Veterinary practices to acquire in the UK

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

Updated 9 November 2026

Looking to acquire a veterinary practice in the UK? Firmbase ranks 1,564 veterinary practices 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 14 staff and has been in business for 12 years; 415 firms are owned by groups that have acquired several firms in this sector.

A veterinary practice can provide first consultations, specialist referrals or emergency care, and those services need different clinical resources. Referral arrangements deserve attention alongside consultation, treatment and medicine fees when buying a veterinary practice, because care may involve several providers. Establish which care the practice delivers itself and which services depend on other veterinary businesses before comparing its income with another practice.

Expand veterinary care with clinicians who can sustain it

A veterinary group depends on clinical leadership that each practice can keep in place. Firmbase covers 1,564 UK limited-company and LLP veterinary practices with five or more staff. Review the travel and referral area around each location before prioritising conversations.

The ownership record helps distinguish independent practices from firms already owned by a group that has bought several practices. For veterinary firms here, 18% have one person holding 75% or more. The median veterinary practice on this page has 14 staff. Public ownership and staffing data say nothing about whether an individual owner would consider a change. Build a regional pipeline from firms whose service mix you can evaluate.

Decide how any new practice would fit your emergency and referral arrangements before judging its financial record. Examine whether the location and staffing could support the care model you would run. Look at equipment condition, medicine handling and the practice's client communication process. Compare the services promised to clients with the people and facilities that would remain after a transaction.

Use the Approach Score to order outreach, then inspect its underlying public signals and verify the clinical picture directly. The veterinary ranking is a sourcing tool for research, not a list of businesses for sale. Check each vet on the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons register, and establish whether any claimed Practice Standards Scheme accreditation applies to the relevant premises. Discuss continuity of care and client communication before assuming relationships will persist.

1,564

Firms

14%

Every director 55+

18%

Held 75%+ by one person

Median years in business

Median headcount

£500k to £1m

Median turnover band

includes our estimates

415 firms owned by 13 groups that have bought several firms in this sector. That is 27% of this list. Groups that own firms on this list include VetPartners, CVS Group, Kin Vet Community and VetThing. To have a group's name removed, email dave@firmbase.co.

Key facts

The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Find a Vet service lists veterinary professionals and practices. RCVS

The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Practice Standards Scheme is voluntary; accreditation can be checked through Find a Vet. RCVS

Practice Standards Scheme assessments examine care arrangements, including hygiene, emergency cover, staff training and equipment. RCVS

