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BARK, Inc.

bark · NYSE Consumer Cyclical
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Ticker bark
Exchange NYSE
Sector Consumer Cyclical
Industry Specialty Retail
Employees 708
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FY2021 Annual Report · BARK, Inc.
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B

Barkby Group Plc

We are

Annual report and fi nancial accounts 2021

B

Barkby Group Plc

We are 
We are built on a history of 
entrepreneurship and business 
acumen, with a diverse portfolio of 
businesses within evolving markets.

Relevant
Our businesses include 
an adaptable property 
development business 
aligned to tenant demand, 
a rapidly expanding pub 
business and a diverse 
portfolio of investments.

Restless
We are focused and 
committed to seeking out 
and growing opportunities 
and delivering value to all 
our stakeholders.

Respected
We are built on a history 
of entrepreneurship and 
business acumen, recognised 
and trusted for our expertise 
and experience.

Revenue £15.1m  

Pub company LFL

Gross development pipeline of over

Proposed Development - Wycke Hill Business Park, Maldon

Client: Ambit Group

Date: 13/04/21

Job/Dwg: 164080 Maldon M_01F CGI_03B

in first full quarter since reopening

For more details see pg02

For more details see pg10

For more details see pg36

View the latest information at: www.barkbygroup.com

Annual report and fi nancial accounts 2021

Strategic Report 
Strategic Report 

Governance
Governance

Financial statements
Financial statements

1

2021 highlights 

Financial highlights*

Revenue (£m)

£15.1m

(2020: £12.0 million)

Operating loss (£m)

(£3.4m)

(2020: (£2.3 million))

Loss before tax (£m)

(£4.3m)

(2020: (£3.1 million))

Net increase/(decrease)  
in cash (£m) 

£1.0m

(2020: (£1.2m))

Basic earnings per share  
(pence) 

(£3.09)

(2020: (£2.69))

Net assets/(liabilities)  
per share (pence) 

£0.60

(2020: £3.71)

2021 

2020 

Change 

2021 

2020 

Change 

2021 

2020 

Change 

2021 

2020 

Change 

2021 

2020 

Change 

2021 

2020 

Change 

Contents

Strategic Report

01  Financial Highlights

02  At a Glance

04 

Investment Case

06  Chairman’s Statement

08  Timeline

12  Business and Financial Review

28  Principal Risks and Uncertainties

30  Section 172 Statement

34  Sustainability Report

Governance Report

36  Chairman’s introduction to Governance

38  Board of Directors

40  Corporate Governance Report

44  Audit Committee Report

45  Nomination Committee Report

46  Directors’ Report

50   Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities

51 

Independent Auditor’s Report

Financial Statements

56   Financial Statements

107  Company and Shareholder Information

15.1

-3.4

12.0

+3.1

-2.3

-1.1

-1.3

1.0

-4.4

-3.1

-1.2

+2.2

-3.09

-2.69

0.60

-0.40

3.71

-3.11

*   The 2021 results include all businesses for the 52 week period to 1 July 2021. The 2020 
prior year comparatives include Real Estate and Workshop Coffee for an extended 
period with the trading of the existing Barkby businesses included from 7 January 2020.

Operational highlights 

Property Development 
During the lockdown periods, Barkby adjusted its development pipeline 
to target the demand for trade and logistic sites. We progressed three 
key developments at Wellingborough, Malden and Huntingdon by 
securing the land, obtaining the required planning consents and entering 
lease agreements with tenants at all sites.

Covid-19
Throughout the financial year, Barkby’s pub business was impacted by the 
Covid-19 pandemic due to enforced trading restrictions and its impact on 
consumer behaviour. Barkby benefited from its diversity, with longer-term 
property development projects providing positive cash flow to support 
the most impacted businesses.

Outlook
As we came out of lockdown, our pub business has traded strongly. We 
opened all pubs in April 2021 as soon as trading restrictions allowed. 
Since re-opening, pub revenues consistently exceeded pre-Covid levels, 
driven particularly by strong accommodation and food sales, however the 
emergence of the Omicron variant is expected to have a negative impact 
on trade over the festive period and in to 2022.

www.barkbygroup.com

Quick reads

Investment case 

pg04

Chairman’s statement 

pg06

Business model 

pg12

View the latest information at: 
www.barkbygroup.com

www.barkbygroup.com2

B

Barkby Group Plc

Group at a Glance

Barkby focusses on its core businesses 
of Commercial Property Development 
and Barkby Pubs, alongside its diverse 
investments.

Relevant 

Overview
Barkby Group PLC focuses on two 
main business divisions – Commercial 
Property Development and Barkby Pubs. 
These are high quality businesses run 
by an entrepreneurial and experienced 
management team. 

In addition to these businesses, Barkby 
also owns a number of smaller businesses 
in the hospitality, consumer and life 
sciences industries.

Barkby’s strategy is to accelerate and 
maximise the opportunities in its core 
business divisions of Commercial Property 
and Barkby Pubs, whilst facilitating 
the growth and exit potential of other 
group businesses.

Annual report and fi nancial accounts 2021

Strategic Report 

Governance

Financial statements

3

Relevant 

Our businesses

Real Estate
Our Real Estate business 
specialises in developing 
contract backed sites in 
the South East of England. 
The Company has a proven 
profi table track record of 
sourcing and developing 
commercial property 
projects.

Barkby Pub 
Company
Barkby Pub Company 
operates a portfolio of 
pubs that are renowned 
for their welcoming 
atmosphere located in the 
Cotswolds, Oxfordshire 
and West Sussex. We aim 
to deliver fi rst class food, 
drink and accommodation, 
as well as a fabulous 
customer experience.

Investments
Barkby investments 
includes Workshop 
Coff ee, a speciality coff ee 
roaster, and Centurian 
Automotive, a premium 
used car dealership. 

The group also owns 
Cambridge Sleep Sciences, 
the manufacturer of 
SleepHub, and has invested 
in Verso Biosense, a digital 
health company focusing on 
Women’s Health.

For more details see pg18

For more details see pg14

For more details see pg22

www.barkbygroup.com

4

B

Barkby Group Plc

Investment case

1 2 3

Proven track record 
of sourcing and 
developing profitable 
commercial property 
projects in South East 
England. 

A flexible approach 
enables Barkby to 
adapt to tenant 
requirements and 
maintain a robust future 
development pipeline.

The team has successfully 
completed over 20 schemes. We 
target a predictable EBITDA margin 
on each scheme of at least 20% 
with gross development value 
excluding land of between £3m and 
£20m. We retain a low overhead 
business model to maximise profits.

Strong long-term relationships 
with national occupiers across 
retail, quick food service and 
trade sectors. Recently signed 
tenants include Aldi, Costa 
Coffee, Greggs, Formula One 
Autocentres, Toolstation, Just Tyres, 
MKM Building Supplies and Sixt 
Car Rental.

A tenant-led approach allows 
Barkby to adapt quickly to changes 
in commercial property trends, 
whilst contractually agreeing all 
aspects of the development before 
committing.

Barkby aims to maintain a 
development pipeline totalling at 
least £30m gross development 
value. At present, Barkby has 
5 active developments with gross 
development value of £30m within 
a pipeline in excess of £40m.

We continue to evaluate new 
opportunities and add to our 
development pipeline.

Award-winning Pub 
operator focussed on 
premium pubs with 
rooms.

Barkby is a boutique pub operator 
focused on premium pubs with 
rooms located in Oxfordshire, 
Gloucestershire, Berkshire and 
West Sussex. 

The portfolio has grown to seven 
premises following the addition 
of The Harcourt Arms and The 
Ebrington Arms. The Harcourt is a 
17th century village pub that holds 
2 AA Rosettes, 5 AA Gold Stars 
and has ten rooms. The Ebrington 
Arms has five luxury rooms and 
holds 2 AA Rosettes. The Ebrington 
was rated as The Times’ ‘number 
one UK village pub’, while the Daily 
Telegraph rated the pub as the best 
‘UK Pub for Food’.

We aim to grow our estate to 
12 pubs by the end of our 2023 
financial year.

For more details see pg14

For more details see pg12

For more details see pg18

Annual report and fi nancial accounts 2021

Strategic Report 

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Financial statements

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4 5 6

Combining cash-
generative growth 
businesses alongside 
investments with 
exceptional upside 
opportunities.
Barkby’s strategy is to accelerate 
and maximise opportunities within 
its existing core businesses of 
Commercial Property Development 
and Pub operations.

Demonstrated resilience 
during Covid-19 
and quick return to 
profitability when 
trading restrictions 
reduced.
Barkby has weathered the Covid-19 
pandemic largely due to the support 
of its cash generative commercial 
property development business, 
where activity has resumed at pace.

It has also sourced and invested in 
some high-growth opportunities 
in the Consumer and Life Sciences 
industries, including SleepHub, 
Workshop Coffee and Centurian 
Automotive, as well as an investment 
in Verso Biosense.

Barkby has completed its existing 
investment commitments in these 
businesses and, whilst acknowledging 
additional funding may be required, 
it is our intention to return value on 
these investments either via exit 
or cash generation over the next 
24 months.

The emergence of the Omicron 
variant is expected to impact festive 
trade over December 2021. Although 
the extent of its impact is uncertain, 
our businesses have demonstrated a 
strong ability to bounce back.

Our pub business recorded record 
sales in the 3-month period to 
30 September 2021, with like-for-like 
sales up 22% on the same period in 
2019.

The real estate and pub businesses 
are poised for significant growth 
and profitability.

Exceptional businesses 
driven by exceptional 
people.

The group and individual 
businesses are run by experienced 
and entrepreneurial management 
teams with a proven track record of 
sourcing and executing investments 
in growth businesses.

However, the common key to 
success across all Barkby’s 
business is the importance of 
attracting exceptional employees, 
empowering them to succeed and 
developing a culture of excellence. 
Supporting the development of our 
people is at the core of Barkby’s 
operating ethos and is expected 
from every member of the 
Barkby team.

For more details see pg12

For more details see pg12

For more details see pg38

www.barkbygroup.com

TOBE 

UPDA

6

B

Barkby Group Plc

Executive Chairman’s statement

“

All divisions developed 
their off ering in 
expectation of signifi cant 
market opportunities, 
which were capitalised on 
when trading restrictions 
reduced and economic 
activity resumed.”

Property Development Pipeline 

Pub Estate: 

Charles Dickson
Executive Chairman

Barkby completed the 
integration of its real 
estate, pub and investment 
businesses during the 2021 
fi nancial year.

Introduction to Governance

The Chairman’s Introduction to 
governance has been provided at 
the start of the Governance Report.

For more details see pg36

Annual report and fi nancial accounts 2021

Strategic Report 

Governance

Financial statements

7

Whilst navigating the impacts of Covid-19, we used the 2021 financial year to consolidate our operations 
following the combination of the existing Barkby group and the entities under the control of the Dickson 
family. We adapted our strategy and focussed our teams to ensure that our businesses were set up for 
success when lockdown and trading restrictions allowed.

The Group’s investments in Workshop, Centurian, 
SleepHub and Verso Biosense have stabilised following 
the disruption from Covid-19 and we expect these 
businesses to generate profit and offer potentially 
lucrative exit opportunities over the next few years.

Finally, I would once again like to recognise our 
most important attribute, our people, who have 
demonstrated solidarity and commitment across 
the group. Despite substantial changes within the 
business, and the impact of events outside our control, 
I have been hugely impressed and proud of the 
attitudes shown across all Barkby teams. I have full 
belief and confidence in our teams and their ability to 
deliver the group’s potential for success.

Charles Dickson

Executive Chairman
23 December 2021

Due to our diversified group structure, the pandemic 
impacted different businesses in different ways. 
We believe there are significant opportunities for 
growth and to generate shareholder value in our core 
businesses of Property Development and Pubs. We 
remain committed to growing these divisions, whilst 
managing the controlled maturity of our other group 
businesses and investments.

Outlook

Despite the ongoing and unpredictable impact 
of Covid-19 variants, we remain confident that 
underlying demand for our traditional pub experience, 
with delicious food, attentive service and relaxed 
accommodation remains strong. During the quarter 
to September 2021, our pub business enjoyed its first 
uninterrupted quarter of trade since the pandemic 
began. Our pub estate achieved record revenue 
and profit, with underlying like-for-like sales up 22% 
in comparison to the same period in 2019 before 
Covid-19.

Our property development pipeline is well established, 
and several key developments are ready to build. 
We have recently acquired additional land at 
Wellingborough and completed the acquisition of a 
site in Maldon. We have also exchanged contracts 
to acquire land for a 30,000 sq ft development in 
Swindon and will shortly complete the acquisition of a 
site in Huntingdon.

www.barkbygroup.com

8
00

B
B

Barkby Group Plc
Barkby Group Plc

May 2019
Operating agreement 
entered with Arkell’s to 
operate The Rose and 
Crown in Ashbury.

June 2018
Barkby acquired 
Cotswolds-based pub portfolio 
comprising The Five All’s, The 
Bull Hotel and The Plough.

Read more about our 
hospitality portfolio on

pg18

April 2020
Barkby acquires intellectual 
property and begins development 
of “SleepHub” product.

Read more about
SleepHub on

pg26

July 2020
Planning permission 
granted for a 20,000 
sq. ft. mixed use retail 
and trade scheme at 
Wellingborough.

July

2018

June

November

2019 2020

February

May

January

April

November 2018
The George at Burpham 
added to the pub 
portfolio.

February 2019
Barkby acquired 
Centurian 
Automotive Ltd, a luxury 
used car dealership.

Read more about 
Centurian Automotive on

pg25

Annual report and fi nancial accounts 2021

January 2020
Barkby acquires Tarncourt Property 
businesses and Workshop Coff ee.

Read more about 
Workshop Coffee on

pg24

January 2020
Shares admitted to trading on the 
Alternative Investment Market.

Exercised option to subscribe for £2m 
Convertible Loan Notes in Vivoplex (now 
renamed Verso Biosense).

Read more about 
Verso Biosense on

pg26

Strategic Report 
Strategic Report 

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Financial statements
Financial statements

9
00

October 2020
SleepHub device launched.

October 2020
Workshop Coff ee 
becomes UK distributor for
re-usable drinkware brand, MiiR.

August 2020
Hastings development 
completed with 
Gross Development 
Value of £6.9m, with 
Aldi Stores, Greggs 
and Costa Coff ee as 
anchor tenants.

January 2021
Exchanged contracts to develop a 
15,400 sq. ft. mixed-use retail and 
trade scheme in Maldon, Essex with an 
estimated gross development value of 
£6.0 million.

June 2021
Entered into a new leasehold agreement 
for The Ebrington Arms, which has been 
rated as The Times’ ‘number one UK 
village pub’ and the Daily Telegraph’s 
‘best UK Pub for Food’.

August

September

October

2021

January

June

October

October 2021 - Maldon
Completion of the freehold purchase of the former 
Quest Motor dealership in Maldon, Essex for a 
consideration of £2.2m. Daily Telegraph’s ‘best UK 
Pub for Food’.

September 2020
Acquired operating lease 
for The Harcourt Arms in 
Stanton Harcourt, a premium 
pub with 10 letting rooms 
that holds 2 AA Rosettes and 
5 AA Gold Stars.

Proposed Development - Wycke Hill Business Park, Maldon

Date: 13/04/21

Client: Ambit Group

Job/Dwg: 164080 Maldon M_01F CGI_03B

October 2021 - Acquisition and 
development fi nance
£4.4m debt facility agreed and drawn to fund 
Maldon and Saff ron Waldon developments.

www.barkbygroup.com

10

B

Barkby Group Plc

Our Approach

We are focused and committed to 
seeking out new opportunities and 
delivering value to all our stakeholders.

Restless 

Overview
Barkby has a clear and focussed strategy 
with the following aims:

• Accelerate and maximise opportunities 

within the Group’s established core 
businesses of Real Estate and Pubs.

• Source and invest in cash generative 
businesses or those with exceptional 
market potential and the ability to 
disrupt.

Annual report and fi nancial accounts 2021

Restless 

Strategic Report 

Governance

Financial statements

11

Barkby Ethos
Customer 
Focus
An emphasis of our 
businesses is to provide 
exceptional customer 
focus, care and service. 
This approach is at the 
heart of our hospitality 
businesses and is a 
distinguishing feature of 
our tenant-led property 
development business. 

Premium 
quality
Understanding what it takes 
to successfully provide 
a premium product and 
experience is a consistent 
area of expertise across the 
Barkby Group.

Enable and 
empower 
teams
Barkby operates as a 
functional integrated group. 
The diverse experience of 
our teams provides unique 
insight and skills for the 
benefi t of the overall group.

Our open culture 
promotes shared expertise, 
support and honest 
feedback across a fl at 
organisational structure.

www.barkbygroup.com

12

B

Barkby Group Plc

Business and Financial Review

In 2021 Barkby integrated its group
businesses and focussed on developing 
the growth opportunities in its core 
Real Estate and Pub businesses.

The 2021 results include all 
businesses for the 52 week 
period to 1 July 2021. The 2020 
prior year comparatives include 
Real Estate and Workshop 
Coff ee for an extended period 
with the trading of the existing 
Barkby businesses included 
from 7 January 2020.”

Following the acquisition in January 2020, Barkby had 
a brief period as an enlarged group before the Covid-19 
pandemic impacted trading. Underlying trade was 
significantly impacted from that point until trading 
restrictions reduced in the summer of 2021.

The commercial property development pipeline 
progressed significantly, with a number of land 
acquisitions ready to commence construction with 
tenants secured.

As the economic outlook stabilised towards the end of 
the financial year, we experienced accelerated tenant 
demand and finalised three key developments at 
Wellingborough, Maldon and Huntingdon.

Barkby developed its financial and operational controls 
during the pandemic, balancing cost control and cash 

preservation with the delivery of planned initiatives 
to improve our businesses. Focussing on our business 
planning has supported our view that the combined 
group provides financial, strategic and operational 
benefits beyond the capacity of each individual 
company.

We utilised the Furlough scheme to support our 
workforce during periods of enforced closure and 
trading uncertainty, and provided additional top-up 
payments to support team members who may not 
have been eligible under the scheme. This strategy has 
helped retain an engaged workforce that is passionate 
and clearly focussed on delivering sales growth targets, 
improved profitability and exceptional service to 
our customers.

Revenue by entity

Real Estate

Barkby Pubco

Workshop Coffee

Centurian Automotive

Other

Total

Annual report and fi nancial accounts 2021

2021

£0.1m

£2.7m

£1.2m

£11.0m

£0.1m

£15.1m

2020

£4.5m

£0.6m

£2.9m

£4.0m

–

£12.0m

Strategic Report 

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Financial statements

13

Background Image 
required

The Ebrington Arms, Ebrington

Two new leaseholds were entered during the year, including The Ebrington Arms, a 17th century village 
pub with five luxury rooms. The Ebrington holds 2 AA Rosettes and has been rated as The Times’ 
‘number one UK village pub’, while the Daily Telegraph rated the pub as the best ‘UK Pub for Food’. 

New pub acquisitions:  

Total pubs operated:

2 

7

www.barkbygroup.com

See more online at
https://theebringtonarms.co.uk

14

B

Barkby Group Plc

Our Business

Real
Estate 

Our Commercial Property Development 
business specialises in developing contract 
backed sites in the South East of England.

The Company has a proven profi table track record of sourcing 
and developing commercial property projects.

Each development project is 
expected to take approximately

A pre-let threshold of 

months to complete 

is targeted before commencing 
construction 

Market Overview
Barkby Real Estate sources and develops commercial property schemes 
predominantly based in the South East of England. Barkby specialises in mixed-use 
trade and retail parks including retail warehouses, logistics, storage, industrial, leisure 
and quick food service.

Annual report and fi nancial accounts 2021

Real

Estate 

Strategic Report 

Governance

Financial statements

15

Covid-19 has resulted in delays to the commencement of some planned 
developments, with tenants taking longer than normal to agree commercial terms. 
However, there remains a strong interest in the Group’s upcoming schemes from 
tenants, as outlined below:

Current projects

Wellingborough, Northants
Following the acquisition of the land in the last 
financial year we have now been granted full 
planning permission for a 14,100 sq.ft mixed use 
commercial scheme across five units. The scheme 
will have an expected GDV of £4.6m and total 
estimated rental value of £225,000. We have 
exchanged agreements to lease with Greggs Plc 
and Formula One Autocentres Ltd on two units 
and we expect to exchange a further two units in 
Q1 of 2022. Construction is expected to start in Q1 
of 2022.

Proposed Development - Deninginton Rd/London Rd Wellingborough

Date: 18/02/2020

Job/Dwg: 15584 CGI 02B

Client: Tarncourt Ambit Properties LTD

Maldon, Essex
Following acquisition of the former Quest motor 
dealership in October 2021 we have been granted 
full planning permission for a 15,200 sq.ft mixed 
use commercial scheme across four units. The 
scheme will have an expected GDV of £5.8m 
and total estimated rental value of £268,500. 
We have exchanged agreements to lease with 
Costa Coffee Ltd, Formula One Autocentres Ltd 
and Toolstation Ltd on three units and we expect 
to exchange the remaining unit in H1 of 2022.
Construction is expected to start in Q1 of 2022.

Proposed Development - Wycke Hill Business Park, Maldon

Client: Ambit Group

Date: 13/04/21

Job/Dwg: 164080 Maldon M_01F CGI_03B

Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire
Following exchange of contracts to acquire the site 
subject to a satisfactory planning consent in January 
2020, we have now been granted full planning 
permission for a 31,000 sq.ft retail warehouse 
scheme across two units. The scheme will have 
an expected GDV of £8.3m and total estimated 
rental value of £454,000. We expect to exchange 
agreements to lease on both units in H1 of 2022. 
Construction is expected to start in Q3 of 2022.

Proposed Mixed Use Development - St Peter’s Road, Huntingdon

Client: Barkby Real Estate Developments Ltd

Job/Dwg: 13439 M_02A CGI 01B

Date: 02/09/20

Saffron Walden
The land was acquired by the Company in 
2010 and is still held at book cost. A series of 
successful planning applications have been made 
since the land was acquired, and the site now has 
planning permission for the construction of 35 
residential units. The site is now under offer and 
completion is expected in H1 2022.

Swindon, Wiltshire
Following exchange of contracts to acquire the 
site subject to a satisfactory planning consent 
in December 2021, we will be submitting a 
planning application for a 29,800 sq.ft mixed 
use commercial scheme. The scheme will have 
an expected GDV of £7.2m and total estimated 
rental value of £407,000. We expect to exchange 
agreements to lease on both units in H1 of 2022.
Construction is expected to start in 2023.

www.barkbygroup.com

16

B

Barkby Group Plc

Business and Financial Review continued

Our Process

A low capital intensive process that produces high returns

THE LAND

Unlike many traditional developers we do 

not retain land. 

We contract to buy land subject to an 
acceptable planning consent.

PLANNING AND AGREEMENTS 
TO LEASE

Once we have a contracted a development 
site we submit our planning application and 
in tandem sign our prospective tenants up to 
agreements to lease (“AtL”).

COMPLETION

We deliver a completed scheme to 
tenants to fit out at practical completion. 
At this point the buyer completes 
the purchase and pays our remaining 
development profit.

THE TENANTS

FUNDING AND CONSTRUCTION

We only contract to buy land if we have tenant 
interest in the scheme we are promoting and 
we know with certainty that we can pre-let 
more than 70% of the GDV of a scheme pre-
construction phase.

Once planning is granted and tenants are legally committed to the scheme, 
we then forward fund the development with an institutional buyer. The buyer 
refunds all costs incurred to date, pays a planning profit and will then commit to 
fully fund construction though to completion via monthly payments. We then 
build the scheme on a fixed price contract.

The whole process is usually 18-24 months from start to finish, with planning and site assembly taking c.9-12 months  
and funding and construction taking c.9-12 months.

Land Acquisitions and Planning

Business Model and Strategy

Barkby follows a capex light business model to de-risk 
the development process and ensure clear financial 
visibility over the lifecycle of each scheme. Barkby does 
not purchase land speculatively, but secures land under 
purchase agreements that are subject to obtaining the 
required planning consents for the scheme.

Our tenant-led approach built on established 
relationships with a broad range of national occupiers 
and other key tenants. This gives clear visibility of 
potential tenant’s geographical growth strategies and 
allows Barkby to confirm tenant interest in a proposed 
scheme at an early stage.

A pre-let threshold of 70 per cent is targeted before 
commencing construction. Typical tenants of Barkby 
schemes include Aldi Stores Limited, Greggs Plc, Costa 
Limited, MKM Building Supplies Limited, Travis Perkins 
plc, Halfords Group Plc and others.

During the most significant periods of Covid-19 
impact, land acquisition deals were less competitive 
due to uncertain buyer demand. However, commercial 
development activity has increased significantly since 
lockdown restrictions reduced.

The Government has published proposals for reform 
of the land use planning system. The most significant 
changes aim to improve the slow and complex system 
of local development plans. We believe that future 
legislation has the potential to reduce development 
timeframe and associated costs.

Tenant Demand

Covid-19 accelerated some of the existing underlying 
real estate trends, such as increased online delivery 
and working from home. Demand for logistics space 
has also been significant. Whilst this has generated 
changes in tenant demand in some sectors, others 
have remained relatively insulated or seen growth.

Due to our flexible tenant-led approach, Barkby can 
focus its activity to match tenant demand. We have 
seen a shift away from traditional retail parks, however 
demand from trade and quick service food tenants has 
been robust.

Each development project takes approximately 18-
24 months to complete, therefore many tenants adopt 
long-term views in their expansion strategies.

Annual report and financial accounts 2021

Strategic Report 

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Financial statements

17

In line with its tenant-led approach, Barkby adopts a 
pro-active approach to land acquisitions. This approach 
can require a land-assembly of multiple parcels of land 
and often includes off-market purchases.

Once a contracted development site has been 
obtained, planning applications are submitted and 
prospective tenants execute ‘agreement to lease’ 
documentation. After planning has been granted 
and the future tenants are legally committed to the 
scheme developments are often forward funded 
with institutional buyers, who fund costs incurred to 
date and commit to fully fund construction through 
to completion via monthly payments. The scheme is 
then built on a fixed price contract. In some instances, 
development finance is used before selling the 
completed scheme.

The completed scheme is then delivered to the tenant 
to fit out at practical completion, at which point the 
institutional buyer completes the purchase and pays 
the completion profit due.

Barkby Real Estate specialises in projects with a 
gross development value of between £3.0 million 
and £20.0 million and targets a minimum EBITDA 
margin of 20 per cent on each project. Our current 
pipeline includes five active developments with gross 
development value of £30m within a pipeline in excess 
of £40m.

Financial Review

Revenue and costs are recognised across the life of 
each scheme and can often span multiple financial 
periods. Further details of our revenue recognition 
policy can be found on page 53.

Construction work at our Hastings development, 
which is anchored by Aldi Stores, Greggs and Costa 
Coffee, completed in June 2020 and practical 
completion was granted in August 2020. Hastings 
Borough Council completed their purchase of the site, 
resulting in a net balancing payment receipt of £1.8m 
in the financial year.

St Peter’s Road, 
Huntingdon

Proposed development of a 
31,000 sq.ft. commercial scheme 
in a prominent and popular site. 
Total expected Estimated Rental 
Value of £454k per anum. Strong 
demand from occupiers with all 
units expected to be pre-let prior 
to construction commencing.

Gross development value 

£8.3m

See more online at 
www.barkbygroup.com/our-business/real-estate

Proposed Mixed Use Development - St Peter’s Road, Huntingdon

Client: Barkby Real Estate Developments Ltd

Date: 02/09/20

Job/Dwg: 13439 M_02A CGI 01B

www.barkbygroup.com18

B

Barkby Group Plc

Our Business

Barkby 
Pub Co 

Renowned for their welcoming atmosphere, 
our multi-award winning pubs are located in 
the Cotswolds, Oxfordshire and West Sussex.

We aim to deliver fi rst class food, drink and accommodation, 
as well as a fabulous customer experience.

