Charming day nursery in Manchester sold for the first time

Woodlands Day Nursery & Preschool is a charming 48-place day nursery setting that was established by Rachael Owens and Kathryn Davies in 2018.

The nursery relocated to its current, larger premises on Moorside Road in Swinton in 2022, to facilitate the demand from local parents. In this short space of time and amid the pandemic, Rachael and Kathryn have grown and nurtured this successful business, which continues to flourish and presents a warm, personable offering which sets it apart from other larger nurseries in the area.

Following a confidential sales process with Sofia Beck at Christie & Co, and with funding sourced through Alena Ray at Christie Finance, the setting has been purchased by Gourav and Priyanka Batra, who also bought Little Lambs nursery in Bolton through Christie & Co. The pair now has five settings across the North West.

Gourav and Priyanka Batra, the new owners of Woodlands Day Nursery & Preschool, comment, “We’re delighted to welcome Woodlands Nursery into The Ark family. While it’s our newest addition, we see tremendous potential for it to become a truly special place. From the moment we met the team, we were struck by their warmth, dedication, and passion for the children. We plan to bring the same Ark ethos to Woodlands; nurturing confident, curious, and capable children through exceptional care and a love for outdoor learning. We’re excited to introduce initiatives such as Forest School, Woodland Explorers, and Mini Minds to support children’s holistic development and offer them magical learning adventures.”

Sofia Beck, Director – Childcare & Education at Christie & Co, comments, “I'm very pleased to have assisted Rachael and Kathryn with the sale of their nursery. This was particularly rewarding given that the nursery had previously been on the market with another agent, without success. Understanding their requirement for a swift and smooth process with the right buyer, I was confident I could deliver, as Woodlands presented a fantastic opportunity in a prime trading location. Its position on one of the main commuter routes into Manchester City Centre, and its appeal to families in the affluent Worsley area, made it highly attractive. We ran a confidential sales process that generated strong interest, ultimately leading to an excellent match with Gourav and Priyanka, who continue to grow their portfolio. I wish both parties all the very best for the future.”

Alena Ray, Director at Christie Finance, comments, “I have worked with Gourav and Priyanka for several years and it was an absolute pleasure to assist them with the acquisition of Woodlands Day Nursery & Preschool. They are excellent operators, and I am confident they will add value to the new setting just like they have done with previous acquisitions. Gourav and Priyanka share an unmatched passion in providing exceptional childcare and constantly endeavour to improve their settings, which is great to see. I wish Gourav, Priyanka and the team at Woodlands Day Nursery & Preschool all the success in their journey ahead.”

Woodlands Day Nursery & Preschool was sold for an undisclosed price.

----------------------

For further information on this press release, contact:
Phoebe Hill, Associate Director – Corporate Communications
P: 07540 063 598 or E: phoebe.hill@christie.com

Visit Christie & Co’s Business Search page to find out more about current listings.