Fascinating map by Private Eye:
http://www.private-eye.co.uk/registry

The Bird in Hand Public House, Stonegate Pub Company Limited, registered in the Cayman Islands.

It is disgraceful. Why has no political party promised to legislate such that beneficial ownership must be visible in the UK Land Registry records?

I don't see what the problem is, as long as we can buy duty free booze from The Bird from now on.

... and large Toblerones.

Agreed. [aside]There is a political party that is about to sell off the Land Registry to the highest bidder though. Which could mean that the Registry itself is, one day, owned off-shore - that would be ironic.[/aside]

AFAICT, the most immediate affect of this is that when a building is sold, they can avoid stamp duty.

It's like the Colonies are getting their own back!

As ironic as tax offices being owned offshore to avoid paying tax...

“Buildings occupied by the Ministry of Justice, including Britain’s tax tribunal, are – almost unbelievably – owned offshore in a Mediterranean tax haven, while the attorney-general works from a London office that is owned in a tax haven in the British West Indies, the Eye has discovered.”

Oh my sides.