Pharmacies to acquire in the UK

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

Updated 9 November 2026

Looking to acquire a pharmacy in the UK? Firmbase ranks 2,182 pharmacies 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 10 staff and has been in business for 17 years; 23 firms are owned by groups that have acquired several firms in this sector.

Prescription volumes alone do not explain a pharmacy's income: dispensing fees, medicine reimbursement and payments for clinical services need separate review. A buyer acquiring a pharmacy should examine the payment arrangements behind its dispensing work and the services it provides beyond supplying medicines. Review NHS contractual arrangements alongside premises registration, because permission to operate a pharmacy and NHS service arrangements are separate matters.

Add pharmacies at the pace your pharmacist rota allows

Pharmacist staffing can set the pace of pharmacy expansion, regardless of the premises acquired. Firmbase covers 2,182 UK limited-company and LLP pharmacies with five or more staff. Use company records to shortlist firms before reviewing the arrangements behind each service.

Ownership data can help you distinguish independent pharmacies from those already owned by a group that has bought several pharmacies. Within this pharmacy list, 18% have one person holding 75% or more. The median pharmacy headcount is 10. Company records do not reveal whether any pharmacy owner would consider a change. Look at the public facts behind each Approach Score before deciding which premises to research.

Use geography and your operating model to narrow the firms you inspect more closely. Compare the work the premises can support with the professional cover on each shift. Review stock controls and how the pharmacy manages patient-facing services. A regional pipeline is most useful when you compare businesses offering similar services under comparable payment terms.

Use the ranking to set the order of your research, then speak directly with the people responsible for the business. For pharmacy buyers, the list is a sourcing tool, not a list of businesses for sale. Check premises registration with the correct national body and review NHS arrangements separately. Confirm what would happen to patient services and staffing if ownership changed.

2,182

Firms

23%

Every director 55+

18%

Held 75%+ by one person

Median years in business

Median headcount

£1m to £2.5m

Median turnover band

includes our estimates

23 firms owned by 9 groups that have bought several firms in this sector. That is 1% of this list.

Key facts

The General Pharmaceutical Council register lets readers search registered pharmacies by name, registration number or location. General Pharmaceutical Council

The Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland advises checking its live premises register rather than relying on its periodic upload. Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland

In England, a pharmacy owner must be on an NHS pharmaceutical list for the premises before providing NHS pharmaceutical services. legislation.gov.uk