New Barkby Pubs

The Harcourt Arms, Stanton Harcourt
A Michelin-rated Inn with an exceptional chef 
offering the most indulgent and comfortable 
accommodation - a rare find reflecting the 
passion of a young team who strive for 
excellence in all that they do.

The Ebrington Arms, Ebrington
A traditional local Inn with outstanding food 
and accommodation in an idyllic village at the 
heart of the Cotswolds golden triangle.

Annual report and fi nancial accounts 2021

Strategic Report 

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Barkby 

Pub Co  Market Overview

The hospitality market was significantly 
impacted by Covid-19 during the financial 
year. Industry representative bodies 
have repeatedly highlighted the financial 
difficulties faced by all operators and the 
risk that many venues may not survive.

This has particularly hit wet-led pubs, 
those dependent on office-workers and 
businesses that promote congested use 
of space such as music venues, late-night 
bars and nightclubs.

This segment of the market recovered 
quickly when lockdown restrictions were 
lifted. This is due to our large footprint 
properties that are able to operate 
in a Covid-secure way with minimal 
interruption. We also experienced 
increased demand for domestic holidays 
from UK residents as a result of reduced 
confidence and appetite for international 
holiday travel alongside enforced 
travel restrictions.

Barkby operates premium pubs with 
rooms located predominantly in the 
Cotswolds and West Sussex. 

The Bull Hotel, Fairford
A bustling and busy coaching Inn at the heart 
of an unspoiled Cotswold market town, The 
Bull offers a very special welcome, comfortable 
rooms and a varied bar and dining menu.

The Plough, Kelmscott
A country village Pub and a real local, The 
Plough is a hidden gem with cosy and comfy 
rooms and a welcoming dining room.

www.barkbygroup.com

20

B

Barkby Group Plc

Business and Financial Review continued

During the year, Barkby added The Harcourt Arms 
to its portfolio. The Harcourt Arms is a 17th century 
village pub that holds 2 AA Rosettes and 5 AA Gold 
Stars. The property has been fully refurbished to the 
highest standards and provides nine high-quality 
letting rooms and one master suite.

We also added the Ebrington Arms, another 17th 
century village pub with rooms that is renowned for 
the quality of its food and service.

We continue to look for premium pubs with rooms 
in our target geographies and are in negotiations 
on several potential sites. It is our intention to grow 
the portfolio to 12 pubs by the end of the 2023 
financial year.

Financials

Due to the impact on trading of Covid-19 during 
the year it is difficult to report on the underlying 
performance of the business during this period. 

We have worked hard to maintain good 
communication and work in a collaborative way with 
our employees, suppliers and landlords during this 
difficult time.

The pub business made an operating loss of £0.1m 
excluding depreciation, amortisation and interest 
expense, during the financial year.

Barkby Pub Company continued

Business Model

Barkby Pubs is a boutique hospitality business 
focused on premium pubs with rooms located in 
Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Berkshire and West 
Sussex.

Barkby Pubs’ proposition is led by excellence in food 
and service, showcasing the best of English produce, 
alongside a passion for creating memories and 
delivering incredible hospitality. Barkby Pubs seeks to 
create premium individual pubs with accommodation 
to address the trend away from branded pubs and 
large hotels. Barkby offers market-leading pub 
food and exemplary service, providing classic and 
sophisticated modern British cuisine with seasonal 
and artisan ingredients alongside local produce.

Barkby Pubs operated seven premises during the 
year, with a total of 60 rooms. Each pub has its 
own website to take bookings, display menus, 
advertise upcoming events and promote their 
unique atmosphere. Marketing is managed centrally 
with regular newsletters and local media as well as 
increased social media presence and digital story- 
telling to create an authentic connection with our 
customers.

Strategy

Our focus is to maintain the individual character and 
uniqueness of each location, whilst implementing 
operational best practice. In the next 12 months, we 
will invest in an improved labour planning model as 
well as stock control systems and processes. These 
activities are expected to increase the underlying 
profitability across the estate.

Barkby has invested in developing its people, systems 
and processes so that it is ready to expand rapidly 
and acquire further sites. We have developed a site 
acquisition methodology to ensure new pubs fit our 
operational model and required financial returns. We 
will target a combination of leasehold and freehold 
acquisitions.

Annual report and financial accounts 2021

21

Strategic Report GovernanceFinancial statementswww.barkbygroup.com22

B

Barkby Group Plc

Our Business

Investments

A diverse portfolio of investments
providing services and products
to meet current and future needs,
within evolving markets.

Life Sciences

Verso Biosense
Focused on transforming Women’s Health, 
Verso Biosense is creating a meaningful impact 
on how clinicians and the pharmaceutical 
industry make better evidence-based 
decisions.

Cambridge Sleep Sciences
Cambridge Sleep Sciences creates innovative 
products that help improve quality of life 
through natural sleep.

Annual report and fi nancial accounts 2021

Strategic Report 

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Financial statements

23

Investments

Workshop Coffee
Workshop Coffee is dedicated to sourcing, 
roasting and showcasing exceptional coffee. An 
award winning specialty coffee roastery, they 
supply specialty-grade coffee to wholesale and 
consumer markets.

Centurian Automotive
Centurian Automotive is a Luxury automotive 
dealership with a fast growing and 
differentiated online digital presence.

www.barkbygroup.com
www.barkbygroup.com

24

Investments – Workshop Coffee

Workshop Coffee is a speciality coffee roaster that operates through multiple sales channels including 
wholesale, direct to consumer via an online webshop and subscription service, and three coffee shops 
located in central London.

Market Overview

As with Barkby’s pub business, Workshop Coffee 
was also significantly impacted by the Covid-19 
pandemic. Independent coffee shops, hotels and 
other hospitality customers have been forced to 
close during the national lockdown periods impacting 
Workshop’s wholesale revenues.

As working-from-home became a requirement, home 
delivery sales increased significantly. This created 
a strong market opportunity for Workshop with its 
existing webshop, subscription customers and strong 
digital presence.

With significant reductions in London footfall, 
Workshop remains cautious about reopening its retail 
stores. Three units were re-opened in the summer 
of 2021, with a focus on cost control. As the number 
of workers, shoppers and tourists have returned to 
central London, revenues have steadily increased and 
the coffee shops are expected to generate positive 
operating profits going forward, subject to any 
significant ongoing impact from the Omicron variant.

Business Model

Wholesale

Workshop Coffee supplies and supports over 90 
wholesale partners across more than 30 countries, 
covering a range of operators, including independent 
coffee shops, hotels, caterers, restaurants, bars, offices 
and general retailers.

Existing customers include Claridge’s Hotel, The Fat 
Duck Group, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, Twitter, 
Palantir, and The Old Vic Theatre. Workshop Coffee 
works with distribution partners in other territories such 
as the GCC (including Saudi Arabia), and Ireland, who 
on-sell to local customers.

Online

The online channel is managed and fulfilled from 
Workshop Coffee’s production facility. The production 
facility relocated from Bethnal Green to Hatfield in 
November 2021. In addition to selling one-off packs 
of coffee beans, customers can subscribe to recurring 
coffee orders through the website, as well as purchase 
coffee related hardware products, such as coffee 
brewers and coffee grinders.

Retail

Workshop operates three coffee shops in central 
London. The coffee shops are operated on short-term 
leases, therefore offering some flexibility to adapt to 
London footfall if there is insufficient profit potential.

Strategy

Workshop Coffee’s growth focus is on wholesale and 
B2B customers. The board believes there is a significant 
opportunity to grow the Workshop Coffee business 
organically.

In addition, the surge in online sales during the pandemic 
has increased our online customer base and created 
further opportunities for growth in this area.

Financials

Workshop made sales of £1.2m in the year (15 months 
to June 2020: £2.9m) and generated an Operating loss 
of £0.4m (15 months to June 2020: £0.8m).

Wholesale revenues were down by 7% on the same 
period last year. However there has been a substantial 
increase in online sales, which increased 76% on the 
same period last year. This was predominantly driven 
by hardware sales and coffee subscriptions as an 
increasing number of consumers began preparing and 
drinking premium coffee at home.

Gross margin increased to 45% due to a change in the 
sales mix.

Barkby Group PlcBAnnual report and financial accounts 2021Strategic Report 

Governance

Financial statements

25

Centurian works closely with major consumer finance 
companies, which enables the client experience to 
follow through to completion seamlessly. All external 
parties and contractors are expected to follow the 
same high quality control level expected by Centurian 
throughout the client journey. This leads to long term 
and trusted relationships with our suppliers.

Strategy

Centurian operates from a unique location in Kettering, 
Northamptonshire.

In response to the acceleration in remote car viewing 
and enquiries, Centurian has significantly increased its 
digital presence and has started to generate increased 
sales and profits as a direct result of the outreach and 
appeal from digital activity.

Centurian’s digital presence has continued to generate 
sales after lockdown restrictions reduced.

Financials

Centurian sales and cash flow remained robust despite 
the trading restrictions. The business generated sales 
of £11m in the year. An average margin of 10% was 
made on car sales,

Centurian generated a net loss for the year of £66k.

Investments – Centurian Automotive

Market Overview

Centurian Automotive is a Luxury and Supercar 
automotive dealership with a fast growing and 
differentiated online digital presence.

Centurian distinguishes itself within the Automotive 
industry with its innovative customer journey and 
customisable product.

Centurian’s client base has been established over 14 
years and boasts a substantial, loyal customer list as 
well as engaging with new and aspirational future 
clients through its social media platforms.

Trading trends have been impacted by Covid-19 due 
to changes in consumer behaviour alongside enforced 
trading restrictions. However, out of the crisis has 
come an advancement in innovation, with new online 
used car advertising platforms emerging to compete 
with established websites and the launch of home- 
delivery services.

Business Model

Centurian prides itself on best-in-class customer 
experience and aims to differentiate itself from other 
automotive dealerships through its superior customer 
service, this reflected in its glowing customer 
reviews with a 4.9 out of 5 rating average on Google 
and Autotrader.

Centurian holds between 100-150 hand picked 
vehicles. Approximately 60-70% of these vehicles are 
then bespoke commissioned by the client to give a 
unique look to the vehicle. Bespoke sales generate 
higher margins and provide a unique selling point 
due to exclusive manufacture of customised products 
under licence.

www.barkbygroup.com26

B

Barkby Group Plc

Business and Financial Review continued

Investments -  
Cambridge Sleep Sciences

Barkby acquired the intellectual property rights 
to develop a device that delivers scientifically 
formulated sounds to improve and facilitate natural 
sleep. The “SleepHub” product was subsequently 
launched in November 2020.

The importance and benefits of sleeping patterns 
continue to be an area of focus in health and 
wellness. The market is relevant to both those 
with sleeping disorders as well as people wanting 
improvements in everyday sleep.

Since launch, SleepHub has received positive 
reviews in major publications including The 
Telegraph, The Daily Mail and Metro. SleepHub has 
also featured in magazines such as Ideal Home 
alongside a number of health and wellbeing titles.

We have focused our sales strategy on the 
distributor channel and have agreements with 
Go10 (UK), Wenatex (Australia), M-Photo (South 
Africa), Lifeworks (North America/Europe). We are 
now selling in Harrods, Selfridges as well as online 
channels such as Amazon.

There are significant opportunities in the 
Healthcare space and CSS has started clinical 
studies to validate the benefits of our technology. 
Further studies looking at disease areas where 
insomnia is a significant symptom are in the 
planning phase. We have seen positive early sleep 
improvement signals in patients with Parkinsons 
Disease.

Additional SleepHub models will be added to the 
range. The Anywhere device, which addresses 
key areas of market feedback, are on track to be 
available from May 2022.

Cambridge Sleep Sciences incurred development, 
marketing and administrative costs totalling 
£1,033k during the period.

Investments - Verso Biosense Ltd 

Our female health investment has now been rebranded to Verso Biosense (“Verso”).

that Verso’s wireless powered battery-free 
uterine monitoring platform can address has 
shown the commercial opportunity to be 
very significant.

Barkby made an investment of £0.5m in 
August 2020 in the form of a Convertible 
Loan Agreement bringing the total investment 
to £2.5m. 

Verso has continued to make good progress. 
Engineering breakthroughs have led to 
major improvements in chip sets, monitoring 
functions, electronics and garment design. 
The team has moved into a clinical study in 
2021 and are in the process of signing up 
commercial and clinical partners.

The discovery of novel, new data in the 
uterine environment for the very first time has 
huge potential to unlock meaningful patient 
data, changing diagnostic paradigms and 
optimising treatments across IVF/fertility, 
endometriosis, fibrosis, menopause and 
oncology. The broadening of disease areas 

Annual report and financial accounts 2021

 
Strategic Report 

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Background Image 
required

Cambridge Sleep Sciences - Sleep Hub

Entered distribution agreements in 
4 continents

See more online at 
https://cambridgesleepsciences.com/

www.barkbygroup.com28

B

Barkby Group Plc

Principal Risks and Uncertainties

The Board is responsible for reviewing risks to ensure that the business is not exposed to unnecessary or 
inappropriately managed risks.

Risk

Potential Impact

Mitigation

Global or Regional Pandemic

The Covid-19 virus and actions to 
protect public health may impact 
Barkby’s divisions.

Ongoing infection rates may lead to 
delays or disruption to the property 
development pipeline, loss of access 
to physical sites impacting ability to 
trade and reduced customer demand.

The new Omicron variant may result in 
enforced trading restrictions and 
reduced consumer confidence, which 
may impact our pub and coffee 
businesses.

Diversified group structure and 
industry exposure, alongside 
multi-channel retail opportunities 
gives the group the option to 
focus activity on less impacted 
divisions, which can in turn support 
any business that is significantly 
impacted.

The Group has proven its 
capability to work remotely for 
extended periods.

The Group’s response to the 
unforeseen pandemic has resulted in 
many operational changes to help 
mitigate the impacts of potential 
future outbreaks.

Economic and Political Factors Beyond the Group’s Control

A downturn in the macro-economic 
climate may impact demand generally 
across our businesses.

Costs may be increased by changes to 
government policy, including tax 
changes or other legislation.

The Board has planned for a variety of 
potential scenarios including 
mitigations for any fundamental 
reduction in demand.

The medium-term impact of Covid-19 
is uncertain, meaning the Group has 
had to plan for a wider range 
of outcomes.

The Board considers the Barkby 
businesses to have a relatively flexible 
cost base, with limited contracted 
fixed costs.

The Group’s cost base has been 
tightly controlled with limited 
additional funding required during 
the financial year.

The diversified structure of the group 
allows us to focus resources on the 
best relevant opportunities and 
enables the broader group to support 
individual business challenges.

Land Acquisition and Planning Risk

The property development pipeline is 
dependent on sourcing land and 
obtaining planning permission to meet 
tenant demand.

Due to the nature of site acquisitions 
and planning applications, there is an 
inherent element of timing uncertainty 
and project feasibility which could 
impact the development pipeline.

Real Estate Tenant Demand

Barkby Real Estate follows a tenant-led 
approach that identifies development 
opportunities in response to tenant 
demand.

Barkby has developed a range of 
commercial development types and 
maintains close links with tenants 
spanning a range of industries.

Changes in tenant demand trends must 
be identified and responded to.

Annual report and financial accounts 2021

The management team seeks to 
maintain an active forward looking 
pipeline to provide sufficient time to 
prepare sites for development.

The current development pipeline 
includes 7 active schemes with an 
estimated Gross Development Value 
in excess of £40m.

Close communication and strong 
relationships enable us to anticipate 
and react to changes in demand.

We have noticed a change in demand 
from certain sectors of retail.

Demand for mixed-use schemes 
including quick service food retail 
and trade parks remains robust.

Strategic Report 

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Risk

Potential Impact

Mitigation

Changes to Hospitality and Consumer Tastes

Certain sectors of the hospitality 
industry have been negatively impacted 
by Covid-19, uncertain consumer 
confidence and enforced closures.

The Board has planned for a variety of 
potential scenarios including 
mitigations for any contraction 
in demand.

Short-and medium-term consumer 
behaviour and trading levels remain 
uncertain.

We have maintained close 
communication with suppliers and 
landlords to ensure we can return to 
normal trading conditions quickly 
and efficiently.

Innovation and New Product Development

Barkby holds an investment in Verso 
Biosense and is the majority 
shareholder of Cambridge Sleep 
Sciences.

Both of these businesses require 
successful product development and to 
bring new products to market.

There is inherent uncertainty around 
timing and cash requirement 
associated with innovation.

Market reception and the speed of 
initial sales is also difficult to predict, 
which creates an element of 
uncertainty in financial planning.

Key Management

Loss of key personnel could impact the 
Group’s ability to implement its strategy 
and intended pace of growth.

Business plans and initiatives are 
prepared with input from a range of 
personnel to reduce reliance on 
single individuals.

The Board believes that the pub 
portfolio is well positioned to return 
to profitable trading in line with the 
current government road map. This is 
due to its less congested food-led 
offer and locations that we expect to 
benefit from staycations.

Workshop Coffee has exposure to the 
London retail market, which 
management expects to recover in 
the medium term.

Cambridge Sleep Sciences has 
brought its first product “SleepHub” 
to market, and initial direct sales and 
progress with B2B distribution 
agreements is positive.

Management continue to monitor 
sales levels and review sales 
forecasts accordingly.

Cost control and marketing 
campaigns are planned and reviewed 
to ensure resources are allocated to 
the most effective sales channels.

Verso Biosense has a clear path to 
commercialisation and has continued 
to de-risk this exposure as key 
milestones are met. The next 
milestone is a “UKCA” which is 
expected to be obtained by the end 
of 2021.

Barkby has strengthened its 
management teams since completing 
the Reverse Take Over, including key 
appointments of Chief Financial 
Officer, Operations Director at 
Barkby Pubco and new Head of 
People and Head of IT roles.

The Remuneration Committee seeks 
to ensure rewards are commensurate 
with performance and aid retention.

For more details see 

pg40

www.barkbygroup.com30

B

Barkby Group Plc

Section 172 Statement

The Board believes that to maximise value and success in the long term it must engage and consult 
effectively with all stakeholders in order to develop mutually beneficial relationships with them and to make 
the best business decisions.

S172 Statement

As required by s172 of the Companies Act 2006, a director of a company must act in the way they consider, 
in good faith, would most likely promote the success of the company for the benefit of its shareholders. In so 
doing, the director must have regards amongst other matters to the:

•  Likely consequences of any decision in the long-term

•  Interests of the company’s employees

•  Need to foster the company’s business relationships with suppliers, customers and others

•  Impact of the company’s actions on the community and environment

•  Desirability of the company maintaining a reputation for high standards of business conduct

•  Need to act fairly between members of the company

Our Stakeholders

Material Topics

How we engage

Employees

We have very committed and 
experienced teams running our 
business. Many of our business are 
“people businesses” and our 
employee’s interactions with 
customers and other stakeholders are 
critical to our success.

•  Opportunities for development

•  Determining the working 

environment

•  Opportunities to share ideas and 

initiatives

•  Group’s financial performance

Management teams utilise a range 
of communication protocols, such 
as company-wide emails and 
on-site meetings with senior 
management to ensure effective 
communication and collaborative 
working relationships.

Our group structure includes 
employees with specific divisional 
expertise as well as employees who 
perform a group function across 
divisions. Continuing to develop and 
maintain an environment in which all 
employees can thrive and support 
each other is very important 
to Barkby.

Shareholders

As a listed business, we recognise the 
important role that shareholders play 
in providing capital, insight into 
successful strategies, advice on risks 
to be avoided and in monitoring and 
safeguarding the governance of 
the Group.

•  Financial and operational 

performance

•  Business strategy and model

•  Market conditions

•  Capital allocation

•  Dividend policy

Banks

Our banking partners play an 
important role in our business and 
help us to take advantage of 
opportunities. We maintain close 
and supportive relationships through 
open communication and 
mutual understanding.

•  Financial and operational 

performance

•  Strategy

•  Market and opportunities

•  Cash generation

Annual report and financial accounts 2021

We have an open and collaborative 
style which ignores hierarchy. Our 
teams work closely together and 
therefore build close relationships. 
There are a lot of opportunities to 
share ideas and to understand new 
initiatives informally.

We are very conscious of the need 
to actively communicate with 
shareholders. We achieve this 
through our AGM, our RNSs, our 
website and via contact through 
our advisors. Our Non-Executive 
Directors are available to meet 
with shareholders to discuss 
governance matters.

We maintain regular contact with 
our banking partners and host 
meetings to provide updates on 
our current performance and 
strategy. We regularly supply 
financial information and 
commentary to lenders as required 
under borrowing agreements.

Strategic Report 

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31

Our Stakeholders

Material Topics

How we engage

Suppliers

We value our supplier relationships 
and recognise the contribution they 
make to the success of each of our 
businesses.

To remain as a provider of a market- 
leading premium offering that 
appeals to new and existing 
customers, it is important that the 
company fosters mutually beneficial 
relationships with the best suppliers.

Regulators

We recognise the continual push by 
consumers, society and government 
for protection through regulation. 
Regulators clearly have an important 
role to play in the development of the 
economy and the property sector. 
Compliance to high standards is at 
the core of our values and our focus 
on respect.

Community

We are mindful that our customers 
and other stakeholders often live in 
the local communities that we serve 
and therefore have an interest in 
ensuring that we operate in a 
respectful manor and maintain the 
highest standards across 
our businesses.

•  Group’s financial performance

•  Growth plans

•  Credit arrangements

•  Quality control procedures

•  Collaborative approach to product 

innovation

We maintain close relationships 
and regular communication with 
our suppliers. The nature of the 
supply relationships varies across 
our business, but we maintain a 
consistent, collaborative approach.

Since lockdown restrictions 
reduced, there has been reported 
disruption in supply chains across 
the country. We thank all of our 
suppliers for their support during 
this period.

•  Compliance with the legislation

•  Openness and transparency

•  Lack of relationship between 

regulators and sector

•  Capabilities of representative 

bodies

We have grown accustomed to 
reacting to change. We rarely 
engage directly with Regulators, 
seeking to rely on our trade bodies 
to represent us. However, once 
change is upon us, we seek out 
advice from Regulators to ensure 
that we are and remain compliant.

•  Involvement in local organisations

•  Providing valuable local insight to 

customers

•  Sponsorship

•  Compliance with regulations

Actively engaging on social media 
and using the digital marketing 
techniques at our disposal to 
provide useful information to local 
communities. Setting out clearly 
what we do, how we do it and how 
we support the local community.

www.barkbygroup.com32

B

Barkby Group Plc

Principal decisions in 2021

Principal decisions in 2021

We have considered the decisions taken by the Board which will have an impact on the longer term 
performance and prospects for our Group.

Barkby will focus on the 
exceptional opportunities 
identified in its Real Estate 
business and Pub company.

Significant decision

The impact of Covid-19 required the board to review 
the strategic focus of the diversifieied group.

In many instances, diversification was a strong 
strength for Barkby. However, the board believes that 
there are improved immediate opportunities in the 
property development and pub company divisions 
and has therefore focussed group resources to 
maximise these opportunities.

We remain committed to the success of our 
investments, which are all on clear paths to 
profitability and value realisation from potential exits.

Stakeholders affected and engagement

Shareholders
Assessment of the 
increased potential to 
generate shareholder value 
and returns as a larger 
diversified group.

Regulators
Advisors supported the 
reverse takeover and AIM 
admission process.

Employees
Set out our strategic 
objective and the 
opportunities this 
may present.

Banks
Updated on our strategic 
decision, future strategy 
and potential funding. 
requirements

Annual report and financial accounts 2021
Annual report and financial accounts 2020

Strategic Report 

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Financial statements

33

Progress

Barkby has strengthened the teams leading the 
Real Estate and Pub company Businesses.

Clear plans have been prepared and are being 
followed to grow both businesses.

Reason for decision

The Board believes that the opportunities available 
in the Real Estate and Pub company businesses have 
significantly increased during the financial year.

The experienced and entrepreneurial management 
team planned to grow Barkby’s market presence in 
these sectors by increasing investment and focus. 

Barkby will retain its diverse operations and market 
exposure, but its primary focus is on the key business 
divisions of property development and pubs.

Anticipated effects

We believe this will maximise the potential return 
available to our shareholders.

Douglas Benzie

Chief Financial Officer  
23 December 2021

www.barkbygroup.com

Annual report and financial accounts 2021

34

B

Barkby Group Plc

Sustainability Report

We are committed to 
championing sustainable and 
ethical practices both within our 
group and with the organisations 
we engage with.

As Barkby grows, we will create expanded policies to ensure clear responsibility 
and accountability for sustainability across the Group. We plan to collaborate with 
specialists to increase knowledge and validate the impact of our activity.

Packaging and Waste
A key area of our focus is to eliminate 
single-use plastic packaging and move to 
recyclable replacements.

We strive to ensure that production and 
supply operations minimise both the 
resources they use and the levels of waste 
material created. We are particularly 
focussed on minimising food waste in our 
hospitality businesses and to divert waste 
from landfill.

Sourcing and  
supply chain
We consider the sustainability credentials of 
suppliers before engaging with them.

We invest significant time and resources to 
ensure the quality of our suppliers, which 
range from local producers to multi-national 
manufacturers depending on our business 
requirements.

Energy and Carbon
We are working to improve our 
understanding of the energy we use 
across the Group. This will enable to us to 
identify opportunities to reduce usage via 
innovation, new systems and campaigns.

Our communities
We are privileged to serve a range of 
communities, from local pub venues to car 
enthusiasts. Our communities are at the 
heart of our operations and we ensure our 
activities provide a positive and valued 
contribution.

Our team
Our teams are key ingredients in our 
businesses. We are committed to diversity, 
inclusion and equality of opportunity, and 
are making progress on many fronts.

Annual report and financial accounts 2021

Strategic Report 

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35

Case study – Workshop Coffee – Sustainability as a process

leader in coffee variety research, they are supporting 
the development of coffee varieties that are high 
yielding, demonstrably resilient in the field and 
delicious – an audacious but laudable objective 
that is already paying dividends in coffee producing 
countries across the world. 

Also integral to improving our sustainable practices 
is making it as easy as possible for our customers 
to make the right decision. Alongside carbon 
neutral coffee bags, we dispatch all of our packages 
in either recyclable cardboard boxes or home 
compostable mailer bags. We also work with like-
minded brands, such as MiiR, who are certified 
carbon neutral, a B Corporation and members of 1% 
for the Planet.

For us, sustainability is not an end-point, but 
an ongoing project; a series of informed and 
considered decisions that not only help reduce our 
environmental impact, but also improve the quality 
of the coffees we showcase.

This begins at origin. Showcasing exceptional 
coffees from countries across East Africa, Central 
America and, most recently, South America means 
forging and developing relationships with quality-
focused producers, exporters and co-operatives 
– those that are willing to develop, evolve and adapt 
as together we target ever-improving quality in 
the cup. By working with the same people year-
on-year and paying prices that far exceed those 
of the market and Fairtrade, our aim is to support 
reinvestment into better and more sustainable 
coffee farming practices. This in turn helps to create 
better quality coffee.

Our efforts extend beyond coffee production and 
processing. Like many species of flora and fauna, 
coffee is under threat. Climate change, pests 
and disease are already affecting the long-term 
viability of quality coffee and, as a result, its long-
term availability is not a foregone conclusion. We 
therefore donate to World Coffee Research for 
every kilo of green coffee we purchase. A world 

Annual report and financial accounts 2021

www.barkbygroup.com36

B

Barkby Group Plc

Governance Report

The Directors recognise the importance of 
sound corporate governance commensurate 
with the size and nature of the Group and 
the interests of its shareholders, customers, 
suppliers and employees. 

Respected

Chairman’s Introduction to Governance

In this section of our report we 
have set out our approach to 
governance and provided further 
information on how the Board and 
its Committees operate.

