Mon, 03 Nov 2025 | BUSINESS SALE
A business with two day nurseries in Bournemouth and Poole has been acquired by a group with sites across the UK. Three Gables - Day Nursery & Pre-school comprises Westbourne nursery in Bournemouth (pictured above) and Ashley Cross nursery in Poole.
The business was founded by Leona and Richard Grafham over 15 years ago, with the pair operating the two nurseries until opting to bring them to the market this year in order to retire from the sector.
The nurseries can collectively care for up to 115 children at a time and are described as having a reputation for delivering outstanding early years education in well maintained, purposefully designed environments.
Following a confidential sales process run by Sophie Willcox, Director - Childcare & Education at Christie & Co, Three Gables - Day Nursery & Pre-school has been acquired by Bright Stars Nurseries for an undisclosed price, taking their estate to more than 140 nurseries across the UK.
Leona Grafham, former owner of Three Gables, said that Bright Stars felt like “the perfect match for us, sharing the same ethos and values that have always been at the heart of our nursery.”
Christie & Co’s Sophie Willcox commented: “Three Gables comprises two beautifully presented nurseries with strong trading performance and an excellent reputation, providing the best in early years education. Both settings complement each other perfectly and offer scope for further growth under new ownership.”
Willcox added that, when marketing the nurseries, she had been “inundated with interest and in receipt of multiple offers from well-funded, acquisitive buyers.”
Bright Stars Nurseries Chairman Stephen Booty said: "With over 15 years of dedication from Leona and Richard Grafham, these nurseries have developed an exemplary reputation for early childhood education within thoughtfully designed environments. The Westbourne and Ashley Cross settings embody a commitment to delivering enriching experiences for children.”
In accounts for the year to May 31 2024, Three Gables Nurseries Limited’s fixed assets were valued at around £150,000 and current assets at approximately £730,000, with total equity amounting to £229,000.
Fragmentation, private equity investment and rising demand have been among the key factors driving consolidation in the UK childcare sector over recent years
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