For the financial year ended 31 January 2026 the company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year in question in accordance with section 476.

The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 with respect to accounting records and the preparation of financial statements.

These financial statements have been prepared and delivered in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.

The directors of the company have elected not to include a copy of the profit and loss account within the financial statements.true

Durham Markets Company Limited is a private company limited by shares incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Ground Floor, Finchale House, Belmont Business Park, Durham, DH1 1TW.

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with FRS 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland” (“FRS 102”) and the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 as applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime. The disclosure requirements of section 1A of FRS 102 have been applied other than where additional disclosure is required to show a true and fair view.

The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the company. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, modified to include fixed asset investments at fair value. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.

Atruet the time of approving the financial statements, the directors have a reasonable expectation that the company has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the directors continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.

Turnover is measured at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable, excluding discounts, rebates, value added tax and other sales taxes.

Turnover derives from the principal activities of the company which are that of the operation of a market hall, outdoor markets, special events and investment property rental income. Income from stall holders is recognised as revenue on a receivable basis, income from events is recognised at the time that the relevant event occurs and investment property rental income is recognised when the company becomes entitled to it.

Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.

Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:

The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is credited or charged to profit or loss.

Depreciation and diminution in value of assets

Depreciation is not provided on the company's freehold buildings. Buildings are included at their original cost which was £15,400 in 1851. Depreciation has also not been provided on the capital element of subsequent refurbishment costs totalling £863,737, these were incurred in 1994 and in subsequent years.

In the opinion of the directors the fair values of the properties are substantially in excess of the carrying value in the Balance Sheet. The directors have decided to continue to recognise freehold property at cost and not to use the revaluation model. In view of the controlled use of the property by reason of the company's statutory obligations and the limitations imposed by the agreement with Durham County Council in 1996, the directors do not consider that any useful purpose would be served by obtaining a current valuation.

The directors consider that freehold properties are maintained in such a state of repair that their residual value is at least equal to their net book value. As a result, the corresponding depreciation would not be material and therefore is not charged in the profit and loss account.

All other assets are measured at cost less depreciation.

Investment properties

Investment properties are carried in the financial statements at their historical cost. The directors have not obtained an independent valuation of these properties. This is because the directors consider that the cost and effort of obtaining such a valuation would outweigh the benefit, particularly given the unique nature of the properties. This is not in accordance with Section 16 of FRS102.

Investment properties have not been depreciated.

The company owns shares or bonds which are quoted on a recognised stock exchange. All investments are shown at fair value.

Dividends and similar income are included in the profit and loss account on a receivable basis. Changes in the fair value of the investments are included within gains/(loss) from fixed asset investments within the income statement, as is required under FRS102.

All investments are made with the advice of the company's brokers.

At each reporting period end date, the company reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any). Where it is not possible to estimate the recoverable amount of an individual asset, the company estimates the recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit to which the asset belongs.

Cash and cash equivalents are basic financial assets and include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.

The company has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.

Financial instruments are recognised in the company's balance sheet when the company becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.

Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amounts presented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.

Basic financial assets, which include debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.

Financial liabilities and equity instruments are classified according to the substance of the contractual arrangements entered into. An equity instrument is any contract that evidences a residual interest in the assets of the company after deducting all of its liabilities.

Basic financial liabilities, including creditors, bank loans, loans from fellow group companies and preference shares that are classified as debt, are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.

Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method.

Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of business from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

Equity instruments issued by the company are recorded at the proceeds received, net of transaction costs. Dividends payable on equity instruments are recognised as liabilities once they are no longer at the discretion of the company.

The tax expense represents the sum of the tax currently payable and deferred tax.

The tax currently payable is based on taxable profit for the year. Taxable profit differs from net profit as reported in the profit and loss account because it excludes items of income or expense that are taxable or deductible in other years and it further excludes items that are never taxable or deductible. The company’s liability for current tax is calculated using tax rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the reporting end date.

Deferred tax liabilities are generally recognised for all timing differences and deferred tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is probable that they will be recovered against the reversal of deferred tax liabilities or other future taxable profits. Such assets and liabilities are not recognised if the timing difference arises from goodwill or from the initial recognition of other assets and liabilities in a transaction that affects neither the tax profit nor the accounting profit.

The carrying amount of deferred tax assets is reviewed at each reporting end date and reduced to the extent that it is no longer probable that sufficient taxable profits will be available to allow all or part of the asset to be recovered. Deferred tax is calculated at the tax rates that are expected to apply in the period when the liability is settled or the asset is realised. Deferred tax is charged or credited in the profit and loss account, except when it relates to items charged or credited directly to equity, in which case the deferred tax is also dealt with in equity. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset when the company has a legally enforceable right to offset current tax assets and liabilities and the deferred tax assets and liabilities relate to taxes levied by the same tax authority.

The costs of short-term employee benefits are recognised as a liability and an expense, unless those costs are required to be recognised as part of the cost of stock or fixed assets.

The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received.

Termination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the company is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits.

Payments to defined contribution retirement benefit schemes are charged as an expense as they fall due.

The average monthly number of persons (including directors) employed by the company during the year was:

As more fully explained in note 1.4 to the financial statements, investment properties (which are included within land and buildings) are currently held at historical cost. This may be materially different to fair value. The company has not valued its investment properties at fair value, this is not in accordance with FRS102 Section 16 Investment property. Therefore, the financial statements do not contain the necessary disclosures and applications relevant under FRS102.

60,000 Ordinary shares of 20p each, of which 19p is paid.

All related party transactions are at market rate and have therefore not been disclosed. This is in line with FRS102 1A.