The first 25 firms, in Approach Score order

Rank	Firm	Approach Score	The facts behind the score
1	Goodshops Ilford, Essex	Approach Score 92/100	2 directors aged 65-69 · longest in post since 1995 2 individuals hold 50%+ · independent More about this firm 14 staff · turnover est. £3m Net assets £2.5m (May 2025) Director resigned Dec 2024 · PSC register changed Dec 2024 Company no. 03133373 · Companies House
2	Annie MC Conville Co.armagh	Approach Score 91/100	2 directors aged 65-69 · longest in post since 2003 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 6 staff · turnover est. £1.2m Net assets £1.1m (May 2025) Director resigned Jul 2025 Company no. NI009506 · Companies House
3	MB Donaghy	Approach Score 90/100	Longest in post since 2005 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 16 staff · turnover est. £1.2m Net assets £334k (Jun 2025) Company no. NI055840 · Companies House
4	Deepchem Nottingham, Nottinghamshire	Approach Score 89/100	1 director aged 65-69, 1 aged 55-59 · longest in post since 2010 1 individual holds 75%+ · held via a trust or firm · independent More about this firm 8 staff · turnover est. £640k Net assets £269k (Dec 2025) Company no. 07458765 · Companies House deepchem.io
5	Rose Pharmacy Ilford, Essex A director sits on 4 or more companies	Approach Score 87/100	Director aged 60-64 · in post since 2005 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 12 staff · turnover est. £2.6m Net assets £1.4m (Aug 2025) Company no. 05408241 · Companies House rose-healthcare.com
6	Fields Pharmacy Brighton, East Sussex	Approach Score 87/100	Director aged 70 or over · in post since 2003 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 9 staff · turnover est. £1.5m Net assets £358k (Mar 2025) Company no. 04654503 · Companies House fieldspharmacy.co.uk
7	Shivakem Pharmacy North Wembley, Middlesex	Approach Score 87/100	1 director aged 60-64, 1 aged 55-59 · longest in post since 2002 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 5 staff · turnover est. £1.5m Net assets £1.4m (Apr 2025) Company no. 04407402 · Companies House shivakempharmacy.co.uk
8	Dispense4Me Tyne and Wear	Approach Score 87/100	Longest in post since 2000 2 individuals hold 75%+ · independent More about this firm 9 staff · turnover est. £1.5m Net assets £823k (Oct 2024) Company no. 04090484 · Companies House numark-pharmacy.co.uk
9	Madisons Pharmacy Banstead, Surrey	Approach Score 87/100	1 director aged 70 or over, 1 aged 65-69 · longest in post since 2010 2 individuals hold 75%+ · independent More about this firm 12 staff · turnover est. £1.5m Net assets £919k (Mar 2025) PSC register changed Dec 2024 Company no. 07211314 · Companies House madisonspharmacy.co.uk
10	Rushmere Pharmacy Ipswich, Suffolk	Approach Score 87/100	Longest in post since 2002 2 individuals hold 75%+ · held via a trust or firm · independent More about this firm 8 staff · turnover est. £845k Net assets £236k (Dec 2025) Company no. 04582470 · Companies House rushmerepharmacy.co.uk/privacy-policy-%26-notice
11	Aghalee Pharmacy Practice Craigavon, CO. Armagh	Approach Score 87/100	Director aged 60-64 · in post since 2004 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 26 staff · turnover est. £1.9m Net assets £400k (Apr 2025) Company no. NI050422 · Companies House aghaleepharmacypractice.com
12	Medical Hall - the CO. Fermanagh	Approach Score 86/100	Director aged 65-69 · in post since 2004 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 11 staff · turnover est. £697k Net assets £106k (Sep 2025) Company no. NI051625 · Companies House linenhallmedicalpractice.co.uk
13	Aspenvale Kent	Approach Score 86/100	1 director aged 70 or over, 1 aged 60-64 · longest in post since 1993 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 10 staff · turnover est. £1.5m Net assets £1.5m (Mar 2025) Charge satisfied Mar 2025 Company no. 01368581 · Companies House
14	RAN Pharma Gravesend, Kent	Approach Score 86/100	2 directors aged 70 or over, 1 aged 50-54 · longest in post since 2010 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 17 staff · turnover est. £2m Net assets £1.6m (May 2025) Company no. 07269623 · Companies House ranpharma.co.uk
15	Vimal Shah London A director sits on 4 or more companies	Approach Score 86/100	Longest in post since 2003 2 individuals hold 75%+ · independent More about this firm 12 staff · turnover est. £2.9m Net assets £2.8m (Mar 2025) PSC register changed Jan 2026 Company no. 04719062 · Companies House
16	Loyal Pharmacy Norwich, Norfolk A director sits on 4 or more companies	Approach Score 86/100	Director aged 70 or over · in post since 2011 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 9 staff · turnover est. £3.2m Net assets £1.8m (Aug 2025) Company no. 07792807 · Companies House loyalpharma.co.uk
17	Copmanthorpe Pharmacy York	Approach Score 85/100	1 director aged 65-69, 1 aged 55-59 · longest in post since 2010 2 individuals hold 75%+ · independent More about this firm 8 staff · turnover est. £822k Net assets £300k (Dec 2025) PSC register changed Sep 2026 Company no. 07475413 · Companies House copmanthorpe.org.uk
18	Horner Pharmacy Bangor	Approach Score 85/100	Longest in post since 2005 2 individuals hold 75%+ · independent More about this firm 24 staff · turnover est. £2.1m Net assets £622k (Mar 2026) PSC register changed Oct 2025 Company no. NI056317 · Companies House hornerpharmacy.com
19	Chemilab Watford, Hertfordshire	Approach Score 85/100	1 director aged 65-69, 1 aged 60-64 · longest in post since 2002 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 39 staff · turnover est. £4.2m Net assets £4.4m (Mar 2026) Charge satisfied Sep 2026 Company no. 04447223 · Companies House
20	ZEP Pharm Thornton Heath,, Surrey	Approach Score 84/100	2 directors aged 65-69 · longest in post since 2009 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 5 staff · turnover est. £507k Net assets £6k (Mar 2025) Company no. 06958069 · Companies House
21	Good Care Dusks London A director sits on 4 or more companies	Approach Score 83/100	1 director aged 65-69, 1 aged 60-64 · longest in post since 1995 Independent More about this firm 15 staff · turnover est. £1.5m Net assets £1.5m (Aug 2025) Charge satisfied Jul 2025 Company no. 03064330 · Companies House
22	Triv London	Approach Score 83/100	Director aged 65-69 · in post since 2011 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 5 staff · turnover est. £496k Net assets £448k (Mar 2026) Company no. 07585805 · Companies House
23	Drakewinter London A director sits on 4 or more companies	Approach Score 83/100	1 director aged 60-64, 1 aged 55-59 · longest in post since 2002 2 individuals hold 50%+ · independent More about this firm 6 staff · turnover est. £709k Net assets £767k (Feb 2026) Charge satisfied Nov 2025 · PSC register changed Jun 2026 Company no. 04284840 · Companies House
24	Rishton Pharmacy Blackburn	Approach Score 83/100	2 directors aged 65-69 · longest in post since 2005 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 6 staff · turnover est. £495k Net assets £110k (Apr 2026) Company no. 05462631 · Companies House rishton-pharmacy.co.uk
25	Lordsfield Essex	Approach Score 82/100	We hold older figures than Companies House 1 director aged 70 or over, 1 aged 60-64 · longest in post since 1992 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 7 staff · turnover est. £1.3m Net assets £960k (May 2021) · newer accounts made up to May 2025 Director resigned Nov 2026 Company no. 02688434 · Companies House lordsfield.com

