The veterinary practice at Golden Valley can trace its history back to the turn of the previous century. In those days veterinary science was very much a ‘smoke and mirrors’ affair and definitely more of an art than a science! Almost medieval treatment, but the norm for those days.

The practice was for a time based on a house called “Ulvik” which disappeared under the new post office when the Nailsea town development started. Shortly after the war, the practice moved to 146 Old Church Road, Clevedon where a purpose built extension provided facilities, which were in those days, considered very up to date.

By the early 1960’s the practice had outgrown these premises. Dogs and cats were becoming important and although the agricultural side of the practice could still be serviced from limited premises the demands of the best of modern veterinary treatment necessitated more room.

In 1966 the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons had introduced a special designation – Veterinary Hospital – for those practices which met certain rigid standards of equipment, staffing and facilities. Although the title “Veterinary Clinic”, “Veterinary Health Centre”, ‘Animal Hospital’ or “Veterinary Surgery” could be used by any veterinary surgeon for their premises, only those practices which met the standards for hospital status set by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, and inspected by them, could use the title “Veterinary Hospital”. This clearly was the standard to aspire to.

In 1967 the Nailsea Hospital site was acquired offering the room to expand that was needed. The excellent buildings converted easily into what was then a spacious veterinary hospital. So the practice moved from Clevedon to its new premises in 1968 and at the time was the second veterinary practice in the country to achieve the new RCVS hospital status. A new Clevedon branch surgery was built behind the old house at 8A, Knowles Road.

In 1989 Golden Valley merged with the Chew Magna practice of Clark & Warden. The surgery premises at 2 The Vinery Chew Magna is now run as one of our larger branch surgeries.

Further expansion took place in 1997 when we took over our Long Ashton surgery and in 1999 Glebe House, Wrington was added as a further branch surgery.

In October 2001 Neal King, who had been hugely influential in pushing for the highest of veterinary standards not just at Golden Valley but within the profession as a whole and Bob Gore, who had been responsible for the development of the farming site of the business, retired and the practice was formed into a limited company being run by the remaining partner David Holmes. David took over what is now the largest practice in the area with the clear idea of developing further the pursuit of veterinary excellence that had been shown in the past.

Spring 2003 saw the beginning of a major development plan as the demand for quality veterinary services continued to grow and more space was needed for the new diagnostic and laboratory equipment needed to ensure Golden Valley Vets would remain as one of the forefront first opinion practices in the country.
In January 2004, with more and more of our farm clients opting for housing development rather than a continuation of their farming activities the decision was taken to concentrate on the small animal side of the business, a decision that has seen the practice go from strength to strength in recent years.

Today the only thing that could be described as ‘old fashioned’ is our level of service and commitment of care to our clients. The key elements of a great veterinary practice – a fantastic team of vets and nurses, modern well equipped premises and a constant pursuit of best practice in all we do – provides local pet owners with an opportunity for really exceptional care of their pets throughout their lives. A partnership we really respect and appreciate.