You can check online at Companies Houses here:
http://www.companieshouse.gov.uk/WebCHeck/findinfopage/
If it went bankrupt, it should say dissolved, or something similiar.
Everyone should use that check to prove how long a company has been into existance, etc. It also stocks previous aliases for companies which is helpful in tracing companies' timelines
Edit: That'll be little help though if your mate wants to buy stuff cheap from the companies' recievers though. Should be help to someone though.