ENGLISH LAKES ICE CREAM LIMITED
🌳Matureactive
04065965 · ltd · incorporated 2000-09-06
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
—
year to Sept 2024
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
78/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: SIC 10520
Sector: Manufacturing
ALSO REGISTERED FOR
- 46330SIC 46330
- 47290Other retail sale of food in specialised stores
Investor take
PursueActive trading company with a 69-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.
Opportunity 78/100 (strong), bankability 67/100. Strong seller-intent signal (73/100, director aged 69). 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 (65/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
11 live charges · 4 lenders · oldest 25.7y
35/100
too messy
Refinance path is blocked by complexity. Rethink structure or expect bespoke, expensive terms.
- · Oldest live charge is 25.7 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 4 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Legal-friction score 40/100 — workable, but lender will want more DD.
Data confidence
Overall: high (80/100)Strong data coverage across all sections. AI outputs should be trusted with minimal caveats.
Company profile
address, 3 SIC codes, incorporation date
100
Financials
2 years of iXBRL accounts extracted (YoY deltas available) + narrative notes parsed
75
Lenders & charges
11 charges (11/11 with lender, 11/11 with type)
90
Directors & officers
8 officers (4 active, 8 linked, 5 with DOB)
83
Ownership & PSC
2 active PSC(s) of 4 total, 4 with control declared
90
Director network
3 connected companies via shared directors
54
Filing history
94 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
78/100Strong
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional
Solid opportunity signal. Worth a dedicated memo and management meeting.
Business quality
70
Active, clean filings, stable charge profile.
Acquirability
75
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
77
Few red flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.
Key financials
2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accountsCash
—
Net Worth
—
Current Assets
—
Current Liabilities
—
Hover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series
Financials
Extracted from Companies House accounts · FRS 102| Metric | 2024-09-30 | 2023-09-30 |
|---|---|---|
| Average employees | 1700 | 1800 |
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 mortgage
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (53 events)Click to expand
- 2026-01-20📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2026-01-19🔒Charge registered #13Lender: Handelsbanken PLC
- 2025-09-18📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2025-09-18🔓Charge satisfied #12
- 2025-05-21📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2024-06-18📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2023-04-17📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-09-13📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2022-09-12📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2022-04-06📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2021-04-27📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2021-01-26📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2020-12-18➕STEPHENS, James Alexander appointeddirector
- 2020-06-11📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2020-04-06📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2020-03-30🔒Charge registered #12Lender: The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
- 2019-11-01📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2019-10-15📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2019-10-15📄notification-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC01
- 2019-10-14📍change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-addressaddress · AD01
- 2019-10-11📄notification-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC01
- 2019-10-11📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2019-10-11📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2019-10-11🔓Charge satisfied #11
- 2019-10-11🔓Charge satisfied #10
- 2019-10-11🔓Charge satisfied #9
- 2019-09-27➕WALBY, Michael James appointedsecretary
- 2019-09-27➕GRAHAM, Joanne appointeddirector
- 2019-09-27➕GRAHAM, Robin appointeddirector
- 2019-09-27➖FRYER, Frances Elizabeth resignedsecretary
- 2019-09-27➖FRYER, Frances Elizabeth resigneddirector
- 2019-09-27➖FRYER, Peter John resigneddirector
- 2011-01-21🔒Charge registered #11Lender: The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
- 2005-06-06🔒Charge registered #10Lender: The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
- 2005-05-17🔒Charge registered #9Lender: The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
- 2004-07-01🔓Charge satisfied #8
- 2004-07-01🔓Charge satisfied #7
- 2004-07-01🔓Charge satisfied #6
- 2004-05-14🔓Charge satisfied #5
- 2004-04-22🔓Charge satisfied #4
- 2004-04-22🔓Charge satisfied #1
- 2004-03-19🔒Charge registered #8Lender: The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
- 2004-01-16🔒Charge registered #7Lender: The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
- 2003-04-25🔒Charge registered #6Lender: Hsbc Asset Finance (UK) Limited & Hsbc Equipment Finance (UK) Limited
- 2003-02-28🔒Charge registered #5Lender: Hsbc Bank PLC
- 2003-02-28🔒Charge registered #4Lender: Hsbc Bank PLC
- 2000-09-26🔒Charge registered #1Lender: Hsbc Bank PLC
- 2000-09-06🏢Company incorporatedAs ENGLISH LAKES ICE CREAM LIMITED
- 2000-09-06➕FRYER, Frances Elizabeth appointedsecretary
- 2000-09-06➕SWIFT INCORPORATIONS LIMITED appointedcorporate-nominee-secretary
Showing most recent 50 of 53 events
Owner dependency
73/100
High — earn-out structure requiredMaterial founder dependency. Consider a 2-3 year earn-out and build in a handover plan before completion.
FACTORS
- +Founder age: Director aged approximately 69 — succession pressure is live.
- +Family involvement: Multiple officers share a surname — likely family business, which concentrates governance.