The Board believes that it complies 
with the principles of The QCA 
Corporate Governance Code 
(QCA code). The corporate 

governance framework which the 
Group operates, including Board 
leadership and effectiveness, Board 
remuneration, and internal control 
is based upon practices which the 
Board believes are proportional 
to the size, risks, complexity and 
operations of the business and 
reflective of the Group’s values.

The Board believes 
that it complies with 
the principles of 
The QCA Corporate 
Governance Code 
(QCA code).”

Annual report and fi nancial accounts 2021

Strategic Report 

Governance

Financial statements

37

Respected

Board of Directors

Following the Reverse Takeover, 
Charles Dickson was appointed 
as Executive Chairman with effect 
from the AIM admission date. Each 
of Giles Clarke, Stephen Cook and 
Duncan Harvey stepped down from 
the Board on Admission. At the 
same time Jonathan Warburton 
and Matt Wood joined the new 
Board as Independent 
Non-Executive Directors.

Rupert Fraser remained as Group 
Managing Director of the Enlarged 
Group and Jeremy Sparrow 
remained as an Independent

Independent Non-Executive 
Director. Emma Dark remained as 
Finance Director before stepping 
down in September 2020 at 
which point Douglas Benzie was 
appointed as Chief Financial Officer.

The current Board comprises three executive directors and 
three non-executive directors as follows:

•  Charles Dickson (Executive Chairman)

•  Rupert Fraser (Group Managing Director)

•  Douglas Benzie (Chief Financial Officer)

•  Jonathan Warburton (Senior Independent Non-Executive 

Director)

•  Jeremy Sparrow (Independent Non-Executive Director)

•  Matt Wood (Independent Non-Executive Director)

www.barkbygroup.com

38

B

Barkby Group Plc

Board of Directors

Charles Dickson

Executive Chairman (age 39)

Rupert Fraser
Group Managing Director 
(age 52)

Douglas Benzie
Group Chief Financial Officer 
(age 40)

Committee membership

Committee membership

Committee membership

N

Charles has over 15 years’ 
experience running the 
Dickson family office, 
Tarncourt Group, which he 
has built into a successful and 
diverse business. 

Experience

Charles began his career with Ernst 
& Young LLP, where he qualified 
as a Chartered Accountant before 
moving to work in Corporate 
Finance with McQueen Limited 
(now Houlihan Lokey Limited). 
Charles is a non-executive director 
of Apache Capital Partners Limited.

Rupert has over 25 years of 
experience in the investment 
banking industry involving 
exposure to leading UK, US 
and international institutions.

Doug is a an experienced 
finance leader who has worked 
extensively in the hospitality 
industry and in high growth 
companies. 

Experience

Experience

He was Head of Equities at 
Evolution Securities Limited 
from 2009 to 2011, prior to which 
he spent 16 years at Dresdner 
Kleinwort Limited, where in 2005 
he was appointed Managing 
Director, Global Head of Equity 
Distribution. Rupert was founding 
partner of Kildare Partners where 
he was responsible for investment 
origination across Europe and the 
United Kingdom. Rupert is a non- 
executive director of Woodforde’s 
Brewery.

Doug joined Barkby from Pure, the 
London-based healthy fast-food 
chain and a Whitbread Plc backed 
company, where he was Finance 
Director for three years. 

Prior to this, Doug held the roles of 
Group Financial Controller and Chief 
Accountant at Pret A Manger and 
was part of the team that helped 
grow Pret before its sale to JAB 
Holding Company. Doug began 
his career at EY where he worked 
for 8 years in the strategic growth 
markets practice and qualified as a 
Chartered Accountant.

Committee membership key

A  Audit Committee   R  Remuneration Committee   N  Nomination Committee  

 Chair of Committee

Annual report and financial accounts 2021

 
 
Strategic Report 

Governance

Financial statements

39

Jeremy Sparrow
Non-Executive Director 
(age 53)

Jonathan Warburton
Non-Executive Director 
(age 63)

Matthew Wood
Non-Executive Director  
(age 48)

Committee membership

Committee membership

Committee membership

A R N

A R N

A R N

Jeremy is an adviser to 
Alvarium, an independent 
multi-family office, and has 
over 25 years of extensive deal 
making experience leading 
teams in London, New York 
and Hong Kong.

Experience

He was most recently head of 
Investec Resource Investment 
Banking for Asia and Australia, after 
serving as CEO of Renaissance 
Capital, where he established 
the company’s first Asian office. 
Previously, he spent 12 years with 
Renaissance Capital as a Managing 
Director, being Head of Equity 
Products in New York and the 
UK, and has also served as Vice 
President at Morgan Stanley.

Jonathan assumed control of 
the Warburton bakery business 
in 1991. He first joined the 
company at the age of 23 after 
spending time in organisations 
outside Warburtons to gain 
insight into the baking 
industry, as well as experience 
in sales and marketing 
experience through his time 
spent with Unilever.

Experience

He joined the family business as a 
member of the Sales Team, progressing 
to National Account Manager and to 
Sales Director before he set up the 
Marketing Team. As Marketing Director, 
he led the development of Warburtons 
first ever TV advert. In the decade 
that followed, Jonathan held the role 
of Commercial Director and joint 
Managing Director. Since Jonathan 
became Chairman in 2001, Warburtons 
has grown from a small, regional 
business into the second biggest UK 
grocery brand behind Coca-Cola Plc. 
Jonathan has also held Non-Executive 
director positions with AG Barr and 
Samworth Brothers.

An experienced non-executive 
director, Mr Wood graduated 
with a First Class honours 
degree in Economics in 1996 
and qualified as a chartered 
accountant in 1999. 

Experience

He subsequently joined the 
corporate finance department of 
Beeson Gregory in 2000 where 
he advised growing companies 
on transactions including IPOs, 
secondary fundraisings, M&A and 
corporate restructuring. Matt also 
advised corporate clients on the 
UK regulatory framework including 
the Listing Rules, the AIM Rules, 
the Takeover Code and general 
corporate governance matters. In 
2006 he founded ONE Advisory, 
a London-based corporate 
advisory group providing its 100+ 
corporate clients with corporate 
administration, company secretarial, 
corporate governance and 
compliance services, outsourced 
finance function, IFRS conversions, 
FPPP preparation and PPA 
valuations.

www.barkbygroup.com40

B

Barkby Group Plc

Corporate Governance Report

How the Board 
Operates

The Board is responsible for the 
Group’s strategy and for its overall 
management. The strategic report 
on pages 1 to 27 summarises the 
Board’s approach to promote 
sustainable long-term growth 
and value for shareholders. The 
responsibilities of the Board 
include matters relating to:

•  The Group’s strategic aims and objectives. 

•  The structure and capital of the Group. 

•  Financial reporting, financial controls and dividend policy. 

•  Setting budgets and forecasts. 

•  Internal control, risk and the Group’s risk appetite. 

•  The approval of significant contracts and expenditure. 

•  Effective communication with shareholders. 

•  Any changes to Board membership or structure. 

•  Oversight of the Executive committee 

Board Meetings

The Board held scheduled meetings during the period. 
All board members attended the meetings held during 
the financial year.

Board and Committee meetings provide time for 
collective discussion and decision-making, but 
informal communication channels also operate to 
ensure open dialogue and information sharing with the 
Non-executive Directors continues between meetings.

The board held a number of unscheduled meetings to 
discuss specific issues or matters of an urgent nature. 
In particular, the Board maintained formal and informal 
communication to discuss the evolving Covid-19 
situation, its impact and to determine the Group’s 
response, including identifying opportunities.

Internal Controls & Risk Management

The Board has ultimate responsibility for the Group’s 
system of internal control and for reviewing its 
effectiveness. Any such system of internal control 
can provide reasonable, but not absolute, assurance 
against material misstatement or loss. However, the 
Board considers that the internal controls in place are 
appropriate for the size, complexity and risk profile of 
the Group.

The principal risks faced by the business are 
summarised on pages 28 and 29.

Following the reverse take over, the enlarged Group 
initially operated on a number of different finance 
systems. A new finance system called Oracle NetSuite, 
was implemented across the group. NetSuite is 
considered a best-in-class finance system that has 
the capacity to grow with the Group as it expands. 
Having a consistent finance system across all 

Annual report and financial accounts 2021

businesses enables faster financial reporting and 
improved controls.

The principal elements of the Group’s internal control 
system include:

•  monthly management meetings attended by the 
executive directors and the senior management 
team from each Group business to discuss strategy 
as well as day-to-day activities of each business;

•  an organisational structure with defined levels of 
responsibility, which promotes entrepreneurial 
decision making and agile implementation whilst 
mitigating risks;

•  segregation of duties so no individual can have 

undue influence or control over an activity, process 
or transaction;

•  a comprehensive annual budgeting process, 

producing a detailed integrated profit and loss, 
balance sheet and cash flow, which is approved by 
the Board;

•  detailed monthly reporting of performance; and

•  central control over key areas such as capital 

expenditure authorisation and banking facilities.

The Group continues to review its system of internal 
control to ensure adherence to best practice, whilst 
also having regard to its size and the resources 
available. The Board considers that the introduction 
of an internal audit function is not appropriate at this 
juncture, but will keep this under review.

The Board conducts annual reviews of its register of 
key risks and on a bi-annual basis reviews the risk 
landscape in detail, including a consideration of risks, 
likelihood, scale of potential impact and the existence 
of assurance, mitigation or appropriate contingencies.

 
Strategic Report 

Governance

Financial statements

41

Business Culture, Values  
and Behaviours

Respect is a core value of the Barkby Group that is 
consistently promoted across every business. The 
Barkby culture encourages all employees to take 
responsibility for their actions and to adopt a “Do the 
right thing” mindset.

Each individual trading division is proud to be part 
of the Barkby Group and Respect is both an internal 
attitude between colleagues as well as an objective for 
Barkby’s external perception and reputation.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, we have witnessed 
a solidarity and commitment across our workforce, 
which inspires a strong confidence in the group’s 
potential for future success.

As a relatively new group, the Directors acknowledge 
that it will take time to build a consistent culture. A 
newly created Head of People role retains primary 
responsibility for the Group’s objectives across Culture, 
Values and Behaviours. There is a shared belief that 
true culture is best defined not as a written policy 
but by the actions of Barkby team members on a 
daily basis.

Development

The Company Secretary ensures that all Directors are 
kept abreast of changes in relevant legislation and 
regulations, with the assistance of the Group’s advisers 
where appropriate. Executive Directors will be subject 
to the Group’s performance review process through 
which their performance against predetermined 
objectives is reviewed and their personal and 
professional development needs considered. An 
annual performance appraisal of Non-executive 
Directors will be undertaken by the Chairman as part 
of the Board evaluation process, at which time any 
training or development needs will be addressed.

Board members attend relevant business conferences 
and briefings to keep their knowledge of industry 
trends and compliance requirements up to date.

Conflicts of Interest

At each meeting the Board considers Directors’ 
conflicts of interest. The Group’s Articles of 
Association provide for the Board to authorise any 
actual or potential conflicts of interest. 

External Appointments

As appropriate, the Board may authorise Executive 
Directors to take Non-Executive positions in other 
companies and organisations, provided the time 
commitment does not conflict with the Director’s 
duties to the Group, since such appointments 
should broaden their experience. The acceptance 
of appointment to such positions is subject to the 
approval of the Executive Chairman.

Directors’ and Officers’ Liability 
Insurance

The Group has purchased Directors’ and Officers’ 
liability insurance during the period as allowed by the 
Group’s articles.

Election of Directors

All continuing Directors of the Group will 
offer themselves for re-election at the Annual 
General Meeting.

Relations with Stakeholders

The Group maintains communication with a wide 
range of stakeholders to ensure that their needs, 
interests and expectations are understood and 
reflected within the Group’s strategy. Customer 
feedback is collected directly from customers at each 
business locations and remotely for online customers.

Each business regularly monitors social media and 
other inbound customer queries and endeavours to 
respond in a comprehensive and timely manner. We 
carefully consider how we source products within our 
supply chain, especially in relation to fresh produce 
in our pub business and coffee beans purchased by 
Workshop Coffee.

Employee feedback is sought via regular anonymous 
surveys, with the opportunity to discuss topics 
directly with the Head of People, the Board or via an 
intermediary to present topics on their behalf.

www.barkbygroup.com42

B

Barkby Group Plc

Corporate Governance Report continued

Relations with Shareholders

The Group maintains communication with institutional 
shareholders through individual meetings with 
Executive Directors, particularly following publication 
of the Group’s interim and full period results. Private 
shareholders are encouraged to attend the Annual 
General Meeting at which the Group’s activities 
are discussed.

General information about the Group is available on 
the Group’s website (www.barkbygroup.com). The 
Executive Chairman and independent Non-executive 
Directors will attend meetings with investors and 

analysts as required. Investor relations activity and a 
review of the share register are regular items on the 
Board’s agenda.

Annual General Meeting (AGM)

The Notice of Annual General Meeting and the 
ordinary and special resolutions to be put to 
the meeting are included in the Notice of AGM 
accompanying this Annual Report.

QCA Code Compliance

Governance Principal

Compliant

Explanation

Further Reading

Deliver Growth

Establish a strategy 
and business model to 
promote long-term 
value for shareholders.

Seek to understand 
and meet shareholder 
needs and 
expectations.

Take into account 
wider stakeholder and 
social responsibilities 
and their implications 
for long-term success.

Embed effective risk 
management, 
considering both 
opportunities and 
threats, throughout the 
organisation.









The strategy for each division and the 
Group as a whole is determined by the 
Board. Strategic progress milestones 
are set and tracked between the 
Directors and senior management.

Regular meetings are held with 
investors and analysts and the Board 
regularly considers how decisions could 
impact and be received by 
shareholders. Our AGM provides an 
opportunity for all shareholders to hear 
from and meet with our Directors.

Wider stakeholder responsibilities have 
been front of mind during the 
pandemic. The Board identifies the 
main stakeholders in the business and 
regularly discusses how employees, 
suppliers, customers and others might 
be affected by decisions and 
developments in the business. We 
believe that social responsibilities are 
not only a responsibility but a 
requirement to be a successful 
business.

Both the Board and Audit Committee 
regularly review risks, including new 
threats, and the processes to mitigate 
and contain them. Whilst the Board is 
responsible for risk, our culture seeks 
to empower all colleagues to manage 
risk effectively across all our 
businesses.

To find out more about our 
strategy and business model see

pg4

For more information on our 
relations with shareholders see

pg41

Corporate Governance Report 
and Sustainability Report

pgs 34 and p36

We have summarised the main 
risks faced by the business and 
how they are being managed on

pg28-29

Annual report and financial accounts 2021

Strategic Report 

Governance

Financial statements

43

Governance Principal

Compliant

Explanation

Further Reading

Maintain a dynamic management framework

Maintain the Board as a 
well-functioning, 
balanced team led by 
the Chair.

Ensure that between 
them the Directors 
have the necessary 
up-to-date experience, 
skills and capabilities.

Evaluate Board 
performance based on 
clear and relevant 
objectives, seeking 
continuous 
improvement.

Promote a corporate 
culture that is based on 
ethical values and 
behaviours.

Maintain governance 
structures and 
processes that are fit 
for purpose and 
support good decision- 
making by the Board.

Build Trust

Communicate how the 
Company is governed 
and is performing by 
maintaining a dialogue 
with shareholders and 
other relevant 
stakeholders.

Our Board works well together as a 
team and contains complimentary 
experience across property, hospitality 
and life sciences industries, as well as 
the required experience in compliance, 
governance and financial management.

We assess the adequacy of the Board’s 
collective skills and experience as part 
of the annual Board evaluation. 
Directors’ individual development 
needs will be discussed annually with 
the Chairman.

An annual Board evaluation will be 
undertaken to review the Board’s 
effectiveness, track improvements 
since the previous year and plan 
additional actions.

Respect is a core value of the Barkby 
Group that is consistently promoted 
across every business. Each individual 
trading division is proud to be part of 
the Barkby Group.  We have witnessed 
a solidarity and commitment across our 
workforce during the pandemic, which 
instils a huge amount of confidence in 
the group’s potential for future success 
through a supportive culture.

The Directors recognise the importance 
of sound corporate governance and 
have therefore adopted the QCA code 
to support decision making at board 
level.

We communicate with a range of 
stakeholders. Employee concerns and 
issues are represented by a newly 
created “Head of People” role, which 
has overall responsibility for this area. 
We have maintained good 
communication and endeavoured to 
work collaboratively with our suppliers, 
especially in relation to the challenges 
caused by the pandemic.













Our Directors and details of their 
individual roles, backgrounds 
and experience are provided on

pg38-39

Corporate Governance Report

Evaluation will be reviewed by 
the Nomination Committee.

Corporate Governance Report

More detailed information about 
our governance structures and 
processes can be found in our 
corporate governance report

Further information on our 
dialogue with stakeholders and 
shareholders can be found on 

pg41

and in our corporate governance 
statement on 

pg36

See more information relevant to our 
wider stakeholders on our website 
www.barkbygroup.com

www.barkbygroup.com44

B

Barkby Group Plc

Audit Committee Report

Following admission to AIM in January 2020, a new 
Audit Committee was formed comprising of Jonathan 
Warburton as Chairman, Jeremy Sparrow and 
Matt Wood.

The Audit Committee met twice during the financial year 
and will meet at least three times in each financial year 
going forward and at any other time when it is appropriate 
to consider and discuss audit and accounting related issues.

The Audit Committee is responsible for determining the 
application of the financial reporting and internal control 
principles, including reviewing the effectiveness of the 
Enlarged Group’s financial reporting, internal control and 
risk-management procedures, and the scope, quality and 
results of the external audit.

The Audit Committee approved the appointment of 
Crowe U.K. LLP as auditors for the enlarged group as 
well as focussing on the accounting requirements of the 
Reverse Takeover transaction. Following the completion of 
the 2020 audit, the audit partner had been in situ for five 
years. Considering the significant changes that occurred 
to the Company and the Group during 2020, the Audit 
Committee requested the audit partner to remain for a 
further two years.

Jonathan Warburton was chairman of the Audit 
Committee during the financial year. After the year end, 
Jonathan Warburton stepped down as Chairman of the 
Audit Committee and Matt Wood undertook this role. 
Jonathan Warburton remains the Senior Independent  
Non-Executive Director. 

Remuneration Committee Report

The Remuneration Committee comprises Jonathan Warburton as Chairman, Jeremy Sparrow and Matt 
Wood. The Remuneration Committee reviews the performance of the Executive Directors and sets the 
scale and structure of their remuneration and the basis of their service agreements with due regards to the 
interests of Shareholders.

In determining the remuneration of Executive Directors, the Remuneration Committee will seek to enable the 
enlarged Group to attract and retain Executives of the highest calibre. The Remuneration Committee also makes 
recommendations to the Board concerning the allocation and administration of share options. No Director is 
permitted to participate in discussions or decisions concerning their own remuneration.

The Remuneration Committee intends to meet at least twice in each financial year. However, committee 
meetings were not held during the financial year ending June 2021 as the newly formed Board focussed on 
stabilising the group through the impacts of Covid-19. The Remuneration Committee subsequently met in 
November 2021.

Directors 
Remuneration

The following table summarises 
the total gross remuneration 
of the Directors who served 
during the period to 1 July 2021 
and 2 July 2020.

No performance bonuses 
relating to group profitability 
were paid.

Appointment 
Appointment 
Date
Date

Resignation 
Resignation 
Date
Date

Basic Salary and Fees
Basic Salary and Fees

Benefits

Benefits

Cash Bonus

Cash Bonus

Share Award

Share Award

Total

Total

2021
2020

2020
2019

2020

2021

2020

2019

2021

2020

2019

2020

2020

2021

2020

2019

2020

2021

2020

2019

2020

2021

2020

2019

Charles Dickson
Charles Dickson

Rupert Fraser
Rupert Fraser

Douglas Benzie
Douglas Benzie

Jonathan Warburton
Jonathan Warburton

Matthew Wood
Matthew Wood

Jeremy Sparrow
Jeremy Sparrow

07/01/2020
07/01/2020

26/06/2018
26/06/2018

30/09/2020
30/09/2020

07/01/2020
07/01/2020

07/01/2020
07/01/2020

18/07/2016
18/07/2016

180,000.00 
 110,000.00 

 110,000.00 
 -  

120,000.00 
 85,166.68 

 85,166.68 
 -  

 566.05 

 813.36 

 566.05 

 -  

 160,000.00
 36,800.33 

 36,800.33 
 -  

 1,200.88 

 -  

 8,000.00 

 -  

 -  
 4,000.00 

 4,000.00 
 -  

 -  
 4,000.00 

 4,000.00 
 -  

 -  
 10,000.00 

 10,000.00 
 8,000.00 

Duncan Harvey
Duncan Harvey

26/06/2018
26/06/2018

07/01/2020
07/01/2020

 -  
 -  

 -  
 5,040.00 

Emma Dark
Emma Dark

Giles Clarke
Giles Clarke

13/05/2019 30/09/2020
13/05/2019 30/09/2020

 -  
 75,134.25 

 75,134.25 
 56,473.00 

 566.05 

 -  

 566.05 

 -  

30/12/2015
30/12/2015

07/01/2020
07/01/2020

 -  
 17,000.00 

 17,000.00 
 -  

Stephen Cook
Stephen Cook

30/01/2019
30/01/2019

07/01/2020
07/01/2020

 -  
 74,785.95 

 74,785.95 
 99,206.09 

 473.25 

 -  

 473.25 

 -  

 45,000.00 

- 45,000.00 

 -  

 877.20 

-

 803.79 

 877.20 

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 180,000.00 

 110,000.00 

 110,000.00 

 -  

 120,813.36 

 85,732.73 

 85,732.73 

 -  

 169,200.88 

 36,800.33 

 36,800.33 

 -  

 4,000.00 

 -  

 4,000.00 

 -  

 4,000.00 

 -  

 4,000.00 

 -  

 10,000.00 

 -  

 10,000.00 

 8,000.00 

 -  

 -  

 5,040.00 

 -  

 75,700.30 

 -  

 56,473.00 

 75,700.30 

 17,000.00 

 -  

 17,000.00 

 -  

 121,136.40 

-

 100,009.88 

 121,136.40 

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

Defined 

Defined 

Contribution 

Contribution 

Pension

Pension

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

Annual report and financial accounts 2021

Strategic Report 

Governance

Financial statements

45

Nomination Committee Report

The Nomination Committee comprises Charles 
Dickson as Chairman, Jeremy Sparrow, Jonathan 
Warburton and Matt Wood. The Nomination 
Committee is responsible for reviewing the structure, 
size and composition of the board, preparing a 
description of the role and capabilities required 
for a particular appointment and identifying and 
nominating candidates to fill board positions as and 
when they arise.

The Nomination Committee intends to meet at least 
twice in each financial year. However, committee 
meetings were not held during the financial year 
ending June 2021 as the newly formed Board focussed 
on stabilising the group through the impacts of 
Covid-19. The Nomination Committee subsequently 
met in November 2021. 

Appointment 

Appointment 

Resignation 

Resignation 

Date

Date

Date

Date

Basic Salary and Fees

Basic Salary and Fees

Benefits
Benefits

Cash Bonus
Cash Bonus

Defined 
Defined 
Contribution 
Contribution 
Pension
Pension

Share Award
Share Award

Total
Total

2020

2021

2020

2019

2021
2020

2020
2019

2021
2020

2020
2019

2021
2020

2020
2019

2021
2020

2020
2019

2021
2020

2020
2019

Charles Dickson

Charles Dickson

Rupert Fraser

Rupert Fraser

Douglas Benzie

Douglas Benzie

Jonathan Warburton

Jonathan Warburton

Matthew Wood

Matthew Wood

Jeremy Sparrow

Jeremy Sparrow

07/01/2020

07/01/2020

26/06/2018

26/06/2018

30/09/2020

30/09/2020

07/01/2020

07/01/2020

07/01/2020

07/01/2020

18/07/2016

18/07/2016

 110,000.00 

180,000.00 

 110,000.00 

 -  

 -  
 -  

 -  
 -  

120,000.00 

 85,166.68 

 85,166.68 

 -  

 813.36 
 566.05 

 566.05 
 -  

 160,000.00

 36,800.33 

 36,800.33 

 -  

 1,200.88 
 -  

 4,000.00 

 -  

 4,000.00 

 -  

 4,000.00 

 -  

 4,000.00 

 -  

 10,000.00 

 -  

 10,000.00 

 8,000.00 

 -  
 -  

 -  
 -  

 -  
 -  

 -  
 -  

 -  
 -  

 -  
 -  

 -  
 -  

 -  
 -  

 -  
 -  

Duncan Harvey

Duncan Harvey

26/06/2018

26/06/2018

07/01/2020

07/01/2020

 -  

 -  

 5,040.00 

 -  

Emma Dark

Emma Dark

Giles Clarke

Giles Clarke

13/05/2019 30/09/2020

13/05/2019 30/09/2020

 75,134.25 

 -  

 56,473.00 

 75,134.25 

 -  
 566.05 

 566.05 
 -  

30/12/2015

30/12/2015

07/01/2020

07/01/2020

 17,000.00 

 -  

 17,000.00 

 -  

 -  
 -  

 -  
 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  

 -  
 -  

 -  
 -  

 -  
 -  

 -  
 -  

 -  
 -  

 -  
 -  

 -  
 -  

 -  
 -  

 -  
 -  

 -  
 -  

 -  
 -  

 -  
 -  

 -  
 -  

 8,000.00 
 -  

 -  
 -  

 -  
 -  

 -  
 -  

 -  
 -  

 -  
 -  

 -  
 -  

 -  
 -  

 -  
 -  

 -  
 -  

 -  
 -  

 -  
 -  

 -  
 -  

 -  
 -  

 -  
 -  

 -  
 -  

 -  
 -  

 -  
 -  

 -  
 -  

 -  
 -  

Stephen Cook

Stephen Cook

30/01/2019

30/01/2019

07/01/2020

07/01/2020

 74,785.95 

 -  

 99,206.09 

 74,785.95 

 -  
 473.25 

 473.25 
 -  

 45,000.00 

- 45,000.00 
 -  

-
 877.20 

 877.20 
 803.79 

 -  
 -  

 -  
 -  

 -  
 -  

 -  

 -  
 -  

 -  
 -  

 -  
 -  

 -  

 -  
 -  

 -  
 -  

 -  
 -  

 -  
 -  

 -  
 -  

 -  
 -  

 -  
 -  

 -  

 -  
 -  

 -  
 -  

 -  
 -  

 -  

 -  
 -  

 -  
 -  

 -  
 -  

 -  
 -  

 180,000.00 
 110,000.00 

 110,000.00 
 -  

 120,813.36 
 85,732.73 

 85,732.73 
 -  

 169,200.88 
 36,800.33 

 36,800.33 
 -  

 -  
 4,000.00 

 4,000.00 
 -  

 -  
 4,000.00 

 4,000.00 
 -  

 -  
 10,000.00 

 10,000.00 
 8,000.00 

 -  
 -  

 -  
 5,040.00 

 -  
 75,700.30 

 75,700.30 
 56,473.00 

 -  
 17,000.00 

 17,000.00 
 -  

-
 121,136.40 

 121,136.40 
 100,009.88 

www.barkbygroup.com46

B

Barkby Group Plc

Directors’ Report

The Directors present their report together with the 
audited financial statements for the 52-week period 
ended 1 July 2021.

The corporate governance statement on pages 36 to 
45 also forms part of this Directors’ report.

Review of Business

The Chairman’s statement on page 6 and the 
strategic report on pages 1 to 27 provides a review 
of the business, the Group’s trading for the period 
ended 1 July 2021, key performance indicators and an 
indication of future developments.

Result and Dividend

The Group has reported its Consolidated Financial 
Statements in accordance with International 
Accounting Standards in conformity with the 
Companies Act 2006. The Group’s results for the 
period are set out in the Statement of profit or loss 
and other comprehensive income on page 56.

The Company financial statements have been prepared 
under IFRS 101.

