Hi,
Welcome back to the lighter end.
Microlights are out.
A typical empty weight for a three-axis microlight is 240-265kgs. That means, even at 240, you have 240 for airframe, 120kgs for you and 20kgs for some fuel for an hour and a bit with a reserve. That equals 380kgs, leaving 70kgs for a passenger. Any more fuel, and the pax gets lighter! And a typical Eurostar will be 265 - so that is a 55kg max pax!
A light aircraft Eurostar will haul more, since it has a higher MAUM. And, yes, you can add a ballistic chute to a microlight and gain a few kilos.
To keep costs down, and do some work yourself, you want a permit to fly type, not an EASA Cert of Airworthiness. So no Cessnas, Robins or Pipers. And VFR only. As you say, for four seats or IFR you can hire.
So we are now left with LAA permit to fly light aircraft.
Good choice out there - need to look at nosewheel/tailwheel, high wing/low wing, short take-off/fast cruise, all-metal/tube and fabric/wood, Rotax 912/100ll guzzlers etc.
Perhaps a Sportscruiser, if you like the Eurostar all-metal 912 powered aircraft?