Glazebury based Bents Garden & Home has been named as the Best Destination Garden Centre in the North West at this year’s Garden Centre Association regional awards. The announcement comes in a year when the family owned and run business celebrates its 85th anniversary; 85 years since founders Alfred and Margaret Bent started to sell roses from their front garden just yards from the Centre’s current location.   

The title follows a strict audit of garden centres throughout the country with the results announced on a regional basis.  The Garden Centre Association (GCA) comprises nearly 200 of the country’s best garden centres and as a member each undergoes a strict annual audit process with judges assessing every part of the centre from plant and product quality to customer service and innovation.

Bents received a spot visit by the GCA auditors and recorded one of the top scores in the country, which not only saw them awarded Best Destination Garden Centre in the North West but also the regional title for Best Restaurant and the Creative & Innovation award as well as runners up in Outdoor Living, Indoor Lifestyle and Customer Service.

Says Matthew Bent, Managing Director at Bents Garden & Home: “The GCA title is the one all garden centre’s want and we are delighted to be acknowledged as the Best in the North West, especially in what is our 85th year; a great way to celebrate our anniversary. 

“It is a credit to all of our colleagues who work extremely hard to ensure our standards remain as high as possible throughout all areas of the Centre and we would like to say a big thank you to each and every one of them for their continued commitment and input.”

The GCA awards are important within the industry as they are based purely on quality standards throughout every area of the centre.  Garden centres don’t pay to enter the awards or put themselves forward; members are all visited by inspectors with no prior knowledge of the exact date to ensure standards remain high at all times.