BLACKGATE LEISURE LIMITED
💤Zombieactive
03620063 · ltd · incorporated 1998-08-21
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 Apr 2025
Net worth
£40.3k
book net assets
Opportunity
82/100
Exceptional
What this business does
Primary activity: SIC 45200
Sector: Wholesale & retail
Investor take
PursueActive trading company with a 66-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.
Opportunity 82/100 (exceptional), bankability 67/100. Strong seller-intent signal (83/100, director aged 66). Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. 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 (73/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
3 live charges · 3 lenders · oldest 25.9y
15/100
under pressure
Refinance would be pressure-driven, not opportunity-driven. Expect tighter margins and covenant scrutiny.
- · Oldest live charge is 25.9 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 3 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Distress signals active — lender appetite narrows.
Data confidence
Overall: medium (78/100)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
3 charges (3/3 with lender, 3/3 with type)
90
Directors & officers
7 officers (1 active, 7 linked, 3 with DOB)
79
Ownership & PSC
3 active PSC(s) of 4 total, 4 with control declared
90
Director network
1 connected companies via shared directors
48
Filing history
92 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
82/100Exceptional
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional
Strong composite across quality, acquirability, and risk. High-priority target — progress to serious diligence.
Business quality
70
Active, clean filings, stable charge profile.
Acquirability
80
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 · accounting standard not declaredPositive net assets
Net assets £40,271
Net assets shrinking
Down £4,733 YoY
Cash YoY
+5%
Year on year
Key financials
2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accountsCash
£619
↑ 5.1% YoY
Net Worth
£40k
↓ 11% YoY
Current Assets
£30k
↑ 1.5% YoY
Current Liabilities
—
Hover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series
Financials
Extracted from Companies House accounts · accounting standard unknown| Metric | 2025-04-30 | 2024-04-30 |
|---|---|---|
| Total assets | £87.7k | £94.4k |
| Current assets | £29.8k | £29.4k |
| Cash | £619 | £589 |
| Debtors | — | £87 |
| Net assets | £40.3k | £45.0k |
Amounts extracted automatically from iXBRL. Fields left blank were not reported or not mapped. Values in GBP unless stated.
🔒Filing-note intelligence
1 signal 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
1
filing
- • 1 accounts
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (34 events)Click to expand
- 2025-12-16📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2024-12-05📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2024-01-22📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2023-09-13📄notification-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC01
- 2023-09-13📄notification-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC01
- 2023-01-27📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-08-25📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2022-04-28📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2021-01-31📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2020-08-21📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2020-08-20📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2020-08-19📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2020-08-19📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2020-08-19📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2020-08-19📍change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-addressaddress · AD01
- 2020-01-29📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2018-11-01📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2018-08-16➖PEEL, Elizabeth resignedsecretary
- 2014-11-21➖PEEL, Elizabeth resigneddirector
- 2007-10-22🔒Charge registered #3Lender: Commercial First Business Limited
- 2007-08-17➕PEEL, Elizabeth appointedsecretary
- 2007-08-17➖WHITING, John Bernard resignedsecretary
- 2001-04-04🔒Charge registered #2Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 2000-06-12🔒Charge registered #1Lender: Frederick Arthur Hillam
- 1999-04-23➖GRAHAM, John Leslie resigneddirector
- 1999-04-23➕PEEL, Elizabeth appointeddirector
- 1998-08-21🏢Company incorporatedAs BLACKGATE LEISURE LIMITED
- 1998-08-21➕PEEL, Andrew appointeddirector
- 1998-08-21➕WHITING, John Bernard appointedsecretary
- 1998-08-21➕BRIGHTON SECRETARY LIMITED appointedcorporate-nominee-secretary
- 1998-08-21➖BRIGHTON SECRETARY LIMITED resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary
- 1998-08-21➕GRAHAM, John Leslie appointeddirector
- 1998-08-21➕BRIGHTON DIRECTOR LIMITED appointedcorporate-nominee-director
- 1998-08-21➖BRIGHTON DIRECTOR LIMITED resignedcorporate-nominee-director
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 28 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Founder age: Director aged approximately 66 — succession pressure is live.