2,157 more firms are in the list, in Approach Score order.

You're seeing the first 25. Buy all 2,182 for £1,981 + VAT, with the facts behind each score, director names, shareholders and financials.

Buy the list of all 2,182 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 should I approach the owner of a pharmacy?

Identify yourself on first contact and explain which pharmacy services interest you. Explain that Firmbase led you to the owner's details on the public Companies House register. Tell them how to object to your use of their data and stop contacting them if they do. Before placing a call, screen the number through both the Telephone Preference Service and the Corporate Telephone Preference Service. Do not assume that a firm's entry on the public register says anything about its owner's plans.

Where do I check pharmacy premises registration?

For England, Scotland and Wales, check the General Pharmaceutical Council register of pharmacy premises. In Northern Ireland, use the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland's live premises register. The bodies maintain separate records, so search the appropriate one for each location. Premises registration alone does not establish an NHS dispensing arrangement; in England, check the NHS pharmaceutical list and payment terms separately.

General Pharmaceutical Council · Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland · legislation.gov.uk

How can the Approach Score guide a pharmacy search?

The methodology page explains how public company signals form the Approach Score. Use it to organise a review of ownership and financial records, then investigate dispensing and service arrangements independently. NHS contracts, premises status and pharmacist cover need direct checks. No position in a company ranking tells you whether a pharmacy owner wishes to discuss a deal.

How should I compare income from pharmacy services?

Separate dispensing fees, medicine reimbursement and payments for clinical work in your review. Ask which income depends on NHS arrangements and which comes from other services. Examine the staff, premises and supplies needed to deliver each activity, along with the costs and commitments behind it. A single turnover figure can hide very different margins and obligations across those income streams.

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: Pharmacy & Health Retail.
SIC code 47730.
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 pharmacy premises on the General Pharmaceutical Council register for England, Scotland and Wales. In Northern Ireland, use the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland's premises register.

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

Opticians Dental practices

The standard Firmbase list

Pharmacy Companies in the UK

Buy the list of all 2,182 firms, with director names, ages and shareholders

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