Forecourt operator duo Saqib Javaid and Zeeshan Ali have taken on their third site – Wakefield Road Service Station in Featherstone, West Yorkshire – in a leasehold purchase.
The pair, who run two other petrol filling stations in the region, have plans to make the Gulf/Londis forecourt on the A645 near Pontefract more appealing to heavy goods vehicle drivers, with an industrial park on its doorstep.
“We plan to enhance the site by catering more for HGV drivers, with facilities including AdBlue, free overnight parking, and free customer amenities such as toilets and a free tap water point for vehicle use,” say the new owners. ”Our aim is to create a clean, welcoming stop for all road users,” they say.
Already, the site sells 1.5 million litres of fuel per annum, and it benefits from having had its tanks and lines cleaned in 2023, together with undergoing a full shop refit in the same year.
“We are excited to have acquired Wakefield Road Service Station and look forward to building on its strong local reputation,” comment the business partners, who continue to seek further properties.
Christie & Co director Andrew Birnie, who managed the sale off-market, says that with demand high for quality petrol stations across the north showing no signs of slowing, he would have had no shortage of would-be purchasers for Wakefield Road Service Station.
“This was a tricky deal, with lease issue hurdles to overcome, but both buyer and seller worked together to reach the desired outcome,” he says.
“It is a fantastic site, and there would have been fierce competition had it gone to the open market, but immediately the seller and buyers’ visions aligned, and it was sold off-market.”
