & charges
8 charges (8/8 with lender, 8/8 with type)
90
Directors & officers
9 officers (1 active, 9 linked, 6 with DOB)
83
Ownership & PSC
No PSCs filed (unusual — worth investigating)
35
Director network
Network not yet resolved
30
Filing history
131 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
🔒Estimated company valuation
Sector-multiple EBITDA, turnover, and NAV-proxy valuation range with confidence tier — derived from extracted iXBRL financials.
Available from the Pro tier upwards.
See pricing →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 · FRS 102Profitable
Profit before tax £2,265,967
Key financials
1 year extracted from filed iXBRL accountsCash
—
Net Worth
—
Current Assets
—
Current Liabilities
—
Financials
Extracted from Companies House accounts · FRS 102| Metric | 2025-03-31 |
|---|---|
| Turnover | £6.05M |
| Gross profit | £1.48M |
| Operating profit | £2.32M |
| Profit before tax | £2.27M |
| Average employees | 12600 |
Amounts extracted automatically from iXBRL. Fields left blank were not reported or not mapped. Values in GBP unless stated.
🔒Filing-note intelligence
2 signals 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
0
filings
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (52 events)Click to expand
- 2025-10-31📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2025-10-31🔓Charge satisfied #8
- 2025-10-22📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2025-10-08📄memorandum-articlesincorporation · MA
- 2025-10-08📄resolutionresolution · RESOLUTIONS
- 2025-03-13📄second-filing-capital-cancellation-sharescapital · RP04SH06
- 2024-12-03📄capital-cancellation-sharescapital · SH06
- 2024-12-02📄capital-return-purchase-own-sharescapital · SH03
- 2024-10-29📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2024-10-25➖HALLS, Michael James resignedsecretary
- 2024-10-25➖HALLS, Michael James resigneddirector
- 2024-10-25📄termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM02
- 2024-10-25📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2024-08-20📄mortgage-charge-part-both-with-charge-numbermortgage · MR05
- 2024-01-11📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-10-20📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-04-14📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2022-03-22➖FRANKE, Thomas Frederick resigneddirector
- 2021-12-23📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2021-04-18📄mortgage-charge-part-both-with-charge-numbermortgage · MR05
- 2021-04-01📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2019-12-18📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2015-07-11🔓Charge satisfied #7
- 2015-07-11🔓Charge satisfied #6
- 2014-06-28➖WYLLIE, Robert Charles resigneddirector
- 2004-06-30➖LONG, Alan William resigneddirector
- 2003-11-30➖WATT, Charles Jonathon resigneddirector
- 2001-07-05🔓Charge satisfied #5
- 2001-07-05🔓Charge satisfied #4
- 2001-07-05🔓Charge satisfied #3
- 2001-07-05🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 2001-04-02🔒Charge registered #8Lender: Girobank PLC
- 1999-05-06➕LONG, Alan William appointeddirector
- 1998-09-22🔒Charge registered #7Lender: Clydesdale Bank PLC
- 1997-11-28🔒Charge registered #6Lender: Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company
- 1997-01-07🔓Charge satisfied #1
- 1996-12-02🔒Charge registered #5Lender: Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company
- 1996-12-02🔒Charge registered #4Lender: Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company
- 1996-12-02🔒Charge registered #3Lender: Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company
- 1996-11-28🔒Charge registered #2Lender: Clydesdale Bank PLC
- 1996-03-29🔒Charge registered #1Lender: Bhf-Bank Aktiengeseelschaft
- 1995-09-13🏢Company incorporatedAs ABACUS HOTELS LIMITED
- 1995-09-13➕DARKING, Howard James appointeddirector
- 1995-09-13➕HALLS, Michael James appointedsecretary
- 1995-09-13➕LONDON LAW SECRETARIAL LIMITED appointedcorporate-nominee-secretary
- 1995-09-13➖LONDON LAW SECRETARIAL LIMITED resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary
- 1995-09-13➕FRANKE, Thomas Frederick appointeddirector
- 1995-09-13➕HALLS, Michael James appointeddirector
- 1995-09-13➕WATT, Charles Jonathon appointeddirector
- 1995-09-13➕WYLLIE, Robert Charles appointeddirector
Showing most recent 50 of 52 events
Owner dependency
100/100
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.
