Farlington Day Nursery and Dolls House Day Nursery in Portsmouth, Hampshire, have been sold to enable the founders to retire.

First opened by Rachel and Dean Dolman in 2003, the launch of Farlington Day Nursery was followed by Dolls House in 2007.

Between the two sites, they offer care for up to 110 children in a home-from-home setting that has developed a fantastic reputation locally for offering ‘Outstanding’-rated childcare in a nurturing space.

The ethos of the business is for children to grow up to be kind, independent, and resilient and have a love for themselves, for others, and for learning.

The couple decided to sell the sites to enjoy their retirement.

Following a confidential sales process with Sophie Willcox at Christie & Co, the nurseries were sold to Happy Days Nurseries, which now owns 31 settings across the South and South West.

Willcox said: “I thoroughly enjoyed working with Rachel and Dean on the sale of their business and ensuring we found the right fit for what they wanted from a buyer in the long term.

“As they owned the freeholds of the nurseries, we approached the market on both a freehold and leasehold basis and evaluated between us the offers as they came in to ensure they proceeded with the route that suited them and their plans the best.

“We were inundated with interest from local and regional operators, and I’m delighted that the settings have sold to Happy Days Nurseries who, I’m sure, will take them to further success.”

Farlington Day Nursery and Dolls House Day Nursery were sold for an undisclosed price.