Top 50 Indie Ascona has bought its second Scottish business in the same number of months, with the purchase of Five Mile Garage in the Aberdeen suburb Kingswells.
The Esso forecourt with MOT garage and caravan park, at a major junction of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route, was previously operated by the Gauld family since 1951.
They were approached by property agent Graham + Sibbald on behalf of Ascona, after the ambitious Wales-based operator revealed that it would be interested in purchasing the site.
Only in December Ascona acquired the five-strong Kessock Group in Scotland, and now with the purchase of Five Mile Garage it has 69 forecourts. Eight of these sites are in Scotland, with further acquisitions already in the pipeline north of the border for 2026.
Manoj Tugnait, property director for Ascona Group, says: “Five Mile Garage is a strategically located, long-established forecourt that aligns perfectly with Ascona’s growth strategy in Scotland and across the UK. In addition to the petrol filling station, the acquisition includes a well-established MOT garage and caravan park business, further strengthening the site’s operational diversity and long-term potential.”
“We look forward to investing in the site and building on the strong foundations already in place,” addsTugnait.
Vendor George Gauld, who is retiring, says that the business has seen many changes since it was founded by James Forbes 75 years ago with two petrol pumps and a greenhouse as a shop
“During my parent’s time and my own there have been many challenges to deal with and adapt to, not all for the better I might add, but in the most it has been a great experience,” he says.
Ascona remains keen to continue expanding its national portfolio. At the end of last year it announced plans to grow to 120 forecourts in the next 12 to 18 months, after securing £200m funding from independent credit firm Blazehill Capital, alongside HSBC.