The Group’s revenue of £15.1m (FY20: £12.0m), gross 
margin of 13.2% (FY20: 7.1%) and loss after tax of 
£4.4m (FY20: loss of £3.1m) reflect the challenging 
circumstances relating to Covid-19 and government 
action taken to protect public health.

In the prior financial year on 19 December 2019 
Barkby Group Plc announced that it had entered into 
conditional agreements to acquire the entire issued 
share capital of each of Tarncourt Ambit Properties Ltd, 
Tarncourt Ambit Ltd and Workshop Trading Holdings 
Ltd. The transaction was completed on 7 January 2020 
and Barkby’s shares were then admitted to trading on 
the AIM market.

Workshop Trading Holdings Ltd retains 100% ownership 
of its trading subsidiary Workshop Trading London Ltd.

Tarncourt Ambit Properties Limited and Tarncourt 
Ambit Limited were subsequently renamed to Barkby 
Real Estate Development Ltd and Barkby Real Estate 
Ltd respectively.

The transaction was deemed to be a reverse take 
over, which has consequently been reflected in the 
consolidation accounting under IFRS. The consolidated 
statement of profit and loss includes the prior year 
results of the Dickson Controlled Entities for the 15 
month period to 2 July 2020 and the results of Barkby 
Group Plc and Centurian Automotive Ltd for the period 
from 7 January 2020 to 2 July 2020.

Cambridge Sleep Sciences Ltd was incorporated on 
14 January 2020, therefore its results are included in the 
prior year Consolidated Income Statement from that 
date to 2 July 2020. Barkby Group Plc holds 85% of the 
ordinary share capital of Cambridge Sleep Sciences Ltd.

The 2021 financial year includes the results of all group 
companies for the 52 week period ended on 1 July 2021. 

Annual report and financial accounts 2021

 
Strategic Report 
Strategic Report 

Governance
Governance

Financial statements
Financial statements

47
00

The composition of the prior year Consolidated Statement of Profit and Loss is summarised below:

Entity 

Barkby Group Plc

Centurian Automotive Ltd

Barkby Real Estate Developments Ltd

Barkby Real Estate Ltd

Workshop Trading Holdings Ltd

Workshop Trading London Ltd

Cambridge Sleep Sciences

Consolidated Income 
Statement Period From

Months of Trade Included in Consolidated 
Income Statement (Rounded)

7-Jan-20

7-Jan-20

1-Apr-19

1-Apr-19

1-Apr-19

1-Apr-19

14-Jan-20

6

6

15

15

15

15

5.5

The summary financial KPIs are as follows:

Period Ended

Revenue (£m)

Gross margin %

Loss after tax (£m)

1 July 2021

2 July 2020

£15.1m

13.2%

£4.4m

£12.0m

7.1%

£3.1m

Please refer to the Operating and Financial Report for further review of trading performance 

The Board is not recommending a dividend.

Directors

The Directors of the Group during the period were:

Charles 
Dickson

Rupert 
Fraser

Douglas 
Benzie

Jonathan 
Warburton

Jeremy  
Sparrow 

Matthew 
Wood

Executive

Non-
Executive

The names of the Directors, along with their brief biographical details are given on 

pg38-39

www.barkbygroup.com

Annual report and financial accounts 2021

www.barkbygroup.com48

B

Barkby Group Plc

Directors’ Report continued

Directors’ Interests

Charles Dickson

Rupert Fraser

Jonathan Warburton

33,279,757

1,764,713

250,000

No Director has any beneficial interest in the share 
capital of any subsidiary undertaking.

The Group purchased and maintained throughout 
the financial period Directors’ and Officers’ liability 
insurance in respect of itself and its Directors.

Political Donations

The Group made no political donations in the 
financial period.

Disclosure of Information to 
Auditors

As far as the Directors are aware, there is no relevant 
audit information (that is, information needed by the 
Group’s auditor in connection with preparing their 
report) of which the Group’s auditor is unaware, and 
each Director has taken all reasonable steps that he 
or she ought to have taken as a Director in order to 
make himself or herself aware of any relevant audit 
information and to establish that the Group’s auditor is 
aware of that information.

Financial Instruments

The financial risk management objectives of the 
Group, including credit risk, interest rate risk and 
foreign exchange risk, are provided in Note 27 to the 
Consolidated Financial Statements on page 97.

Share Capital Structure

At 1 July 2021, the Company’s issued share capital was 
£1,178,980.55 divided into 136,948,282 ordinary shares 
of £0.00860675675675676 each.

The holders of ordinary shares are entitled to one vote 
per share at the general meetings of the Company.

Annual report and financial accounts 2021

Substantial Shareholders

At 1 July 2021, the Company had been notified of 
the following substantial shareholders comprising 
of 4% or more of the issued ordinary share 
capital:

Charles Dickson 

24.2%

Davina Dickson 

20.3%

James Dickson 

13.0%

Purchase of Own Shares

There was no purchase of own shares in the period.

Going Concern

After making enquiries, the Directors have a 
reasonable expectation that the Group has adequate 
resources to continue in operational existence for 
the foreseeable future. For this reason, they continue 
to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the 
financial statements. Further detail on going concern is 
on page 64.

Strategic Report 

Governance

Financial statements

49

Post Balance Sheet Events

Wellingborough additional land acquisition

The group completed the acquisition of additional land 
from Wrenn School in September 2021 as part of our 
Wellingborough development site.

Huntingdon Planning Permission

Planning permission was granted for a 32,000 sq.ft. 
scheme at Huntingdon in August 2021.

Maldon acquisition and finance

Barkby completed the freehold purchase of the 
former Quest Motor dealership in Maldon, Essex for a 
consideration of £2.2m in October 2021.

The group entered a £4.4m debt facility to fund the 
acquisition of Maldon and refinance debt secured on 
the Saffron Waldon site.

Exchange of Contracts at Swindon

Exchanged contracts in December 2021 for a 
commercial development site in Swindon, Wiltshire. It 
is proposed that the Group will develop a 30,000 sq. 
ft. mixed-use retail and trade scheme at the site. Under 
the proposed development, the site has an estimated 
gross development value of £7.5 million.

The Board considers that no other material post 
balance sheet events occurred between the end of the 
period and the date of publication of this report.

The Group will not make assumptions about a person’s 
ability to carry out their work, for example based on 
their ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital 
status, religion or other philosophical beliefs, age or 
disability.

Likewise, it won’t make general assumptions about 
capabilities, characteristics and interests of particular 
groups that may influence the treatment of individuals, 
the assessment of their abilities and their access to 
opportunities for training, development and promotion.

Auditor

Crowe U.K. LLP has expressed its willingness to 
continue in office as auditor and a resolution to 
reappoint them will be proposed at the forthcoming 
Annual General Meeting.

Annual General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting ordinary business 
comprises receipt of the Directors’ report and audited 
financial statements for the period ended 1 July 2021, 
the re-election of Directors, the reappointment of 
Crowe U.K LLP as auditor and authorisation of the 
Directors to determine the auditor’s remuneration.

Notice of the AGM date will be sent to shareholders in 
January 2022.

Future Developments

The Board intends to continue to pursue the business 
strategy as outlined in the strategic report on 
pages 14 to 35.

Approval

The Directors’ Report was approved by the Board 
of Directors on 23 December 2021 and signed on its 
behalf by Charles Dickson and Douglas Benzie.

Charles Dickson

Douglas Benzie

23 December 2021

Stakeholder Involvement Policies

The Directors believe that the involvement of 
employees, customers and suppliers is an important 
part of the business culture and contributes to the 
successes achieved to date (view our sustainability 
report on pages 34 and 35).

Equal Opportunities

The Group is committed to eliminating discrimination 
and encouraging diversity. Its aim is that its people will 
be truly representative of all sections of society and 
that each person feels respected and is able to perform 
to the best of their ability. The Group aims for its people 
to reflect the businesses diverse customer base.

www.barkbygroup.com

50

B

Barkby Group Plc

Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities 

The directors are responsible for preparing the 
annual report and the financial statements in 
accordance with applicable law and regulations.

Company law requires the directors to prepare 
Group and Company financial statements for each 
financial year. Under that law and as required by the 
Alternative Investment Market rules of the London 
Stock Exchange, the directors have elected to prepare 
the Group financial statements in accordance with 
International Accounting Standards in conformity with 
the requirements of the Companies act 2006 and the 
Company financial statements in accordance with 
Financial Reporting Standard 101, “Reduced Disclosure 
Framework”.

Under Company law the directors must not approve 
the financial statements unless they are satisfied that 
they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of 
the Group and Company and of the profit or loss of 
the Group for that period.

In preparing these financial statements, the directors 
are required to: 

•  select suitable accounting policies and then apply 

them consistently;

•  make judgements and accounting estimates that are 

reasonable and prudent;

•  state whether they have been prepared in 

accordance with International Accounting Standards 
in conformity with the requirements of the 
Companies act 2006;

•  prepare the financial statements on the going 

concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume 
that the Company will continue in business.

The directors are responsible for keeping adequate 
accounting records that are sufficient to show and 
explain the Group’s and Company’s transactions and 
disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the 
financial position of the Company and enable them 
to ensure that the financial statements comply with 
the requirements of the Companies Act 2006. They 
are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of 
the Company and hence for taking reasonable steps 
for the prevention and detection of fraud and other 
irregularities.

Website Publication

The Directors are responsible for ensuring the Annual 
Report and the Financial Statements are made 
available on a website. Financial Statements are 
published on the Company’s website in accordance 
with legislation in the United Kingdom governing the 
preparation and dissemination of Financial Statements, 
which may vary from legislation in other jurisdictions.

The maintenance and integrity of the Company’s 
website is the responsibility of the Directors. The 
Directors’ responsibility also extends to the on-going 
integrity of the Financial Statements contained therein.

This report was approved by the board on 
23 December 2021 and signed on its behalf by:

Charles Dickson

Douglas Benzie

Annual report and fi nancial accounts 2021

Strategic Report 

Governance

Financial statements

51

Independent Auditor’s Report

Independent Auditor’s Report to the 
Members of Barkby Group Plc.

the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and 
appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of Barkby 
Group Plc (the “parent company”) and its subsidiaries 
(the “group”) for the period ended 1 July 2021 which 
comprise the Statement of Consolidated Profit or Loss 
and Other Comprehensive Income, the Consolidated 
and Company Statements of Financial Position, the 
Consolidated and Company Statements of Changes 
in Equity, the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows 
and notes to the financial statements, including a 
summary of significant accounting policies. The 
financial reporting framework that has been applied 
in the preparation of the group financial statements 
is international accounting standards in conformity 
with the Companies Act 2006. The financial reporting 
framework that has been applied in the preparation of 
the parent company financial statements is applicable 
law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, 
including Financial Reporting Standard 101 Reduced 
Disclosures Framework (United Kingdom Generally 
Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion:

•  the financial statements give a true and fair view of 

the state of the group’s and of the parent company’s 
affairs as at 1 July 2021 and of the group’s loss for 
the period then ended;

•  the group financial statements have been properly 

prepared in accordance with international 
accounting standards in conformity with the 
Companies Act 2006;

•  the parent company financial statements have 
been properly prepared in accordance with 
United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting 
Practice; and

•  the financial statements have been prepared in 

Conclusions relating to going concern

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded 
that the Director’s use of the going concern basis of 
accounting in the preparation of the financial statements 
is appropriate. Our evaluation of the director’s 
assessment of the entity’s ability to continue to adopt 
the going concern basis of accounting included:

•  Obtaining management’s assessment of going 

concern and the underlying financial projections 
which support that assessment;

•  testing to ensure the mathematical accuracy of the 

model presented;

•  reviewing the assumptions used about future cash 

flows and timings;

•  challenging the basis of management’s estimates 

and assumptions in relation to profitability and cash 
flow for each business and available cost mitigations;

•  confirming the existence of facilities which will be 

relied on;

•  considering a range of sensitivities to assess 
reasonably likely changes to key inputs; and

•  reviewing the appropriateness of the disclosures in 

the financial statements.

Based on the audit work we have performed, we have 
not identified any material uncertainties relating to 
events or conditions that, individually or collectively, 
may cast significant doubt on the group and parent 
company’s ability to continue as a going concern for 
a period of at least twelve months from when the 
financial statements are authorised for issue.

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the 
directors with respect to going concern are described 
in the relevant section of this report.

accordance with the requirements of the Companies 
Act 2006.

Materiality

Basis for opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with 
International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) 
and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those 
standards are further described in the Auditor’s 
responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements 
section of our report. We are independent of the 
group in accordance with the ethical requirements that 
are relevant to our audit of the financial statements 
in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and 
we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in 
accordance with these requirements. We believe that 

In planning and performing our audit we applied 
the concept of materiality. An item is considered 
material if it could reasonably be expected to change 
the economic decisions of a user of the financial 
statements. We used the concept of materiality to 
both focus our testing and to evaluate the impact of 
misstatements identified.

•  £218,000 is the group level of materiality determined 

for the financial statements as a whole, this has 
been determined based on approximately 5% of the 
consolidated result for the period. As the Group is 
a diversified trading group we determined that a 

www.barkbygroup.com52

B

Barkby Group Plc

Independent Auditor’s Report continued

trading based metric was the most appropriate to 
use for determining materiality.

•  £164,000 is the group level of performance materiality. 

Performance materiality is used to determine the 
extent of our testing for the audit of the financial 
statements. Performance materiality is set based on 
the audit materiality as adjusted for the judgements 
made as to the entity risk and our evaluation of the 
specific risk of each audit area having regard to the 
internal control environment. Where considered 
appropriate performance materiality may be reduced 
to a lower level, such as, for related party transactions 
and directors’ remuneration.

•  £6,000 is the group level of triviality agreed with 
the Audit Committee. Errors above this threshold 
are reported to the Audit Committee, errors below 
this threshold would also be reported to the Audit 
Committee if, in our opinion as auditor, disclosure 
was required on qualitative grounds.

The parent company materiality was assessed as 
£110,000 based on approximately 5% of the result. 
As the parent company trades in its own right we 
determined that a trading based metric was the most 
appropriate to use for determining materiality. Parent 
company performance materiality was £82,000.

Overview of the scope of our audit

There are four significant components group, the parent 
company which includes Barkby Pubco, Centurian 
Automotive, Workshop Coffee and Real Estate. We 
audited all of the significant components of the group.

Key Audit Matters

Key audit matters are those matters that, in our 
professional judgement, were of most significance in our 
audit of the financial statements of the current period 
and include the most significant assessed risks of material 
misstatement (whether or not due to fraud) that we 
identified. These matters included those which had the 
greatest effect on: the overall audit strategy, the allocation 
of resources in the audit; and directing the efforts of the 
engagement team. These matters were addressed in 
the context of our audit of the financial statements as a 
whole, and in forming our opinion thereon, and we do not 
provide a separate opinion on these matters.

This is not a complete list of all risks identified by our 
audit.

Key audit matter

Impairment of goodwill

Note 17

The Group’s intangible assets predominantly 
comprises goodwill arising from the recent reverse 
acquisition in the prior year. The total carrying value 
of the goodwill was £8m at 1 July 2021 (2 July 2020: 
£8m).

How the scope of our audit addressed the key audit matter

We obtained management’s assessment of goodwill 
impairment and discussed the key inputs into the 
assessment with management.

We performed audit procedures, including challenge 
regarding reasonableness on the inputs into the model as 
follows:

•  the forecast cash flows within the assessment period;

•  the expected growth rate; and

•  the discount rate applied to the forecast.

We considered managements’ sensitivity analysis and also 
performed an additional range of sensitivities to assess 
whether a reasonably likely change to a key input would 
result in an impairment charge.

Annual report and financial accounts 2021

53

Key audit matter

How the scope of our audit addressed the key audit matter

For the parent company we identified one key audit matter:

Carrying value of investments in subsidiaries

and intercompany receivables

Note 18

At the reporting date the carrying value of 
investments in subsidiaries in the balance sheet of 
the parent entity was £26 million and amounts 
receivable from subsidiaries was £0.8 million.

We considered the risk that the carrying value of 
investments in subsidiaries and intercompany 
receivables was impaired. Given the significant 
increase in this balance during the prior year, we 
considered that there was a risk that balance could 
be misstated due to impairment.

Any impairment of investments in subsidiaries or 
intercompany receivables would reduce 
distributable profits and potentially impact the 
ability of the parent company to pay dividends.

We obtained management’s assessment of the impairment 
of investments in subsidiaries and intercompany 
receivables. Our scope specifically considered the 
following matters:

•  the appropriateness of the assumptions used by 

management in assessing the ability of the subsidiary 
companies to generate cash and remit that to the parent 
company; and

•  the mathematical accuracy of the underlying forecasts

•  recalculation of the impairment recognised

•  the appropriateness of the disclosure.

Strategic Report GovernanceFinancial statementswww.barkbygroup.com54

B

Barkby Group Plc

Independent Auditor’s Report continued

Our audit procedures in relation to these matters 
were designed in the context of our audit opinion 
as a whole. They were not designed to enable us to 
express an opinion on these matters individually and 
we express no such opinion.

Other information

Matters on which we are required to 
report by exception

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the 
group and the parent company and their environment 
obtained in the course of the audit, we have not 
identified material misstatements in the strategic 
report or the directors’ report.

The directors are responsible for the other information. 
The other information comprises the information 
included in the annual report, other than the financial 
statements and our auditor’s report thereon. Our 
opinion on the financial statements does not cover the 
other information and, except to the extent otherwise 
explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any 
form of assurance conclusion thereon.

We have nothing to report in respect of the following 
matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 
requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

•  adequate accounting records have not been kept 

by the parent company, or returns adequate for our 
audit have not been received from branches not 
visited by us; or

In connection with our audit of the financial 
statements, our responsibility is to read the other 
information and, in doing so, consider whether the 
other information is materially inconsistent with the 
financial statements or our knowledge obtained 
in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially 
misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies 
or apparent material misstatements, we are required 
to determine whether there is a material misstatement 
in the financial statements or a material misstatement 
of the other information. If, based on the work we 
have performed, we conclude that there is a material 
misstatement of this other information, we are 
required to report that fact.

We have nothing to report in this regard.

Opinion on other matter prescribed 
by the Companies Act 2006

In our opinion based on the work undertaken in the 
course of our audit

•  the information given in the strategic report and the 
directors’ report for the financial year for which the 
financial statements are prepared is consistent with 
the financial statements; and

•  the strategic report and the directors’ report have 
been prepared in accordance with applicable legal 
requirements.

•  the parent company financial statements are not in 

agreement with the accounting records and returns; 
or

•  certain disclosures of directors’ remuneration 

specified by law are not made; or

•  we have not received all the information and 

explanations we require for our audit

•  Responsibilities of directors

As explained more fully in the directors’ responsibilities 
statement set out on page 50, the directors are 
responsible for the preparation of the financial 
statements and for being satisfied that they give a 
true and fair view, and for such internal control as 
the directors determine is necessary to enable the 
preparation of financial statements that are free from 
material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial statements, the directors 
are responsible for assessing the group’s and the 
parent company’s ability to continue as a going 
concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related 
to going concern and using the going concern basis 
of accounting unless the directors either intend to 
liquidate the group or the parent company or to cease 
operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Annual report and financial accounts 2021

Strategic Report 

Governance

Financial statements

55

Auditor’s responsibilities for the 
audit of the financial statements

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance 
about whether the financial statements as a whole 
are free from material misstatement, whether due to 
fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that 
includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high 
level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit 
conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always 
detect a material misstatement when it exists.

Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are 
considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, 
they could reasonably be expected to influence the 
economic decisions of users taken on the basis of 
these financial statements.

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-
compliance with laws and regulations. We design 
procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined 
above, to detect material misstatements in respect 
of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which 
our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, 
including fraud is detailed below:

We obtained an understanding of the legal and 
regulatory frameworks within which the Group 
operates, focusing on those laws and regulations that 
have a direct effect on the determination of material 
amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. 
The laws and regulations we considered in this context 
were relevant company law and taxation legislation in 
the UK which is the principal jurisdictions in which the 
Group operates.

We identified the greatest risk of material impact 
on the financial statements from irregularities, 
including fraud, to be the override of controls by 
management. Our audit procedures to respond to 
these risks included enquiries of management about 
their own identification and assessment of the risks of 
irregularities, sample testing on the posting of journals 
and reviewing accounting estimates for biases.

Owing to the inherent limitations of an audit, there is 
an unavoidable risk that we may not have detected 
some material misstatements in the financial 
statements, even though we have properly planned 
and performed our audit in accordance with auditing 

standards. We are not responsible for preventing non-
compliance and cannot be expected to detect non-
compliance with all laws and regulations.

These inherent limitations are particularly significant 
in the case of misstatement resulting from fraud as 
this may involve sophisticated schemes designed to 
avoid detection, including deliberate failure to record 
transactions, collusion or the provision of intentional 
misrepresentations.

A further description of our responsibilities for the 
audit of the financial statements is located on the 
Financial Reporting Council’s website at: 
 www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This 
description forms part of our auditor’s report.

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the company’s members, 
as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of 
the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been 
undertaken so that we might state to the company’s 
members those matters we are required to state to 
them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. 
To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not 
accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than 
the company and the company’s members as a body, 
for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions 
we have formed.

Stephen Bullock
Senior Statutory Auditor
For and on behalf of
Crowe U.K. LLP
Statutory Auditor
London

23 December 2021

www.barkbygroup.com56

Statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income
For the year ended 1 July 2021

Revenue

Cost of sales

Gross profit

Other operating income

Administrative expenses

Loss from operations

Finance expense

Finance income

Loss before tax

Income tax expense

Loss and total comprehensive income for the period

Loss for the year is attributable to:
Non-controlling interest

Owners of Barkby Group Plc

Group

Year ended 
1 July 2021
£’000s

Period ended
2 July 2020 
£’000s

Notes

5

7

6

7

7

8

25

15,142

(13,145)

1,997

350

(5,787)

(3,440)

(978)

40

(4,378)

-

(4,378)

12,048

(11,188)

860

367

(3,538)

(2,311)

(949)

125

(3,135)

(4)

(3,139)

(164)

(4,214)

(4,378)

(44)

(3,095)

(3,139)

Pence

Pence

Loss per share for profit attributable to the owners of Barkby Group Plc
Basic and diluted loss per share

36

(3.09)

(2.69)

All of the loss of the year is from continuing operations.

The above statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income should be read in conjunction with the 
accompanying notes.

Barkby Group PlcBAnnual report and financial accounts 2021Strategic Report 

Governance

Financial statements

57

Consolidated statement of financial position
As at 1 July 2021

Assets

Non-current assets
Property, plant and equipment

Intangible assets

Right-of-use assets

Investments

Other non-current assets

Total non-current assets

Current assets
Inventory

Trade and other receivables

Contract assets

Prepayments

Other current assets

Cash and cash equivalents

Total current assets

Total assets

Liabilities

Current liabilities
Trade payables

Borrowings

Lease liabilities

Income tax

Other current liabilities

Total current liabilities

Non-current liabilities
Borrowings

Lease liabilities

Provisions

Total non-current liabilities

Total liabilities

Net assets/(liabilities)

Equity
Share capital

Share premium

Capital redemption reserve

Merger reserve

Issued equity

Retained losses

Equity attributable to the owners of Barkby Group Plc

Non-controlling interest

Total equity

Group

Notes

1 July 2021
£’000s

2 July 2020 
£’000s

15

17

16

18

14

12

10

11

13

9

19

20

21

22

19

20

23

24

26

26

26

25

33

1,480

8,503

2,977

2,542

219

15,721

6,096

220

-

380

84

84

6,864

22,585

(1,826)

(7,395)

(531)

(25)

(4,347)

(14,124)

(4,652)

(2,938)

(48)

(7,638)

(21,762)

823

1,179

4,493

-

(422)

5,250

(4,219)

1,031

(208)

823

1,554

8,355

2,643

2,042

127

14,721

4,226

446

4,898

401

641

306

10,938

25,659

(1,937)

(8,999)

(491)

(107)

(1,833)

(13,367)

(4,899)

(2,349)

(28)

(7,276)

(20,643)

5,016

1,164

4,323

-

(422)

5,065

(5)

5,060

(44)

5,016

The above statement of financial position should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes.
The Financial Statements were approved by the Board of Directors on 23 December 2021 and were signed by 
Charles Dickson and Douglas Benzie.

www.barkbygroup.com

   
58

B

Barkby Group Plc

Statement of financial position
As at 1 July 2021

Assets
Non-current assets

Property, plant and equipment

Intangible assets

Right-of-use assets

Investments

Other non-current assets

Total non-current assets

Current assets
Inventory

Trade and other receivables

Receivable from subsidiary undertaking

Other current assets

Prepayments

Cash and cash equivalents

Total current assets

Total assets

Liabilities

Current liabilities

Trade and other payables

Other current liabilities

Borrowings

Lease liabilities

Payable to subsidiary undertaking

Total current liabilities

Non-current liabilities
Borrowings

Lease liabilities

Provisions

Total non-current liabilities

Total liabilities

Net assets / (liabilities)

Equity
Share capital

Share premium

Capital redemption reserve

Merger relief reserve

Retained losses

Total equity

Company

Notes

1 July 2021
£’000s

2 July 2020 
£’000s

15

17

16

18

14

12

9

22

19

20

19

20

23

24

26

26

26

25

1,084

1,126

2,874

26,159

83

31,326

105

32

809

51

143

11

1,151

32,477

1,122

1,074

2,301

30,940

83

35,520

35

-

4,145

-

141

69

4,390

39,910

(830)

(2,173)

(914)

(432)

-

(691)

(1,260)

(1,509)

(282)

(25)

(4,349)

(3,767)

(683)

(2,871)

(48)

(3,602)

(7,951)

24,526

1,179

4,493

-

29,747

(10,893)

24,526

(295)

(2,187)

(28)

(2,510)

(6,277)

33,633

1,164

4,323

-

29,747

(1,601)

33,633

The loss for the year (3 July 2020 to 1 July 2021) for the Company was £9,292,000 (Loss for the period from 
1 June 2019 to 2 July 2020: £1,916,000). In the prior period, the pre-acquisition business combination loss (in the 
period 1 June 2019 to 6 January 2020) was £411,000 and the loss in the period since the business combination 
(7 January 2020 to 2 July 2020) was £1,505,000.

The above statement of financial position should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes.

The Financial Statements of Barkby Group Plc (company number 07139678) were approved by the
Board of Directors on 23 December 2021 and were signed by Charles Dickson and Douglas Benzie.

Annual report and fi nancial accounts 2021

   
Statement of changes in equity
For the year ended 1 July 2021

59

Group
Balance at 1 April 2019 

Loss after income tax and total 

comprehensive loss for the period

Capital reduction

Shares issued to settle acquisition fees

Shares issued to acquire subsidiaries

Costs associated with issuance of shares

-

-

3

879

-

-

-

(6,347)

(3,078)

92

-

(626)

Transactions with owners in their capacity as owners:
Shares issued for cash (a)

143

4,857

Payment to shareholders in respect of 

acquisition (b)

Shares issued to cancel debt (c)

Balance at 2 July 2020

Balance 3 July 2020

Loss after income tax and total 

comprehensive loss for the year

Shares issued to settle deferred 

consideration

Transactions with owners in their capacity as owners:
Shares issued following the exercise
of Warrants

13

13

Share
capital 
£’000s

Share
premium 
£’000s

Capital
redemption
reserve 
£’000s

Merger
reserve 
£’000s

Profit
and loss
reserve 
£’000s

Non-
controlling
interest 
£’000s

Total
equity 
£’000s

139

6,347

3,078

(9,088)

(5,585)

-

(5,109)

(3,095)

(44)

(3,139)

-

-

-

5,446

-

75

9,425

-

-

-

-

-

(750)

3,145

3,220

(422)

-

(750)

(5)

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

(44)

(422)

(5)

(44)

5,016

(4,214)

(164)

(4,378)

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

95

6,325

(626)

5,075

(750)

3,145

7,470

5,016

Total
equity 
£’000s

60

125

125

823

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Capital
redemption
reserve 
£’000s

Merger
Reserve
£’000s

Profit
and loss
reserve 
£’000s

Non-
controlling
interest 
£’000s

-

-

-

-

143

1,164

4,857

4,323

Share
capital 
£’000s

Share
premium 
£’000s

1,164

4,323

-

2

-

58

112

112

Balance at 1 July 2021

1,179

4,493

(422)

(4,219)

(208)

The above statement of changes in equity should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes.

