Is Bernard Esher Limited in creditors' voluntary liquidation?
Last verified 27 May 2026
Yes, Bernard Esher Limited (company number 01538690) entered creditors' voluntary liquidation on 9 August 2024, by its creditors. Michael James Wellard of null was appointed as liquidator.
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Bernard Esher Limited is now in creditors' voluntary liquidation. Below are the key dates, the directors, the public-record timeline that led here, and what the liquidation means if you are a creditor, employee, customer or supplier.
Company at a glance
| Status | In Creditors' Voluntary Liquidation |
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| Company number | 01538690 |
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| Previously known as | - Bernard Cranleigh Limited, Jan 1981 to Jan 1985
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| Incorporated | 14 January 1981 (45 years old) |
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| Registered office | Castlegate House, 36 Castle Street, Hertford, Hertfordshire, SG14 1HH |
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| Nature of business (SIC) | 47710: Retail sale of clothing in specialised stores (Retail) |
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| Date entered creditors' voluntary liquidation | 9 August 2024 |
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| Liquidator | Michael James Wellard, null (licensed insolvency practitioner) |
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| Public register | View filing history ↗ |
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About the business
Bernard Esher Limited is a retail business based in Hertford, incorporated in 1981 and 43 years old when the liquidator was appointed. Its registered activity is retail sale of clothing in specialised stores (SIC 47710). There have been 10 director appointments since incorporation, of which 1 was on the board when the liquidator was appointed, alongside 1 person with significant control. 4 charges have been registered against the company, all of which are recorded as satisfied.
Directors
10 people have been appointed as directors of Bernard Esher Limited.
DirectorStatusAppointedResigned
+4 former directors · resigned 2019 to 2022
A director resignation shortly before an insolvency is a matter of public record; it does not by itself imply wrongdoing.
Persons with significant control
Individuals or entities with significant influence or control.
Mr Barrie Barnett Rapaport
individual person with significant control · British · England
Ownership of shares 75-100%Voting rights 75-100%Right to appoint and remove directors
3 ceased controls
- Mrs Helene Rapaport · ceased 29 Mar 2019
- Mr Barrie Barnett Rapaport · ceased 29 Mar 2019
- Jd Sports Fashion Plc · ceased 4 Jul 2023
Charges register
Secured creditors and encumbrances against the company. 0 outstanding · 4 satisfied.
Status · Creditor · Type · Dates
SatisfiedJd Sports Fashion PLC
A registered charge · Created 21 Jun 2019 · Satisfied 5 Jul 2023
SatisfiedNational Westminster Bank PLC
Mortgage debenture · Created 25 Sep 1990 · Satisfied 5 Jul 2023
SatisfiedBanco Exterior U.K. S.A.
Debenture · Created 7 Nov 1985 · Satisfied 2 Sep 1991
SatisfiedBanco Exterior U.K.
Debenture · Created 25 Nov 1982 · Satisfied 2 Sep 1991
What happened
EventDateType
Registered office address changed4 December 2025AD01 Liquidators' statement of receipts and payments10 October 2025LIQ03
Appointment of a voluntary liquidator19 August 2024600
Registered office address changed19 August 2024AD01 +146 earlier events · 1985 to 2024
Statement of affairs19 August 2024LIQ02
Creditors' voluntary liquidationStatus9 August 2024
Confirmation statement made with updates6 March 2024CS01 Registered office address changed6 March 2024AD01 Previous accounting period extended23 October 2023AA01 Auditor's resignation26 September 2023AUD
Satisfaction of charge in full5 July 2023MR04 Satisfaction of charge in full5 July 2023MR04 Register(s) moved to registered office address4 July 2023AD04 Registered office address changed4 July 2023AD01 Notification as a person with significant control4 July 2023PSC01 Cessation as a person with significant control4 July 2023PSC07 Termination of appointment as a director4 July 2023TM01 Termination of appointment as a director4 July 2023TM01 Termination of appointment as a secretary4 July 2023TM02 Termination of appointment as a secretary4 July 2023TM02 Register inspection address has been changed4 July 2023AD02 Appointment as a secretary9 May 2023AP03 Termination of appointment as a secretary9 May 2023TM02 Confirmation statement made with no updates8 February 2023CS01 Full accounts made up15 November 2022AA Termination of appointment as a director13 October 2022TM01 Appointment as a secretary13 October 2022AP03 Appointment as a director13 October 2022AP01 Termination of appointment as a secretary4 October 2022TM02 Particulars of variation of rights attached to shares31 August 2022SH10 Second filing of Confirmation Statement dated16 August 2022RP04CS01 Statement of company's objects1 August 2022CC04
