SPECTATOR (1828) LIMITED(THE)

💤Zombieactive
01232804 · ltd · incorporated 1975-11-07
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 Dec 2024
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
75/100
Strong
🔔
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What this business does
Primary activity: Publishing of consumer and business journals and periodicals
Sector: Information & communication
Investor take
Pursue
Strong opportunity: active trading company with strong profile and acceptable with review structure.

Opportunity 75/100 (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 (40/100).

🏦

Refinance opportunity

4 live charges · 4 lenders · oldest 41.6y

15/100
under pressure

Refinance would be pressure-driven, not opportunity-driven. Expect tighter margins and covenant scrutiny.

  • · Oldest live charge is 41.6 years old — likely at or near maturity.
  • · 4 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
  • · Distress signals active — lender appetite narrows.

Data confidence

Overall: medium (74/100)

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
1 year of iXBRL accounts extracted (no YoY comparison) + narrative notes parsed
50
Lenders & charges
4 charges (4/4 with lender, 4/4 with type)
90
Directors & officers
28 officers (1 active, 28 linked, 24 with DOB)
87
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 1 total, 1 with control declared
90
Director network
7 connected companies via shared directors
66
Filing history
198 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
70
Active, clean filings, stable charge profile.
Acquirability
55
Some acquirability indicators.
Risk profile
85
Few red flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.

Signals from accounts

Derived from iXBRL accounts · FRS 102
Loss-making
Loss before tax £6,602,000

Key financials

1 year extracted from filed iXBRL accounts
Cash
—
Net Worth
—
Current Assets
—
Current Liabilities
—

Financials

Extracted from Companies House accounts · FRS 102
Metric2024-12-31
Profit before tax£-6.60M
Average employees97

Amounts extracted automatically from iXBRL. Fields left blank were not reported or not mapped. Values in GBP unless stated.

🔒Filing-note intelligence

3 signals 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
1
filing
  • • 1 accounts
Last 90 days
1
filing
  • • 1 accounts
Last 180 days
1
filing
  • • 1 accounts
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (76 events)Click to expand
  1. 2026-03-30
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-full
    accounts · AA
  2. 2025-02-05
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-group
    accounts · AA
  3. 2024-11-12
    📄
    legacy
    miscellaneous · ANNOTATION
  4. 2024-09-13
    📄
    notification-of-a-person-with-significant-control
    persons-with-significant-control · PSC02
  5. 2024-09-12
    📄
    withdrawal-of-a-person-with-significant-control-statement
    persons-with-significant-control · PSC09
  6. 2024-09-12
    📄
    termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
    officers · TM01
  7. 2024-09-12
    📄
    termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
    officers · TM01
  8. 2024-09-12
    📄
    termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
    officers · TM01
  9. 2024-09-12
    📄
    appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
    officers · AP01
  10. 2024-09-11
    📄
    mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
    mortgage · MR04
  11. 2024-09-11
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #4
  12. 2024-09-10
    ➕
    SAYERS, Frederick Erland appointed
    director
  13. 2024-09-10
    ➖
    WELCH, Stephen Hamilton resigned
    director
  14. 2024-09-10
    ➖
    WENTINK, Boudewijn Clemens resigned
    director
  15. 2024-09-10
    ➖
    YOUNG, Dominic Cosmas Samson resigned
    director
  16. 2024-03-04
    📄
    appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
    officers · AP01
  17. 2024-03-01
    ➕
    YOUNG, Dominic Cosmas Samson appointed
    director
  18. 2023-12-18
    📄
    resolution
    resolution · RESOLUTIONS
  19. 2023-12-18
    📄
    memorandum-articles
    incorporation · MA
  20. 2023-12-05
    📄
    mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
    mortgage · MR01
  21. 2023-12-04
    🔒
    Charge registered #4
    Lender: Kroll Trustee Services Limited
  22. 2023-10-10
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-group
    accounts · AA
  23. 2023-07-04
    📄
    appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
    officers · AP01
  24. 2023-07-04
    📄
    appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
    officers · AP01
  25. 2023-07-04
    📄
    resolution
    resolution · RESOLUTIONS
  26. 2023-07-03
    📄
    memorandum-articles
    incorporation · MA
  27. 2023-07-03
    📄
    termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
    officers · TM01
  28. 2023-07-03
    📄
    termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
    officers · TM01
  29. 2023-07-03
    📄
    termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
    officers · TM01
  30. 2023-07-03
    📄
    termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
    officers · TM01
  31. 2023-06-07
    ➖
    BARCLAY, Aidan Stuart resigned
    director
  32. 2023-06-07
    ➖
    BARCLAY, Howard Myles resigned
    director
  33. 2023-06-07
    ➖
    MOWATT, Rigel Kent resigned
    director
  34. 2023-06-07
    ➖
    PETERS, Philip Leslie resigned
    director
  35. 2023-06-07
    ➕
    WELCH, Stephen Hamilton appointed
    director
  36. 2023-06-07
    ➕
    WENTINK, Boudewijn Clemens appointed
    director
  37. 2019-06-07
    ➖
    SEAL, Michael resigned
    director
  38. 2013-09-16
    ➖
    BROOMFIELD SECRETARIAL SERVICES LIMITED resigned
    corporate-secretary
  39. 2006-12-31
    ➖
    FORTIER, Kimberly resigned
    director
  40. 2005-08-20
    ➕
    BROOMFIELD SECRETARIAL SERVICES LIMITED appointed
    corporate-secretary
  41. 2005-08-19
    ➖
    GRIFFITHS, Sally Jane resigned
    secretary
  42. 2004-10-29
    ➖
    CLUFF, John Gordon resigned
    director
  43. 2004-10-29
    ➖
    DEEDES, Jeremy Wyndham, The Hon resigned
    director
  44. 2004-10-29
    ➖
    FILDES, David Christopher resigned
    director
  45. 2004-10-29
    ➖
    MAUDE, Francis Anthony Aylmer, The Right Hon. resigned
    director
  46. 2004-10-29
    ➖
    SHEEHY, Patrick, Sir resigned
    director
  47. 2004-10-29
    ➖
    TEBBIT, Norman Beresford, Lord resigned
    director
  48. 2004-10-26
    ➖
    KING OF WARTNABY, John Leonard, The Lord resigned
    director
  49. 2004-09-27
    ➕
    BARCLAY, Aidan Stuart appointed
    director
  50. 2004-09-27
    ➕
    BARCLAY, Howard Myles appointed
    director
Showing most recent 50 of 76 events

