THE NORTH BRITISH DISTILLERY COMPANY LIMITED

Active
Company number SC001491Private limited companyIncorporated 1885

Key figures

£68,004+5.9%
Net assets 2025
+5.9%
Average annual growth 2024–2025
020 k40 k60 k80 k20242025

† THE NORTH BRITISH DISTILLERY COMPANY LIMITED filed these accounts on paper, so Companies House publishes them only as a scanned image. The figures for the years marked † were read automatically from the scan and kept only where the statements add up (for example net assets equal total equity), but a reading error is still possible — check the original accounts at Companies House.

Ratios

2025

Sector comparison

SIC 11010

Where the company stands among the 1,926 active companies whose first SIC code is 11010 (Distilling, rectifying and blending of spirits).

Turnover£89,332,000
Higher than 81% · median £9,541,905 among 59 that publish turnover
Net assets£68,004
Higher than 78% · median £1
Total assets£92,556
Higher than 61% · median £49,874
Cash£18,951
Higher than 57% · median £11,228
Employees248
Higher than 99% · median 1
Company age141.0 years
Older than 99% · median 6.8 years
Largest in this sector by net assets
  1. COATES & CO. (PLYMOUTH) LIMITED£4.3bn
  2. CHIVAS BROTHERS PERNOD RICARD£2.3bn
  3. THE MACALLAN DISTILLERS LIMITED£1.3bn
  4. WILLIAM GRANT & SONS DISTILLERS LIMITED£686.8m
  5. BEAM SUNTORY UK LIMITED£613.7m
  6. WHYTE AND MACKAY LIMITED£525.7m
  7. JOHN DEWAR AND SONS LIMITED£410.2m
  8. THE EDRINGTON GROUP LIMITED£406.3m
  9. WILLIAM GRANT & SONS LIMITED£252.6m
  10. THE BENRIACH DISTILLERY COMPANY LIMITED£234.5m

Positions are approximate. Figures come from each company's latest accounts; money and employee figures are compared only with companies that filed accounts in pounds for a period ending in the last two and a half years and are not dormant, so those groups are smaller than 1,926. The line on each bar marks the median.

Summary: THE NORTH BRITISH DISTILLERY COMPANY LIMITED

What kind of company is it?

THE NORTH BRITISH DISTILLERY COMPANY LIMITED is a private limited company registered with Companies House under company number SC001491. It was incorporated on 24 Oct 1885. Its status is active. Its nature of business (SIC 2007) is distilling, rectifying and blending of spirits (11010).

How is the company doing financially?

The latest accounts in the database are for 2025 (period ending 31 Dec 2025); the company files full accounts. Turnover was £89,332,000. Profit for the year was £5,509,000. Net assets were £68,004, up 5.9% on the previous year. Cash at bank and in hand was £18,951. Total assets were £92,556 and total liabilities £15,562. The company had an average of 248 employees. Figures are available for 2 financial years (2024–2025).

How does it compare with similar companies?

Compared with 1,926 active companies whose first SIC code is 11010: By turnover it ranks higher than 81% of the 59 that publish turnover (median £9,541,905). By net assets it ranks higher than 78% of them (median £1). By total assets it ranks higher than 61% of them (median £49,874). By cash it ranks higher than 57% of them (median £11,228). By number of employees it ranks higher than 99% of them (median 1). It is older than 99% of them (median age 6.8 years).

What do public registers and reports show?

HMRC lists it as an importer of goods, mainly machinery. HMRC lists it as an exporter of goods, mainly beverages and spirits. In its latest payment practices report it took an average of 35 days to pay suppliers, and 56% of invoices were not paid within agreed terms. Its gender pay gap report for 2024/25 shows median hourly pay for women 1% lower than for men.

Who runs and controls the company?

One person with significant control is registered. 3 of 5 registered charges are outstanding.

When are its next filings due?

The next accounts are due by 30 Sep 2027. The next confirmation statement is due by 20 Apr 2027.

Filed accounts2024–2025
2024 †2025 †
Turnover96,196,00089,332,000
Profit for the year—5,509,000
Cash at bank and in hand10,20818,951
Total assets87,06892,556
Total liabilities14,27515,562
Net assets / total equity64,21268,004
Average number of employees—248

A dash (—) means no accounts were filed for that year or the item is not in the accounts; 0 is a zero stated in the accounts. Small companies usually file only a balance sheet, so the profit and loss account is often missing.

Statutory reporting

Payment practices1 Jan 2025 – 30 Jun 2025
Average time taken to pay invoices
35 days
Invoices not paid within agreed terms
56%
Standard payment terms
25–45 days
Member of a payment code
No
  • Within 30 days 44%
  • 31 to 60 days 53%
  • After 60 days 3%
Earlier periods (7)
Period ending
Days to pay
Within 30 days
Late
31 Dec 2024
38
33%
39%
30 Jun 2024
41
18%
28%
31 Dec 2023
35
33%
14%
30 Jun 2023
31
47%
19%
31 Dec 2022
32
40%
15%
30 Jun 2022
33
42%
14%
31 Dec 2021
34
36%
12%

View the latest report on GOV.UK

Gender pay gap2024/25
Median hourly pay
women 1% lower
Mean hourly pay
women 5% higher
Median bonus pay
women 18% lower
Employer size
250 to 499 employees
Lower pay quarter14% womenLower middle19% womenUpper middle13% womenUpper pay quarter19% women

A positive gap means women's average hourly pay is lower than men's across the whole employer; it is not a comparison of pay for the same work. View on the Gender pay gap service

Figures the company reported itself to the government's Check payment practices service, Gender pay gap service and Modern slavery statement registry (Open Government Licence v3.0). Only large companies and employers with 250 or more staff have to report, so most companies have nothing here.

Registers and licences

International trade‡

Listed by HMRC as an importer of goods in 1 of the last 12 months on record, most recently April 2026. Main goods: machinery.

Listed by HMRC as an exporter of goods in 3 of the last 12 months on record, most recently February 2026. Main goods: beverages and spirits.

From HMRC's monthly lists of importers and exporters. Traders can ask to be left off the lists, so absence does not mean a company does not trade.

Sources: Charity Commission for England and Wales, Care Quality Commission, Home Office and HM Revenue & Customs, under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Entries marked ‡ come from lists that do not state a company number and were linked by an exact match on the registered name.

History

4 events
  1. Financial year 2025 endedAccounts: turnover £89.3m, net assets £68k, 248 employees
  2. Financial year 2024 endedAccounts: turnover £96.2m, net assets £64.2k
  3. Lothian Distillers Limited registered as a person with significant control
  4. Company incorporatedPrivate limited company

Dates as recorded at Companies House: incorporation, name changes, officer appointments and resignations, current persons with significant control, and the end of each financial year with figures in the database. Former persons with significant control are not listed.