Opticians to acquire in the UK

Name: Opticians to acquire in the UK
Creator: Firmbase
License: https://firmbase.co/terms

Updated 9 November 2026

Looking to acquire an optician in the UK? Firmbase ranks 695 opticians using public company information to help buyers prioritise firms for research and potential outreach. The Approach Score ranks firms using public signals including director age and tenure, ownership, business scale, financial strength and recent changes. These firms are not listed for sale, and the ranking does not indicate that an owner is considering a sale.

The median firm has 7 staff and has been in business for 16 years; 100 firms are owned by groups that have acquired several firms in this sector.

Eye examinations and supplying spectacles are different parts of an optical business, and patients can have their prescription dispensed elsewhere. Fees for eye examinations merit separate review from income earned through spectacles, contact lenses and their fitting. In buying an optical practice, assess how appointments relate to products supplied, rather than assuming an eye examination leads to a purchase.

Widen your optical group's reach without diluting care

Before buying an optical practice, test whether the clinical team can serve more patients without changing the standard of care. Firmbase covers 695 UK limited-company and LLP opticians with five or more staff. The ranking helps you choose where to inspect public ownership before assessing operations.

Ownership records can help identify independent practices for a regional acquisition programme. Among optical firms here, 24% have one person holding 75% or more. The median optical firm has operated for 16 years. Public information about company age or control says nothing about an owner's plans. Read the evidence behind each Approach Score before deciding whom to contact.

Choose which locations and capacity gaps would make a new optical practice useful to your group. Look at the appointment schedule and the clinical staff needed to serve it. Review the space, equipment and inventory required for the services you plan to operate. Check whether patient records and recall systems could move onto the systems your group uses.

Build a shortlist around the operating model you can manage, then use the ranking to prioritise careful outreach. This optical practice ranking serves as a sourcing tool, not a list of businesses for sale. Check professionals and any registered optical company on the General Optical Council public register. Confirm the registration requirements for the proposed business structure and review patient and staff communication directly.

695

Firms

21%

Every director 55+

24%

Held 75%+ by one person

Median years in business

Median headcount

£250k to £500k

Median turnover band

includes our estimates

100 firms owned by 6 groups that have bought several firms in this sector. That is 14% of this list.

Key facts

The General Optical Council register can be searched for optometrists, dispensing opticians and registered optical businesses. General Optical Council

A company must register with the General Optical Council if it uses a protected optical title in its company or trading name. General Optical Council

General Optical Council registration rules for a body corporate depend in part on its directors and business activities. General Optical Council