Notes

(a) 

(b) 

(c) 

 Shares issued for cash includes £75,000 of equity issued by Workshop Trading Holdings Limited prior to the business 
combination between the Barkby Group and the Dickson Controlled Entities.

 Payment to shareholders in respect of the acquisition was made to certain shareholders of Tarncourt Ambit Limited in their 
capacity as shareholders of Barkby Group, as part of the business combination between Barkby Group and the Dickson 
Controlled Entities.

 Shares issued to cancel debt were issued by The Dickson Controlled Entities prior to the business combinations between 
Barkby Group and the Dickson Controlled Entities.

www.barkbygroup.comStrategic Report GovernanceFinancial statements60

Statement of changes in equity
For the year ended 1 July 2021

Share
capital 
£’000s

Share
premium 
£’000s

Capital
redemption
reverse 
£’000s

Merger
relief 
reserve 
£’000s

Profit
and loss
reserve 
£’000s

Total
equity 
£’000s

Company
Balance at 1 June 2019 

139

6,347

3,078

Profit after income tax and total comprehensive 

income for the period

Capital reduction

Shares issued to settle acquisition fees

Shares issued to acquire subsidiaries

Costs associated with issuance of shares

-

-

3

879

-

-

-

(6,347)

(3,078)

92

-

(626)

Transactions with owners in their capacity as owners:
Shares issued for cash

143

4,857

Payment in respect of acquisition of Tarncourt 

Ambit Limited

Balance at 2 July 2020

Balance at 3 July 2020

Profit after income tax and total comprehensive 

income for the year

Shares issued to settle deferred consideration

Transactions with owners in their capacity as owners:
Shares issued following the exercise of Warrants

-

-

1,164

4,323

Share
capital 
£’000s

Share
premium 
£’000s

1,164

4,323

-

2

13

-

58

112

Balance at 1 July 2021

1,179

4,493

-

-

-

-

29,747

-

-

-

(8,360)

1,204

(1,916)

(1,916)

9,425

-

-

-

-

-

95

30,626

(626)

5,000

(750)

(750)

29,747

(1,601)

33,633

-

-

-

-

-

-

Capital
redemption
reverse 
£’000s

Merger
relief 
reserve 
£’000s

Profit
and loss
reserve 
£’000s

Total
equity 
£’000s

-

-

-

-

-

29,747

(1,601)

33,633

-

-

-

(9,292)

(9,292)

-

-

60

125

29,747

(10,893)

24,526

The above statement of changes in equity should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes.

Barkby Group PlcBAnnual report and financial accounts 2021Statement of cash flows
For the year ended 1 July 2021

Cash flows from operating activities
Loss before tax

Adjustments to reconcile loss before tax to net cash flows
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment and right-of-use assets

Amortisation of intangible assets

Finance income

Finance expense

Working capital changes
Decrease/(increase) in trade receivables, contract assets and 

prepayments

Increase in inventories

Increase/(decrease)in trade and other payables

Total working capital changes

Interest paid

Interest received

Income tax paid

Net cash flow from operating activities

Cash flows from investing activities
Acquisition of subsidiaries, net of cash acquired

Purchase of investments

Purchase of property, plant and equipment

Purchase of intangible assets

Net cash used in investing activities

Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from issue of shares

Proceeds from borrowings

Share issue transaction costs

Payment to shareholders

Repayment of borrowings

Repayment of lease liabilities

Net cash raised in financing activities

Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the financial year

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the financial year

9

The above statement of cash flows should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes.

61

Group

Year ended 
1 July 2021
£’000s

Period ended 
2 July 2020 
£’000s

Notes

(4,378)

(3,135)

32

774

137

(40)

978

5,630

(1,870)

2,517

6,277

(720)

24

(82)

(778)

2,970

(55)

(500)

(264)

(285)

576

5

(125)

949

(4,431)

(144)

(916)

(5,491)

(775)

1

-

(774)

(7,995)

(549)

(1,950)

(194)

(287)

(1,104)

(2,980)

125

14,472

-

-

(15,200)

(310)

(913)

953

(1,174)

(221)

5,075

8,985

(531)

(375)

(2,981)

(393)

9,780

(1,195)

21

(1,174)

www.barkbygroup.comStrategic Report GovernanceFinancial statements62

Notes to the financial statements
For the period ended 1 July 2021

Note 1. Company information

The consolidated financial statements of Barkby Group Plc for the year ended 1 July 2021 were authorised for 
issue in accordance with a resolution of the directors on 23 December 2021. Barkby Group Plc is a public limited 
company incorporated and domiciled in the UK. The company’s number is 07139678 and the registered office is 
located at 115b Innovation Drive, Milton, Abingdon, Oxfordshire OX14 4RZ.

The Group’s principal activities consist of real estate development, consumer and hospitality businesses and 
life sciences.

During the year the Company change its name from The Barkby Group Plc to Barkby Group PLC.

Note 2. Significant accounting policies

The principal accounting policies adopted in the preparation of the financial statements are set out below. 
These policies have been consistently applied to all the periods presented, unless otherwise stated.

New or amended Accounting Standards and Interpretations adopted

The Group has adopted all of the new or amended Accounting Standards and Interpretations issued by the 
International Accounting Standards Board (‘IASB’) that are mandatory for the current reporting period.

Any new or amended Accounting Standards or Interpretations that are not yet mandatory have not been 
early adopted.

Basis of preparation

These consolidated financial statements of Barkby Group Plc (or “the Group”) have been prepared in 
accordance with International Accounting Standards in conformity with the requirements of the Companies act 
2006.

In accordance with IFRS 3, the prior period financial statements were prepared as a reverse acquisition of 
Barkby Group Plc by the Dickson Controlled Entities, see note 32 for more details. Therefore, although the 
prior period consolidated financial statements were issued in the name of Barkby Group Plc, the legal acquirer, 
the Group’s activity was in substance, the continuation of the financial information of the Dickson Controlled 
Entities. The comparative consolidated financial statements therefore comprise the results of the Dickson 
Controlled Entities for the full period, and the results of Barkby Group Plc from 7 January 2020, the date of the 
reverse acquisition.

The Company financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Financial Reporting Standard 101, 
“Reduced Disclosure Framework” (“FRS 101”). The following exemptions from the requirements of IFRS have 
been applied in the preparation of these Company financial statements, in accordance with FRS 101:

•  IFRS 7, “Financial Instruments: Disclosures”.

•  Paragraphs 91 to 99 of IFRS 13, “Fair value measurement” (disclosure of valuation techniques and inputs used 

for the fair value measurement of assets and liabilities).

•  Paragraph 38 of IAS 1, “Presentation of financial statements” – comparative information in respect of:

•  Paragraph 79(a) (iv) of IAS 1;

•  Paragraph 73(e) of IAS 16 “Property, plant and equipment”; and

•  Paragraph 118(e) of IAS 38, “Intangible assets” (reconciliations between the carrying amounts of the 

beginning and end of the period).

Barkby Group PlcBAnnual report and financial accounts 202163

Notes to the financial statements continued
1 July 2021

Note 2. Significant accounting policies (continued)

•  The following paragraphs of IAS 1, “Presentation of financial statements”:

•  10(d) (statement of cash flows);

•  16 (statement of compliance with all IFRS);

•  38A (requirement for a minimum of two primary statements, including cash flow statements);

•  38B-D (additional comparative information);

•  (cash flow statement information); and

•  134-136 (capital management disclosures).

•  IAS 7, “Statement of cash flows”.

•  Paragraphs 30 and 31 of IAS 8, “Accounting policies, changes in accounting estimates and errors”.

•  The requirements in IAS 24, “Related party disclosures” to disclose related party transactions entered into 

between two or more members of the group.

Accounting periods

The financial statements have been prepared covering the financial year ended 1 July 2021, in accordance 
with the Group’s policy of drawing up financial statements to the nearest Thursday to the Group’s accounting 
reference date of 30 June. As a result the financial year consists of a 52 week period.

The accounting reference date changed in the comparative financial period ended 2 July 2020. The Dickson 
Controlled Entities’ previous accounting reference date was 31 March, and Barkby Group Plc’s and Centurian 
Automotive Limited’s were 31 May.

Therefore, the Group’s consolidated financial statements cover the financial year from 3 July 2020 to 1 July 
2021, with comparative financial information covering the financial period 1 April 2019 to 2 July 2020. The 
comparative information for the Company’s financial statements cover the financial period from 1 June 2019 to 
2 July 2020.

Historical cost convention

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, except for, where applicable, 
deferred contingent consideration and derivative financial instruments that have been measured at fair value. 
The consolidated financial statements are presented in Pounds Sterling, which is Barkby Group Plc’s functional 
and presentation currency and all values are rounded to the nearest thousand (£’000s) unless otherwise stated.

Critical accounting estimates

The preparation of the financial statements requires the use of certain critical accounting estimates. It also 
requires management to exercise its judgement in the process of applying the Group’s accounting policies. 
The areas involving a higher degree of judgement or complexity, or areas where assumptions and estimates are 
significant to the financial statements, are disclosed in note 3.

Principles of consolidation

The consolidated financial statements incorporate the assets and liabilities of all subsidiaries of Barkby Group Plc 
(‘company’ or ‘parent entity’) as at 1 July 2021 and the results of all subsidiaries for the period then ended. Barkby 
Group Plc and its subsidiaries together are referred to in these financial statements as the ‘Group’.

Subsidiaries are all those entities over which the Group has control. The Group controls an entity when the Group 
is exposed to, or has rights to, variable returns from its involvement with the entity and has the ability to affect 
those returns through its power to direct the activities of the entity. Subsidiaries are fully consolidated from the 
date on which control is transferred to the Group. They are de-consolidated from the date that control ceases.

Intercompany transactions, balances and unrealised gains on transactions between entities in the Group are 
eliminated. Unrealised losses are also eliminated unless the transaction provides evidence of the impairment 
of the asset transferred. Accounting policies of subsidiaries have been changed where necessary to ensure 
consistency with the policies adopted by the Group.

www.barkbygroup.comStrategic Report GovernanceFinancial statements64

Notes to the financial statements continued
1 July 2021

Note 2. Significant accounting policies (continued)

The acquisition of subsidiaries is accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting. A change in 
ownership interest, without the loss of control, is accounted for as an equity transaction, where the difference 
between the consideration transferred and the book value of the share of the non-controlling interest acquired 
is recognised directly in equity attributable to the parent.

During the comparative financial period (ended 2 July 2020), Barkby Group Plc acquired the share capital of 
Tarncourt Ambit Limited, Tarncourt Ambit Properties Limited and Workshop Trading Holdings Limited, which 
together with its subsidiary undertaking Workshop Trading (London) Limited, are called the Dickson Controlled 
Entities. After the transaction the shareholders of the Dickson Controlled Entities owned 86% of the share 
capital of the new combined entity. As a result this transaction is considered to be a reverse takeover.

These financial statements therefore consist of the consolidated financial statements of the Dickson Controlled 
Entities, which are considered to acquire Barkby Group Plc and its subsidiary, Centurian Automotive Limited 
with effect from 7 January 2020, together with the company only financial statements of Barkby Group Plc.

Non-controlling interest in the results and equity of subsidiaries are shown separately in the statement of profit 
or loss and other comprehensive income, statement of financial position and statement of changes in equity 
of the Group. Losses incurred by the Group are only attributed to the non-controlling interest to the extent to 
which they can be recovered from those parties.

Going Concern

Barkby Group PLC is a diversified group of growth businesses run by an entrepreneurial and experienced 
management team. The group structure aims to combine stable, cash generative businesses with growth 
potential alongside high growth opportunities with exceptional market potential and the ability to disrupt.

Throughout the financial year and since the reporting date, Barkby’s hospitality and consumer division was 
impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic due to its impacts on consumer behaviour as well as enforced trading 
restrictions. Barkby has weathered the Covid-19 pandemic largely due to the support of its cash generative 
commercial property development business.

The Board has managed cash tightly through all three national lockdowns and has increased cash headroom by 
refinancing the £3.5 million Tarncourt facility into a new £5 million facility with an expiry date of 30 June 2023. 
The Group has financed the acquisition of development sites via secured borrowings. 

The Group currently has net cash available of c. £1.5 million as at December 2021. In addition, the Board have 
taken the steps of consulting with their major shareholders regarding a potential equity raise and our major 
shareholders have confirmed their continued support should this become necessary.

Despite good progress in our property development pipeline, with several sites ready to commence 
construction, and strong trade in our pub business since lockdown restrictions reduced, we are still in a period 
of significant economic uncertainty as the potential impact of Covid-19 variants remains present.

The Board has therefore prepared a profitability and cash flow forecast to June 2023 for each business 
incorporating assumptions that reflect a severe but plausible downturn scenario.

A key feature of Barkby’s businesses is that they have a low fixed cost base. The property development 
business has predominantly flexible costs. Centurian operates from a unique showroom setting that carries a 
lower cost than typical car dealerships. The hospitality businesses have engaged closely with landlords and 
brewers and agreed rent reductions to compensate for restricted trade. The Group’s workforce is predominantly 
comprised of employees on flexible contracts.

Key considerations of the severe but plausible worst case scenario are as follows:

Real Estate

A significant proportion of our upcoming developments are already pre-let to high quality tenants on long-term 
leases. 98.5% of the development space across Maldon, Wellingborough and Huntingdon is currently pre-let or in 
legals. Our tenants are predominantly large corporates, with long-term commitment to expansion. The contractual 
certainty of the property development pipeline provides a stable underlying cash flow for the group.

Barkby Group PlcBAnnual report and financial accounts 202165

Notes to the financial statements continued
1 July 2021

Note 2. Significant accounting policies (continued)

Barkby Pubs

The pandemic particularly hit wet-led pubs, those dependent on office-workers and business that promote 
congested use of space such as music venues, late-night bars and nightclubs. Barkby operates premium pubs 
with rooms located in areas of outstanding natural beauty that are popular with tourists and serve a captive 
market of local communities. The directors anticipate this segment of the hospitality industry to be one of the 
earliest to recover when trading restrictions are lifted in 2021. This expectation is due to Barkby’s large footprint 
properties that can operate in a Covid-secure way with minimal interruption. The majority of Barkby’s trade is 
food-led and we typically serve groups of six or less.

Our pubs traded strongly when trading restrictions were reduced, with like-for-like sales up 22% in the quarter 
to September 2021 in comparison to pre-Covid sales in the same quarter in 2019. We have experienced an 
increased demand for staycations as a result of reduced confidence and appetite for international holiday travel. 
If trading was to be restricted again without government support, we would take pro-active action to minimise 
the cost base, which would not be worse than continuing to trade under severe restrictions.

The Pubs business plan is to increase the size of the estate however we are not committed to any acquisitions 
and can therefore reduce cash outflows by delaying expansion if necessary.

Centurian Automotive

Experience during the pandemic indicated that demand from Centurian’s target market of car enthusiasts 
remained robust, despite sales being restricted by the reduction in walk-in customers. When non-essential retail 
was fully restricted, customers could only purchase cars via pre-booked contactless handover. Despite these 
severe trading restrictions, Centurian generated positive EBITDA in the financial year, therefore the directors 
believe this is a reasonable worst-case base to project going forward.

Centurian operates from a significantly lower cost base when compared to larger and traditional car 
dealerships. Centurian has a unique customer showroom setting that has a low annual rental, which enables 
Centurian to maintain profit levels during lower volume trading periods. Centurian’s workforce is predominantly 
employed on flexible contracts and a significant portion of senior employee remuneration is commission-based 
and via discretionary bonuses.

Workshop Coffee

As with Barkby’s pub business, Workshop Coffee has exposure to the Covid-19 pandemic. Independent coffee 
shops, hotels and other hospitality customers were forced to close during the national lockdown periods, which 
impacted Workshop’s wholesale revenues.

As working-from-home became a requirement, online direct-to-consumer sales of premium coffee increased. 
This created a strong market opportunity for Workshop with its existing webshop, subscription customers and 
established digital presence with over 50,000 followers on Instagram.

When retain trading restrictions were imposed, retail and wholesale revenues decreased, offset by higher online 
sales as consumers drank more premium coffee at home. Therefore, we have seen a natural hedge between 
online and wholesale sales depending on consumer behaviour.

Since lockdown restrictions eased, revenue has increased steadily. However, the return of London footfall has 
been slower than other UK cities, therefore we have delayed reopening some of our London coffee shops. 
In consideration of this, the management team have completed a strategic review and significantly reduced 
Workshop’s cost base. This includes a reduction in headcount and relocating the roastery to cheaper premises. 
The lower cost base will enable Workshop to be profitable even if sales do not increase from current subdued 
levels.

Group overhead

The cost of the group function can be flexed as required to adapt to the growth and profitability of the 
subsidiary companies. There are only a small number of long-term contracted costs, and all other costs can be 
reduced in the short term. If trading conditions did not meet expectation, the group could further reduce costs.

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Notes to the financial statements continued
1 July 2021

Note 2. Significant accounting policies (continued)

Debt and Borrowings

The group currently has the following third party debt:

Tarncourt: The Tarncourt facility is a related party facility owed to a vehicle controlled by the Dickson Family. 
The board has received confirmation that this facility will be extended until 30 June 2023, with no payments 
required until that date.

HSBC: The group banks with HSBC across the majority of its companies. The bank has been supportive in 
providing working capital facilities (overdraft and CBIL) to meet the company’s requirements. The directors 
maintain regular communication with HSBC and maintain an open dialogue regarding future funding 
requirements. For the purpose of the going concern projection, the directors have assumed that the overdraft is 
renewed.

Other facilities: There are a number of smaller legacy borrowings in place within the group subsidiaries. The 
cash flow forecast assumes these facilities are repaid in accordance with their contractual terms.

Centurian stocking finance: Centurian utilises short term stocking finance facilities secured against specific 
vehicles. Any slow moving stock requires periodic equity contributions of increasing amounts. Therefore, the 
realisable value of the stock is always expected to exceed the financing that is in place.

The Group had net cash available of approximately £1.5 million as at December 2021. Barkby has not raised any 
external equity or borrowings during the pandemic, other than the related party facility with Tarncourt and 
secured facilities for property acquisitions. Therefore, the board is confident that its shareholders would be 
supportive if additional funding was required.

Summary

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Barkby’s diversification has been a significant strength enabling financial 
and operational support across the group. Barkby benefited from its diversity, with longer-term property 
development projects providing positive cash flow to support the most impacted businesses. As we come 
out of lockdown, management considers that the pubs and coffee business are well positioned for a return 
to profitability and that the Group is in a strong position to benefit from the lifting of government lockdown 
restrictions. Based on its profitability and cash flow forecasts for each business incorporating assumptions that 
reflect a severe but plausible downturn scenario the directors consider going concern basis of preparation to be 
an appropriate basis for the preparation of these financial statements.

Operating segments

Operating segments are presented using the ‘management approach’, where the information presented is on 
the same basis as the internal reports provided to the Chief Operating Decision Makers (‘CODM’). The CODM 
are responsible for the allocation of resources to operating segments and assessing their performance.

Foreign currency translation

Foreign currency transactions are translated into Pounds Sterling using the exchange rates prevailing at the 
dates of the transactions. Foreign exchange gains and losses resulting from the settlement of such transactions 
and from the translation at financial year-end exchange rates of monetary assets and liabilities denominated in 
foreign currencies are recognised in profit or loss.

Revenue recognition

The Group recognises revenue as follows:

Property business – Revenue from contracts with customers

Real estate revenue principally consists of the development and ultimately the sale of real estate sites on 
behalf of customers. Revenue is recognised at an amount that reflects the consideration to which the Group is 
expected to be entitled in exchange for transferring goods or services to a customer. For each contract with 
a customer, the Group: identifies the contract with a customer; identifies the performance obligations in the 
contract; determines the transaction price which takes into account estimates of variable consideration and the 
time value of money; allocates the transaction price to the separate performance obligations on the basis of 

Barkby Group PlcBAnnual report and financial accounts 202167

Notes to the financial statements continued
1 July 2021

Note 2. Significant accounting policies (continued)

the relative stand-alone selling price of each distinct good or service to be delivered; and recognises revenue 
when or as each performance obligation is satisfied in a manner that depicts the transfer to the customer of the 
goods or services promised.

Variable consideration within the transaction price, if any, reflects changes to specifications required by 
customers and any other contingent events. Such estimates are determined using either the ‘expected value’ or 
‘most likely amount’ method. The measurement of variable consideration is subject to a constraining principle 
whereby revenue will only be recognised to the extent that it is highly probable that a significant reversal in 
the amount of cumulative revenue recognised will not occur. The measurement constraint continues until the 
uncertainty associated with the variable consideration is subsequently resolved.

Consumer & Hospitality business revenue

Consumer and hospitality revenue principally consists of the sale of coffee and associated equipment, and 
food and drink (Workshop Coffee), food, drink and accommodation (Barkby Pubs) and premium used cars and 
associated services (Centurian Automotive). These are broadly divided into the sale of goods and the rendering 
of services.

Sale of goods (also applies to Life Sciences business)

Revenue from the sale of goods is recognised at the point in time when the customer obtains control of the 
goods, which is generally at the time of delivery or consumption by the customer.

Revenue from the sale of food and drink is recognised when the customer has both been served and has paid 
for their bill (or it is added to an agreed account or room bill). Customers typically either pay on ordering 
(drinks, café style food and takeaways) or settle their bills when they are ready to leave.

Revenue from the sale by mail order of coffee and associated equipment is recognised when the product is 
shipped to the customer based on a confirmed, paid for order.

Revenue from the sale of a car is recognised when the car is delivered to the customer, or the customer drives 
the car away from the showroom. For the vast majority of sales the customer pays or arranges financing in 
advance of taking control of the car.

Rendering of services

Revenue from accommodation is recognised on a daily basis following check-in by the customer at the value 
agreed with the customer for that booking.

Revenue from services associated with the sale of a car is recognised at the later of the point of the receipt of 
the specific service or the sale of the car.

Other revenue

Other revenue is recognised when it is received or when the unconditional right to receive payment is 
established.

Income tax

The income tax expense or benefit for the period is the tax payable on that period’s taxable income based on 
the applicable income tax rate for each jurisdiction, adjusted by the changes in deferred tax assets and liabilities 
attributable to temporary differences, unused tax losses and the adjustment recognised for prior periods, where 
applicable.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognised for temporary differences at the tax rates expected to be 
applied when the assets are recovered or liabilities are settled, based on those tax rates that are enacted or 
substantively enacted, except for:

•  When the deferred income tax asset or liability arises from the initial recognition of goodwill or an asset or 
liability in a transaction that is not a business combination and that, at the time of the transaction, affects 
neither the accounting nor taxable profits; or

•  When the taxable temporary difference is associated with interests in subsidiaries, associates or joint 

ventures, and the timing of the reversal can be controlled and it is probable that the temporary difference will 
not reverse in the foreseeable future.

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Notes to the financial statements continued
1 July 2021

Note 2. Significant accounting policies (continued)

Deferred tax assets are recognised for deductible temporary differences and unused tax losses only if it is 
probable that future taxable amounts will be available to utilise those temporary differences and losses.

The carrying amount of recognised and unrecognised deferred tax assets are reviewed at each reporting date. 
Deferred tax assets recognised are reduced to the extent that it is no longer probable that future taxable profits 
will be available for the carrying amount to be recovered. Previously unrecognised deferred tax assets are 
recognised to the extent that it is probable that there are future taxable profits available to recover the asset.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset only where there is a legally enforceable right to offset current tax 
assets against current tax liabilities and deferred tax assets against deferred tax liabilities; and they relate to 
the same taxable authority on either the same taxable entity or different taxable entities which intend to settle 
simultaneously.

Current and non-current classification

Assets and liabilities are presented in the statement of financial position based on current and non-current 
classification.

An asset is classified as current when: it is either expected to be realised or intended to be sold or consumed in 
the Group’s normal operating cycle; it is held primarily for the purpose of trading; it is expected to be realised 
within 12 months after the reporting period; or the asset is cash or cash equivalent unless restricted from being 
exchanged or used to settle a liability for at least 12 months after the reporting period. All other assets are 
classified as non-current.

A liability is classified as current when: it is either expected to be settled in the Group’s normal operating cycle; 
it is held primarily for the purpose of trading; it is due to be settled within 12 months after the reporting period; 
or there is no unconditional right to defer the settlement of the liability for at least 12 months after the reporting 
period. All other liabilities are classified as non-current. 

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are always classified as non-current.

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents includes cash on hand, cash in transit, deposits held at call with financial institutions, 
other short-term, highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less that are readily 
convertible to known amounts of cash and which are subject to an insignificant risk of changes in value. For the 
statement of cash flows presentation purposes, cash and cash equivalents also includes bank overdrafts, which 
are shown within borrowings in current liabilities on the statement of financial position.

Trade and other receivables

Trade receivables are initially recognised at fair value transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised 
cost using the effective interest method, less any allowance for expected credit losses. Trade receivables are 
generally due for settlement within 30 days.

The Group has applied the simplified approach to measuring expected credit losses, which uses a lifetime 
expected loss allowance. To measure the expected credit losses, trade receivables have been grouped based on 
days overdue.

Other receivables are recognised at amortised cost, less any allowance for expected credit losses.

Contract assets

Contract assets are recognised when the Group has transferred goods or services to the customer but where 
the Group is yet to establish an unconditional right to consideration. Contract assets are treated as financial 
assets for impairment purposes.

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Notes to the financial statements continued
1 July 2021

Note 2. Significant accounting policies (continued)

Inventories

Raw materials, being food and drink supplies, coffee beans and other items for consumption within the 
business, work in progress on real estate projects, vehicle stock and electronic devices are stated at the lower of 
cost and net realisable value. Cost comprises direct materials and delivery costs, import duties and other taxes. 
Costs of purchased inventory are determined after deducting rebates and discounts received or receivable.

Net realisable value is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business less the estimated costs of 
completion and the estimated costs necessary to make the sale.

Derivative financial instruments

Derivatives are initially recognised at fair value on the date a derivative contract is entered into and are 
subsequently remeasured to their fair value at each reporting date. The accounting for subsequent changes in 
fair value depends on whether the derivative is designated as a hedging instrument, and if so, the nature of the 
item being hedged.

Investments and other financial assets

Investments and other financial assets are initially measured at fair value. Transaction costs are included as 
part of the initial measurement, except for financial assets at fair value through profit or loss. Such assets are 
subsequently measured at either amortised cost or fair value depending on their classification. Classification is 
determined based on both the business model within which such assets are held and the contractual cash flow 
characteristics of the financial asset unless an accounting mismatch is being avoided.

Financial assets are derecognised when the rights to receive cash flows have expired or have been transferred 
and the Group has transferred substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership. When there is no reasonable 
expectation of recovering part or all of a financial asset, its carrying value is written off.

Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss

Financial assets not measured at amortised cost or at fair value through other comprehensive income are 
classified as financial assets at fair value through profit or loss. Typically, such financial assets will be either:

(i) held for trading, where they are acquired for the purpose of selling in the short-term with an intention of 
making a profit, or a derivative; or (ii) designated as such upon initial recognition where permitted. Fair value 
movements are recognised in profit or loss.

Financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income

Financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income include equity investments which the Group 
intends to hold for the foreseeable future and has irrevocably elected to classify them as such upon initial 
recognition.

Impairment of financial assets

The Group recognises a loss allowance for expected credit losses on financial assets which are either measured 
at amortised cost or fair value through other comprehensive income. The measurement of the loss allowance 
depends upon the Group’s assessment at the end of each reporting period as to whether the financial 
instrument’s credit risk has increased significantly since initial recognition, based on reasonable and supportable 
information that is available, without undue cost or effort to obtain.

