B. M. TAVERNS LTD.
💤Zombieactive
SC169408 · ltd · incorporated 1996-10-29
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 Oct 2024
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
75/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: Public houses and bars
Sector: Accommodation & food service
Investor take
PursueActive trading company with a 64-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.
Opportunity 75/100 (strong), bankability 57/100. Strong seller-intent signal (70/100, director aged 64). Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Biggest value-creation lever: Consolidate lender relationships. 5 distinct lenders creates friction — refinance into single-lender structure for cleaner diligence. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (53/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
26 live charges · 5 lenders · oldest 25.1y
15/100
under pressure
Refinance would be pressure-driven, not opportunity-driven. Expect tighter margins and covenant scrutiny.
- · Oldest live charge is 25.1 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 5 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Distress signals active — lender appetite narrows.
Data confidence
Overall: medium (79/100)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
26 charges (26/26 with lender, 26/26 with type)
90
Directors & officers
5 officers (2 active, 5 linked, 3 with DOB)
82
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 1 total, 1 with control declared
90
Director network
2 connected companies via shared directors
51
Filing history
120 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
75/100Strong
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional
Solid opportunity signal. Worth a dedicated memo and management meeting.
Business quality
60
Adequate — check latest filings for context.
Acquirability
80
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
74
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 | 2024-10-31 | 2023-10-31 |
|---|---|---|
| Average employees | 500 | 500 |
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
0
filings
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (68 events)Click to expand
- 2025-06-23📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2024-07-24📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2024-05-08📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2024-05-08🔓Charge satisfied #17
- 2023-07-03📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-10-06📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2022-09-12📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2021-07-28📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2020-08-24📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2019-07-04📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2018-07-30📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2017-10-16📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2017-10-16📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2017-07-24📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-smallaccounts · AA
- 2017-05-29📄change-person-secretary-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH03
- 2016-06-03📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-smallaccounts · AA
- 2016-04-06🔓Charge satisfied #20
- 2009-05-15🔒Charge registered #26Lender: Clydesdale Bank PLC
- 2008-11-29🔓Charge satisfied #1
- 2008-01-29🔒Charge registered #25Lender: Scottish & Newcastle UK Limited
- 2008-01-17🔓Charge satisfied #19
- 2008-01-17🔓Charge satisfied #18
- 2008-01-17🔓Charge satisfied #16
- 2008-01-17🔓Charge satisfied #15
- 2008-01-17🔓Charge satisfied #14
- 2008-01-17🔓Charge satisfied #13
- 2008-01-17🔓Charge satisfied #12
- 2008-01-17🔓Charge satisfied #11
- 2008-01-17🔓Charge satisfied #10
- 2008-01-17🔓Charge satisfied #9
- 2008-01-17🔓Charge satisfied #8
- 2008-01-17🔓Charge satisfied #7
- 2008-01-17🔓Charge satisfied #6
- 2008-01-17🔓Charge satisfied #5
- 2008-01-17🔓Charge satisfied #3
- 2007-12-10🔒Charge registered #23Lender: Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company
- 2007-11-29🔒Charge registered #24Lender: Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company
- 2007-11-29🔒Charge registered #22Lender: Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company
- 2006-12-15🔒Charge registered #21Lender: Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company
- 2006-12-05🔒Charge registered #20Lender: Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company
- 2006-05-25🔒Charge registered #19Lender: The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland
- 2006-04-14🔒Charge registered #18Lender: The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland
- 2006-02-08🔒Charge registered #17Lender: The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland
- 2005-11-14🔒Charge registered #16Lender: The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland
- 2005-10-05🔒Charge registered #15Lender: The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland
- 2005-05-25🔒Charge registered #14Lender: The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland
- 2005-01-26🔒Charge registered #13Lender: The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland
- 2004-08-06🔒Charge registered #12Lender: Scottish Courage Limited
- 2004-08-06🔒Charge registered #11Lender: Scottish Courage Limited
- 2004-08-06🔒Charge registered #10Lender: The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland
Showing most recent 50 of 68 events
Owner dependency
93/100
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 29 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Senior director age: Director aged approximately 64 — approaching natural succession window.
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 64. 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 29 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
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.
8 live charges
lowHeavily leveraged with multiple live security positions — understand the capital structure before proceeding.