The first 25 firms, in Approach Score order

Rank	Firm	Approach Score	The facts behind the score
1	Greys Opticians (cotswolds) Warwickshire	Approach Score 90/100	Longest in post since 2002 2 individuals hold 75%+ · independent More about this firm 17 staff · turnover est. £644k Net assets £462k (Feb 2026) Company no. 04369157 · Companies House greysopticians.co.uk
2	Allspecs Canvey Island, Essex	Approach Score 89/100	2 directors aged 70 or over · longest in post since 2010 2 individuals hold 50%+ · independent More about this firm 10 staff · turnover est. £934k Net assets £212k (Feb 2025) Director resigned Jul 2026 Company no. 07404990 · Companies House allspecs.co.uk
3	Watney Eyecare Limited Edgware, London	Approach Score 86/100	2 directors aged 60-64 · longest in post since 2003 2 individuals hold 75%+ · independent More about this firm 19 staff · turnover est. £1.6m Net assets £1.6m (Sep 2025) PSC register changed Jan 2026 Company no. 04882871 · Companies House watneyeyecare.com
4	Boots Opticians Andover Andover, Hampshire	Approach Score 86/100	Director aged 60-64 · in post since 2007 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 5 staff · turnover est. £480k Net assets £120k (Mar 2026) Charge satisfied Jul 2025 Company no. 06157118 · Companies House visualade.co.uk
5	JO Padmore Eyewear Altrincham	Approach Score 86/100	In post since 2008 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 8 staff · turnover est. £636k Net assets £233k (Jan 2026) Charge satisfied Oct 2026 Company no. 06472981 · Companies House jopadmoreeyewear.co.uk
6	C & C a Beech Bedworth, Warwickshire	Approach Score 85/100	In post since 2007 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 6 staff · turnover est. £301k Net assets £2k (Dec 2024) Charge satisfied May 2025 Company no. 06408011 · Companies House poplarbeech.com
7	W E Sime Opticians Manchester	Approach Score 83/100	Director aged 70 or over · in post since 2014 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 5 staff · turnover est. £418k Net assets £59k (May 2025) Company no. 08957936 · Companies House
8	J : D Opticians Nottinghamshire	Approach Score 83/100	Director aged 60-64 · in post since 2005 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 6 staff · turnover est. £406k Net assets £230k (Aug 2025) Company no. 05547196 · Companies House jdopticians.co.uk
9	20-20 Saddleworth Opticians Oldham	Approach Score 82/100	Director aged 60-64 · in post since 2002 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 9 staff · turnover est. £316k Net assets £703k (Sep 2025) Company no. 04475689 · Companies House 2020saddleworth.co.uk
10	Moss & Leakey Norwich, Norfolk	Approach Score 82/100	1 director aged 70 or over, 1 aged 65-69 · longest in post since 2011 2 individuals hold 50%+ · independent More about this firm 12 staff · turnover est. £799k Net assets £405k (Dec 2025) Company no. 07869550 · Companies House mossandleakey.com
11	Fairford Opticians Warwick	Approach Score 82/100	Director aged 65-69 · in post since 2016 2 individuals hold 50%+ · independent More about this firm 7 staff · turnover est. £531k Net assets £138k (Oct 2025) Company no. 10428634 · Companies House fairfordopticians.co.uk
12	McCrystal Opticians Co Armagh	Approach Score 82/100	In post since 2006 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 5 staff · turnover est. £1m Net assets £2.1m (Jan 2025) Company no. NI057545 · Companies House mccrystalopticians.co.uk
13	Richard Owens Opticians Belfast, Antrim	Approach Score 81/100	In post since 2012 2 individuals hold 75%+ · independent More about this firm 7 staff · turnover est. £311k Net assets £38k (Jun 2025) Company no. NI612497 · Companies House
14	Adam Loveday Eyecare Bedford, Bedfordshire	Approach Score 81/100	Longest in post since 2014 2 individuals hold 75%+ · independent More about this firm 5 staff · turnover est. £262k Net assets £88k (Jul 2025) Company no. 09135615 · Companies House adamlovedayeyecare.co.uk
15	K S Vision Care West Yorkshire	Approach Score 81/100	Director aged 70 or over · in post since 2003 2 individuals hold 75%+ · independent More about this firm 6 staff · turnover est. £327k Net assets £13k (Mar 2025) Company no. 04716926 · Companies House
16	Pabari Opticians Birmingham A director sits on 4 or more companies	Approach Score 81/100	In post since 2002 2 individuals hold 50%+ · independent More about this firm 9 staff · turnover est. £1.2m Net assets £1.3m (Sep 2025) Company no. 04521474 · Companies House pabari.co.uk
17	Simon Kleyn Optician Colchester, Essex	Approach Score 81/100	In post since 2007 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 5 staff · turnover est. £249k Net assets £338k (Jun 2025) Company no. 06281247 · Companies House skopticians.co.uk
18	Optical 3 Leicester, Leicestershire	Approach Score 80/100	Director aged 70 or over · in post since 2007 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 11 staff · turnover est. £311k Net assets £14 (Oct 2025) Company no. 06090452 · Companies House optical3opticians.co.uk
19	EyeCare Services Bracknell	Approach Score 80/100	Director aged 55-59 · in post since 2010 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 6 staff · turnover est. £1.2m Net assets £875k (Dec 2025) Company no. 07471224 · Companies House eyecare-services.co.uk
20	Parkvibe Hackney Ilford, Essex	Approach Score 79/100	Director aged 60-64 · in post since 2002 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 5 staff · turnover £442k Net assets £348k (Mar 2025) Company no. 04478108 · Companies House
21	Letchworth Eyecare Letchworth	Approach Score 79/100	Director aged 60-64 · in post since 2012 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 8 staff · turnover est. £349k Net assets £2k (Jul 2025) Company no. 07995608 · Companies House
22	Better Specs London London	Approach Score 79/100	Director aged 60-64 · in post since 2001 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 5 staff · turnover est. £339k Net assets £86k (Aug 2025) Company no. 04273777 · Companies House betterspecslondon.co.uk
23	Blink Optics Borehamwood	Approach Score 79/100	1 director aged 60-64, 1 aged 55-59 · longest in post since 2017 2 individuals hold 50%+ · independent More about this firm 5 staff · turnover est. £279k Net assets £53k (Jun 2025) Director resigned Jun 2026 · PSC register changed Jun 2026 Company no. 10844728 · Companies House blinkoptics.co.uk
24	The Village Optician Manchester A director sits on 4 or more companies	Approach Score 78/100	1 director aged 65-69, 1 aged under 45 · longest in post since 1992 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 12 staff · turnover est. £548k Net assets £503k (Apr 2025) Company no. 02692756 · Companies House thevillageopticianltd.co.uk
25	Bowen Opticians Weston Super Mare, North Somerset	Approach Score 78/100	Director aged 65-69 · in post since 2013 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 8 staff · turnover est. £346k Net assets £87k (Sep 2025) Company no. 08711933 · Companies House bowenopticians.co.uk

670 more firms are in the list, in Approach Score order.