Where there has not been a significant increase in exposure to credit risk since initial recognition, a 12-month 
expected credit loss allowance is estimated. This represents a portion of the asset’s lifetime expected credit 
losses that is attributable to a default event that is possible within the next 12 months. Where a financial asset 
has become credit impaired or where it is determined that credit risk has increased significantly, the loss 
allowance is based on the asset’s lifetime expected credit losses. The amount of expected credit loss recognised 
is measured on the basis of the probability weighted present value of anticipated cash shortfalls over the life of 
the instrument discounted at the original effective interest rate.

For financial assets mandatorily measured at fair value through other comprehensive income, the loss allowance 
is recognised in other comprehensive income with a corresponding expense through profit or loss. In all other 
cases, the loss allowance reduces the asset’s carrying value with a corresponding expense through profit or loss.

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Notes to the financial statements continued
1 July 2021

Note 2. Significant accounting policies (continued)

Property, plant and equipment

Plant, property and equipment is stated at historical cost less accumulated depreciation and impairment. 
Historical cost includes expenditure that is directly attributable to the acquisition of the items.

Freehold land is not depreciated.

For all other property, plant and equipment, depreciation is calculated on a straight-line basis to write off the net 
cost of each item of property, plant and equipment (excluding land) over their expected useful lives as follows:

Freehold buildings 
Leasehold improvements 
Plant and equipment 
Computer equipment 
Furniture & Fixtures 
Right of use assets 

Up to 100 years 
3-10 years or over the lifetime of lease 
3-7 years 
3 years 
5 years 
Life time of the leasing arrangement

The residual values, useful lives and depreciation methods are reviewed, and adjusted if appropriate, at each 
reporting date.

Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the unexpired period of the lease or the estimated useful life of 
the assets, whichever is shorter.

An item of property, plant and equipment is derecognised upon disposal or when there is no future economic 
benefit to the Group. Gains and losses between the carrying amount and the disposal proceeds are taken to 
profit or loss.

Right-of-use assets

A right-of-use asset is recognised at the commencement date of a lease. The right-of-use asset is measured 
at cost, which comprises the initial amount of the lease liability, adjusted for, as applicable, any lease payments 
made at or before the commencement date net of any lease incentives received, any initial direct costs 
incurred, and, except where included in the cost of inventories, an estimate of costs expected to be incurred for 
dismantling and removing the underlying asset, and restoring the site or asset.

Right-of-use assets are depreciated on a straight-line basis over the unexpired period of the lease or the 
estimated useful life of the asset, whichever is the shorter. Where the Group expects to obtain ownership of the 
leased asset at the end of the lease term, the depreciation is over its estimated useful life. Right-of use assets 
are subject to impairment or adjusted for any remeasurement of lease liabilities.

During the year ended 1 July 2021 the Group negotiated reductions in lease payments with landlords as a result 
of the Covid-19 pandemic and its effect on the Group’s business. The Group has utilised the amendment to IFRS 
16 for Covid-19 related rent concessions and has accounted for the concessions in the form of forgiveness of 
lease payments as a resolution of a contingency that fixes previously variable lease payments. This has resulted 
in the Group reducing the lease liability with a corresponding adjustment to the right-of-use asset.

The Group has elected not to recognise a right-of-use asset and corresponding lease liability for short-term 
leases with terms of 12 months or less and leases of low-value assets. Lease payments on these assets are 
expensed to profit or loss as incurred.

Intangible assets

Intangible assets acquired as part of a business combination, other than goodwill, are initially measured at their 
fair value at the date of the acquisition. Intangible assets acquired separately are initially recognised at cost. 

Indefinite life intangible assets are not amortised and are subsequently measured at cost less any impairment. 
Finite life intangible assets are subsequently measured at cost less amortisation and any impairment. The 
gains or losses recognised in profit or loss arising from the derecognition of intangible assets are measured as 
the difference between net disposal proceeds and the carrying amount of the intangible asset. The method 
and useful lives of finite life intangible assets are reviewed annually. Changes in the expected pattern of 
consumption or useful life are accounted for prospectively by changing the amortisation method or period.

Barkby Group PlcBAnnual report and financial accounts 202171

Notes to the financial statements continued
1 July 2021

Note 2. Significant accounting policies (continued)

Goodwill

Goodwill arises on the acquisition of a business. Goodwill is not amortised. Instead, goodwill is tested annually 
for impairment, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that it might be impaired, and 
is carried at cost less accumulated impairment losses. Impairment losses on goodwill are taken to profit or loss 
and are not subsequently reversed.

Product design and development

Research costs are expensed in the period in which they are incurred. Development costs, including product 
design costs are capitalised when it is probable that the project will be a success considering its commercial 
and technical feasibility; the Group is able to use or sell the asset; the Group has sufficient resources and intent 
to complete the development; and its costs can be measured reliably. Capitalised development costs are 
amortised on a straight-line basis over the period of their expected benefit, being their finite life of 10 years.

Patents, trademarks and other intellectual property

Significant costs associated with patents, trademarks and the acquisition of other intellectual property licenses 
are deferred and amortised on a straight-line basis over the period of their expected benefit, being their finite 
life of 10 years.

Impairment of non-financial assets

Goodwill and other intangible assets that have an indefinite useful life are not subject to amortisation and are 
tested annually for impairment, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that they 
might be impaired. Other non-financial assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in 
circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. An impairment loss is recognised for 
the amount by which the asset’s carrying amount exceeds its recoverable amount.

Recoverable amount is the higher of an asset’s fair value less costs of disposal and value-in-use. The value-in- 
use is the present value of the estimated future cash flows relating to the asset using a pre-tax discount rate 
specific to the asset or cash-generating unit to which the asset belongs. Assets that do not have independent 
cash flows are grouped together to form a cash-generating unit.

Trade and other payables

These amounts represent liabilities for goods and services provided to the Group prior to the end of the 
financial period and which are unpaid. Due to their short-term nature they are measured at amortised cost and 
are not discounted. The amounts are unsecured and are usually paid within 30 days of recognition.

Borrowings

Loans and borrowings are initially recognised at the fair value of the consideration received, net of transaction 
costs. They are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

Lease liabilities

A lease liability is recognised at the commencement date of a lease. The lease liability is initially recognised at 
the present value of the lease payments to be made over the term of the lease, discounted using the interest 
rate implicit in the lease or, if that rate cannot be readily determined, the Group’s incremental borrowing rate. 
Lease payments comprise of fixed payments less any lease incentives receivable, variable lease payments that 
depend on an index or a rate, amounts expected to be paid under residual value guarantees, exercise price of a 
purchase option when the exercise of the option is reasonably certain to occur, and any anticipated termination 
penalties. The variable lease payments that do not depend on an index or a rate are expensed in the period in 
which they are incurred.

Lease liabilities are measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method. The carrying amounts are 
remeasured if there is a change in the following: future lease payments arising from a change in an index or 
a rate used; residual guarantee; lease term; certainty of a purchase option and termination penalties. When a 
lease liability is remeasured, an adjustment is made to the corresponding right-of use asset, or to profit or loss if 
the carrying amount of the right-of-use asset is fully written down.

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Notes to the financial statements continued
1 July 2021

Note 2. Significant accounting policies (continued)

Finance costs

Finance costs attributable to qualifying assets are capitalised as part of the asset. All other finance costs are 
expensed in the period in which they are incurred.

Provisions

Provisions are recognised when the Group has a present (legal or constructive) obligation as a result of a past 
event, it is probable the Group will be required to settle the obligation, and a reliable estimate can be made of 
the amount of the obligation. The amount recognised as a provision is the best estimate of the consideration 
required to settle the present obligation at the reporting date, taking into account the risks and uncertainties 
surrounding the obligation. If the time value of money is material, provisions are discounted using a current pre-
tax rate specific to the liability. The increase in the provision resulting from the passage of time is recognised as 
a finance cost.

Employee benefits
Short-term employee benefits

Liabilities for wages and salaries, including non-monetary benefits and annual leave expected to be settled 
wholly within 12 months of the reporting date are measured at the amounts expected to be paid when the 
liabilities are settled.

Defined contribution pension contributions

Contributions to defined contribution pension plans are expensed in the period in which they are incurred.

Fair value measurement

When an asset or liability, financial or non-financial, is measured at fair value for recognition or disclosure 
purposes, the fair value is based on the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a 
liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date; and assumes that the 
transaction will take place either: in the principal market; or in the absence of a principal market, in the most 
advantageous market.

Fair value is measured using the assumptions that market participants would use when pricing the asset or 
liability, assuming they act in their economic best interests. For non-financial assets, the fair value measurement 
is based on its highest and best use. Valuation techniques that are appropriate in the circumstances and for 
which sufficient data are available to measure fair value, are used, maximising the use of relevant observable 
inputs and minimising the use of unobservable inputs.

Assets and liabilities measured at fair value are classified into three levels, using a fair value hierarchy that 
reflects the significance of the inputs used in making the measurements. Classifications are reviewed at each 
reporting date and transfers between levels are determined based on a reassessment of the lowest level of 
input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

For recurring and non-recurring fair value measurements, external valuers may be used when internal expertise 
is either not available or when the valuation is deemed to be significant. External valuers are selected based on 
market knowledge and reputation. Where there is a significant change in fair value of an asset or liability from 
one period to another, an analysis is undertaken, which includes a verification of the major inputs applied in the 
latest valuation and a comparison, where applicable, with external sources of data.

Issued equity

Issued equity consists of the Company’s share capital, share premium and capital redemption reserve, together 
with the other equity reserve in Group’s consolidated financial statements. Ordinary shares are classified as equity.

The difference between the nominal value of the shares issued and the actual value relating to the specific 
transaction is accounted for as share premium, unless:

1. 

 The Company is issuing shares to acquire the share capital of another company, in which case as long 
as the shares issued represent greater than 90% of the consideration, the excess of the value of the 
shares issued over their nominal value is recorded in the merger reserve, or

Barkby Group PlcBAnnual report and financial accounts 202173

Notes to the financial statements continued
1 July 2021

Note 2. Significant accounting policies (continued)

2. 

 The Group is undertaking a reverse takeover, in which case the excess of the value of the share issued 
over their nominal value is recorded in the other equity reserve.

The other equity reserve reflects the accounting required by the reverse takeover transactions such that the 
issued equity at the point of transaction equals the equity of the Dickson Controlled Entities plus that notional 
consideration for the acquisition of Barkby Group. Pre-acquisition, the other reserve adjusts the Company’s 
equity to that of the Dickson Controlled Entities.

Incremental costs directly attributable to the issue of new shares or options are shown in equity as a deduction, 
net of tax, from the proceeds.

Dividends

Dividends are recognised when declared during the financial year and no longer at the discretion of the company.

Business combinations

The acquisition method of accounting is used to account for business combinations regardless of whether 
equity instruments or other assets are acquired.

The consideration transferred is the sum of the acquisition-date fair values of the assets transferred, equity 
instruments issued or liabilities incurred by the acquirer to former owners of the acquiree and the amount of 
any non-controlling interest in the acquiree. For each business combination, the non-controlling interest in the 
acquiree is measured at either fair value or at the proportionate share of the acquiree’s identifiable net assets. 
All acquisition costs are expensed as incurred to profit or loss.

On the acquisition of a business, the Group assesses the financial assets acquired and liabilities assumed for 
appropriate classification and designation in accordance with the contractual terms, economic conditions, the 
Group’s operating or accounting policies and other pertinent conditions in existence at the acquisition-date.

Where the business combination is achieved in stages, the Group remeasures its previously held equity interest 
in the acquiree at the acquisition-date fair value and the difference between the fair value and the previous 
carrying amount is recognised in profit or loss.

Contingent consideration to be transferred by the acquirer is recognised at the acquisition-date fair value. 
Subsequent changes in the fair value of the contingent consideration classified as an asset or liability is 
recognised in profit or loss. Contingent consideration classified as equity is not remeasured and its subsequent 
settlement is accounted for within equity.

The difference between the acquisition-date fair value of assets acquired, liabilities assumed and any non- 
controlling interest in the acquiree and the fair value of the consideration transferred and the fair value of any 
pre-existing investment in the acquiree is recognised as goodwill. If the consideration transferred and the pre-
existing fair value is less than the fair value of the identifiable net assets acquired, being a bargain purchase to 
the acquirer, the difference is recognised as a gain directly in profit or loss by the acquirer on the acquisition- 
date, but only after a reassessment of the identification and measurement of the net assets acquired, the non- 
controlling interest in the acquiree, if any, the consideration transferred and the acquirer’s previously held equity 
interest in the acquirer.

Business combinations are initially accounted for on a provisional basis. The acquirer retrospectively adjusts 
the provisional amounts recognised and also recognises additional assets or liabilities during the measurement 
period, based on new information obtained about the facts and circumstances that existed at the acquisition-
date. The measurement period ends on either the earlier of (i) 12 months from the date of the acquisition or 
(ii) when the acquirer receives all the information possible to determine fair value.

Earnings per share
Basic earnings per share

Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing the profit attributable to the owners of Barkby Group Plc, 
excluding any costs of servicing equity other than ordinary shares, by the weighted average number of ordinary 
shares outstanding during the financial year.

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Notes to the financial statements continued
1 July 2021

Note 2. Significant accounting policies (continued)

Diluted earnings per share

Diluted earnings per share adjusts the figures used in the determination of basic earnings per share to take 
into account the after income tax effect of interest and other financing costs associated with dilutive potential 
ordinary shares and the weighted average number of shares assumed to have been issued for no consideration 
in relation to dilutive potential ordinary shares.

Value-Added Tax (‘VAT’) and other similar taxes

Revenues, expenses and assets are recognised net of the amount of associated VAT, unless the VAT incurred is 
not recoverable from the tax authority. In this case it is recognised as part of the cost of the acquisition of the 
asset or as part of the expense.

Receivables and payables are stated inclusive of the amount of VAT receivable or payable. The net amount of 
VAT recoverable from, or payable to, the tax authority is included in other receivables or other payables in the 
statement of financial position.

Commitments and contingencies are disclosed net of the amount of VAT recoverable from, or payable to, the 
tax authority.

Furlough payments

The Group has taken advantage of the Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (furlough) and has 
furloughed staff and claimed money under the scheme since March 2020.

The Group has accounted for the receipts from the Government as a reduction in the overall wages and salaries 
costs, in the period in which the amount claimed relates to. The amounts claimed and resultant reduction in 
salaries and wages costs are shown in Note 7.

Rounding of amounts

Amounts in this report have been rounded off to the nearest thousand Pounds Sterling, or in certain cases, the 
nearest Pound Sterling.

New Accounting Standards and Interpretations not yet mandatory or early adopted

Accounting Standards that have recently been issued or amended but are not yet mandatory, have not been 
early adopted by the Group for the annual reporting year ended 1 July 2021. The Group has not yet assessed the 
impact of these new or amended Accounting Standards and Interpretations.

Note 3. Critical accounting judgements, estimates and assumptions

The preparation of the financial statements requires management to make judgements, estimates and 
assumptions that affect the reported amounts in the financial statements. Management continually evaluates 
its judgements and estimates in relation to assets, liabilities, contingent liabilities, revenue and expenses. 
Management bases its judgements, estimates and assumptions on historical experience and on other 
various factors, including expectations of future events, management believes to be reasonable under the 
circumstances. The resulting accounting judgements and estimates will seldom equal the related actual results. 
The judgements, estimates and assumptions that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to 
the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities (refer to the respective notes) within the next financial year are 
discussed below.

Reverse acquisition accounting – identifying the accounting acquirer

As disclosed in the basis of preparation (note 2) and Note 32 management have used judgement to determine 
an appropriate accounting policy to account for the business combination in the prior period. The most 
significant judgement is in determining the accounting acquirer as the conclusion of this has a fundamental 
impact on the presentation of the financial statements. In arriving at that judgement management had 
regard to the revised Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting issued in March 2018 which states that a 
reporting entity is not necessarily a legal entity. Management also considered the guidance in IFRS 3 to identify 
the accounting acquirer and on this basis determined the Dickson Controlled Entities combined were the 
accounting acquirer and therefore presented the financial statements as disclosed in note 32.

Barkby Group PlcBAnnual report and financial accounts 202175

Notes to the financial statements continued
1 July 2021

Note 3. Critical accounting judgements, estimates and assumptions (continued)

Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic

Judgement has been exercised in considering the effects that the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic has had, or 
may have, on the Group based on known information. This consideration extends to the nature of the products 
and services offered, customers, supply chain, staffing and geographic region in which the Group operates. Other 
than as addressed in specific notes, there does not currently appear to be either any significant impact upon the 
financial statements or any significant uncertainties with respect to events or conditions which may impact the 
Group unfavourably as at the reporting date or subsequently as a result of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

Provision for impairment of inventories

The provision for impairment of inventories assessment requires a degree of estimation and judgement. There 
is a judgement as to whether inventory is impaired, or not and then, if judged impaired estimation of the level 
of provision required by taking into account the recent sales experience, the ageing of inventories and other 
factors that affect inventory obsolescence.

Goodwill, other indefinite life intangibles and investments in subsidiaries

The Group tests annually, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate impairment, 
whether goodwill, other indefinite life intangible assets and the parent company’s investments in subsidiaries 
have suffered any impairment, in accordance with the accounting policy stated in note 2. The recoverable 
amounts of cash-generating units have been determined based on value-in-use calculations. These calculations 
require the use of assumptions, including estimated discount rates based on the current cost of capital and 
growth rates of the estimated future cash flows. The impairment assessment is detailed in Note 17. Non-current 
assets-intangibles and Note 18. Investments.

Lease term

The lease term is a significant component in the measurement of both the right-of-use asset and lease 
liability. Judgement is exercised in determining whether there is reasonable certainty that an option to extend 
the lease or purchase the underlying asset will be exercised, or an option to terminate the lease will not be 
exercised, when ascertaining the periods to be included in the lease term. In determining the lease term, all 
facts and circumstances that create an economical incentive to exercise an extension option, or not to exercise 
a termination option, are considered at the lease commencement date. Factors considered may include the 
importance of the asset to the Group’s operations; comparison of terms and conditions to prevailing market 
rates; incurrence of significant penalties; existence of significant leasehold improvements; and the costs and 
disruption to replace the asset. The Group reassesses whether it is reasonably certain to exercise an extension 
option, or not exercise a termination option, if there is a significant event or significant change in circumstances. 
The Group’s leases are detailed in Note 16. Non-current assets - right-of-use assets and Note 20. Lease liabilities.

Incremental borrowing rate

Where the interest rate implicit in a lease cannot be readily determined, an incremental borrowing rate is 
estimated to discount future lease payments to measure the present value of the lease liability at the lease 
commencement date. Such a rate is based on what the Group estimates it would have to pay a third party to 
borrow the funds necessary to obtain an asset of a similar value to the right-of-use asset, with similar terms, 
security and economic environment.

www.barkbygroup.comStrategic Report GovernanceFinancial statements76

Notes to the financial statements continued
1 July 2021

Note 4. Operating segments
Identification of reportable operating segments

The Group is organised into three operating segments based on differences in products and services provided: 
Real Estate, Barkby Pubs and Investments. Investments is further sub-divided into three segments: Barkby Pubs, 
Workshop Coffee, Centurian Automotive and Life Sciences. These operating segments are based on the internal 
reports that are reviewed and used by the Executive Directors (who are identified as the Chief Operating 
Decision Makers (‘CODM’)) in assessing performance and in determining the allocation of resources. There is no 
aggregation of operating segments.

The CODM review profitability, working capital and cash flow. The accounting policies adopted for internal 
reporting to the CODM are consistent with those adopted in the financial statements.

The information reported to the CODM is on a monthly basis.

Types of products and services

The principal products and services of each of these operating segments are as follows:

Real Estate 

Barkby Pubs 

Investments 

Acquisition and subsequent development of parcels of land for resale.

 (High quality pubs with accommodation) The Barkby Pubs segment includes 
the Group’s central costs and the Group’s treasury function.

 Workshop Coffee (coffee shops and sale of coffee and associated equipment) 
and Centurian Automotive (sale of premium used cars and associated 
services) and Life Sciences (development of Sleep Hub product).

Intersegment transactions

There was minimal intersegment trading during the year ended 1 July 2021 and the period ended 2 July 2020. 
Intersegment transactions are eliminated on consolidation.

Intersegment receivables, payables and loans

The intersegment receivables and payables represent the day to day funding of the Group’s businesses between 
Barkby Pubs, acting as the Group’s treasury function and the rest of the Group’s subsidiaries.

Intersegment balances are initially recognised at the consideration received. Intersegment receivables and 
payables that earn or incur interest do so at a market rate. Non-interest bearing balances repayable on 
demand are not adjusted to fair value based on market interest rates. Intersegment loans are eliminated on 
consolidation.

Barkby Group PlcBAnnual report and financial accounts 2021 
 
77

Notes to the financial statements continued
1 July 2021

Note 4. Operating segments (continued)

Operating segment information

Group - 2021

Revenue
Sales to external customers

Intersegment sales

Total revenue

Cost of sales

Gross profit

Real
Estate
£’000s

Barkby
Pubs
£’000s

Investment
Workshop
Coffee
£’000s

Investment
Centurian
Automotive
£’000s

Investment
Life
Sciences
£’000s

Total 
Investments
£’000s

Total
£’000s

114

-

114

2,710

1,244

10,954

120

12,318

15,142

-

-

-

-

-

-

2,710

1,244

10,954

120

12,318

15,142

(107)

(2,103)

(688)

(10,141)

(106)

(10,935)

(13,145)

7

607

556

813

14

1,383

1,997

Administrative expenses

(74)

(2,791)

(1,250)

(639)

(1,033)

(2,922)

(5,787)

Other income

Net finance costs

Profit/(loss) before income tax expense

Income tax expense

Profit/(loss) after income tax expense

Included within administrative 

expenses:
Group costs

Depreciation and amortisation

Assets
Segment assets

Intersegment eliminations

Total assets

Total assets includes:
Acquisition of non-current assets

Liabilities
Segment liabilities

Intersegment eliminations

Total liabilities

4

285

(416)
(479)

-
(479)

(143)
(2,042)

-
(2,042)

73

(66)
(687)

-
(687)

-

(240)
(66)

-
(66)

(12)

(73)
(1,104)

-
(1,104)

61

350

(379)
(1,857)

-
(1,857)

(938)
(4,378)

-
(4,378)

-

(1)

(1,350)

-

-

-

-

(1,350)

(483)

(246)

(34)

(147)

(427)

(911)

8,245

32,656

2,384

3,699

1,124

7,207

48,108

(25,523)

22,585

-

1,270

33

21

290

344

1,614

(7,522)

(7,909)

(7,220)

(5,028)

(2,512)

(14,760)

(30,191)

8,429

(21,762)

www.barkbygroup.comStrategic Report GovernanceFinancial statements 
78

Notes to the financial statements continued
1 July 2021

Note 4. Operating segments (continued)

Operating segment information

Group - 2020

Revenue
Sales to external customers

Intersegment sales

Total revenue

Cost of sales

Gross profit/(loss)

Administrative expenses

Other income

Net finance costs

Loss before income tax expense

Income tax expense

Loss after income tax expense

Included within administrative 

expenses:
Group costs

Depreciation and amortisation

Assets
Segment assets

Intersegment eliminations

Total assets

Total assets includes:
Acquisition of non-current assets

Liabilities
Segment liabilities

Intersegment eliminations

Total liabilities

Real
Estate
£’000s

Barkby
Pubs
£’000s

Investment
Workshop
Coffee
£’000s

Investment
Centurian
Automotive
£’000s

Investment
Life
Sciences
£’000s

Total
Investments
£’000s

Total
£’000s

4,518

-
4,518

591

-
591

2,902

-
2,902

4,037

-
4,037

(4,319)
199

(1,295)
(704)

(1,799)
1,103

(3,775)
262

-

-
-

-
-

6,939

-
6,939

(5,574)
1,365

12,048

-
12,048

(11,188)
860

(136)

(961)

(1,897)

(266)

(278)

(2,441)

(3,538)

-

(391)

(328)

(4)
(332)

269

(115)

(1,511)

-
(1,511)

73

(129)

(850)

-
(850)

25

(174)

(153)

-
(153)

-

98

(15)

(318)

367

(824)

(293)

(1,296)

(3,135)

-
(293)

-
(1,296)

(4)
(3,139)

-

-

(774)

(155)

-

(390)

-

(14)

-

-

-

(404)

(774)

(582)

12,540

38,927

1,120

5,096

386

6,602

58,069

(32,410)
25,659

1,952

137

42

19

281

342

2,431

(11,368)

(5,612)

(5,375)

(4,619)

(679)

(10,673)

(27,653)

7,010
(20,643)

The above table has been amended to show the segments consistently with the current year. There is no 
change to the overall total or the individual segments.

Geographical information

United Kingdom

Rest of the world

Sales to external customers

Geographical non-current assets

2021
£’000s

14,986

156

15,142

2020 
£’000s

11,482

566

12,048

2021
£’000s

15,644

-

15,644

2020
£’000s

14,721

-

14,721

Barkby Group PlcBAnnual report and financial accounts 2021Notes to the financial statements continued
1 July 2021

Note 5. Revenue
From continuing operations

Revenue from contracts with customers
Sale of real estate property

Other revenue
Food and drink

Accommodation

Car sales and associated services

Life sciences

Revenue

Note 6. Other income

Covid-19 grants

Gain on re-negotiation of lease

Recovery of costs from related parties

Miscellaneous items

Other income

Covid-19 grants

79

Group

2021
£’000s

2020 
£’000s

114

4,518

3,496

458

10,954

120

3,409

84

4,037

-

15,142

12,048

Group

2021
£’000s

298

-

48

4

350

2020 
£’000s

294

73

-

-

367

These grants are income received from local government available as a result of the restrictions placed on the 
Group’s businesses as a result of the various lockdowns imposed as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Recovery of costs from related parties

The group provides finance and administration services to certain related parties. The costs associated with 
these services are charged to the relevant related party.

www.barkbygroup.comStrategic Report GovernanceFinancial statements80

Notes to the financial statements continued
1 July 2021

Note 7. Expenses

Profit before income tax includes the following specific expenses:

Cost of sales
Property cost of sales - purchases

Vehicle cost of sales - purchases

Barkby Pubs cost of sales - purchases

Barkby Pubs costs of sales - employee costs

Life Sciences - purchases

Workshop Coffee cost of sales - purchases

Administration expenses
Employee costs

Professional fees

Buildings and facility related costs

Depreciation and amortisation (see below)

Other administrative costs

Advertising and promotion

Research and development

Donations

Acquisition costs and listing costs recognised in expenses

Depreciation – owned assets
Leasehold improvements

Freehold buildings

Plant and equipment

Fixtures and fittings

Computer equipment

Depreciation – right of use assets
Buildings

Pubs

Service concessions

Amortisation
Patents and licenses

Product design and development

Computer software

Total depreciation and amortisation

Finance costs
Interest and finance charges paid/payable on borrowings

Interest and finance charges paid/payable on lease liabilities

Finance costs expensed

Group

2021
£’000s

2020 
£’000s

107

10,141

842

1,261

106

688

13,145

2,232

940

797

911

485

418

-

4

-

5,787

83

3

92

101

59

338

132

291

13

436

57

44

36

137

911

766

212

978

4,319

3,775

195

1,575

-

1,324

11,188

961

595

533

582

428

198

9

2

230

3,538

117

3

24

68

24

236

210

102

29

341

5

-

-

5

582

794

155

949

Barkby Group PlcBAnnual report and financial accounts 2021Notes to the financial statements continued
1 July 2021

Note 7. Expenses (continued)

Net foreign exchange loss
Net foreign exchange loss

Leases
Variable lease payments

Short-term and low-value lease payments

Pension expense
Defined contribution pension contributions

Employee costs
Wages and salaries

Social security costs

Other employee related costs

Pensions costs

Employee costs are charged to both Cost of sales and Administration expenses 

as follows:

Employee costs within cost of sales

Employee costs within administration expenses

Furlough claims

Employee costs are net of the following amount claimed under the Coronavirus  

Job Retention Scheme

Workshop Coffee

Barkby Pubs (and group functions)

Centurian Automotive

Cambridge Sleep Sciences

Employee numbers

The group employed the following numbers of people on average during the 

financial period
Workshop Coffee

Barkby Pubs (and group function) (2020: average since January 2020)

Centurian Automotive (2020: average since January 2020)

Cambridge Sleep Sciences

Auditors Remuneration

Fees for auditing these accounts

Other Services
Fees for the auditing the financial statements of the Group’s other subsidiaries

Services relating to corporate finance transactions

81

Group

2021
£’000s

2020 
£’000s

13

38

53

91

61

3,124

239

86

61

40

48

30

78

34

2,205

202

95

34

3,510

2,536

1,261

2,249

3,510

1,575

961

2,536

264

484

32

5

785

29

118

9

5

161

32

58

-

90

189

244

17

-

450

44

121

4

-

169

55

35

100

190

www.barkbygroup.comStrategic Report GovernanceFinancial statements 
82

Notes to the financial statements continued
1 July 2021

Note 8. Income tax expense

Income tax expense
UK corporation tax charge

Adjustment recognised for prior periods

Aggregate income tax expense

Numerical reconciliation of income tax expense and tax at the statutory rate
Loss before income tax expense

Tax credit at the statutory tax rate of 19%

Tax effect amounts which are not deductible/(taxable) in calculating taxable 

income:

Expenses non-deductible for tax purpose

Deferred tax asset not recognised

Adjustment recognised for prior periods

Income tax expense

Group

2021
£’000s

2020 
£’000s

-

-

-

-

4

4

(4,378)

(3,153)

(832)

(595)

38

794

-

-

103

492

4

4

Deferred tax assets totalling £4,124,000 relating to tax losses have not been recognisned at 1 July 2021 
(£2,308,000 at 2 July 2020).

