Stocks Lane Nursery Ltd: A Flourishing Future

The Business
Stocks Lane Nursery Ltd is a well-established horticulture and floriculture wholesale nursery, supplying plants to retail nurseries and garden centres across the UK. Alongside its cash-and-carry operation, the business also propagates plants on behalf of larger growers before returning them ready for the next stage of production.

Operating largely on a grown-to-order basis, the business benefits from predictable demand and long-standing customer relationships, creating a stable and profitable operation. While its retail customer base makes trading naturally seasonal, this also leaves significant spare growing capacity, presenting a clear opportunity for future expansion.

Having acquired Stocks Lane Nursery in 2014, David Hassall and Greg Freer invested heavily in the business, modernising the glasshouses to current standards and introducing a biomass heating plant to improve efficiency and sustainability. Over a decade of ownership, they built a highly respected and profitable business with strong foundations for continued growth under new ownership.

The Challenge
Their priority wasn’t speed. Instead, they were focused on achieving a minimum sale price that reflected the quality of the business they had built, with the timescale being of far less importance. Introduced to Business Partnership by their solicitor, they wanted confidence that the business was being accurately valued and that the right buyer would be identified to deliver the outcome they were looking for.

What We Did
Having confirmed that the business was worth more than the owners’ minimum expectation, we developed a targeted marketing strategy focused on identifying a trade buyer that could benefit from Stocks Lane Nursery’s available growing capacity during its quieter seasonal periods. This approach quickly highlighted a strong commercial fit with Brooks Holding Group Ltd, whose year-round customer demand made the nursery an ideal acquisition.

While the right buyer was identified early in the process, completing the transaction proved far from straightforward. Funding delays and changing requirements from the buyer’s lenders resulted in lengthy negotiations and revisions to the heads of terms before the deal could progress. Throughout, we worked closely with both parties to maintain momentum, navigate complex commercial discussions and ensure our clients remained protected while keeping the sale on track.

By building strong relationships between everyone involved and maintaining open communication throughout the process, we were able to overcome each obstacle and successfully guide the transaction through to completion.

The Outcome
The sale of Stocks Lane Nursery Ltd completed in June 2026 following a carefully managed process that successfully navigated a number of commercial and funding challenges. David Hassall and Greg Freer achieved the value they had set out to secure, allowing them to step away from the business and focus on their separate retail venture.

For Brooks Holding Group Ltd, the acquisition provides valuable additional growing capacity to support their year-round customer demand, making Stocks Lane an excellent strategic fit for their existing operation.

The result delivers a positive outcome for both parties, with the business continuing under experienced ownership and well positioned for future growth while preserving the strong foundations built over the previous decade.

In Their Words

David Hassall and Greg Freer, former owners of Stocks Lane Nursery Ltd, said:

I would like to start by saying that selling a business is far more complicated than I ever imagined. You will definitely need the assistance of a reputable partner to help you achieve your goal.

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Owners of Brooks Holding Group Ltd, commented:

Thank you for all your help in getting this across the line. Never again – unless you find us another horticulture business!

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Paul Dodgshon, Managing Director at Business Partnership, added:

David and Greg built a strong business over their decade of ownership, and we were delighted to help them achieve the outcome they were looking for with a buyer they trusted to take the business forward. Brooks Holding Group represented an excellent commercial fit, with a year-round customer base that could make full use of the nursery’s growing capacity. Throughout a complex transaction, maintaining strong relationships and trust between all parties was key to protecting our clients’ interests and successfully completing the deal.

Thinking About Selling Your Business?
The sale of Stocks Lane Nursery Ltd demonstrates that achieving the right outcome isn’t always about completing the quickest deal. Finding the right buyer, protecting your interests throughout negotiations and staying focused when unexpected challenges arise can make all the difference.

At Business Partnership, we take the time to understand your priorities, whether that’s achieving a specific valuation, securing the right buyer for your business or ensuring the legacy you’ve built is in safe hands. We manage every stage of the process, helping you navigate complex negotiations while keeping your objectives at the centre of every decision.

If you’re considering selling your business, we’d be delighted to discuss your plans in complete confidence.

Contact us today for a confidential, no-obligation discussion with your local Business Partnership advisor