'It felt like the right moment' - two leading Chorley children's nurseries are sold to national group
A leading two-site day nursery group in Chorley has changed hands.
Two of Chorley’s leading children’s nurseries have been sold to a larger, national group.
Manor Day nurseries, which was established in 2013 by Laura Ward and Annemarie Capper, has a combined operating capacity for 136 children.
The flagship setting, Gelston Manor Day Nursery, operates from a restored period property surrounded by three acres of woodland, offering an inspiring ‘outdoor nursery’ experience. Its sister site, Little Manor Day Nursery in Adlington, complements the group’s offering with a modern environment in a central location.
The business has traded successfully under four directors, which also include Laura’s husband, Neil and Annemarie’s husband, Simon, for over a decade with high occupancy, waiting lists, and a robust operational structure.
Following a confidential sales process with Sofia Beck at Christie & Co, the settings have been purchased by Storal, which now has 59 settings across England.
Laura Ward and Annemarie Capper said: “Building Gelston Manor and Little Manor has been one of the greatest achievements of our lives, and we are incredibly proud of the teams who have helped shape the nurseries into what they are today. After more than a decade, it felt like the right moment to hand the reins to a group that shares our values, and we’re confident that Storal will continue to nurture the culture, quality, and community that mean so much to us.”
Sarah Mackenzie, Chief Executive at Storal, comments, “Manor Day Nurseries is a high-quality group with a strong local reputation, and that is a reflection of the team Laura and Annemarie have built over many years. What makes this acquisition particularly exciting for us is the potential of both settings, particularly Gelston Manor. The setting, the outdoor environment and the way children learn through that space create a huge opportunity to do something genuinely special in the North West. Our focus now is on working alongside the team to build on what is already there, bringing investment, expertise and development opportunities that allow both nurseries to reach their full potential.”
The two settings were sold for an undisclosed price.