AFTER being run by the Dinner family for more than 50 years the Bude Road Garage in Holsworthy is soon to be under new management.

BP successfully acquired the forecourt in auction and will now begin a process of re-development.

The Dinner family has run the Bude Road Garage for more than 50 years, with Simon and Lucy Dinner having successfully operated the forecourt for more than 25 years. The Dinners have worked hard to create a busy forecourt that is popular not only with local residents but also those passing through Holsworthy. They even invested a lot of time and money in the SPAR convenience store in order to attract more custom.

The family has taken the decision to pass the business on as they feel it ‘is the right time’.

Simon and Lucy said: “We are really happy that the sale has been completed with BP, it will be a great asset to the local community, surrounding areas and passing traffic. We are excited to be working with BP to make the transition as smooth as possible.”

After numerous bids, BP secured the site, freehold. Simon and Lucy will continue to run the business until early next year while BP apply for planning permission to knock down and rebuild the forecourt, to improve its current layout to suit the BP model.

A spokesperson for BP said: “We are delighted with the acquisition of Bude Road Garage, continuing our expansion in the South West.”

Christie & Co’s forecourt specialists David Morris and William Trott brokered the sale. David said: “This is another great forecourt that BP will be adding to their growing estate in the South West and it will be interesting to follow the plans that Bp have for the site. Simon and Lucy were a pleasure to work with and we wish them all the best for the future.”