Hayley Murtagh said her family’s business has grown so much in the last five years
Hayley Murtagh said her family’s business has grown so much in the last five years
A former historic pub has been completely transformed once again with a £140,000 investment. Bonnie Bear Day Care, situated in the spot many fondly remember as the home of Rice Lane’s Old Plough Pub in Walton, is a family-run hub that prides itself on creating a nurturing space for little ones.
The company was set up by Hayley and Charlie Murtagh, from Orrell Park, after they lost their baby girl, Bonnie. Complications with Hayley’s pregnancy occurred in February 2020 after her waters broke four months early.
Having been admitted to the hospital to be monitored, she developed a water infection shortly after. On the fourth day of her stay, Hayley felt reduced movement and was sent for an emergency scan.
Unable to hear a heartbeat, it was at this point the couple were told Bonnie wasn’t going to make it. The couple have spent months working on the renovation, putting everything into fulfilling their dream.
Following the horrific experience, the couple needed something to keep them going and decided to pursue the idea of opening a children’s day care nursery. Fast forward to today and it is a thriving established firm where children thrive in a modern, home-from-home environment.
Hayley, 36, told the ECHO: “We walked into the building and I just said, ‘I can see this as a nursery’. I never thought we’d be here today, doubled our capacity and opened a second two-storey building.
“It was always in the business plan, but to see it all be here is amazing. It’s crazy to see how it has all come about. We are right on the main road, and so everyone sees us and recognises us.
“It has been stressful, but Bonnie has always remained our driving force. There have been times when you want to throw the towel in, but when people come to you for that reason, for baby loss, it just keeps you going. People resonate with us, which is sad in itself, but it brings you together.”
The one area of the building which still remains despite the expansion and renovations is the famous three-face clock tower.
It was a prime feature of the former pub and continues to be a “real focal point”, lighting up pink and blue every day for awareness. Hayley said: “Not everyone knows it is the colours for baby loss but we do and that’s what matters.”
In September, Bonnie Bear expanded into a new building on its grounds, launching a Breakfast, After-School and Holiday Club. This was thanks to £70,000 of funding provided by Liverpool City Council’s Business Support Service, to which the couple, who got married in June 2019, matched.
Bonnie Bear now has increased capacity significantly, a new baby room, 18 more spaces for two-year-olds and 12 more places for three-year-olds. Hayley said seeing the “reputation and demand grow” in the last few years has been nothing short of amazing.
She said: “When we started out, I was paying the manager’s wage out of my own wage – I just thought, how are we going to make this work? But it’s grown so organically.
“When people walk in, they say it’s got that ‘wow feeling. It’s really warm and welcoming – we’re so proud of it. We’d love to get more buildings, make them into nurseries, and hand them over to people who want to run them.
“Charlie’s brilliant at renovating – he creates beautiful spaces from my ideas and I have the experience of setting up a nursery business from scratch, so it could work well.”