Owner dependency

75/100
High — earn-out structure required

Material founder dependency. Consider a 2-3 year earn-out and build in a handover plan before completion.

FACTORS
  • +Sole director: Only one active director — all governance concentrated on one person.

Succession & seller-readiness

45/100
Moderate signal

Some succession indicators present. Worth watching; approach if sector/strategy fits.

SIGNALS
  • primarySole active director: Only one director in control. No visible successor — buyers solve the succession problem.

Red flags

clean
No red flags detected from available public data. (This is not a clean bill of health — detailed accounts review still recommended.)

Group structure

Old Queen Street Ventures Ltd is the ultimate parent — holding 75%+ shares. This company sits inside their group.

🏛️
Old Queen Street Ventures Ltd
Corporate parent · holds 75-100% shares · board control
ultimate parent
⬇
SPECTATOR (1828) LIMITED(THE)
This company · 01232804

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%
NameSharesVoting rightsNature of controlNotified
Old Queen Street Ventures Ltd
Corporate entity
75–100%
75–100%board control75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control10/09/2024

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 →

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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
Incorporated1975-11-07
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC58142 — Publishing of consumer and business journals and periodicals

Registered office

22 Old Queen Street
London
SW1H 9HP

Filing status

Accounts
Next due: 2026-09-30
Last made up to: 2024-12-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-05-23
Last: 2025-05-09

Officers (1 active · 27 resigned)

SAYERS, Frederick Erland→
director · ~45y · appointed 2024-09-10
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
DAVIES, Alan John→
secretary · appointed 1996-09-12 · resigned 2003-09-24
Resigned
GRIFFITHS, Sally Jane→
secretary · appointed 2003-09-25 · resigned 2005-08-19
Resigned
RENTOUL, Anthony Mervyn→
secretary · resigned 1996-08-31
Resigned
BROOMFIELD SECRETARIAL SERVICES LIMITED→
corporate-secretary · appointed 2005-08-20 · resigned 2013-09-16
Resigned
AMIEL, Barbara Joan Estelle→
director · ~86y · appointed 1993-05-13 · resigned 2004-05-19
Resigned
BARCLAY, Aidan Stuart→
director · ~70y · appointed 2004-09-27 · resigned 2023-06-07
Resigned
BARCLAY, Howard Myles→
director · ~67y · appointed 2004-09-27 · resigned 2023-06-07
Resigned
BLACK, Conrad Moffat, Lord→
director · ~82y · resigned 2004-03-26
Resigned
CLUFF, John Gordon→
director · ~86y · resigned 2004-10-29
Resigned
COLSON, Daniel William→
director · ~79y · resigned 2004-03-23
Resigned
DEEDES, Jeremy Wyndham, The Hon→
director · ~83y · appointed 2004-05-12 · resigned 2004-10-29
Resigned
DEUTSCH, Andre→
director · ~109y · resigned 1993-05-13
Resigned
DOMINGUEZ, Luis Charles→
director · ~87y · appointed 1994-02-10 · resigned 1996-11-01
Resigned
FILDES, David Christopher→
director · ~92y · resigned 2004-10-29
Resigned
FORTIER, Kimberly→
director · ~66y · appointed 1997-12-04 · resigned 2006-12-31
Resigned
GREEN, Owen, Sir→
director · ~101y · resigned 1992-11-19
Resigned
KING OF WARTNABY, John Leonard, The Lord→
director · ~109y · appointed 1993-05-13 · resigned 2004-10-26
Resigned
MAUDE, Francis Anthony Aylmer, The Right Hon.→
director · ~73y · appointed 2000-10-09 · resigned 2004-10-29
Resigned
MOWATT, Rigel Kent→
director · ~78y · appointed 2004-09-27 · resigned 2023-06-07
Resigned

Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.

Mortgages & charges

4
Total charges
1
Outstanding
1
Active lenders
Status:Lender:4 of 4 shown
TypeProperties
satisfied
Kroll Trustee Services
Kroll Trustee Services Limited
A registered charge—04/12/202311/09/2024
satisfied
Citi Bank
Citi Bank Limited
Debenture1 property28/03/198807/07/1988
satisfied
Australia & New Zealand Banking Group .
Australia & New Zealand Banking Group LTD.
Debenture1 property27/03/198807/07/1988
outstanding
Lloyds Banking Group
The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
Mortgage debenture1 property03/10/1984—
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.

Recent filings (198 total)

accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2026-03-30
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-05-09
accounts-with-accounts-type-group
accounts · AA
2025-02-05
legacy
miscellaneous · ANNOTATION
2024-11-12
notification-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC02
2024-09-13
withdrawal-of-a-person-with-significant-control-statement
persons-with-significant-control · PSC09
2024-09-12
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2024-09-12
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2024-09-12
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2024-09-12
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2024-09-12
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2024-09-11
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-05-21
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2024-03-04
resolution
resolution · RESOLUTIONS
2023-12-18
memorandum-articles
incorporation · MA
2023-12-18