North Belfast pharmacy, WG Hamilton sold as owner retires

Well-known Belfast pharmacy, WG Hamilton has been sold, following the partial retirement of owner, Fergus Hamilton.

The busy community pharmacy in Ballysillan, north Belfast, dispenses an average of 8750 prescription items per month, collecting scripts from over 20 surgeries in the Belfast area.

It is also active in carrying out additional services, including the Minor Ailments Service and Pharmacy First Service.

Following a confidential sales process with Karl Clezy at Christie & Co, the pharmacy has been sold for an undisclosed price to first-time buyers, Andrew Crawford and Daniel Cheah.

Fergus Hamilton owned and ran the pharmacy for over 20 years. He said he wished the new owners “success and prosperity in their new business venture”.

New owners, Andrew and Daniel said they were delighted to be taking over the long-established and well-run community pharmacy.

“We intend to pick up where Fergus has left off by continuing to provide a first-class service to our patients of north Belfast. We wish the previous owners a very happy retirement,” they said.

Karl Clezy, Director said this was the second pharmacy in the Ballysillan area they have sold within the last few years.

“The last three pharmacies we have sold in Northern Ireland have been to first-time buyers, which is largely due to a lack of government funding, causing a lot of existing contractors and groups off buying any more pharmacies,” said Karl.

“This is providing more opportunities for younger buyers to get their first step on the ladder, whereas before, first-time buyers found it difficult to buy their first pharmacy as they were competing with experienced operators who could afford to offer a higher amount.”