St John’s Road Dental Practice, a two-surgery NHS clinic on a busy shopping parade in Sefton, eight miles from Liverpool city centre, has been sold after more than 30 years of family ownership.
Catherine and Dr Lai Leung Andy Cheung, who owned the practice since 1991, decided to sell as they prepare for retirement. Following a confidential marketing process handled by Cathy Murphy of Christie & Co, first-time buyer Zafer Ali successfully acquired the site.
Ali said he plans to broaden the clinic’s services by adding private general work and specialist clinic sessions alongside the existing NHS provision. He expects the change to diversify income and increase patient choice while maintaining the practice’s long-standing commitment to quality care.
Dr Cheung reflected on his time at the practice, noting he had treated multiple generations of the same families. “It has been my pleasure to serve the community, in some cases, for three generations,” he said.
He added that retirement will allow more time for family, travel and hobbies, and he expressed confidence in the incoming owner: “I am excited to see Zafer develop St John’s Road Dental and continue to serve the wonderful community.”
Cathy Murphy, Senior Agent – Dental at Christie & Co, said the practice’s reputation and location drew strong buyer interest and multiple competitive offers.
“Known for its family-focused approach and generations of loyal patients, the sellers have carefully nurtured the practice’s outstanding reputation for quality care and patient trust,” she said. Murphy described it as a privilege to manage the sale and praised the new owner’s shared commitment to excellence.
Ali also plans to accept referrals from local dental practices as part of his modernisation and expansion strategy. The transition aims to preserve the clinic’s community role while introducing new services and specialist capacity.
