BY WORD OF MOUTH LIMITED
🌳Matureactive
03310603 · ltd · incorporated 1997-01-31
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
72/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: Event catering activities
Sector: Accommodation & food service
ALSO REGISTERED FOR
- 56290Other food services
Investor take
PursueStrong opportunity: active trading company with strong profile and acceptable with review structure.
Opportunity 72/100 (strong), bankability 67/100. 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: strategic trade sale (63/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
5 live charges · 4 lenders · oldest 23.2y
35/100
too messy
Refinance path is blocked by complexity. Rethink structure or expect bespoke, expensive terms.
- · Oldest live charge is 23.2 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 4 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Legal-friction score 30/100 — workable, but lender will want more DD.
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, 2 SIC codes, incorporation date
100
Financials
No iXBRL financials extracted
0
Lenders & charges
5 charges (5/5 with lender, 5/5 with type)
90
Directors & officers
24 officers (4 active, 24 linked, 15 with DOB)
83
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 2 total, 2 with control declared
90
Director network
16 connected companies via shared directors
90
Filing history
187 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
72/100Strong
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional
Solid opportunity signal. Worth a dedicated memo and management meeting.
Business quality
70
Active, clean filings, stable charge profile.
Acquirability
65
Some acquirability indicators.
Risk profile
66
Some moderate concerns — review flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.
Recent activity
Last 30 days
0
filings
Last 90 days
3
filings
- • 3 officers
Last 180 days
8
filings
- • 4 officers
- • 1 confirmation-statement
- • 1 incorporation
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (76 events)Click to expand
- 2026-04-29📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2026-04-29📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2026-04-29📄change-person-secretary-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH03
- 2026-01-23➖MACKAY, Francis Henry, Sir resigneddirector
- 2026-01-23📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2026-01-07📄memorandum-articlesincorporation · MA
- 2025-12-22📄resolutionresolution · RESOLUTIONS
- 2025-12-22📄statement-of-companys-objectschange-of-constitution · CC04
- 2025-10-23📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC05
- 2025-10-23📍change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-addressaddress · AD01
- 2025-10-01📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2025-09-30➖WATSON, Barnaby Hugh Cochrane resigneddirector
- 2025-09-17📄accounts-with-accounts-type-audit-exemption-subsiduaryaccounts · AA
- 2025-09-17📄legacyaccounts · PARENT_ACC
- 2025-09-17📄legacyother · GUARANTEE2
- 2025-09-17📄legacyother · AGREEMENT2
- 2025-08-19📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC05
- 2025-08-19📍change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-addressaddress · AD01
- 2024-08-18📄accounts-with-accounts-type-audit-exemption-subsiduaryaccounts · AA
- 2024-08-18📄legacyaccounts · PARENT_ACC
- 2024-08-18📄legacyother · GUARANTEE2
- 2024-08-18📄legacyother · AGREEMENT2
- 2024-05-29📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2024-03-26📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC05
- 2023-01-16🔓Charge satisfied #5
- 2023-01-12➕MIAH, Shakamal appointedsecretary
- 2023-01-12➕JOHNSON, Carl appointeddirector
- 2023-01-12➕MILLIGAN-SMITH, Helen Louise, Mrs. appointeddirector
- 2023-01-12➖WATSON, Barnaby resignedsecretary
- 2023-01-04🔒Charge registered #6Lender: The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
- 2020-10-05➖TINNE, Justin Michael Patrick resigneddirector
- 2013-07-01➖MORLEY, Ronald resignedsecretary
- 2013-07-01➕WATSON, Barnaby appointedsecretary
- 2013-07-01➖THOMAS, Nicholas Edward Heale resigneddirector
- 2013-07-01➕WATSON, Barnaby Hugh Cochrane appointeddirector
- 2013-04-18🔓Charge satisfied #3
- 2012-12-17🔒Charge registered #5Lender: The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
- 2012-05-29➖IVES, Stacie Jane resignedsecretary
- 2012-05-29➕MORLEY, Ronald appointedsecretary
- 2012-05-29➖ROESTENBURG, Antony Adriaan resigneddirector
- 2012-05-29➕THOMAS, Nicholas Edward Heale appointeddirector
- 2010-11-19🔓Charge satisfied #4
- 2010-11-19🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 2010-11-11➕MACKAY, Francis Henry, Sir appointeddirector
- 2010-10-21➕IVES, Stacie Jane appointedsecretary
- 2010-09-17➖WATSON, Barnaby Hugh Cochrane resignedsecretary
- 2010-09-17➖WATSON, Barnaby Hugh Cochrane resigneddirector
- 2009-11-16🔒Charge registered #4Lender: Equity Harvest Fund (In Its Capacity as the Security Trustee Acting Through Its Nominee Dunedin (Sape Gp) Nominees LTD)
- 2005-11-10➖CONNOLLY, Mark Anthony resigneddirector
- 2005-11-01➕WATSON, Barnaby Hugh Cochrane appointeddirector
Showing most recent 50 of 76 events
Owner dependency
60/100
High — earn-out structure requiredMaterial founder dependency. Consider a 2-3 year earn-out and build in a handover plan before completion.
FACTORS
- +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 25 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
Succession & seller-readiness
60/100
Strong succession signalMultiple signals suggest succession is on the horizon. Candidate for proactive outreach.
SIGNALS
- primary20+ year tenure: Director in role 25 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 29 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
2 med · 1 low2 director resignations in last 12 months
mediumMultiple recent departures can indicate governance disagreement, succession event, or preparation for sale/stress.
Evidence: MACKAY, Francis Henry, Sir resigned 2026-01-23; WATSON, Barnaby Hugh Cochrane resigned 2025-09-30
Charge satisfaction-then-recreation pattern
mediumMultiple instances where a charge was satisfied and a new charge created within 6 months. Suggests active refinancing cycle.