Confirmation statement made with no updates14 February 2022CS01 Full accounts made up1 November 2021AA Confirmation statement made with no updates11 February 2021CS01 Full accounts made up19 January 2021AA Appointment as a secretary14 July 2020AP04 Appointment as a secretary14 July 2020AP03 Register inspection address has been changed13 May 2020AD02 Register(s) moved to registered inspection location13 May 2020AD03 Director's details changed12 May 2020CH01 Confirmation statement made with updates5 March 2020CS01 Total exemption full accounts made up28 October 2019AA Registration of charge , created28 June 2019MR01 Change of share class name or designation29 April 2019SH08 Change of share class name or designation29 April 2019SH08 Previous accounting period shortened18 April 2019AA01 Registered office address changed18 April 2019AD01 Cessation as a person with significant control18 April 2019PSC07 Cessation as a person with significant control18 April 2019PSC07 Notification as a person with significant control18 April 2019PSC02 Termination of appointment as a secretary18 April 2019TM02 Termination of appointment as a director18 April 2019TM01 Appointment as a director18 April 2019AP01 Appointment as a director18 April 2019AP01 Director's details changed8 February 2019CH01 Director's details changed8 February 2019CH01 Change of details as a person with significant control8 February 2019PSC04 Change of details as a person with significant control8 February 2019PSC04 Confirmation statement made with updates8 February 2019CS01 Confirmation statement made with updates18 January 2019CS01 Total exemption full accounts made up20 December 2018AA Confirmation statement made with no updates1 May 2018CS01 Secretary's details changed1 May 2018CH03 Director's details changed1 May 2018CH01 Director's details changed1 May 2018CH01 Total exemption full accounts made up15 December 2017AA Filing · CS012 May 2017CS01 Total exemption small company accounts made up9 December 2016AA Annual return made up with full list of shareholders3 May 2016AR01 Total exemption small company accounts made up13 July 2015AA Annual return made up with full list of shareholders1 May 2015AR01 Total exemption small company accounts made up26 January 2015AA Annual return made up with full list of shareholders2 May 2014AR01 Total exemption small company accounts made up20 December 2013AA Annual return made up with full list of shareholders23 August 2013AR01 Total exemption small company accounts made up12 July 2013AA Compulsory strike-off action has been discontinued9 April 2013DISS40 First Gazette notice for compulsory strike-off2 April 2013GAZ1 Statement of capital following an allotment of shares14 December 2012SH01 Annual return made up with full list of shareholders30 April 2012AR01 Total exemption small company accounts made up15 December 2011AA Annual return made up with full list of shareholders3 May 2011AR01 Total exemption small company accounts made up30 November 2010AA Annual return made up with full list of shareholders14 May 2010AR01 Total exemption small company accounts made up20 November 2009AA Total exemption small company accounts made up21 January 2009AA Total exemption small company accounts made up4 January 2008AA Total exemption small company accounts made up23 January 2007AA Legacy15 September 2006363a Total exemption small company accounts made up17 November 2005AA Total exemption small company accounts made up8 December 2004AA Total exemption small company accounts made up6 February 2004AA Legacy15 December 2003287 Total exemption small company accounts made up24 December 2002AA Total exemption small company accounts made up25 January 2002AA Accounts for a small company made up22 December 2000AA Accounts for a small company made up23 September 1999AA Accounts for a small company made up14 December 1998AA Accounts for a small company made up20 March 1998AA Accounts for a small company made up22 January 1997AA Accounts for a small company made up14 April 1996AA A selection of documents registered before 1 January 19951 January 1995PRE95
Accounts for a small company made up8 December 1994AA Accounts for a small company made up8 December 1994AA Accounts for a small company made up25 January 1993AA Accounts for a small company made up23 July 1992AA Legacy2 September 1991403a Legacy2 September 1991403a Accounts for a small company made up20 June 1991AA Accounts for a small company made up20 June 1991AA Legacy15 November 1990363 Legacy28 September 1990395 Accounts for a small company made up26 May 1989AA Accounts for a small company made up20 April 1988AA Accounts for a small company made up20 April 1988AA Accounts for a small company made up28 February 1987AA Accounts for a small company made up28 February 1987AA Legacy16 February 1987363 A selection of documents registered before 1 January 19871 January 1987PRE87
Legacy30 December 1986287 Certificate of change of name14 January 1985CERTNM Incorporation14 January 1981NEWINC What this means for you
If you are a creditor
Submit your proof of debt to the liquidator. Once liquidation begins, no creditor can start or continue legal action without the court's permission. Unsecured creditors rank after secured and preferential creditors and are usually paid last, often only a portion.