You're seeing the first 25. Buy all 695 for £799 + VAT, with the facts behind each score, director names, shareholders and financials.

Buy the list of all 695 firms, with director names, ages and shareholders

Each row comes with the facts behind its score, financials with dates and contact details.

What's in the file

One row per firm, in Approach Score order, as Excel + CSV.

The score and the firm

Approach Score

The facts behind the score

Points for each part of the score

Financials with dates

Website

Publicly available contact details, where identified

Directors and shareholders

Director names

Director birth month and year

Director appointment dates

Named shareholders with more than 25%, with ownership bands

Some people with significant control appear as Other individual, with no further detail. Director email lookups are not included.

Frequently asked questions

How can I approach an optical practice owner?

At your first contact, identify yourself and explain whether eye care, dispensing or both fit your plans. Tell the owner that their details came from the public Companies House register through Firmbase. Explain how to object to your use of their data; stop contact if they object. Screen phone numbers against the Corporate Telephone Preference Service and the Telephone Preference Service before calling. Ask about services without treating patient relationships as transferable assets.

Which optical registrations should I verify?

Search the General Optical Council public register for optometrists, dispensing opticians and any registered body corporate. Check the business structure as well as individual practitioners: the Council sets conditions for companies that use protected optical titles. The register can show registration status, but it does not establish how a practice earns its income or whether patients will continue after an ownership change.

General Optical Council · General Optical Council

What does the Approach Score reveal about an optician?

An optician's Approach Score is based on public company evidence, with the method set out on the methodology page. It can help select businesses for a closer look. Patient care, product mix and professional registration sit outside that ranking. Examine them on their own terms and do not interpret the score as an indication of an owner's intentions.

How can I assess recurring contact lens income?

Read the terms of each continuing plan to see which lenses, appointments and support the fee covers. Compare renewal patterns with fulfilment costs and the work performed by optometrists and dispensing staff. Check who owns patient records and how customers can change or end a plan. Keep this analysis separate from one-off spectacle purchases and fees for eye examinations.

How this list is filtered

Active on Companies House. Companies in liquidation, administration, receivership or a voluntary arrangement, or with a proposal to strike off, are left out.
Dormant companies are left out.
Firms whose owners asked to be removed are left out.
Private limited companies, public limited companies, LLPs and private unlimited companies only. Sole traders and partnerships are not covered.
Firmbase industry tag: Optometry.
SIC code 47782 or 86900.
5 or more staff, from filed headcount or our estimate where none is filed.
Registered office in the UK.

How this list is built

The Approach Score ranks firms mainly on public Companies House information about owner tenure and age, ownership, size, financial strength and recent register changes.

Firms with higher scores appear first in each list.

Use the ranking to order research, then check each business directly.

Read how the Approach Score works

What it does not mean

No firm here is for sale, and the score says nothing about any owner's plans.

At least 95% of the firms where we hold directors had them checked in or after November 2026.

What we do not cover

We cover limited companies, LLPs and private unlimited companies. Sole traders and ordinary partnerships are not on Companies House, so they are not here. Regulatory information is not included in this list. Buyers should check the relevant register as part of their due diligence. Check optometrists, dispensing opticians and any registered optical company on the General Optical Council's public register. Confirm which business registration requirements apply to the proposed structure.

Why age bands but no people's names

Age bands come from the month and year of birth on Companies House. This page shows no exact ages and no people's names. Both come with the purchased list. The band edges from 45 to 65 are the ages where the score changes. A row shows no age bands when a director's surname is in the firm's name, its group's name or its website. Those directors' ages still count towards the score.

Is this your firm?

You can ask us to take it off every acquisition page, and out of every list we sell after that. Give us your name and work email, and we send you a link to confirm. If your email address is on the firm's own website domain, the firm comes off once you confirm. If it is not, a person reviews your request first. A list already sold stays with its buyer.

To have personal data erased, see our privacy policy.

Other areas

East Midlands East of England London North East North West Northern Ireland Scotland South East South West Wales West Midlands Yorkshire and The Humber

Related sectors

Dental practices Pharmacies

The standard Firmbase list

Optometry Companies in the UK

Buy the list of all 695 firms, with director names, ages and shareholders

Each row comes with the facts behind its score, financials with dates and contact details.