The first 25 firms, in Approach Score order

Rank	Firm	Approach Score	The facts behind the score
1	The Pet Vet Hampshire	Approach Score 90/100	Director aged 65-69 · in post since 2003 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 8 staff · turnover est. £1.3m Net assets £1.2m (Mar 2025) Company no. 04932248 · Companies House thepetvet.co.uk
2	Hill Park Vets Essex	Approach Score 90/100	Director aged 65-69 · in post since 2005 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 36 staff · turnover est. £1.5m Net assets £1.1m (Dec 2025) Company no. 05585999 · Companies House hillparkvets.co.uk
3	CPM (cheshire) Cheltenham, Gloucestershire	Approach Score 90/100	Director aged 55-59 · in post since 2011 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 35 staff · turnover est. £4.2m Net assets £5.8m (Aug 2025) Director resigned Mar 2025 · charge satisfied Dec 2024 · PSC register changed Mar 2025 Company no. 07499992 · Companies House
4	Barton Veterinary Faringdon	Approach Score 87/100	1 director aged 65-69, 1 aged 60-64, 1 aged 50-54 · longest in post since 2002 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 10 staff · turnover est. £472k Net assets £238k (Apr 2024) Company no. 04417579 · Companies House bartonveterinary.co.uk/services
5	Richard Smith (bilbrook) Wolverhampton	Approach Score 86/100	In post since 2009 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 9 staff · turnover est. £1.6m Net assets £1.1m (Dec 2025) Company no. 07021935 · Companies House richardsmithvets.co.uk
6	Margetts & Associates West Malling, Kent	Approach Score 86/100	In post since 2011 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 10 staff · turnover est. £626k Net assets £136k (Mar 2025) Company no. 07570775 · Companies House margettsandassociates.co.uk
7	Nelson Vets Edenbridge, Kent	Approach Score 84/100	In post since 2012 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 19 staff · turnover est. £1.2m Net assets £598k (Jun 2025) Company no. 08130435 · Companies House nelsonvets.co.uk
8	Dorset Equine Veterinary Services Dorchester, Dorset	Approach Score 84/100	Director aged 65-69 · in post since 2013 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 9 staff · turnover est. £761k Net assets £403k (Apr 2025) Company no. 08347767 · Companies House dorsetequine.co.uk
9	West Ridge Veterinary Practice Winkleigh, Devon A director sits on 4 or more companies	Approach Score 84/100	Director aged 70 or over · in post since 2003 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 36 staff · turnover est. £2.3m Net assets £1.2m (May 2025) Charge satisfied Aug 2026 Company no. 04689293 · Companies House westridgevets.co.uk
10	Coast Vets Eastbourne, East Sussex	Approach Score 83/100	Director aged 55-59 · in post since 2011 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 7 staff · turnover est. £612k Net assets £1.3m (Mar 2026) Company no. 07595550 · Companies House coastvets.com
11	Horsebridge Veterinary Practice Hailsham, East Sussex	Approach Score 83/100	Director aged 55-59 · in post since 2011 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 9 staff · turnover est. £490k Net assets £57k (Dec 2025) Company no. 07600993 · Companies House horsebridgevets.co.uk
12	Hartshorne Veterinary Surgery Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire	Approach Score 83/100	Director aged 65-69 · in post since 2014 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 8 staff · turnover est. £2.2m Net assets £606k (Oct 2025) Company no. 09106249 · Companies House hartshornevets.co.uk
13	Albyn Veterinary Service Broxburn, West Lothian	Approach Score 83/100	1 director aged 70 or over, 1 aged 60-64 · longest in post since 2003 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 5 staff · turnover est. £259k Net assets £1k (Mar 2025) PSC register changed Mar 2026 Company no. SC245998 · Companies House albynvets.com
14	Riverbank Veterinary Centre Preston, Lancashire	Approach Score 83/100	1 director aged 65-69, 1 aged 60-64 · longest in post since 2012 2 individuals hold 75%+ · independent More about this firm 8 staff · turnover est. £480k Net assets £179k (Nov 2025) Company no. 08190352 · Companies House riverbankvets.co.uk
15	Walter Stohr Wangford, Suffolk	Approach Score 82/100	In post since 2010 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 32 staff · turnover est. £1.7m Net assets £730k (Mar 2026) Company no. 07161655 · Companies House
16	Coxheath Veterinary Surgery Maidstone, Kent	Approach Score 82/100	1 director aged 65-69, 1 aged 60-64 · longest in post since 2011 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 15 staff · turnover est. £592k Net assets £755k (Jul 2025) Company no. 07607932 · Companies House coxheathvets.co.uk
17	Petmedic Veterinary Services Doncaster, South Yorkshire	Approach Score 82/100	Director aged 60-64 · in post since 2009 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 10 staff · turnover est. £378k Net assets £95k (Nov 2025) Company no. 07091127 · Companies House petmedic.biz
18	E.H. Thompson Company Folkestone, Kent	Approach Score 82/100	Longest in post since 2013 2 individuals hold 50%+ · independent More about this firm 16 staff · turnover est. £722k Net assets £157k (Aug 2025) Company no. 08635313 · Companies House ehthompson.com
19	Sage Veterinary Group Bradford, West Yorkshire	Approach Score 82/100	Director aged 65-69 · in post since 2000 2 individuals hold 75%+ · independent More about this firm 14 staff · turnover est. £576k Net assets £113k (Apr 2025) Company no. 03969441 · Companies House sagevets.co.uk
20	Archway Veterinary Practice Grange-Over-Sands, Cumbria	Approach Score 82/100	1 director aged 65-69, 1 aged 55-59 · longest in post since 2010 2 individuals hold 75%+ · independent More about this firm 27 staff · turnover est. £839k Net assets £479k (Jun 2026) Company no. 07114071 · Companies House archway-vets.com
21	Johnston and Farrell Tain, Highland	Approach Score 82/100	Longest in post since 2018 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 21 staff · turnover est. £869k Net assets £445k (Mar 2025) Charge satisfied May 2026 Company no. SC593053 · Companies House johnstonandfarrellvets.co.uk
22	Fernhill Veterinary Clinic NEW Milton, Hampshire	Approach Score 82/100	1 director aged 60-64, 1 aged 55-59 · longest in post since 2020 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 10 staff · turnover est. £686k Net assets £337k (Jun 2025) Company no. 12650274 · Companies House fernhillveterinaryclinic.co.uk
23	Qcvc Glasgow	Approach Score 81/100	Director aged 55-59 · in post since 2015 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 10 staff · turnover est. £335k Net assets £147k (Apr 2025) Director resigned Mar 2026 Company no. SC502208 · Companies House queenscrescentvet.co.uk
24	The People's VET Newport, Isle of Wight	Approach Score 81/100	Director aged 65-69 · in post since 2022 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 14 staff · turnover est. £578k Net assets £475k (Oct 2025) Company no. 14432612 · Companies House tpvet.co.uk
25	The PET Hospital Livingston	Approach Score 81/100	Director aged 65-69 · in post since 2023 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 11 staff · turnover est. £567k Net assets £184k (Dec 2025) Company no. SC791605 · Companies House thepethospitalltd.co.uk

1,539 more firms are in the list, in Approach Score order.

You're seeing the first 25. Buy all 1,564 for £1,363 + VAT, with the facts behind each score, director names, shareholders and financials.

Buy the list of all 1,564 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 a veterinary practice owner?

Start by identifying yourself and the type of veterinary care your group provides. Tell the owner that you found their details on the public Companies House register through Firmbase. Explain how to object to your use of their data, and stop contacting them if they do. Check the number against the Telephone Preference Service and the Corporate Telephone Preference Service before calling. Ask about clinical services without implying that the owner wishes to change the practice's direction.

What should I verify about veterinary registration?

Use the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Find a Vet service to check veterinary professionals and practices. It also shows whether a practice is accredited under the voluntary Practice Standards Scheme. Confirm which premises and team members provide the services you are reviewing. Accreditation should not be treated as a substitute for checking care arrangements, facilities and the particular work the practice undertakes.

RCVS · RCVS

How should I read a veterinary Approach Score?

The methodology page sets out how Firmbase ranks firms from public company signals. For a veterinary buyer, that order can point to practices worth researching, but clinical records and standards are separate questions. Check facilities, staffing and out-of-hours cover against the care model you would operate. Neither a score nor a director's age establishes an owner's plans.

How can I assess out-of-hours veterinary commitments?

Read what the practice promises clients outside normal opening hours and how it provides that care. Check whether its own vets cover shifts or another service handles emergencies, and identify any referral agreement. Compare the commitment with staffing and premises capacity. An acquisition model should allow for the cost of providing the promised service, even when the work occurs infrequently.

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: Veterinary.
SIC code 75000.
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. Use the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons' Find a Vet service to check professional registration and any voluntary Practice Standards Scheme accreditation.

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 Opticians Pharmacies

The standard Firmbase list

Veterinary Companies in the UK

Buy the list of all 1,564 firms, with director names, ages and shareholders

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