Succession & seller-readiness
60/100
Strong succession signalMultiple signals suggest succession is on the horizon. Candidate for proactive outreach.
SIGNALS
- primaryFounder aged 63+: Senior director is approximately 69. Approaching typical UK retirement age — succession thinking likely.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 26 years old and no new directors in the last 3 years — succession not yet being planned internally.
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.
Shareholders & ownership
2 active beneficial owners| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mr Robin Graham Individual · British · DOB 12/1957 · age 69 | 50–75% | 50–75% | board control50-75% shares · 50-75% voting · board control | 27/09/2019 |
Mrs Joanne Graham Individual · British · DOB 06/1967 · age 59 | 25–50% | 25–50% | board control25-50% shares · 25-50% voting · board control | 27/09/2019 |
2 historic (ceased) PSCs
- Mr Peter Fryerceased 27/09/2019· 25-50% shares · 25-50% voting · board control
- Mrs Frances Elizabeth Fryerceased 27/06/2019· 25-50% shares · 25-50% voting · board control
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
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BAKES BY GINA ACADEMY CIC→ 16118431 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| CANDY CABS CUMBRIA LIMITED→ 15194288 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| CLASSIC DESSERTS LIMITED→ 03526173 · est 1998 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 28y | — | — |
| CRAGSIDE SPIRIT COMPANY LTD→ 11427483 · est 2018 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 7y | — | — |
| CRANSTONS QUALITY BUTCHERS LIMITED→ 00228917 · est 1928 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 98y | — | — |
| CUMBERLAND BREWERIES (GREAT CORBY) LTD→ 10501576 · est 2016 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 9y | — | — |
| CUMBRIA DISTILLING CO. LIMITED→ 11131008 · est 2018 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 8y | — | — |
| CUMBRIAN SALAMI COMPANY LIMITED→ 13918522 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 4y | — | — |
| DARKHOUSE COFFEE ROASTERS LIMITED→ 12311343 · est 2019 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 6y | — | — |
| EDEN VALLEY DRINKS LIMITED→ 15642571 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| EDEN YARD LTD→ 14469273 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
| ESKDALE MILL & HERITAGE TRUST→ 05743618 · est 2006 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 20y | — | — |
Peers ranked by estimated value, then turnover, then opportunity score.See all →
🔒Tailored diligence questions
7 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
Incorporated2000-09-06
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC10520 — SIC 10520
Registered office
Sterling House Wavell Drive
Rosehill Industrial Estate
Carlisle
Cumbria
CA1 2SA
England
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-06-30
Last made up to: 2024-09-30
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-09-20
Last: 2025-09-06
Officers (4 active · 4 resigned)
WALBY, Michael James→
Activesecretary · appointed 2019-09-27
View their other companies + combined net worth →
GRAHAM, Joanne→
Activedirector · ~59y · appointed 2019-09-27
View their other companies + combined net worth →
GRAHAM, Robin→
Activedirector · ~69y · appointed 2019-09-27
View their other companies + combined net worth →
STEPHENS, James Alexander→
Activedirector · ~51y · appointed 2020-12-18
View their other companies + combined net worth →
FRYER, Frances Elizabeth→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2000-09-06 · resigned 2019-09-27
SWIFT INCORPORATIONS LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary · appointed 2000-09-06 · resigned 2000-09-06
FRYER, Frances Elizabeth→
Resigneddirector · ~70y · appointed 2000-09-06 · resigned 2019-09-27
FRYER, Peter John→
Resigneddirector · ~71y · appointed 2000-09-06 · resigned 2019-09-27
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
11
Total charges
1
Outstanding
1
Active lenders
Status:Lender:11 of 11 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | Handelsbanken Handelsbanken PLC | A registered charge | — | 19/01/2026 | — | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | A registered charge | — | 30/03/2020 | 18/09/2025 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 21/01/2011 | 11/10/2019 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 06/06/2005 | 11/10/2019 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 17/05/2005 | 11/10/2019 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 19/03/2004 | 01/07/2004 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 16/01/2004 | 01/07/2004 | |
| satisfied | HSBC Hsbc Asset Finance (UK) Limited & Hsbc Equipment Finance (UK) Limited | Chattels mortgage | 1 property | 25/04/2003 | 01/07/2004 | |
| satisfied | HSBC Hsbc Bank PLC | Legal mortgage | 1 property | 28/02/2003 | 14/05/2004 | |
| satisfied | HSBC Hsbc Bank PLC | Legal mortgage | 1 property | 28/02/2003 | 22/04/2004 | |
| satisfied | HSBC Hsbc Bank PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 26/09/2000 | 22/04/2004 |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (94 total)
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2026-01-20
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2025-09-18
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-09-08
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2025-05-21
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-09-30
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2024-06-18
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-09-11
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2023-04-17
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-09-13
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
2022-09-13
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
2022-09-12
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2022-04-06
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2021-09-07
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2021-04-27
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2021-01-26