Key facts: Lincoln
- Community pharmacies, Lincolnshire, 2024/25
- 119
- Openings / closures, 2024/25
- 7 / 4
- Independent share (5 or fewer pharmacies)
- 24.4% (England 49.9%)
- Average items per pharmacy
- 139,249 (England 104,192)
- New Medicine Service consultations per pharmacy
- 543 (England 508)
- Commissioning ICB
- NHS Lincolnshire ICB
2024/25 figures from NHS Business Services Authority pharmacy statistics for the ICB that covers Lincoln; ranks are among the 37 ICBs outside London.
The pharmacy market around Lincoln
Who owns the pharmacies matters to anyone buying one. In Lincolnshire in 2024/25, 29 of 119 NHS community pharmacies (24.4%) belonged to independents with five or fewer branches and 90 to multiples. England's independent share is 49.9%; Lincolnshire ranks 37th of 37.
With multiples holding more of the market than nationally, an independent pharmacy that comes up for sale here can draw competing buyers. Having finance lined up before you offer helps.
Openings and closures in 2024/25
The year brought 4 closures and 7 openings, leaving 3 more pharmacies. As a share of the network, Lincolnshire lost 3.4% to closure, set against 6.4% nationally (rank 36 of 37).
With no net loss of pharmacies, volumes are not being pushed onto survivors; the case rests on the pharmacy's own record.
Around Lincoln, New Medicine Service activity per pharmacy was 523 in Nottingham (Nottingham and Nottinghamshire), 490 in Hull (Humber and North Yorkshire) and 553 in Sheffield (South Yorkshire), against 543 here.
How busy Lincoln pharmacies are
Lincolnshire pharmacies dispensed 16,570,573 items in 2024/25, 139,249 per pharmacy against 104,192 for England (2nd busiest of 37 ICBs). 97.4% of items went through the Electronic Prescription Service. Higher volumes per pharmacy support stronger dispensing income, which is what lenders value most in a pharmacy purchase.
On services, pharmacies here gave 47,833 NHS flu jabs (451 per participating pharmacy, England 437) and 64,602 New Medicine Service consultations, while 89.1% offered hypertension case-finding against 86.4% nationally. Lenders count services income alongside dispensing, so a good record here strengthens the case.
Buying a pharmacy in Lincoln
Buying in Lincoln? Expect the lender to ask for three years of dispensing and services figures, the lease, and how much you are putting in. Fund stock and the gap before NHS payments with working capital, and read buying a pharmacy first. The practice purchase loan calculator shows repayments against profit.
Premises, regulation and security
Buying a pharmacy freehold in England brings Stamp Duty Land Tax at non-residential rates, and a lender secures the loan with a legal charge registered at HM Land Registry. If the building is rented, lenders read the lease closely: a short unexpired term caps the loan term.
Before completion a lender will want the change of ownership application to Lincolnshire under way and the premises registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council in the buyer's name.
Lenders for Lincoln pharmacies
We hold no lender lists by town, and lenders for pharmacies lend nationally rather than city by city. For a Lincoln case we search the whole market. Fees depend on the lender, with nothing upfront.
Common questions
How many pharmacies are there around Lincoln?
119 community pharmacies dispensed NHS prescriptions in NHS Lincolnshire ICB during 2024/25 (NHS Business Services Authority). 7 opened and 4 closed in the year.
How many items does a Lincoln pharmacy dispense?
The Lincolnshire average for 2024/25 was 139,249 items per pharmacy; England's was 104,192.
Do Lincoln pharmacies offer NHS flu vaccinations?
106 of the 119 pharmacies in Lincolnshire gave NHS flu vaccinations in 2024/25, 47,833 in total.