Owed money by a company in liquidation →If you are an employee
Employees are preferential creditors for certain unpaid wages and holiday pay, and may be able to claim from the Redundancy Payments Service if roles are made redundant.
Employee rights and redundancy pay →If you are a customer
Deposits paid are usually unsecured claims. Contracts may be terminated by the liquidator. Contact the liquidator about outstanding work or refunds.
What customers can recover →If you are a supplier
Goods supplied before the liquidation began are an unsecured claim. Check whether any retention-of-title clause lets you identify and recover specific goods.
How retention of title works →Don't be the last to know next time
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See how Protect works, £24/mo →Other retail companies in creditors' voluntary liquidation
Related guides
The bigger picture
Frequently asked questions
- Is Bernard Esher Limited in creditors' voluntary liquidation?
- Yes. Bernard Esher Limited (company number 01538690) entered creditors' voluntary liquidation on 9 August 2024, by its creditors. Michael James Wellard of null was appointed as liquidator.
- Who is the liquidator of Bernard Esher Limited?
- Michael James Wellard, a licensed insolvency practitioner at null, was appointed liquidator of Bernard Esher Limited on 9 August 2024. Creditors can contact the liquidator directly to submit a claim.
- What does Bernard Esher Limited do?
- Bernard Esher Limited's registered nature of business is retail sale of clothing in specialised stores (SIC 47710). It is classified in the retail sector.
- Where is Bernard Esher Limited based?
- Bernard Esher Limited's registered office is Castlegate House, 36 Castle Street, Hertford, Hertfordshire, SG14 1HH. The registered office is the address held on the public register, which is not always the trading address.
- When was Bernard Esher Limited founded?
- Bernard Esher Limited was incorporated on 14 January 1981, 43 years before the liquidator was appointed.
- What is Bernard Esher Limited's company number?
- Bernard Esher Limited's registered company number is 01538690.
- Who has significant control of Bernard Esher Limited?
- 1 active person with significant control over Bernard Esher Limited is on the register: Mr Barrie Barnett Rapaport.
- What does liquidation mean for creditors of Bernard Esher Limited?
- Liquidation is the formal wind-up of a company. Once it begins, the liquidator collects assets, settles claims in statutory order (secured, preferential, then unsecured) and distributes whatever remains. Unsecured creditors often recover only a portion of what they are owed, and sometimes nothing.
- How long does liquidation take?
- Most liquidations run for 12 to 24 months, longer where the company has complex assets, litigation, or ongoing trading. Annual progress reports are filed by the liquidator until the company is dissolved at the end of the process.
- Will creditors get paid in Bernard Esher Limited's liquidation?
- Secured creditors are paid from the assets they hold a charge over. Preferential creditors (employee wages up to limits, pension contributions, HMRC for certain taxes) come next. Unsecured creditors share whatever remains, which may be nothing. The Statement of Affairs, when filed, sets out the liquidator's estimate at the point of appointment.
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