We are celebrating our sixty-fifth anniversary this October!
The practice was founded by Osmond “Ozzy” Drake in 1958, beginning with just one testing room and with Osmond’s wife as a receptionist. The shop is still in the family over half a century later, with Osmond’s grandson Marc Drake currently in charge with his wife Alison. Many patients have been visiting us since we first opened and even remember the original Mr Drake.
There are now two fully-equipped testing rooms. The practice excels in providing specialist contact lens care in particular, but also offers emergency appointments, Low Vision appointments, Autism Friendly appointments, and much more.
We have been a staple of Penarth life since we opened. We are a member of the Shop in Penarth scheme, and won the Penarth in Bloom Best Decorated Christmas Tree competition in 2020. We were open through the Coronavirus pandemic to provide emergency care and were one of the first practices to take part in the Independent Prescriber scheme.
More recently, we have been shortlisted for four Optometry Wales awards. We have been nominated for Practice of the year, Optometrist of the Year (for Marc Drake), Newcomer of the Year (for optometrist Hannah Jones), and Innovator of the Year (for optometrist Elinor Hobby).
Alison Drake has said: “Penarth is a lovely place to live, with friendly and welcoming people. We try to reflect this in the service we offer, providing routine and emergency care to any who may need it. We stock a fabulous range of frames and sunglasses, and our Dispensing Opticians will discuss your prescription, lifestyle and budget to recommend the best spectacle lenses based on your needs.
“We employ local people who often know our patients by name, which gives us a friendly and comfortable atmosphere to enjoy while people are here with us. We are very proud of the business we have built and the good it does in the Penarth community.
We look forward to the future, continuing to offer the high level of care on which we pride ourselves”
