Jacksons Law Firm recently teamed up with Connect Property North East, to help owners of Smoggie Doggie Day Care make their dream a reality by opening their new centre in Middlesbrough.
L – R Sophie Lynas, Jacksons Law Firm, Jonathan Simpson, Connect Property NE, Claire Oxley-Bates, owner, Barbara Smith, dog groomer and Kelly Butler owner
Claire Oxley-Bates along with business partner Kelly Butler, spotted an obvious gap in the local market for this type of service for dogs and their owners and recently launched their care centre on Sotherby Road, Middlesbrough. The unit was in a bad state of repair when they signed up for it, but with a lot of hard work and determination the centre was open for business within three months.
Business woman Claire, successfully runs C&M Pet Services which offers dog walking and home boarding and is fully licensed by Middlesbrough Council. Claire and Kelly, both from Middlesbrough, have known each other for 10 years and previously worked together as professional dog walkers.
Smoggie Doggie Day Care, the first of its kind in Middlesbrough, offers a fully licenced day care centre with facilities and services that include a dog grooming salon, dog training classes to encourage good behaviour, delivery and collection and a DIY dog wash. The centre also boasts a small shop selling pet supplies and food. The dogs are encouraged to have fun during their time spent at the centre in a large area with different rooms hosting smaller groups of similar dogs of size and personality, where they also host a wide range of activities.
Claire Oxley-Bates, owner at Smoggie Doggie Day Care said, “We’re very excited about this new venture and to be based in our home town of Middlesbrough. We are a nation of dog lovers who are passionate about our dogs receiving the best care possible and that they are well-groomed, exercised regularly and trained by experts so that they are accepted socially.”
Sophie Lynas, Commercial Property Solicitor at Jacksons Law Firm, assisted Claire and Kelly with early access to the unit to carry out their works and completing a Licence for Alterations and the Lease said, “It was very brave of Claire and Kelly to take on a big project like this one and to have completed it in such a short timescale. It’s plain to see they are very dedicated to their work and I have no doubt will make a huge success of their business”.
Jonathan Simpson, Director from Connect Property North East, who acted for the landlord said, “I am delighted to have secured this letting on behalf of the landlord. Claire and her team deserve huge praise for working in conjunction with the landlord to bring this former dilapidated building back into life. I would like to wish them all the best with their new venture”.
The commercial property department at Jacksons were awarded Property Law Firm of the Year at Insider Media North East Property Awards 2018 and Property Team of the Year finalist in the Northern Law Awards 2018.
Jacksons Law firm is one of the North East’s longest established law firms and has been practising in the Tees Valley for over 140 years. Operating from its head office in Stockton on Tees, and an office in Newcastle upon Tyne, and Sunderland it is well placed to assist clients across the region on a wide range of business and personal legal advice.
