Our Story

Goldfish Property traces its roots back to 1967, as a start-up rubber business located in a spare room in a Nottinghamshire village. Initially a manufacturing enterprise, it evolved into an import wholesale business trading between the UK and Far East.

Over the years, that business grew and transformed to include commercial property and self-storage. All businesses in the portfolio are still owned within the Fisher family. This is the story of how the business developed, and how Goldfish Property got to where it is now.

1960s – humble beginnings in Sutton Bonnington

Paul Fisher established Bonnington Rubber Products in 1967: working from a small, disused bakehouse at the back of his aunt and uncle’s village shop in Sutton Bonnington, Nottinghamshire. The business initially specialised in rubber products for commercial vehicles. According to Fisher “the humble mudflap determined our early growth”. By the end of the decade, larger premises were required and, in 1969, Fisher purchased the old Co-Op shop on Bollards Lane, Sutton Bonnington, and the three adjoining cottages.

1970s – the growth of Bonningtons

The 1970s was a decade of quick growth. The first full-time employee joined at the turn of the decade, and Paul’s wife Marilyn joined to run the accounts department. During the 70s the business began expanding, purchasing a converted stocking factory in Long Whatton, Leicestershire, and renting additional storage space in Loughborough. A plastics business was also established which began extruding plastic tubing and making household items, especially garden hose. In 1979, the businesses were consolidated under one company that is now known as Bonnington Plastics.

1980s and 90s – expansion into importing

By 1980, revenues were above £1.5 million per year. Bonningtons began selling home and garden products under the Kingfisher brand, regularly presenting at the UK’s National Exhibition Centre. In 1988, the company purchased 22,000 square feet of office, manufacturing and warehouse space at Castle Donnington in Derbyshire – later adding an additional 6,000 square foot warehouse to the site. Throughout the 90s, the company began to reduce its UK manufacturing business and increased its imports from the Far East.

2000s and 2010s – pivoting towards property

Bonningtons made the decision to end manufacturing in Britain in 2004, eventually wrapping this up in 2008. This year also saw the sale of the Castle Donnington site and the retirement of both Paul and Marilyn Fisher. As the company entered the 2010s, a pivot was made into property – with Goldfish Property incorporated in 2013 and acquiring Bonnington Plastics in 2017. Throughout the 2010s numerous properties were purchased in Nottingham and elsewhere, such as 9 Glaisdale Parkway, Nottingham.

My own space warehouse

2020s – Myownspace.com: the newest addition to the Goldfish family

Today, Goldfish Property has a substantial portfolio of warehouses mainly in the north-east corner of the Golden Triangle of UK logistics, with a particular focus around Nottingham. Myownspace.com, the newest addition to the Goldfish family provides flexible business space for personal and business customers. Helping to address the strong demand for self-storage and serviced business units in the UK, the business offers customers both short and long term solutions from 9 square feet upwards. The site in Northampton provides serviced and unserviced business units for companies seeking flexibility and convenience and also offers an on-site business centre where customers can use communal offices and meeting rooms amongst other facilities.

We have a long-standing relationship with Goldfish Property, providing legal advice across its portfolio and covering a broad range of situations. It’s a nimble and highly responsive firm, which is also remarkable for its meticulous approach, lucid communication and robust ethics.
Erin Manning, Partner (Commercial Property), Knights plc