Succession & seller-readiness
95/100
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 66. Approaching typical UK retirement age — succession thinking likely.
- primarySole active director: Only one director in control. No visible successor — buyers solve the succession problem.
- primary20+ year tenure: Director in role 28 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 28 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
cleanNo red flags detected from available public data. (This is not a clean bill of health — detailed accounts review still recommended.)
Shareholders & ownership
3 active beneficial owners| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Ms Sharon Louise Hillam Individual · British · DOB 05/1983 · age 43 | 25–50% | 25–50% | board control25-50% shares · 25-50% voting · board control | 21/08/2023 |
Mrs Alexandra Marie Farrell Individual · British · DOB 05/1985 · age 41 | 25–50% | 25–50% | board control25-50% shares · 25-50% voting · board control | 21/08/2023 |
Mr Andrew Peel Individual · British · DOB 01/1960 · age 66 | 25–50% | 25–50% | board controlsig. influence25-50% shares · 25-50% voting · board control · significant influence | 01/07/2016 |
1 historic (ceased) PSC
- Mrs Enid Peelceased 25/08/2022· 50-75% shares · 50-75% voting · board control · significant influence · firm interest
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 · Automotive · DH postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 112 SECURE (AUTOMOTIVE) LTD→ 14592543 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
| 1ST AID COMMERCIALS LTD→ 09363750 · est 2014 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 11y | — | — |
| 1ST CLASS COMMERCIALS LTD→ 16021270 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| 9MOTORS LTD→ 15661237 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| A F MOTOR SERVICES (DURHAM) LIMITED→ 07915504 · est 2012 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 14y | — | — |
| A SIX NINETY ONE WARRANTIES LIMITED→ 12150838 · est 2019 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 6y | — | — |
| A SIX NINETY WARRANTIES LIMITED→ 07185124 · est 2010 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 16y | — | — |
| A.HEDLEY (MOTOR ENGINEERS) LIMITED→ 01215578 · est 1975 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 50y | — | — |
| A.M.A ATVS LTD→ 16903120 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| A1 WINDSCREENS (NE) LTD→ 09730836 · est 2015 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 10y | — | — |
| A690 PREP CENTRE LIMITED→ 12279262 · est 2019 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 6y | — | — |
| A690 SPECIALIST CARS LIMITED→ 06770229 · est 2008 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 17y | — | — |
Peers ranked by estimated value, then turnover, then opportunity score.See all →
🔒Tailored diligence questions
9 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
Incorporated1998-08-21
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC45200 — SIC 45200
Registered office
26 Parkhill Estate
Coxhoe
Durham
Durham
DH6 4JH
England
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2027-01-31
Last made up to: 2025-04-30
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-08-30
Last: 2025-08-16
Officers (1 active · 6 resigned)
PEEL, Andrew→
Activedirector · ~66y · appointed 1998-08-21
View their other companies + combined net worth →
PEEL, Elizabeth→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2007-08-17 · resigned 2018-08-16
WHITING, John Bernard→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1998-08-21 · resigned 2007-08-17
BRIGHTON SECRETARY LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary · appointed 1998-08-21 · resigned 1998-08-21
GRAHAM, John Leslie→
Resigneddirector · ~65y · appointed 1998-08-21 · resigned 1999-04-23
PEEL, Elizabeth→
Resigneddirector · ~77y · appointed 1999-04-23 · resigned 2014-11-21
BRIGHTON DIRECTOR LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-director · appointed 1998-08-21 · resigned 1998-08-21
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
3
Total charges
3
Outstanding
3
Active lenders
Status:Lender:3 of 3 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | Commercial First Business Commercial First Business Limited | Legal charge | 2 properties | 22/10/2007 | — | |
| outstanding | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 04/04/2001 | — | |
| outstanding | Frederick Arthur Hillam | Legal charge | 1 property | 12/06/2000 | — |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (92 total)
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2025-12-16
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-09-04
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2024-12-05
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-08-23
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2024-01-22
notification-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC01
2023-09-13
notification-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC01
2023-09-13
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-08-21
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2023-01-27
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-09-02
cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
2022-08-25
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2022-04-28
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2021-08-30
accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
accounts · AA
2021-01-31
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2020-08-21