J.C. & R.H. PALMER LIMITED
Company number 01233923 · Monitor this company
Executive summary
J.C. & R.H. Palmer Limited is a well-established, family-controlled regional brewer operating a traditional vertically-integrated model encompassing brewing, distribution, retail, and property management. Its £10M turnover and £38M asset base position it as a mid-tier independent with a substantial tied estate — a model that provides strategic resilience but carries significant fixed costs and property market exposure. The recent decline in net assets from £37.7M to £28.8M warrants attention, likely reflecting property revaluation adjustments rather than trading deterioration, though increased leverage signals potential capital investment. Palmer's faces the familiar challenge of regional brewers: maintaining relevance and margin in a market characterised by on-trade volume decline, input cost inflation, and intensifying competition from both macro-brewers and craft producers, while its heritage brand and integrated model remain genuine competitive assets.
Shareholders' funds
£28,808,108
Balance sheet as at 2025-03-31
What it does
The principal activity of the company is the brewing, wholesaling and retailing of beer, wines, spirits, cider and mineral waters, together with property management
The company's own description, from its latest filed accounts.
Overview
- Company type
- Private Limited Company
- Incorporated
- 1975-11-17
- Employees
- 56 (2025 accounts · was 54 in 2024)
- Registered office
- Old Brewery, West Bay Road, Bridport, Dorset, United Kingdom, DT6 4JA
- Postcode
- DT6 4JA
- Capital
- 1,000,000 GBP
- Accounts category
- Full
Accounts
- Last made up to
- 2025-03-31
- Next due by
- 2026-12-31
- Financial year end
- 31 March
Confirmation statement
- Last statement dated
- 2026-08-06
- Next due by
- 2027-08-20
Nature of business (SIC)
- 11050 Manufacture of beer
Officers 6 current · 12 resigned
Group structure 3 subsidiaries
-
DORSET ORCHARDS LIMITED Dissolved
From persons-with-significant-control filings on the public register.
Among its peers
Top 25%
by shareholders' funds, of 9 similar companies in DT
The largest employer among its local peers (56 staff).
3rd oldest of its local peers, trading since 1975.
Competitors Dorchester
This company ranks 1 among manufacture of beer in Dorchester.
The class of 1975
52%
of the 5,874 companies incorporated in 1975 are still active today; 41% have since been dissolved.
A fact about the year, not a forecast for this company.
Property in England & Wales 78 titles
- Freehold
- 76
- Leasehold
- 2
- Most recent registration
- 2024-11-18
- Price paid, where recorded
- £720,000
- Where
- Dorset (70), Devon (5), Somerset (3)
| Title number | County | Tenure | Registered | Price paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DT484989 | Dorset | Leasehold | 2024-11-18 | £125,000 |
| DT484963 | Dorset | Freehold | 2024-11-14 | £275,000 |
| DT413855 | Dorset | Freehold | 2015-04-01 | — |
| DT412690 | Dorset | Freehold | 2015-02-05 | — |
| DT183393 | Dorset | Freehold | 2011-02-24 | — |
| DT255072 | Dorset | Freehold | 2011-02-24 | — |
| DT348735 | Dorset | Freehold | 2011-02-24 | — |
| WS46738 | Somerset | Freehold | 2008-06-17 | — |
| DN560518 | Devon | Freehold | 2007-11-16 | — |
| DT357056 | Dorset | Freehold | 2007-11-16 | — |
| DT357057 | Dorset | Freehold | 2007-11-16 | — |
| DT357058 | Dorset | Freehold | 2007-11-16 | — |
| DN560192 | Devon | Freehold | 2007-11-12 | — |
| DT356833 | Dorset | Freehold | 2007-11-12 | — |
| DT356772 | Dorset | Freehold | 2007-11-09 | — |
| DT356773 | Dorset | Freehold | 2007-11-09 | — |
| DT356774 | Dorset | Freehold | 2007-11-09 | — |
| DT356775 | Dorset | Freehold | 2007-11-09 | — |
| DT356711 | Dorset | Freehold | 2007-11-07 | — |
| DT356539 | Dorset | Freehold | 2007-11-02 | — |
Showing 20 of 78.
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Information produced by HM Land Registry. © Crown copyright 2026. Dataset as at 2026-08.