Shareholders & ownership
1 active beneficial owner · dominant holder ≥75%| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mr Brian William Macdonald Individual · British · DOB 10/1962 · age 64 | 75–100% | 75–100% | board control75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control | 06/04/2016 |
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 · FK postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARANDEL LTD.→ SC475453 · est 2014 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 12y | — | — |
| AVONLEA(2025) LIMITED→ SC837003 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| AYUB ND SONS LTD→ SC867177 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| BALFORMO DEVELOPMENTS LIMITED→ SC133201 · est 1991 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 34y | — | — |
| BEIJING VILLA LTD→ SC880250 · est 2026 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| BEN LEDI COFFEE CO LTD→ SC806297 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| BEN LEDI RETREAT LTD→ SC881552 · est 2026 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| BEN THE HOOSE LTD→ SC518638 · est 2015 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 10y | — | — |
| BENCHMARK HOSPITALITY LIMITED→ SC704065 · est 2021 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 4y | — | — |
| BENSEN LTD→ SC800498 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| BESPOKE CATERING AND EVENTS LTD→ SC847242 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| BEST BUDDIES SCOT LTD→ SC781252 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
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
Incorporated1996-10-29
Jurisdictionscotland
Primary SIC56302 — Public houses and bars
Registered office
The A9 Partnership Limited
Chartered Accountants
57/59 High Street, Dunblane
Perthshire
FK15 0EE
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-07-31
Last made up to: 2024-10-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-10-17
Last: 2025-10-03
Officers (2 active · 3 resigned)
MACDONALD, Mary, Ms.→
Activesecretary · appointed 1996-10-29
View their other companies + combined net worth →
MACDONALD, Brian William→
Activedirector · ~64y · appointed 1996-10-29
View their other companies + combined net worth →
FOOT, Leigh→
Resignednominee-secretary · appointed 1996-10-29 · resigned 1996-10-29
MCINTOSH, Susan→
Resignednominee-director · ~56y · appointed 1996-10-29 · resigned 1996-10-29
TRAINER, Peter→
Resignednominee-director · ~74y · appointed 1996-10-29 · resigned 1996-10-29
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
26
Total charges
8
Outstanding
3
Active lenders
Status:Lender:26 of 26 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | Virgin Money Clydesdale Bank PLC | Standard security | 1 property | 15/05/2009 | — | |
| outstanding | Scottish & Newcastle UK Scottish & Newcastle UK Limited | Standard security | 1 property | 29/01/2008 | — | |
| outstanding | Virgin Money Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company | Standard security | 1 property | 10/12/2007 | — | |
| outstanding | Virgin Money Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company | Standard security | 1 property | 29/11/2007 | — | |
| outstanding | Virgin Money Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company | Standard security | 1 property | 29/11/2007 | — | |
| part-satisfied | Virgin Money Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company | Standard security | 1 property | 15/12/2006 | — | |
| satisfied | Virgin Money Clydesdale Bank Public Limited Company | Standard security | 1 property | 05/12/2006 | 06/04/2016 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland | Standard security | 1 property | 25/05/2006 | 17/01/2008 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland | Standard security | 1 property | 14/04/2006 | 17/01/2008 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland | Standard security | 1 property | 08/02/2006 | 08/05/2024 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland | Standard security | 1 property | 14/11/2005 | 17/01/2008 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland | Standard security | 1 property | 05/10/2005 | 17/01/2008 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland | Standard security | 1 property | 25/05/2005 | 17/01/2008 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland | Standard security | 1 property | 26/01/2005 | 17/01/2008 | |
| satisfied | Scottish Courage Scottish Courage Limited | Standard security | 1 property | 06/08/2004 | 17/01/2008 | |
| satisfied | Scottish Courage Scottish Courage Limited | Standard security | 1 property | 06/08/2004 | 17/01/2008 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland | Standard security | 1 property | 06/08/2004 | 17/01/2008 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland | Standard security | 1 property | 17/06/2004 | 17/01/2008 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland | Standard security | 1 property | 02/02/2004 | 17/01/2008 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland | Standard security | 1 property | 24/11/2003 | 17/01/2008 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland | Standard security | 1 property | 07/10/2003 | 17/01/2008 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland | Standard security | 1 property | 01/08/2002 | 17/01/2008 | |
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland | Standard security | 1 property | 22/02/2002 | — | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland | Standard security | 1 property | 15/10/2001 | 17/01/2008 | |
| outstanding | Lloyds Banking Group The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland | Standard security | 1 property | 19/09/2001 | — | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland | Bond & floating charge | 1 property | 27/03/2001 | 29/11/2008 |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (120 total)
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-10-09
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2025-06-23
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-10-11
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2024-07-24
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2024-05-08
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-10-11
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2023-07-03
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-10-10
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
2022-10-06
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2022-09-12
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2021-10-06
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2021-07-28
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2020-10-06
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2020-08-24
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2019-10-15