CALEDONIA INNS LIMITED
💤Zombieactive
SC176785 · ltd · incorporated 1997-06-27
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.
Why now
Window steady · low confidence
Steady and stalled — no momentum either way. Needs an approach trigger.
What changed my view
Last 30 days
No material changes in the last 30 days.
Last 90 days
No snapshot from 90 days ago — start tracking from today.
Last 180 days
No snapshot from 180 days ago — start tracking from today.
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
—
not disclosed
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 67-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.
Opportunity 75/100 (strong), bankability 57/100. Strong seller-intent signal (83/100, director aged 67). 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 (73/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
10 live charges · 4 lenders · oldest 10.1y
15/100
under pressure
Refinance would be pressure-driven, not opportunity-driven. Expect tighter margins and covenant scrutiny.
- · Oldest live charge is 10.1 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 4 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Distress signals active — lender appetite narrows.
Data confidence
Overall: medium (58/100)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
No iXBRL financials extracted
0
Lenders & charges
10 charges (10/10 with lender, 10/10 with type)
90
Directors & officers
4 officers (1 active, 4 linked, 1 with DOB)
75
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 1 total, 1 with control declared
90
Director network
10 connected companies via shared directors
75
Filing history
111 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.
Recent activity
Last 30 days
1
filing
- • 1 confirmation-statement
Last 90 days
1
filing
- • 1 confirmation-statement
Last 180 days
1
filing
- • 1 confirmation-statement
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (40 events)Click to expand
- 2025-12-04📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2025-10-08📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2025-10-03🔒Charge registered #10Lender: David Alistair Wither
- 2024-12-12📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2023-12-29📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2023-06-13📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2023-06-12📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2023-06-09📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2023-06-09📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2023-06-09🔓Charge satisfied #3
- 2023-06-09🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 2023-06-08🔒Charge registered #9Lender: David Alistair Wither as Security Trustee
- 2023-06-08🔒Charge registered #8Lender: David Alistair Wither as Security Trustee
- 2023-06-07📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2023-06-06🔒Charge registered #7Lender: David Alistair Wither as Security Trustee
- 2023-05-23📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-10-08📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2022-10-08🔓Charge satisfied #1
- 2022-09-26📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2022-09-26📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2022-09-22🔒Charge registered #6Lender: David Alistair Wither as Security Trustee
- 2022-09-22🔒Charge registered #5Lender: David Alistair Wither as Security Trustee
- 2022-09-15📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2022-09-14🔒Charge registered #4Lender: David Alistair Wither (As Security Trustee)
- 2022-07-04📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-06-30📍change-registered-office-address-company-with-date-old-address-new-addressaddress · AD01
- 2022-06-01📄gazette-filings-brought-up-to-dategazette · DISS40
- 2022-05-31📄gazette-notice-compulsorygazette · GAZ1
- 2021-09-28📄accounts-with-accounts-type-smallaccounts · AA
- 2016-10-07🔒Charge registered #3Lender: Aib Group (UK) PLC
- 2016-05-27🔒Charge registered #2Lender: Aib Group (UK) PLC
- 2016-05-24🔒Charge registered #1Lender: Aib Group (UK) PLC
- 2009-04-24➖SCOTLAND, Duncan James resignedsecretary
- 2006-05-01➕SCOTLAND, Duncan James appointedsecretary
- 2006-05-01➖HBJ SECRETARIAL LIMITED resignedcorporate-secretary
- 1997-07-01➕LOWE, William appointeddirector
- 1997-07-01➖HENDERSON BOYD JACKSON LIMITED resignedcorporate-nominee-director
- 1997-06-27🏢Company incorporatedAs CALEDONIA INNS LIMITED
- 1997-06-27➕HBJ SECRETARIAL LIMITED appointedcorporate-secretary
- 1997-06-27➕HENDERSON BOYD JACKSON LIMITED appointedcorporate-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 29 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Founder age: Director aged approximately 67 — 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 67. 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.