- +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 31 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Founder age: Director aged approximately 73 — succession pressure is live.
Succession & seller-readiness
100/100
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 73 years old. Natural succession window is now.
- primarySole active director: Only one director in control. No visible successor — buyers solve the succession problem.
- primary20+ year tenure: Director in role 31 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 31 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
mediumMultiple instances where a charge was satisfied and a new charge created within 6 months. Suggests active refinancing cycle.
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| A COUNTRY KITCHEN LIMITED→ 11187680 · est 2018 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 8y | — | — |
| A&I FISH BAR LTD→ 16300684 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| AAIRAH'S DESSERTS LTD→ 16179941 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| ABBEVILLE ROAD RESTAURANT LIMITED→ 14297529 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
| ABBEY ROAD KITCHEN LIMITED→ 14555944 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
| ABBOTS EVENTS CATERING LTD→ 09840260 · est 2015 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 10y | — | — |
| ABHI'S KITCHEN LTD→ 14999891 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| ABSTRACT DEVELOPMENTS LIMITED→ 06547503 · est 2008 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 18y | — | — |
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
Incorporated1995-09-13
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC55100 — Hotels and similar accommodation
Registered office
White Lion House
20 Station Street
Swaffham
Norfolk
PE37 7LH
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-12-31
Last made up to: 2025-03-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-09-25
Last: 2025-09-11
Officers (1 active · 8 resigned)
DARKING, Howard James→
Activedirector · ~73y · appointed 1995-09-13
View their other companies + combined net worth →
HALLS, Michael James→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1995-09-13 · resigned 2024-10-25
LONDON LAW SECRETARIAL LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary · appointed 1995-09-13 · resigned 1995-09-13
FRANKE, Thomas Frederick→
Resigneddirector · ~97y · appointed 1995-09-13 · resigned 2022-03-22
HALLS, Michael James→
Resigneddirector · ~79y · appointed 1995-09-13 · resigned 2024-10-25
LONG, Alan William→
Resigneddirector · ~80y · appointed 1999-05-06 · resigned 2004-06-30
WATT, Charles Jonathon→
Resigneddirector · ~76y · appointed 1995-09-13 · resigned 2003-11-30
WYLLIE, Robert Charles→
Resigneddirector · ~77y · appointed 1995-09-13 · resigned 2014-06-28
LONDON LAW SERVICES LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-director · appointed 1995-09-13 · resigned 1995-09-13
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
8
Total charges
0
Outstanding
0
Active lenders
Status:Lender:8 of 8 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| satisfied | Girobank Girobank PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 02/04/2001 | 31/10/2025 | |
| satisfied | Virgin Money Clydesdale Bank PLC | Deposit agreement | 1 property | 22/09/1998 | 11/07/2015 | |
| satisfied | Virgin Money Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company | Legal charge | 2 properties | 28/11/1997 | 11/07/2015 | |
| satisfied | Virgin Money Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company | Legal charge | 1 property | 02/12/1996 | 05/07/2001 | |
| satisfied | Virgin Money Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company | Legal charge | 1 property | 02/12/1996 | 05/07/2001 | |
| satisfied | Virgin Money Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company | Legal charge | 1 property | 02/12/1996 | 05/07/2001 | |
| satisfied | Virgin Money Clydesdale Bank PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 28/11/1996 | 05/07/2001 | |
| satisfied | Bhf-Bank Aktiengeseelschaft | Debenture | 1 property | 29/03/1996 | 07/01/1997 |
Recent filings (131 total)
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2025-10-31
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2025-10-22
memorandum-articles
incorporation · MA
2025-10-08
resolution
resolution · RESOLUTIONS
2025-10-08
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-09-23
second-filing-capital-cancellation-shares
capital · RP04SH06
2025-03-13
capital-cancellation-shares
capital · SH06
2024-12-03
capital-return-purchase-own-shares
capital · SH03
2024-12-02
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2024-10-29
termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM02
2024-10-25
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2024-10-25
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-09-20
mortgage-charge-part-both-with-charge-number
mortgage · MR05
2024-08-20
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2024-01-11
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-09-25