Insolvency Trial Listed: The Orange Tree Sawbridgeworth Limited (CR-2023-003305)
A trial involving The Orange Tree Sawbridgeworth Limited has been listed for hearing at the Rolls Building, London, on 21 July 2026 at 10:30am. The matter, registered under case number CR-2023-003305, will be heard in Court 6 of the Insolvency and Companies Court.
This hearing proceeds while the company is already subject to a formal insolvency process. The registered office is currently situated at the premises of a specialist corporate recovery and insolvency firm, indicating that the company's affairs are under the control of appointed liquidators.
Hearing Details
| Detail | Information |
| :--- | :--- |
| Case Number | CR-2023-003305 |
| Court | Insolvency and Companies Court (Rolls Building) |
| Date & Time | 21 July 2026, 10:30am |
| Hearing Type | Trial |
| Company Name | The Orange Tree Sawbridgeworth Limited |
| Company Number | 11862043 |
Company Status and Background
The Orange Tree Sawbridgeworth Limited was incorporated on 5 March 2019. According to the official Companies House register, the entity operated under SIC codes 56101 (Licensed restaurants) and 56302 (Public houses and bars). The company's status is currently listed as 'Liquidation'.
On 25 April 2024, the registered office was moved to St Johns Terrace, 11-15 New Road, Manchester, M26 1LS-the trading address of Inquesta Corporate Recovery & Insolvency. This statutory change of address confirms that the directors' executive powers have ceased, and a liquidator has assumed control of the company's assets to realise them for the benefit of creditors under the Insolvency Act 1986.
Expert Analysis: Contentious Insolvency Litigation
When a company already in liquidation appears on the court cause list for a 'trial', it rarely relates to the initial winding-up petition. Instead, it typically signifies contentious insolvency litigation initiated by the liquidator.
Liquidators have a statutory duty to investigate the conduct of former directors and the financial transactions that occurred in the years preceding the insolvency. If they uncover irregularities, they possess extensive powers under the Insolvency Act 1986 to pursue recovery actions. Common grounds for such trials include claims for misfeasance (s.212), transactions at an undervalue (s.238), or preferences (s.239).
Realistic Recovery Scenario
Consider a composite scenario typical of licensed premises insolvencies: A liquidator's forensic review of the company's bank statements reveals that a £45,000 payment was made to a connected holding company just weeks before the cessation of trading, while HMRC and trade suppliers remained unpaid. The liquidator assesses this as a preference payment under s.239 of the Insolvency Act 1986. After the connected party refuses to repay the funds, the liquidator issues court proceedings to recover the money for the creditor estate. When mediation fails, the court lists the matter for a substantive trial to determine liability.
Action Plan for Creditors and Lenders
For existing creditors, a trial listing introduces both opportunity and delay. A successful recovery action by the liquidator could significantly increase the funds available for distribution. However, the costs of litigation will be drawn from the insolvency estate, and the timeline for any potential dividend will be pushed back until the trial concludes in 2026.
Creditors and counterparties should take the following steps:
1. Verify Claim Status: Ensure a formal Proof of Debt form has been submitted to the liquidator at the Manchester registered office.
2. Review Security: Secured lenders must perform a company charge check to ensure their registered security interests have not been challenged as part of the ongoing litigation.
3. Analyse Progress Reports: Download the liquidator's annual progress reports from Companies House to review the specific nature of the litigation and the estimated legal costs.
4. Monitor Statutory Notices: Watch The Gazette for any notices regarding intended dividends or meetings of creditors.
Modernising Insolvency Tracking
Traditionally, tracking contentious insolvency proceedings required professionals to manually cross-reference the daily cause lists from the Rolls Building with Companies House filings and Gazette notices. This fragmented approach often led to missed deadlines or delayed awareness of material changes in a debtor's status.
Corp Intel centralises this intelligence. Corporate finance advisers and credit controllers can use the winding up petition search to trace the historical origin of the insolvency. Furthermore, professionals managing portfolios of distressed debt should deploy free company monitoring to receive automated, immediate alerts whenever new progress reports are filed or the liquidator's status changes, ensuring a fully defensible audit trail.
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Disclaimer
This report summarises entries on the published court cause list. Presentation of a petition or the listing of a trial is not a determination of insolvency or liability; the outcome is a matter for the court. Companies believing they are named incorrectly should email contact@corp-intel.co.uk.