Note 9. Current assets – cash and cash equivalents

Cash at bank

Cash in transit

Petty cash

Reconciliation to cash and cash equivalents at the end of the financial year

The above figures are reconciled to cash and cash equivalents at the end of the 

financial year as shown in the statement of cash flows as follows:

Balances as above

Bank overdraft (note 35)

Balance as per statement of cash flows

Cash in transit

Petty cash

Note 10. Current assets – trade and other receivables

Trade receivables

Less: Allowance for expected credit losses

Receivable from employee

Allowance for expected credit losses

Group

1 July 2021
£’000s

2 July 2020 
£’000s

70

10

4

84

236

69

1

306

84

(305)

(221)

306

(1,480)

(1,174)

Company

1 July 2021
£’000s

2 July 2020 
£’000s

10

1

11

69

-

69

Group

1 July 2021
£’000s

2 July 2020 
£’000s

131

(33)

122

220

395

-

71

466

The Group has recognised a credit of £50,000 in administrative expenses within the loss for the period ended 
2 July 2020 in respect of recovery of trade receivables that have previously been provided for.

Barkby Group PlcBAnnual report and financial accounts 202183

Notes to the financial statements continued
1 July 2021

Note 11. Current assets - contract assets

Contract assets

Reconciliation of the written down values at the beginning and end of the current 

and previous financial year are set out below:

Opening balance

Additions

Transfer to trade receivables

Closing balance

Group

1 July 2021
£’000s

2 July 2020
£’000s

-

4,898

4,898

-

(4,898)

-

520

4,378

-

4,898

The contract assets balance at 2 July 2020 related to the Hastings development in the Group’s Real Estate 
business. The balance was invoiced in the year ended 1 July 2021 following the completion and handover of the 
development.

Note 12. Current assets – inventories

Coffee, food, drink and other raw materials

Property development work in progress

Vehicle inventory

Electronic devices

Provision for obsolete inventory

Food, drink and other raw materials

Note 13. Current assets – other

Receivable from related party

Deposits

VAT recoverable

Other current assets

Note 14. Other non-current assets

Lease and contract deposits

Lease and contract deposits

Group

1 July 2021
£’000s

2 July 2020 
£’000s

233

2,085

3,400

433

(55)

144

1,298

2,864

-

(80)

6,096

4,226

Company

1 July 2021
£’000s

2 July 2020 
£’000s

105

35

Group

1 July 2021
£’000s

2 July 2020 
£’000s

–

–

14

70

84

375

150

97

19

641

Group

1 July 2021
£’000s

2 July 2020 
£’000s

219

127

Company

1 July 2021
£’000s

2 July 2020 
£’000s

83

83

The deposits are held by the lessors of the leased pubs and buildings, and certain suppliers of services. The 
discounting on the deposits is not considered material.

www.barkbygroup.comStrategic Report GovernanceFinancial statements84

Notes to the financial statements continued
1 July 2021

Note 15. Non-current assets – property, plant and equipment

Land and
buildings
£’000s

Leasehold
improve-
ments
£’000s

Plant and
equipment
£’000s

Computer
equipment
£’000s

Fixtures 
and
fittings
£’000s

Total
£’000s

Group

Cost
Balance at 1 April 2019

Additions in period

Additions by business combinations

Disposals in period

Balance at 2 July 2020

Additions in year

Disposals in year

Balance at 1 July 2021

Accumulated depreciation
Balance at 1 April 2019

Charge for the period

Additions by business combinations

Disposals in period

Balance at 2 July 2020

Charge for the year

Disposal in year

Balance at 1 July 2021

Net Book Value
At 2 July 2020

At 1 July 2021

-

-

672

-

672

-

-

1,155

17

2

(239)

935

14

-

672

949

(713)

(117)

-

239

(592)

(83)

-

-

(3)

-

-

(3)

(3)

-

(6)

492

23

215

-

730

185

(2)

913

(483)

(24)

(101)

-

(608)

(92)

2

106

17

122

-

245

40

-

285

(88)

(24)

(17)

-

(129)

(59)

-

249

137

500

-

2,002

194

1,511

(239)

886

3,468

25

-

911

264

(2)

3,730

(179)

(1,463)

(68)

(335)

-

(582)

(101)

-

(236)

(453)

239

(1,914)

(338)

2

(675)

(698)

(188)

(683)

(2,250)

669

666

344

274

122

215

115

97

304

228

1,554

1,480

Land and buildings includes £300,000 of freehold land, acquired during the period ended 2 July 2020. 
Freehold land is not depreciated.

Company

Cost
Balance at 2 July 2020

Additions in period

Balance at 1 July 2021

Accumulated depreciation
Balance at 2 July 2020

Charge for the period

Balance at 1 July 2021

Net Book Value
At 2 July 2020

At 1 July 2021

Land and
buildings
£’000s

Plant and
equipment
£’000s

Computer
equipment
£’000s

Fixtures 
and
fittings
£’000s

Total
£’000s

672

-

672

(3)

(3)

(6)

669

666

238

85

323

(116)

(49)

(165)

122

158

122

26

148

(25)

(45)

(70)

97

78

592

22

614

(358)

(74)

(432)

1,624

133

1,757

(502)

(171)

(673)

234

182

1,122

1,084

Barkby Group PlcBAnnual report and financial accounts 2021Notes to the financial statements continued
1 July 2021

Note 16. Non-current assets - right-of-use assets

Right of use assets - cost
Balance at 1 April 2019

Acquired in business combinations

Adjustments to leases

Covid-19 relief

Balance at 2 July 2020

New leases

Adjustments to leases

Covid-19 relief

Balance at 1 July 2021

Accumulated depreciation
Balance at 1 April 2019

Acquired in business combinations

Charge for the period

Balance at 2 July 2020

Charge for the period

Lease adjustment

Balance at 1 July 2021

Net Book Value
At 1 April 2019

At 2 July 2020

At 1 July 2021

85

Group

Buildings
£’000s

Pubs
£’000s

Service
concessions
£’000s

1,686

-

61

2,767

(594)

(29)

1,124

-

(102)

(91)

931

(570)

(19)

(210)

(799)

(132)

102

-

(67)

2,700

1,064

-

(200)

3,564

-

(297)

(102)

(399)

(291)

-

69

-

-

(8)

61

-

-

(4)

57

(15)

-

(29)

(44)

(13)

-

Total
£’000s

1,755

2,828

(594)

(104)

3,885

1,064

(102)

(295)

4,552

(585)

(316)

(341)

(1,242)

(436)

102

(828)

(690)

(57)

(1,575)

1,116
325

103

-
2,301

2,874

54
17

-

1,170
2,643

2,977

The adjustment to the building lease related to the renegotiation of a lease on to a turnover rent basis. Covid-19 
relief represents rents foregone by landlords as a result of the pandemic. The balance represents agreed 
reductions in rent in the year ended 1 July 2021.

The Group leases land and buildings for its offices, coffee shops and car showroom. The leases run for between 
1.5 and 9.5 years.

The Group leases six pubs, with the leases running for between 3 and 21 years.

www.barkbygroup.comStrategic Report GovernanceFinancial statements86

Notes to the financial statements continued
1 July 2021

Note 16. Non-current assets - right-of-use assets (continued)

The Group also leased plant and machinery and operates one service concession which is classified as a lease.

Company

Right of use assets - cost
Balance at 1 June 2019

Additions of new leases

Adjustments to leases

Covid-19 relief

Balance at 2 July 2020

New leases

Covid-19 relief

Balance at 1 July 2021

Accumulated depreciation
Balance at 1 June 2019

Charge for the period

Balance at 2 July 2020

Charge for the year

Balance at 1 July 2021

Net Book Value
At 1 June 2019

At 2 July 2020

At 1 July 2021

Pubs 
£’000s

2,683

46

38

(67)

2,700

1,064

(200)

3,564

(171)

(228)

(399)

(291)

(690)

2,512

2,301
2,874

The adjustment to the Pub lease in the period ended 2 July 2020 was an annual RPI-based indexation increase 
in the lease for one pub.

Note 17. Non-current assets - intangibles

Group

Cost
Balance at 1 April 2019

Additions through business combinations (note 32)

Additions during the period

Balance at 2 July 2020

Additions during the year

Balance at 1 July 2021

Accumulated amortisation and impairments
Balance at 1 April 2019

Charge for the period

Balance at 2 July 2020

Charge for the year

Balance at 1 July 2021

Net book value
At 1 April 2019

At 2 July 2020

At 1 July 2021

Product 
design
and 
development
£’000s

Goodwill
£’000s

Patents and
trademarks
£’000s

Computer 
software 
£’000s

Total
£’000s

106

8,037

-

8,143

-

8,143

(106)

-

(106)

-

(106)

-

8,037

8,037

-

-

69

69

49

118

-

-

-

(44)

(44)

-

69

74

50

-

218

268

126

394

(14)

(5)

(19)

(57)

(76)

36

249

318

-

-

-

-

110

110

-

-

-

(36)

(36)

-

-

74

156

8,037

287

8,480

285

8,765

(120)

(5)

(125)

(137)

(262)

36

8,355

8,503

The Company has a goodwill balance of £1,074,000 at 1 July 2021 and 2 July 2020. The goodwill arose on the 
acquisition of the assets and businesses of Turf to Table Limited in 2018. There is no accumulated amortisation 
or impairment against this balance.

Barkby Group PlcBAnnual report and financial accounts 202187

Notes to the financial statements continued
1 July 2021

Note 17. Non-current assets - intangibles (continued)

Impairment testing

Goodwill acquired through business combinations has been allocated to the following cash-generating units 
(“CGU”):

Barkby Pubs

Investments - Centurian Automotive

Group

2021
£’000s

6,296

1,741

8,037

2020 
£’000s

6,296

1,741

8,037

The recoverable amount of the Group’s goodwill has been determined by a value-in-use calculation using a 
discounted cash flow model, based on a 4 year projection period approved by management and extrapolated for 
a further 1 year using a steady rate, together with a terminal value.

Key assumptions are those to which the recoverable amount of an asset or cash-generating units is most sensitive. 
The following key assumptions were used in the discounted cash flow model for the Barkby Pubs division:

•  8% WACC;

•  2% per annum projected revenue growth rate;

The discount rate of 8% reflects management’s estimate of the time value of money and the Group’s weighted 
average cost of capital.

Management believes the projected 2% revenue growth rate is prudent and justified, based on the general 
market conditions and long run expectations for the industry.

There were no other key assumptions for the Barkby Pubs CGU.

Based on the above, the recoverable amount of the Barkby Pubs cash generating unit exceeded the carrying 
amount by £3,073,000 (2020: £1,291,000).

The following key assumptions were used in the discounted cash flow model for the Investments - Centurian 
CGU:

•  8% WACC;

•  2% per annum projected revenue growth rate.

The discount rate of 8% reflects management’s estimate of the time value of money and the Group’s weighted 
average cost of capital.

There were no other key assumptions for the Centurian CGU.

Based on the above, the recoverable amount of the Investments - Centurian exceeded the carrying amount by 
£1,571,000 (2020: £2,470,000).

As disclosed in note 3, the directors have made judgements and estimates in respect of impairment testing 
of goodwill. Should these judgements and estimates not occur the resulting goodwill carrying amount may 
decrease. The sensitivities are as follows:

•  Revenue would need to decrease by more than 4% for Barkby Pubs and 0.7% for Centurian the CGU before 

goodwill would need to be impaired, with all other assumptions remaining constant.

•  The discount rate would be required to increase by 3% for Barkby Pubs and 6% for Centurian before goodwill 

would need to be impaired, with all other assumptions remaining constant.

Management believes that other reasonable changes in the key assumptions on which the recoverable amount 
of either CGU’s goodwill is based would not cause the relevant cash-generating unit’s carrying amount to 
exceed its recoverable amount.

www.barkbygroup.comStrategic Report GovernanceFinancial statements88

Notes to the financial statements continued
1 July 2021

Note 18. Non-current assets - Investments

Investment in equity of Verso Biosense Ltd (formerly VivoPlex)

Group

1 July 2021
£’000s

2,542

2 July 2020 
£’000s

2,042

The Group, through its subsidiary Barkby Real Estate Developments Limited, excised its option to subscribe 
in VivoPlex Loan Notes in the period ended 2 July 2020. Subsequently the Loan Notes were converted into 
share capital. In the year ended 1 July 2021, the Group increased its investment in Verso Biosense Ltd (formerly 
VivoPlex) by £500,000.

The investment in equity of Verso Biosence Ltd is measured at fair value through profit or loss following 
designation as such upon initial recognition. The was no movement in fair value in the year ended 1 July 2021, 
other than the increase in the Group’s investment.

Opening balance

Acquisitions of share capital in subsidiary undertakings:

Tarncourt Ambit Properties Limited (now Barkby Real Estate Development Limited)

Tarncourt Ambit Limited (now Barkby Real Estate Limited)

Workshop Trading Holdings Limited

Cambridge Sleep Sciences Limited*

Impairment

Company

1 July 2021
£’000s

30,940

2 July 2020 
£’000s

314

-

-

-

-

(4,781)

26,159

14,645

11,200

4,781

-

-

30,940

The Company has tested its investments in subsidiaries following a review for indicators of impairment at 1 July 
2021. It was noted that the market value of the Company’s shares was greater than the Company’s net assets 
at 1 July 2021. Based on this indicator of impairment, the directors have decided to impair the Company’s 
investment in Workshop Trading Holdings Limited. Of the Company’s investments this investment was deemed 
to have the lowest recoverable amount.

The Company acquired the entire share capital of Tarncourt Ambit Properties Limited by issuing 
48,816,667 ordinary shares to the shareholders of Tarncourt Ambit Properties Limited on 7 January 2020 as 
part of the business combination transaction with the Dickson Controlled Entities. The shares are valued at 
£0.30 per share, being the price that shareholders subscribed for shares in Barkby Group Plc in a placing and 
subscription linked to the business combination and undertaken on the same day.

The Company acquired the entire share capital of Tarncourt Ambit Limited by issuing 37,333,334 ordinary 
shares to the shareholders of Tarncourt Ambit Limited on 7 January 2020 as part of the business combination 
transaction with the Dickson Controlled Entities. The shares are valued at £0.30 per share, being the price that 
shareholders subscribed for shares in Barkby Group Plc in a placing and subscription linked to the business 
combination and undertaken on the same day.

The Company acquired the entire share capital of Workshop Trading Holdings Limited by issuing 
15,936,166 ordinary shares to the shareholders of Workshop Trading Holdings Limited on 7 January 2020 as 
part of the business combination transaction with the Dickson Controlled Entities. The shares are valued at 
£0.30 per share, being the price that shareholders subscribed for shares in Barkby Group Plc in a placing and 
subscription linked to the business combination and undertaken on the same day.

*The Company subscribed in cash for £71.40 of share capital of Cambridge Sleep Sciences Limited in the period 
ended 2 July 2020, representing 84.5% of Cambridge Sleep Sciences Limited’s issued equity.

Barkby Group PlcBAnnual report and financial accounts 202189

Notes to the financial statements continued
1 July 2021

Note 19. Borrowings

Bank overdrafts

Vehicle finance and associated loans

Bank loans

Other loans

Loans from related parties

Bank overdrafts

Bank loans

Other loans

1 July 2021

£ 000s
Non-
current

-

42

667

16

3,927

4,652

1 July 2021

£ 000s
Non-
current

-

667

16

683

£’000s
Current

305

3,857

642

2,113

478

7,395

£’000s
Current

199

642

73

914

Group

2 July 2020

£ 000s
Total

305

3,899

1,309

2,129

4,405

12,047

Company

£ 000s
Total

199

1,309

89

1,597

£ 000s
Current

1,480

3,050

37

4,359

73

8,999

£ 000s
Current

1,480

29

-

1,509

£ 000s
Non-
current

-

328

295

2,026

2,250

4,899

2 July 2020

£ 000s
Non-
current

-

295

-

295

Total
£’000s

1,480

3,378

332

6,385

2,323

13,898

Total
£’000s

1,480

324

-

1,804

Refer to note 27 for further information on financial instruments.

Total secured liabilities

The total secured liabilities (current and non-current) are as follows:

Bank overdraft

Vehicle finance and associated loans

Bank loans

Other loans

Loans from related parties

Assets pledged as security

Group

1 July 
2021
£’000s

305

3,899

1,309

2,032

446

7,991

2 July  
2020 
£’000s

1,480

3,378

332

6,178

-

11,368

The bank overdraft and loans are secured by charges over the Group’s assets.

Vehicle finance and associated loans are secured against the Group’s vehicle inventory, with each facility being 
linked to a specific vehicle or vehicles.

Certain other loans are secured on either one of the Group’s real estate development properties or specific 
assets.

One of the loans from related parties is secured on one of the Group’s real estate development properties.

Financing arrangements

The Group has access to a term loan facility with Tarncourt Investments LLP, a related party. The facility was 
refinanced in the year increasing to £5.0 million (2 July 2020 £3.5 million) and is repayable in June 2023 (2 July 
2020: repayable in July 2021). The facility bears interest at 3.5% (previous facility: 3.5%). At 1 July 2021, the 
Group had drawn £3,843,000 (2 July 2020: £1,978,000) and so had unused financing available of £1,157,000 
(2 July 2021: £1,522,000).

www.barkbygroup.comStrategic Report GovernanceFinancial statements90

Notes to the financial statements continued
1 July 2021

Note 20. Lease liabilities

Building lease liabilities

Pub lease liabilities

Kitchen equipment lease liabilities

Service concession lease liabilities

Pub lease liabilities

Kitchen equipment lease liabilities

1 July 2021

2 July 2020

Group

£’000s
Current

99

432

-

-

£ 000s
Non-
current

67

£ 000s
Total

166

2,871

3,303

-

-

-

-

531

2,938

3,469

£ 000s
Current

185

273

9

24

491

£ 000s
Non-
current

162

2,187

-

-

Total
£’000s

347

2,460

9

24

2,349

2,840

Company

1 July 2021

£ 000s
Non-
current

£’000s
Current

£ 000s
Total

£ 000s
Current

2 July 2020

£ 000s
Non-
current

Total
£’000s

432

2,871

3,303

-

-

-

432

2,871

3,303

273

9

282

2,178

2,460

-

9

2,187

2,469

Refer to note 27 for further information on financial instruments.

Kitchen equipment lease liabilities were reported within non-current borrowings in the Company’s 31 May 2019 
balance sheet.

Note 21. Current liabilities - income tax

Provision for Corporation Tax

Group

1 July 2021
£’000s

2 July 2020
£’000s

25

107

Barkby Group PlcBAnnual report and financial accounts 2021Notes to the financial statements continued
1 July 2021

Note 22. Current liabilities - other

Accruals

Tax and social security payable

Pension contributions payable

Retentions

Deferred consideration

Customer deposits

Other payables

Accruals

Tax and social security payable

Pension contributions payable

Deferred consideration

Customer deposits

Other payables

91

Group

1 July 2021
£’000s

2 July 2020
£’000s

1,108

1,531

13

59

225

152

1,259

4,347

577

477

11

115

592

56

5

1,833

Company

1 July 2021
£’000s

2 July 2020
£’000s

577

1,042

9

225

152

168

296

301

2

592

56

13

2,173

1,260

Deferred consideration relates to the acquisition of Turf to Table (25 June 2018) by The Barkby Group Plc, 
and £225,000 (1 July 2020: £375,000) payable to three shareholders under the terms of the acquisition of 
Tarncourt Ambit Limited (now Barkby Real Estate Limited) on 7 January 2020. During the year ended 1 July 
2021 payments totalling £150,000 were made as partial settlement of this deferred consideration. The remaining 
balance of £225,000 is expected to be settled in the next financial year.

During the year ended 1 July 2021 Barkby Group and Turf to Table Ltd agreed an amendment to the deferred 
consideration due to Turf to Table. As a result of this agreement, the Company paid £115,000 in lieu of the 
balance of existing deferred consideration of £150,000 due under the original agreement. £60,000 of the 
outstanding £115,000 due was satisfied by the issue and allotment on 1 October 2020 of 260,869 ordinary 
shares in the capital of Barkby (“Ordinary Shares”) at a price of 23 pence per Ordinary Share, and the balance 
of £55,000 was paid in cash. The difference between the balance due of £150,000 and that ultimately paid of 
£115,000 of £35,000 was released to profit and loss.

The balance of deferred consideration in relation to turf to Table at 2 July 2020 was £217,000, resulting in a 
further release to profit and loss of £67,000 in the year ended 1 July 2021.

www.barkbygroup.comStrategic Report GovernanceFinancial statements92

Notes to the financial statements continued
1 July 2021

Note 23. Non-current liabilities - provisions

Dilapidations provisions

Dilapidations provisions

Dilapidations provisions

Group

1 July 2021
£’000s

2 July 2020
£’000s

48

28

Company

1 July 2021
£’000s

2 July 2020
£’000s

48

28

The provision represents the present value of the estimated costs to make good the Pub premises leased by the 
Group (and Company) at the end of the respective lease terms.

Movements in provisions

Movements in each class of provision during the current financial year (and previous financial period) are set 
out below:

Group
Carrying amount at 3 July 2020 (1 April 2019)

Fair value of provisions acquired in business combination

Dilapidations provision for new Pub leases in period

Carrying amount at 1 July 2021 (2 July 2020)

Company
Carrying amount at 3 July 2020 (1 June 2019)

Dilapidations associated with new Pub lease in period

Carrying amount at 1 July 2021 (2 July 2020)

Dilapidations provision

2021
£’000s

2020
£’000s

28

-

20

48

-

28

-

28

Dilapidations provision

2021
£’000s

2020
£’000s

28

20

48

25

3

28

Barkby Group PlcBAnnual report and financial accounts 202193

Notes to the financial statements continued
1 July 2021

Note 24. Equity - issued capital

New ordinary shares - fully paid
(£0.00860675675675676 per share)

Group and Company

1 July 2021
Shares

2 July 2020 
Shares

1 July 2021
£’000s

2 July 2020
£’000s

136,948,282 135,235,066

1,179

1,164

During the year ended 1 July 2021 the Company undertook the following transactions in relation to its issued 
share capital:

a) Turf to Table deferred consideration on 1 October 2020

As part of the amended deferred consideration agreement with Turf to Table, the Company issued and allotted 
260,869 ordinary shares on 1 October 2020 at a price of 23 pence per share to satisfy £60,000 of the amended 
deferred consideration totalling £115,000.

b) Exercise of warrants on 24 December 2020

The Company allotted 1,452,347 shares on 24 December 2020 following the exercise of warrants by Giles Clarke.

During the prior period ended 2 July 2020 the Company undertook the following transactions in relation to its 
issued share capital:

c) Share consolidation on 18 December 2019

157 existing shares of 0.33p per share were issued to ensure that the number of shares in issue was divisible 
by 193. This was then followed by 74 new ordinary shares being issued for every 193 existing ordinary shares, 
resulting in the cancellation of 42,164,324 ordinary shares and the issuance of 16,166,632 new ordinary shares of 
0.860675675675676p per share.

d) Consideration shares on 7 January 2020

As part of the acquisition of the Dickson Controlled Entities, the Company issued 102,086,167 shares on 
7 January 2020 in order to acquire the entire share capital of Tarncourt Ambit Limited, Tarncourt Ambit 
Properties Limited and Workshop Trading Holdings Limited. For the purposes of the legal acquisition of the 
share capital of the above entities, The Barkby Group Plc shares were valued at 30p per share, with the excess 
of the price over the nominal value of the share capital being booked to the Company’s merger reserve.

e) Placing and subscription on 7 January 2020

The Company issued 16,666,667 shares on 7 January 2020 for cash at 30p per share as a result of a placing and 
subscription. The total proceeds raised were £5 million and the excess of the price per share over the nominal 
value of the share capital was booked to the Company’s share premium account.

f) Fee shares on 7 January 2020

The Company issued 315,600 shares to FinnCap, the Company’s advisers to the reverse takeover transaction, 
share capital placing and subscription and the Company’s listing on AIM, which all took effect on 7 January 
2020. The shares were valued at 30p per share, giving a total value of £94,680, being the value of the services 
received by the Company from FinnCap. The excess of the price per share over the nominal value of the share 
capital was booked to the Company’s share premium account.

www.barkbygroup.comStrategic Report GovernanceFinancial statements94

Notes to the financial statements continued
1 July 2021

Note 24. Equity - issued capital (continued)

Movements in ordinary share capital – Group and Company

Details

Balance

Shares issued

Date

Nominal 
value
£ per share

Shares

31 March and 31 May 2019

42,164,167

0.0033

18 December 2019

157

0.0033

£’000

139

-

Share consolidation - cancellation of existing 

shares

Share consolidation - issue of new shares

Shares issued - Dickson Controlled Entities 

acquisition

Shares placed for cash proceeds

Shares issued for fees

Balance

7 January 2020

7 January 2020

7 January 2020

7 January 2020

7 January 2020

2 July 2020

Shares issued to settle deferred consideration

1 October 2020

Shares issued following exercise of warrants

24 December 2020

(42,164,324)

0.0033

(139)

16,166,632

0.0086

139

102,086,167

0.0086

16,666,667

0.0086

315,600

0.0086

879

143

3

135,235,066

0.0086

1,164

260,869

0.0086

1,452,347

0.0086

2

13

Balance

Ordinary shares

1 July 2021

136,948,282

0.0086

1,179

The nominal value of the ordinary shares is £0.00860675675675676 per share. This is shown as £0.0086 in the 
table above for clarity.

