READ BURTON LIMITED
Company number 01003014 · Monitor this company
The annual accounts for this company are overdue.
Executive summary
Read Burton Limited is a sub-scale, single-franchise UK motor retailer whose 2024 results — turnover down 35% to £24.2m, an £800k net loss, negative shareholders' funds of £313k and cash of just £110 — represent a severe underperformance against sector norms of 1–2% net margins and positive, if thin, equity. The decline is company-specific rather than cyclical: the UK new car market grew modestly in 2024, so the revenue collapse reflects the March 2024 ownership change and the Volkswagen-to-Hyundai franchise switch executed without the balance-sheet headroom to fund a multi-year transition. With the company now in liquidation and FRP Advisory installed at the registered office, the case illustrates the structural vulnerability of independent dealers to franchise disruption, floorplan cost inflation and EV residual-value volatility in a consolidating market.
Shareholders' funds
-£312,730
Balance sheet as at 2024-12-31
What it does
The principal activity of the company is that of a motor dealership and garage proprietor.
The company's own description, from its latest filed accounts.
Overview
- Company type
- Private Limited Company
- Incorporated
- 1971-02-22
- Employees
- 33 (2024 accounts · was 47 in 2023)
- Registered office
- C/O Frp Advisory Trading Limited Derby House, 12 Winckley Square, Preston, PR1 3JJ
- Postcode
- PR1 3JJ
- Capital
- 36,684 GBP
- Accounts category
- Full
- Charges
- 6 outstanding
Accounts
- Last made up to
- 2024-12-31
- Next due by
- 2026-09-30 Overdue
- Financial year end
- 30 December
Confirmation statement
- Last statement dated
- 2026-10-20
- Next due by
- 2027-11-03
Nature of business (SIC)
- 45111 Sale of new cars and light motor vehicles
- 45112 Sale of used cars and light motor vehicles
- 45200 Maintenance and repair of motor vehicles
- 45320 Retail trade of motor vehicle parts and accessories
Officers 3 current · 10 resigned
Group structure
Controlled by READ MOTOR GROUP LIMITED — since 2024-03-13
Controlled by T.L. DARBY (HOLDINGS) LIMITED — since 2016-04-06
From persons-with-significant-control filings on the public register.
Contact details
- Website
- tldarby.co.uk
- Phone
- 01553600259, 01553600258, 01205331559
Previous company names
| Name | Date changed |
|---|---|
| T.L. DARBY LIMITED | 2025-06-03 |
Previous registered addresses 1
| Address | Changed on |
|---|---|
| BRIGADE HOUSE, NEW STREET, BURTON ON TRENT, STAFFORDSHIRE, DE14 3QW | 2014-12-15 |
The class of 1971
53%
of the 4,842 companies incorporated in 1971 are still active today; 41% have since been dissolved.
A fact about the year, not a forecast for this company.
Property in England & Wales 1 title
- Leasehold
- 1
- Most recent registration
- 2025-06-11
- Where
- Staffordshire
| Title number | County | Tenure | Registered | Price paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SF707283 | Staffordshire | Leasehold | 2025-06-11 | — |
For addresses and the authoritative register entry, use HM Land Registry's official search (£3 per title).
Information produced by HM Land Registry. © Crown copyright 2026. Dataset as at 2026-08.