As we come to the end of 2025, it feels like the right moment to pause and reflect on what has been one of the most active and meaningful years in the history of Parkhurst Opticians (Parkhurst and Co Styling Opticians).

This year hasn’t been defined by one headline change or single announcement. Instead, it’s been shaped by steady progress, careful decisions, and a great deal of work behind the scenes — all with the same aim: to continue providing high-quality, independent care while adapting to how optometry and healthcare are changing.

A major theme of 2025 has been how our practices work in practice.

Over the year, we made important decisions around practice moves, layout changes, and improvements to clinical and reception spaces. These weren’t cosmetic updates. They were driven by real changes in how eye care is delivered today — longer appointments, more advanced diagnostic testing, improved privacy, and a calmer patient journey from arrival to consultation.

For patients, this sometimes meant short-term disruption. For our teams, it meant learning new systems and adapting to new environments. We are extremely grateful for the patience and understanding shown throughout this process.

The outcome is practices that are better suited to modern independent optometry, while still feeling local, familiar, and welcoming.

Clinical Care: Quiet Improvements That Matter at Parkhurst Opticians

Not all progress in 2025 was immediately visible — and that’s very much by design.

Behind the scenes, we continued to invest in clinical technology, refine examination protocols, and build in more time for discussion and explanation. Our focus has remained firmly on accurate diagnosis, early detection, and care tailored to the individual, rather than rushing patients through a fixed template.

These quieter improvements are often the most important, and they underpin everything we do — even when they don’t come with a visible label.

Charity, Community and Giving Back

Community involvement has always been central to Parkhurst, and 2025 was a particularly active year.

Throughout the year, we supported a wide range of charities and causes — from local community organisations to larger regional and national initiatives. Some of this support was through fundraising events, some through quieter donations, and some simply through being present and involved where help was needed.

These efforts are not about publicity. They reflect a belief that being a local, independent practice brings with it a responsibility to give something back to the communities that support us.

A Personal Challenge Along the Way

2025 also included a personal milestone with the completion of a marathon — a challenge that required months of training, commitment, and support from family, friends, and colleagues.

While personal, it aligned closely with the themes of the year: resilience, preparation, and long-term thinking. It also naturally tied in with our broader focus on health, movement, and wellbeing, both within the business and beyond it.

Telling the Story Through the Year

Throughout 2025, we shared updates through our blogs — covering practice developments, service expansion, charity work, community involvement, and changes within the business.

Taken together, those blogs tell the real story of the year: a business that is evolving carefully, staying grounded in its values, and making decisions with the long term in mind.

A First Step Toward What’s Next

Towards the end of 2025, some patients noticed the name change of our Thorne practice Thorne-Opticians. This marked the first visible step in a wider review of how our practices are named and presented — work that has been ongoing throughout the year.

This wasn’t change for the sake of change, but part of a considered process that will continue into 2026.

Looking Ahead

As we close the door on 2025, we do so with pride — and with anticipation.

Much of this year has been about laying foundations. In our New Year blog, we’ll share more about what those foundations are leading to, including how our name and identity will continue to evolve during 2026.

For now, we simply want to say thank you — to our patients, our teams, and our wider community — for being part of a year that has genuinely helped shape the future of Parkhurst.

Looking Ahead: The Next Chapter for Parkhurst in 2026

As we move into 2026, it’s a natural time to look forward — and to explain how the changes you may have noticed over the past year fit into a much bigger picture.

If you read our 2025 round-up, you’ll know that last year was about progress, preparation, and people. The year ahead is about clarity and direction.

Same Values, Clearer Identity

At its core, Parkhurst has always been about independent care, long-term relationships, and doing things properly — even when that takes more time.

The next chapter isn’t about becoming something different. It’s about expressing those values more clearly, for existing patients and for the future of independent eye care.

We’ll share more as 2026 unfolds. For now, thank you for continuing to be part of the Parkhurst journey.