7 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 William Lowe Individual · Scottish · DOB 08/1959 · age 67 | 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 · EH postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE BONHAM HOTEL EDINBURGH LIMITED→ SC118669 · est 1989 | £13.13M £9.85M–£16.41M | — | — | 65 | 37y | 83 | 69y |
| OMNI TAVERNS LTD.→ SC307655 · est 2006 | £2.89M £2.17M–£3.61M | — | — | 85 | 19y | 87 | 60y |
| ADJUSTLIGHT LIMITED→ SC139599 · est 1992 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 33y | 83 | 58y |
| ARCHERFIELD HOUSE HOTEL MANAGEMENT LIMITED→ SC272735 · est 2004 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 21y | 83 | 79y |
| COURT HOTEL SUITES LIMITED→ SC373209 · est 2010 | — | — | £553.1k | — | 16y | 83 | 64y |
| DESTINATION EDINBURGH LIMITED→ SC357298 · est 2009 | — | — | £254.5k | — | 17y | 83 | 58y |
| ELITE HOTELS LIMITED→ SC103199 · est 1987 | — | — | — | 0 | 39y | 83 | 76y |
| MORAG'S LODGES LIMITED→ SC192271 · est 1998 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 27y | 83 | 61y |
| SALTIRE HOSPITALITY LIMITED→ SC208776 · est 2000 | — | — | — | 83 | 26y | 83 | 63y |
| SCOTS GUARDS ASSOCIATION CLUB, LIMITED→ SC013223 · est 1924 | — | — | — | 6 | 102y | 83 | 80y |
| STAY CITY APARTMENTS LTD.→ SC338588 · est 2008 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 18y | 83 | 59y |
| SURGEONS QUARTER LIMITED→ SC256751 · est 2003 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 22y | 83 | 82y |
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
Incorporated1997-06-27
Jurisdictionscotland
Primary SIC56302 — Public houses and bars
Registered office
1 Alvanley Terrace
Edinburgh
EH9 1DU
Scotland
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-12-31
Last made up to: 2025-03-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2027-07-01
Last: 2026-06-17
Officers (1 active · 3 resigned)
LOWE, William→
Activedirector · ~67y · appointed 1997-07-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
SCOTLAND, Duncan James→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2006-05-01 · resigned 2009-04-24
HBJ SECRETARIAL LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-secretary · appointed 1997-06-27 · resigned 2006-05-01
HENDERSON BOYD JACKSON LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-director · appointed 1997-06-27 · resigned 1997-07-01
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
10
Total charges
7
Outstanding
3
Active lenders
Status:Lender:10 of 10 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | David Alistair Wither | A registered charge | 1 property | 03/10/2025 | — | |
| outstanding | David Alistair Wither as Security Trustee | A registered charge | 2 properties | 08/06/2023 | — | |
| outstanding | David Alistair Wither as Security Trustee | A registered charge | 3 properties | 08/06/2023 | — | |
| outstanding | David Alistair Wither as Security Trustee | A registered charge | — | 06/06/2023 | — | |
| outstanding | David Alistair Wither as Security Trustee | A registered charge | 3 properties | 22/09/2022 | — | |
| outstanding | David Alistair Wither as Security Trustee | A registered charge | 2 properties | 22/09/2022 | — | |
| outstanding | David Alistair Wither (As Security Trustee) | A registered charge | — | 14/09/2022 | — | |
| satisfied | Aib Group (UK) Aib Group (UK) PLC | A registered charge | 3 properties | 07/10/2016 | 09/06/2023 | |
| satisfied | Aib Group (UK) Aib Group (UK) PLC | A registered charge | 2 properties | 27/05/2016 | 09/06/2023 | |
| satisfied | Aib Group (UK) Aib Group (UK) PLC | A registered charge | — | 24/05/2016 | 08/10/2022 |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (111 total)
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2026-06-28
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2025-12-04
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2025-10-08
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-06-28
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2024-12-12
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-06-30
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2023-12-29
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-07-06
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2023-06-13
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2023-06-12
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2023-06-09
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2023-06-09
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2023-06-07
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2023-05-23
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2022-10-08