Warrants

The Company has the following Warrants outstanding at 1 July 2021 and 2 July 2020:

Giles Clarke

Rupert Fraser

Jeremy Sparrow

Number outstanding

Date granted

1 July 2021

2 July 2020

Price  
(£ per 
share)

Warrants

-

1,452,347

30/12/2015 0.0860

Warrants

1,452,347

1,452,347

30/12/2015 0.0860

Warrants

255,612

255,612 22/07/2016

0.1979

1,707,959

3,160,306

The Warrants issued to Giles Clarke and Rupert Fraser are exercisable at any time during the period of five 
years to 30 December 2020 with certain exceptions that could restrict the timing or the number of warrants 
that could be exercised at a particular point in time. On 24 December 2020, Giles Clarke exercised his Warrants 
and the Company issued 1,452,347 shares. In addition, on 24 December 2020, the expiry date of the Warrants 
issued to Rupert Fraser was extended by one year to 30 December 2021.

The Warrants issued to Jeremy Sparrow are exercisable at any time during the period from 28 July 2016 to 
29 July 2021 with certain exceptions that could restrict the timing or the number of warrants that could be 
exercised at a particular point in time.

Barkby Group PlcBAnnual report and financial accounts 2021Notes to the financial statements continued
1 July 2021

Note 25. Equity - retained losses

Retained loss at the beginning of the period/year

Loss after income tax expense for the period/year attributable to shareholders of the 

Company

Payment to shareholders of Tarncourt Ambit Limited

Capital reduction

Retained losses at the end of the financial period/year

Retained loss at the beginning of the financial period

Loss after income tax expense for the period

Payment to shareholders of Tarncourt Ambit limited

Capital reduction

Retained losses at the end of the financial period

Capital reduction

95

Group

2021
£’000s

2020 
£’000s

(5)

(5,585)

(4,214)

-

-

(4,219)

Company

2021
£’000s

(1,601)

(9,292)

-

-

(10,893)

(3,095)

(750)

9,425

(5)

2020 
£’000s

(8,360)

(1,916)

(750)

9,425

(1,601)

The Company undertook a capital reduction by Court Order during the financial period ended 2 July 2020. 
The court sanctioned the Order on 25 June 2020, reducing the Company’s capital and resulting in a transfer of 
£9,425,000 to retained losses.

Payment to shareholders of Tarncourt Ambit Limited

As part of the business combination, it was agreed to pay £750,000 to certain shareholders of the Company 
who had been shareholders of Tarncourt Ambit Limited. This has been treated as a transaction with 
shareholders in their capacity as shareholders and so has been recorded in equity.

www.barkbygroup.comStrategic Report GovernanceFinancial statements96

Notes to the financial statements continued
1 July 2021

Note 26. Equity – other reserves

Balance at 1 April 2019

Capital reduction

Shares issued to settle fees

Shares issued for business combinations

Costs associated with issuance of shares

Shares issued for cash

Shares issued to cancel liabilities

Balance at 2 July 2020

Shares issued to settle deferred consideration

Shares issued following exercise of warrants

Balance at 1 July 2021

Balance at 1 June 2019

Capital reduction

Shares issued to settle fees

Shares issued to acquire subsidiaries

Costs associated with issuance of shares

Shares issued for cash

Balance at 2 July 2020

Shares issued to settle deferred consideration

Shares issued following exercise of warrants

Balance at 1 July 2021

Capital reduction

Group

Share  
premium
£’000s

6,347

(6,347)

92

-

(626)

4,857

-

4,323

58

112

4,493

Company

Share  
premium
£’000s

6,347

(6,347)

92

-

(626)

4,857

4,323

58

112

4,493

Capital
redemption
reserve
£’000s

3,078

(3,078)

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Capital
redemption
reserve
£’000s

3,078

(3,078)

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Merger
reserve
£’000s

(9,088)

-

-

5,446

-

75

3,145

(422)

-

-

(422)

Merger
reserve
relief
£’000s

-

-

-

29,747

-

-

29,747

-

-

29,747

Note

24

24, 32

24

24

24

Note

24

24

24

24

24

The Company undertook a capital reduction by court order during the financial period ended 2 July 2020. 
The court sanctioned the Order on 25 June 2020, reducing the Company’s share premium by £6,347,000 and 
utilising the entirety of the Company’s capital redemption reserve (£3,078,000), resulting in a reduction in the 
Company’s retained losses of £9,425,000.

Shares issued for cash

In addition to the shares issued by The Barkby Group Plc as part of the placing and subscription aligned to the 
business combination on 7 January 2020, the Dickson Controlled Entities issued equity of £75,000 for cash 
consideration in the period from 1 April 2019 to 6 January 2020.

Shares issued to cancel liabilities

In the period from 1 April 2019 to 6 January 2020, the Dickson Controlled Entities issued £3,145,000 of equity in 
order to satisfy liabilities of the same value.

Barkby Group PlcBAnnual report and financial accounts 202197

Notes to the financial statements continued
1 July 2021

Note 27. Financial instruments
Financial risk management objectives

The Group’s activities expose it to a variety of financial risks: market risk (including foreign currency risk, price 
risk and interest rate risk), credit risk and liquidity risk. The Group’s overall risk management program focuses 
on the unpredictability of financial markets and seeks to minimise potential adverse effects on the financial 
performance of the Group. The Group, on occasion, uses derivative financial instruments such as forward 
foreign exchange contracts to hedge certain risk exposures. Derivatives are exclusively used for hedging 
purposes, i.e. not as trading or other speculative instruments. The Group uses different methods to measure 
different types of risk to which it is exposed. These methods include sensitivity analysis in the case of interest 
rate, foreign exchange and other price risks, and ageing analysis for credit risk.

Risk management is carried out by senior finance executives (‘finance’) under policies approved by the Board of 
Directors (‘the Board’). These policies include identification and analysis of the risk exposure of the Group and 
appropriate procedures, controls and risk limits. Finance identifies, evaluates and hedges financial risks within 
the Group’s operating units. Finance reports to the Board on a monthly basis.

Market risk
Foreign currency risk

The Group undertakes certain transactions denominated in foreign currency and is exposed to foreign currency 
risk through foreign exchange rate fluctuations.

Foreign exchange risk arises from future commercial transactions and recognised financial assets and financial 
liabilities denominated in a currency that is not the entity’s functional currency. The risk is measured using 
sensitivity analysis and cash flow forecasting.

In order to protect against exchange rate movements, the Group, on occasion, enters into forward foreign 
exchange contracts. These contracts are hedging highly probable forecasted cash flows for the ensuing 
financial year. There were no contracts extant at either 2 July 2020, or 1 July 2021.

The Group had no foreign currency denominated financial assets at either 2 July 2020, or 1 July 2021.

The carrying amount of the Group’s foreign currency denominated financial assets and financial liabilities at the 
reporting date were as follows:

Group
US dollars

Euros

Total

Liabilities

1 July  
2020
£’000s

2 July  
2020
£’000s

118

22

140

77

-

77

The Group had net liabilities denominated in foreign currencies of £140,000 as at 1 July 2021  
(2 July 2020: £77,000). Based on this exposure, had Pound Sterling weakened by 10%/strengthened by 10% 
(2 July 2020: weakened by 10%/strengthened by 10%) against these foreign currencies with all other variables 
held constant, the Group’s loss before tax for the period would have been £14,000 higher/£14,000 lower 
(2 July 2020: £7,000 higher/£8,000 lower). Equity would have been £14,000 lower/£14,000 higher (2 July 
2020: £7,000 lower/£8,000 higher). The percentage change is the expected overall volatility of the significant 
currencies, which is based on management’s assessment of reasonable possible fluctuations taking into 
consideration movements over the financial period and the spot rate at each reporting date. The actual foreign 
exchange gain for the period ended 1 July 2021 was £11,000 (2019: loss of £40,000).

The Company had no foreign currency denominated financial assets or liabilities at either 2 July 2020 or  
1 July 2021.

www.barkbygroup.comStrategic Report GovernanceFinancial statements98

Notes to the financial statements continued
1 July 2021

Note 27. Financial instruments (continued)

Price risk

The Group is not exposed to any significant price risk.

Interest rate risk

The Group’s main interest rate risk arises from long-term borrowings. Borrowings obtained at variable rates 
expose the Group to interest rate risk. Borrowings obtained at fixed rates expose the Group to fair value risk. 
The Group’s policy is to maintain a range of borrowings appropriate for the individual businesses. For example, 
Centurian relies on specific trade finance that is secured on the value of its vehicle inventory.

Credit risk

Credit risk refers to the risk that a counterparty will default on its contractual obligations resulting in financial 
loss to the Group. The maximum exposure to credit risk at the reporting date to recognised financial assets 
is the carrying amount, net of any provisions for impairment of those assets, as disclosed in the statement of 
financial position and notes to the financial statements. The Group does not hold any collateral.

The Group has no concentration of credit risk exposure.

Generally, trade receivables are written off when there is no reasonable expectation of recovery. Indicators of 
this include the failure of a debtor to engage in a repayment plan, no active enforcement activity and a failure to 
make contractual payments for a period greater than 1 year.

Liquidity risk

Vigilant liquidity risk management requires the Group to maintain sufficient liquid assets (mainly cash and 
cash equivalents) and available borrowing facilities to be able to pay debts as and when they become due and 
payable.

The Group manages liquidity risk by maintaining adequate cash reserves and available borrowing facilities by 
continuously monitoring actual and forecast cash flows and matching the maturity profiles of financial assets 
and liabilities.

Financing arrangements

Unused borrowing facilities at the reporting date are shown in Note 19.

Barkby Group PlcBAnnual report and financial accounts 202199

Notes to the financial statements continued
1 July 2021

Note 27. Financial instruments (continued)

Remaining contractual maturities

The following tables detail the Group’s remaining contractual maturity for its financial instrument liabilities. The 
tables have been drawn up based on the undiscounted cash flows of financial liabilities based on the earliest 
date on which the financial liabilities are required to be paid. The tables include both interest and principal cash 
flows disclosed as remaining contractual maturities and therefore these totals may differ from their carrying 
amount in the statement of financial position.

Group - 2021

Non-interest bearing
Trade payables

Other payables

Loans from related parties

Interest bearing – variable
Bank overdraft

Bank loans

Interest-bearing – fixed rate
Vehicle finance

Other loans

Lease liabilities

Loans from related parties

Total

Group - 2020

Non-interest bearing
Trade payables

Other payables

Loans from related parties

Interest bearing – variable
Bank overdraft

Bank loans

Interest-bearing – fixed rate
Vehicle finance

Other loans

Lease liabilities

Loans from related parties

Total

Weighted
average
interest 
rate
%

1 year or 
less
£’000s

Between  
1 and 2 
years
£’000s

Between  
2 and 5 
years
£’000s

Over 5 
years
£’000s

Remaining
contractual
maturities
£’000s

-

-

-

3.5%

3.9%

8.4%

7.4%

4.9%

3.5%

1,826

1,543

-

305

643

3,857

2,113

554

478

11,319

-

-

84

-

333

42

16

543

3,843

4,861

-

-

-

-

333

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

1,515

1,874

-

-

1,826

1,543

84

305

1,309

3,899

2,129

4,486

4,321

1,848

1,874

19,902

Weighted
average
interest 
rate
%

1 year or 
less
£’000s

Between  
1 and 2 
years
£’000s

Between  
2 and 5 
years
£’000s

Over 5 
years
£’000s

Remaining
contractual
maturities
£’000s

-

-

-

3.5%

3.7%

8.4%

7.4%

5.0%

3.5%

1,937

711

-

1,480

38

3,073

4,451

508

73

12,271

-

-

272

-

30

88

2,001

371

1,978

4,740

-

-

-

-

300

258

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

918

2,059

-

-

1,937

711

272

1,480

368

3,419

6,452

3,856

2,051

1,476

2,059

20,546

The cash flows in the maturity analysis above are not expected to occur significantly earlier than contractually 
disclosed above.

Fair value of financial instruments

Unless otherwise stated, the carrying amounts of financial instruments reflect their fair value.

www.barkbygroup.comStrategic Report GovernanceFinancial statements100

Notes to the financial statements continued
1 July 2021

Note 28. Fair value measurement
Fair value hierarchy

The following tables detail the Group’s assets, measured or disclosed at fair value, using a three level hierarchy, 
based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the entire fair value measurement, being:

Level 1: Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the entity can access 
at the measurement date.

Level 2: Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, 
either directly or indirectly.

Level 3: Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability

The Group had no liabilities measured or disclosed at fair value at either 2 July 2020 or 1 July 2021.

Group – Assets

2 July 2020
Ordinary shares at fair value through profit or loss

1 July 2021
Ordinary shares at fair value through profit or loss

There were no transfers between levels during the financial year.

Level 1
£’000s

Level 2
£’000s

Level 3
£’000s

Total
£’000s

-

-

-

-

2,042

2,042

2,542

2,542

The carrying amounts of trade and other receivables and trade and other payables are assumed to approximate 
their fair values due to their short-term nature.

Valuation techniques for fair value measurements categorised within Level 2 and Level 3

Unquoted investments have been valued using a range of methods, taking into account the cost of the 
investments and other information available to the Group’s Directors on the financial and non-financial 
performance of the investment, including the prices unrelated parties have invested at and the expected price 
at which the next equity raise would be undertaken at.

On the basis that Verso Biosense is in the early stages of its development and therefore is significant inherent 
uncertainty on its forecast cashflows, the Directors consider costs to be the best approximation of fair value. No 
indicators of impairment have been identified and so the investment is held at cost at 1 July 2021 (and 2 July 2020).

Level 3 assets and liabilities

Movements in Level 3 assets and liabilities during the current and previous financial year are set out below:

Group
Balance at 1 April 2019

Gains recognised in profit or loss

Gains recognised in other comprehensive income

Additions

Balance at 2 July 2020

Gains recognised in profit or loss

Gains recognised in other comprehensive income

Additions

Balance at 1 July 2021

Ordinary
shares at fair
value
through P&L
£’000s

Ordinary
shares at fair
value
through OCI
£’000s

-

-

-

2,042

2,042

-

-

500

2,542

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Total
£’000s

-

-

-

2,042

2,042

-

-

500

2,542

Barkby Group PlcBAnnual report and financial accounts 2021101

Notes to the financial statements continued
1 July 2021

Note 29. Directors’ remuneration
Compensation

The aggregate compensation made to directors of the Group is set out below:

Salaries

Cash bonus

Contributions to defined contribution pensions

Other benefits

Group

2021
£’000s

460

-

9

-

469

2020 
£’000s

415

45

16

2

463

The highest paid director received total remuneration of £180,000 in the period ended 1 July 2020 (£121,000 for 
the period ended 2 July 2020).

Note 30. Commitments
Capital commitments

Committed at the reporting date but not recognised as liabilities, payable:
Intangible assets

Note 31. Related party transactions
Parent entity

Barkby Group Plc is the parent entity.

Subsidiaries

Interests in subsidiaries are set out in note 33.

Key management personnel

Disclosures relating to key management personnel are set out in note 29.

Transactions with related parties

The following transactions occurred with related parties:

Sales of cars to related parties

Purchases of cars from related parties

Recovery of costs from related parties

Purchases of services from related parties

Receivable from and payable to related parties

Group

1 July 2021
£’000s

2 July 2020 
£’000s

-

120

Group

2021
£’000s

2020 
£’000s

65

-

48

-

149

38

-

75

The following balances are outstanding at the reporting date in relation to transactions with related parties:

Current receivables:
Trade receivables due from related parties

Other receivables due from related parties

Group

2021
£’000s

2020 
£’000s

- 

115 

28 

70 

www.barkbygroup.comStrategic Report GovernanceFinancial statements102

Notes to the financial statements continued
1 July 2021

Note 31. Related party transactions (continued)

Loans from related parties

The following loan balances are outstanding at the reporting date in relation to related parties:

Loans from related parties

Current liabilities:

Interest bearing loans

Non-current liabilities:

Non-interest bearing loans

Interest bearing loans

Terms and conditions

Group

2021
£’000s

2020 
£’000s

478

73

84 

3,843

272

1,978

All transactions were made on normal commercial terms and conditions and at market rates.

Note 32. Business combinations

In the prior financial period, on 7 January 2020 The Barkby Group Plc, acquired 100% of the ordinary shares of 
Tarncourt Ambit Limited, Tarncourt Ambit Properties Limited and Workshop Trading Holdings Limited. These 
entities, together with Workshop Trading Holdings Limited’s subsidiary Workshop Trading (London) Limited 
were the Dickson Controlled Entities, so called as they were under the common control of members of the 
Dickson family. The Barkby Group Plc issued 102,086,167 ordinary shares to the shareholders of the Dickson 
Controlled Entities. As these shareholders ended up owning 86% of the enlarged group, the transaction was 
considered a reverse takeover under the provisions of IFRS 3.

In accounting for a reverse acquisition (rather than an acquisition) the combined financial statements were 
deemed to be a continuation of the operations of the legal acquiree (the Dickson Controlled Entities) rather 
than a continuation of those of the legal acquirer (The Barkby Group Plc).

The assets and liabilities of the Dickson Controlled Entities are recognised and measured in the Group financial 
statements at the pre-combination carrying amounts, without restatement to fair value and no goodwill arises 
in relation to them. Conversely, the assets of The Barkby Group Plc are consolidated at their fair values.

The overall effect was that the consolidated financial statements were prepared from the perspective of the 
Dickson Controlled Entities rather than The Barkby Group Plc, in summary this means:

•  The comparative consolidated financial information was that of an aggregation of the Dickson Controlled 

Entities rather than that of The Barkby Group Plc.

•  The results for the period and consolidated cumulative profit and loss reserves were those of the Dickson 

Controlled Entities plus the post-acquisition results of The Barkby Group Plc.

•  A merger reserve of £422,000 (debit balance) was created.

•  The share capital, share premium account and merger reserve were that of The Barkby Group Plc.

•  The cost of the combination was determined from the perspective of the Dickson Controlled Entities.

Goodwill arose on the reverse acquisition as a result of comparing the deemed fair value consideration of the 
Dickson Controlled Entities for the acquisition of the shares of The Barkby Group Plc. The fair value of the 
consideration is the market capitalisation of The Barkby Group Plc at acquisition based on the share price 
immediately prior to the announcement of the acquisition.

Barkby Group PlcBAnnual report and financial accounts 2021Notes to the financial statements continued
1 July 2021

Note 32. Business combinations (continued)

Details of the acquisition are as follows:

Cash and cash equivalents

Trade receivables

Other receivables and current assets

Prepayments

Property, plant and equipment - owned assets

Property, plant and equipment - Right of Use assets

Investments

Inventories

Trade payables

Other payables and accruals

Borrowings

Overdraft

Lease liabilities

Provisions

Employee benefits

Net liabilities acquired

Goodwill

Acquisition-date fair value of the total consideration transferred

Representing:
Shares issued

Acquisition costs expensed*

Cash used to acquire business, net of cash acquired:
Acquisition-date fair value of the total consideration transferred

Less: cash and cash equivalents acquired
Cash

Overdrafts

Net cash used

103

Fair value
£’000s

42

44

341

831

1,057

2,512

50

2,995

(1.325)

(1,266)

(3,736)

(591)

(2,598)

(28)

(40)

(1,712)

8,037

6,325

6,325

230

230

(42)

591

779

*Acquisition costs shown are the element taken to profit or loss out of the total costs of £856,000 for the business combination, share 
placing and listing on AIM that were all undertaken at the same time.

The acquisition consideration, net assets and goodwill were based upon the reverse acquisition of The Barkby 
Group Plc by the Dickson Controlled entities. The fair value of the consideration was the market capitalisation of 
The Barkby Group Plc at acquisition.

The value of the consideration shares recognised by The Barkby Group Plc in its entity financial statements was 
£30,626,000 based upon the 30.0p per share that the placing and subscription shares issued at the same time 
were priced at.

Transaction costs of equity transactions relating to the issue and re-admission of the Company’s shares were 
accounted for as a deduction from equity where they relate to the issue of new shares and listing costs are 
charged to the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income.

The fair value of the net liabilities acquired and shown in the table above was £1,712,000. The fair value of the 
consideration was £6,325,000 resulting in goodwill on reverse acquisition of £8,037,000.

If The Barkby Group Plc and its subsidiary undertaking, Centurian Automotive Limited, had been part of the 
group for their full prior financial period (1 June 2019 to 2 July 2020), they would have contributed revenue of 
£12,741,000 and a loss for the period of £4,047,000.

www.barkbygroup.comStrategic Report GovernanceFinancial statements104

Notes to the financial statements continued
1 July 2021

Note 33. Interests in subsidiaries

The consolidated financial statements incorporate the assets, liabilities and results of the following wholly- 
owned subsidiaries in accordance with the accounting policy described in note 2:

Name

Barkby Real Estate Limited, formerly  

Tarncourt Ambit Limited

Barkby Real Estate Developments Limited, 

Principal place of business and
Country of incorporation

Ownership interest

1 July 2021
%

2 July 2020
%

United Kingdom

100%

100%

formerly Tarncourt Ambit Properties Limited

United Kingdom

Workshop Trading Holdings Limited

Workshop Trading (London) Limited

Centurian Automotive Limited

United Kingdom

United Kingdom

United Kingdom

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

The consolidated financial statements incorporate the assets, liabilities and results of the following subsidiary 
with non-controlling interests in accordance with the accounting policy described in note 2:

Name

Principal place of 
business and
Country of incorporation

Principal 
activities

Parent

Non-controlling interest

Ownership
interest
2021
%

Ownership
interest
2020
%

Ownership
interest
2021
%

Ownership
interest
2020
%

Cambridge Sleep Sciences Limited United Kingdom

Life Sciences

85%

85%

15%

15%

Summarised financial information

Summarised financial information of the subsidiary with non-controlling interests that are material to the Group 
are set out below:

Summarised statement of financial position
Current assets

Non-current assets

Total assets

Current liabilities

Net assets

Summarised statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income
Start up expense

Other (net expenses)

Loss before income tax expense

Income tax expense

Profit after income tax expense and total comprehensive loss for the period

Statement of cash flows
Net cash from operating activities

Net cash used in investing activities

Net cash used in financing activities

Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

Other financial information
Loss attributable to non-controlling interests

Accumulated non-controlling interests at the end of reporting period

1 July 2021
£’000s

2 July 2020
£’000s

701

423

1,124

(2,512)

(1,388)

(1,033)

(71)

(1,104)

-

(1,104)

(84)

(290)

-

(373)

(164)

-

105

281

386

(679)

(293)

(293)

-

(293)

-

(293)

280

(280)

-

-

(44)

-

Barkby Group PlcBAnnual report and financial accounts 2021105

Notes to the financial statements continued
1 July 2021

Note 34. Post Balance Sheet Events
Wellingborough additional land acquisition

The group completed the acquisition of additional land from Wrenn School in September 2021 as part of our 
Wellingborough development site.

Huntingdon Planning Permission

Planning permission was granted for a 32,000 sq.ft. scheme at the group’s Huntingdon development site in 
August 2021.

Maldon acquisition and finance

The group completed the freehold purchase of the former Quest Motor dealership in Maldon, Essex for a 
consideration of £2.2 million in October 2021. It is planned to re-developed this site.

At the same time the group entered a £4.4 million debt facility to fund the acquisition of Maldon and refinance 
debt secured on the Saffron Waldon site.

Exchange of Contracts at Swindon

The group exchanged contracts in December 2021 for a commercial development site in Swindon, Wiltshire. It is 
proposed that the Group will develop a 30,000 sq. ft. mixed-use retail and trade scheme at the site. Under the 
proposed development, the site has an estimated gross development value of £7.5 million.

The Board considers that no other material post balance sheet events occurred between the end of the period 
and the date of publication of this report.

Note 35. Movements in borrowings in the period
Group

Overdrafts

Bank loans

Vehicle finance

Other loans

Loans from related parties

Leases

Total borrowings and lease liabilities

Reported as
Current liabilities

Non-current liabilities

Total borrowings and lease liabilities

Balance at
3 July 
2020
£’000s

1,480

332

3,377

6,386

2,323

2,840

16,738

9,490

7,248

16,738

Movement in year ended 1 July 2021

Proceeds of
borrowings
£’000s

Non-cash
movements
£’000s

Repayments
£’000s

Balance at
1 July 2021
£’000s

378

1,000

9,125

2,018

2,330

-

14,851

-

-

-

52

-

939

991

(1,553)

(23)

(8,603)

(6,326)

(248)

(310)

(17,063)

305

1,309

3,899

2,130

4,405

3,469

15,516

7,926

7,590

15,516

Movement in period ended 2 July 2020

Balance at
1 April 
2019
£’000s

Acquired in
business
combination
£’000s

Proceeds of
borrowings
£’000s

Non-cash
movements
£’000s

Repayments
£’000s

Balance at
2 July 
2020
£’000s

Overdrafts

Bank loans

Vehicle finance

Other loans

Loans from related parties

Leases

Total borrowings and lease liabilities

Reported as
Current liabilities

Non-current liabilities

Total borrowings and lease liabilities

-

-

-

2,527

1,150

1,250

4,927

914

4,013

4,927

591

349

3,172

120

95

2,598

6,926

939

-

3,004

3,795

2,187

-

-

-

-

-

(1,000)

(615)

(50)

(17)

(2,799)

(56)

(109)

(393)

9,925

(1,615)

(3,424)

1,480

332

3,377

6,386

2,323

2,840

16,738

8,999

4,898

16,738

www.barkbygroup.comStrategic Report GovernanceFinancial statements106

Notes to the financial statements continued
1 July 2021

Note 36. Loss per share

Earnings per share for profit (all from continuing operations)
Loss after income tax

Non-controlling interest

Profit after income tax attributable to the owners of The Barkby Group Plc
(Basic and diluted calculations)

Basic earnings per share

Diluted earnings per share

Consolidated

2021
£’000s

2020 
£’000s

(4,378)

164

(3,139)

44

(4,214)

(3,095)

pence

(3.09)

(3.09)

pence

(2.69)

(2.69)

Number

Number

Weighted average number of ordinary shares
Weighted average number of ordinary shares used in calculating basic earnings per share

136,187,437 114,896,986

Adjustments for calculation of diluted earnings per share:

Warrants over ordinary shares

2,404,125
Weighted average number of ordinary shares used in calculating diluted earnings per share 138,591,563

1,221,341

116,118,327

The dilutive effect of the warrants over ordinary shares is presented for information only, The theoretical 
adjustment is antidilutive and so the diluted loss per share is the same as the basic loss per share.

Barkby Group PlcBAnnual report and financial accounts 2021107

Shareholder Infomation
1 July 2021

Senior personnel, committees, banks, advisers and others

Directors
Charles Dickson
Executive Chairman

Rupert Fraser
Group Managing Director

Douglas Benzie
Chief Financial Officer

Jonathan Warburton
Non-executive and senior 
independent

Jeremy Sparrow
Non-executive

Matthew Wood
Non-executive

Company Secretary
Douglas Benzie

Audit Committee
Jonathan Warburton

Jeremy Sparrow

Matthew Wood

Remuneration Committee
Jonathan Warburton

Jeremy Sparrow

Matthew Wood

Nomination Committee

Charles Dickson

Jonathan Warburton

Jeremy Sparrow

Matthew Wood

Banks

HSBC UK Bank Plc

2 Cannon St

Bedminster

Bristol

BS3 1BW

Auditor

Crowe U.K. LLP

55 Ludgate Hill,

London, 

EC4M 7JW

Nominated Advisor

FinnCap

One Bartholomew Close

London

EC1A 7BL

Financial Public Relations Advisers

Camarco

107 Cheapside

London

EC2V 6DN

Solicitors

Kuit Steinart Levy LLP

3 St Mary’s Parsonage

Manchester

M3 2RD

Shareholder information

Registrar

Queries

The company’s registrar is 
Share Registrars Limited. 
They can be contacted at 
The Courtyard, 17 West 
Street, Farnham, Surry 
GU9 7DR. Their telephone 
no. is 01252 821390.

If a shareholder has any questions about their shareholding or if they 
require other guidance (e.g. to notify a change of address or to give 
instructions for dividends to be paid directly into a bank account), please 
contact Share Registrars Limited (see above).

Registered office and company number

115b Innovation Drive

Milton

Abingdon

England

OX14 4RZ

Registered number: 07139678

Further information  
please visit  
www.barkbygroup.com

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