Multiple registered office changes
lowMultiple address changes in a short period can indicate operational instability or admin disorder.
Group structure
Graysons Hospitality Limited is the ultimate parent — holding 75%+ shares. This company sits inside their group.
🏛️ultimate parent
Graysons Hospitality Limited
Corporate parent · holds 75-100% shares · board control
⬇
BY WORD OF MOUTH LIMITED
This company · 03310603
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Graysons Hospitality Limited Corporate entity | 75–100% | 75–100% | board control75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control | 01/01/2018 |
1 historic (ceased) PSC
- The Simply Smart Group Limitedceased 01/01/2018· 75-100% shares
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 · Hospitality · WC postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A & F MEMISH LTD→ 06803226 · est 2009 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 17y | — | — |
| A GREAT STAY 4 U LTD→ 16442924 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| AAH SERVICE LTD→ 16644578 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| AALAYA ANCHOR ESTATES LTD→ 17032512 · est 2026 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| AAYAS KITCHEN LTD→ 16822942 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| AB CHANCERY LTD→ 16495935 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| AB SUSHI LIMITED→ 16250958 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| ABHA LAKE VIEW PROPERTIES LTD→ 16570474 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| ABIDE COFFEE LTD→ 17081699 · est 2026 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| ABODE VOYAGE LTD→ 14861052 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| ABOMNES LTD→ 08197028 · est 2012 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 13y | — | — |
| ABUNDANCE SOCIAL HOUSING CIC→ 17122052 · est 2026 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
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
Incorporated1997-01-31
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC56210 — Event catering activities
Registered office
The Lighthouse
368 Gray's Inn Road
London
WC1X 8BB
England
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-09-30
Last made up to: 2024-12-29
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2027-02-14
Last: 2026-01-31
Officers (4 active · 20 resigned)
Active
JOHNSON, Carl→
Activedirector · ~42y · appointed 2023-01-12
View their other companies + combined net worth →
MILLIGAN-SMITH, Helen Louise, Mrs.→
Activedirector · ~46y · appointed 2023-01-12
View their other companies + combined net worth →
PERRY, Richard Charles Lewis→
Activedirector · ~52y · appointed 2001-05-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
BREWSTER, Nigel David→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2003-08-01 · resigned 2005-07-31
IVES, Stacie Jane→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2010-10-21 · resigned 2012-05-29
LLOYD OWEN, Michael David Hugo→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1997-02-04 · resigned 2003-08-01
MORLEY, Ronald→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2012-05-29 · resigned 2013-07-01
WATSON, Barnaby→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2013-07-01 · resigned 2023-01-12
WATSON, Barnaby Hugh Cochrane→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2005-08-01 · resigned 2010-09-17
SWIFT INCORPORATIONS LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary · appointed 1997-01-31 · resigned 1997-02-04
BREWSTER, Nigel David→
Resigneddirector · ~64y · appointed 2003-03-07 · resigned 2005-07-31
CONNOLLY, Mark Anthony→
Resigneddirector · ~57y · appointed 2005-01-10 · resigned 2005-11-10
HAWKINS, Sarah Louise→
Resigneddirector · ~53y · appointed 2001-05-01 · resigned 2004-09-30
LLOYD OWEN, Jane Elizabeth→
Resigneddirector · ~78y · appointed 1997-02-04 · resigned 2005-07-31
LLOYD OWEN, Michael David Hugo→
Resigneddirector · ~78y · appointed 1997-02-04 · resigned 2005-07-31
MACKAY, Francis Henry, Sir→
Resigneddirector · ~82y · appointed 2010-11-11 · resigned 2026-01-23
MILLER BROWN, Hugo James→
Resigneddirector · ~54y · appointed 2001-05-01 · resigned 2005-09-30
ROESTENBURG, Antony Adriaan→
Resigneddirector · ~80y · appointed 2003-03-07 · resigned 2012-05-29
THOMAS, Nicholas Edward Heale→
Resigneddirector · ~64y · appointed 2012-05-29 · resigned 2013-07-01
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
5
Total charges
1
Outstanding
1
Active lenders
Status:Lender:5 of 5 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | A registered charge | — | 04/01/2023 | — | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 17/12/2012 | 16/01/2023 | |
| satisfied | Equity Harvest Fund (In Its Capacity as the Security Trustee Acting Through Its Nominee Dunedin (Sape Gp) Nominees ) Equity Harvest Fund (In Its Capacity as the Security Trustee Acting Through Its Nominee Dunedin (Sape Gp) Nominees LTD) | Composite guarantee and debenture | 1 property | 16/11/2009 | 19/11/2010 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Guarantee and debenture | 1 property | 07/03/2003 | 18/04/2013 | |
| satisfied | Sand Aire Private Equity as Security Trustee Sand Aire Private Equity Limited as Security Trustee | Composite guarantee and debenture between (1) the chargor, london catering services (2003) limited and joycount limited and (2) sand aire private equity limited | 1 property | 07/03/2003 | 19/11/2010 |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (187 total)
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2026-04-29
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2026-04-29
change-person-secretary-company-with-change-date
officers · CH03
2026-04-29
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2026-02-14
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2026-01-23
memorandum-articles
incorporation · MA
2026-01-07
resolution
resolution · RESOLUTIONS
2025-12-22
statement-of-companys-objects
change-of-constitution · CC04
2025-12-22
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC05
2025-10-23
change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-address
address · AD01
2025-10-23
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2025-10-01
accounts-with-accounts-type-audit-exemption-subsiduary
accounts · AA
2025-09-17
legacy
accounts · PARENT_ACC
2025-09-17
legacy
other · GUARANTEE2
2025-09-17
legacy
other · AGREEMENT2
2025-09-17