One of the UK's premier nurseries sold in multi-million pound deal

Rainbow Nursery in Chertsey sits in 14 acres of land and is housed in Almners Priory, a historic building that dates back to medieval times.

The building, which includes a clock tower and a two-story barn, has been extended on several levels and is set in extensive grounds, which include a play area, an aviary, a maze, paddocks with a petting farm, and a vegetable garden.

The setting was graded outstanding in all areas by Ofsted in 2008. It is also one of the largest nurseries in the country and is registered for 224 children from three months to five-years-old.

Christie & Co., who acted as agents for the sale, said that the nursery was ‘arguably the best nursery in the country’.

The setting has been bought by Mark and Alison Watson, who previously ran Major Minors in Godalming, which they sold to Caring Daycare in 2006.

New owner Mark Watson said, ‘It’s a fabulous place. The gardens are glorious. There are a few areas of the grounds that the children don’t use at the moment, and we want to open a forest school so that children can explore more. There’s also a stream and a pond.’

He said that he was keen to introduce some more animals to the petting farm that will allow the children to get closer to them. The farm has a horse, sheep, pigs and rabbits and chickens, and there have been piglets and lambs.

He said that he believed that it was the largest private nursery in the country.

‘The real beauty of having such a large number of places is that it allows you to do different things because of the economies of scale. For example, we employ a paediatric nurse. We also have a double-decker bus that’s kitted out as a play area.’

He said that demand for under-twos was high and the nursery is registered to take 72 children under-two.

Occupancy is currently above 80 per cent. There are 76 staff employed at the nursery.

Mr Watson said that fees were ‘in the top quartile’ for Surrey but said that it was not the most expensive nursery in the county.

Rainbow Nursery celebrated its 20th anniversary last year and previous owners Paul and Renu Kapila have sold the business to retire from the nursery sector.

They started Rainbow Nursery in 1991 in a nearby leasehold building, and after acquiring and refurbishing the Almners Priory complex the nursery transferred to the current premises in summer 2002.

Courteney Donaldson, director of Childcare at Christie + Co, said, ‘We were aware that Mark and Alison Watson, who a few years ago sold a very successful large nursery in Surrey, were keen to re enter the sector. They had discussed their acquisition requirements and were looking for a unique and highly respected nursery and we were aware that they had access to the level of funds required to facilitate this transaction.

‘A discreet meeting was arranged, and Mark and Alison, who were immediately impressed with the business. A deal was swiftly agreed, and following confidential and discreet t process both parties are delighted to have concluded this deal.’

She said that in Christie + Co.’s experience as property specialists in the day nursery sector the nursery had ‘the highest quality and most extensive facilities’ that the company had ever seen.