Nursery is to double number of places

Aug 29 2008 by Paul Mannion, Chester Chronicle

PLAYMATES nurseries have bought a site in Frodsham after securing a £1.6m bank loan.

The Widnes-based nursery firm, which has two other sites, has taken over the Homestead Day Nursery in Chester Road and will be modernising the premises and facilities.

Business partner Gill Dillon, a former nurse, runs Playmates with Chris Devlin, a former teacher. She said: “The loan was just for the purchase of the premises. We were looking to expand the business and the Frodsham nursery came up and we have the other two nurseries which are nearly paid for.

“When we started 13 years ago we had a lot hostility from banks because we were two women going into business but the Co-operative Bank have been fully supportive.”

Joint director Chris Devlin said: “Thirteen years ago we identified a need for good quality childcare where the child comes first before anything else. We’ve worked hard to establish this and have built up an excellent reputation in the process.”

The new nursery will enable Playmates to double the number of childcare places available and create jobs.

The previous owners have now retired.