Garden centre teams from across the Garden Centre Association’s (GCA) South East region are celebrating today after scooping awards during a presentation evening yesterday at Birdworld, Haskins Forest Lodge in Surrey (Tuesday, July 14, 2026).

Garden Centre of the Year in the Destination Garden Centre (DGC) category was Haskins Snowhill (top), the Garden Centre (GC) category award went to Coolings Nurseries (above) and Local Garden Centre (LGC) to Thompson’s Welling (below).

GCA CEO, Peter Burks said: “We had a wonderful evening at our second summer awards presentation of the year. I’d like to thank everyone who joined us. It was fantastic to welcome so many attendees and to see them actively engaging with the feedback, making notes and gathering ideas to share with their colleagues.

“Congratulations to all our deserving winners, whose achievements reflect the high standards found across our membership. I’d also like to extend a sincere thank you to everyone at Birdworld, Haskins Forest Lodge for being such welcoming and accommodating hosts. Finally, my thanks go to our Inspector, Colin Farquhar, for his invaluable contribution as part of the inspection team and for presenting the findings in such an insightful and engaging way.”

Colin made unannounced visits to member garden centres in the South East area across a 12-week period through spring and early summer.

He said: “As always, the outstanding horticultural standards demonstrated by centres in the South East were evident throughout the inspection season. Combined with the glorious sunshine, it made visiting and assessing the centres a genuine pleasure.

“The quality of restaurant and café service, together with the standard of food on offer, was consistently impressive. It was easy to see why so many centres have been enjoying double-digit growth in this area of their business.

“When asked why they chose to visit their local garden centre, customers frequently cited the availability of free parking, a safe and welcoming shopping environment, and an unmatched range of products and services.

“It was particularly encouraging to see the effort many centres had made to review last year’s inspection reports and implement action plans. Their commitment to continuous improvement was clearly visible and has positioned them strongly for 2026.”

The main winners for the South East region GCA area awards are as follows for the DGC, GC and LGC categories:

Garden Centre of the Year:

DGC

1. Haskins Garden Centres, Snowhill
2. Ruxley Manor Garden Centre
3. Garsons Esher

GC

1. Coolings Nurseries
2. Garsons Titchfield
3. Ransoms

LGC

1. Thompson’s Welling
2. Coolings Wych Cross
3. Thompson’s Newchurch

Pots and Outdoor Ornamentation

DGC

1. Chessington Garden Centre
2. Haskins Garden Centres, Snowhill
3. Ruxley Manor Garden Centre

GC

1. Busy Bee and Coolings Nurseries – JOINT WINNERS
2. Canterbury Garden Centre
3. Haskins Garden Centres, Forest Lodge

LGC

1. Coolings Wych Cross
2. Squires Garden Centre, Chertsey and Thompsons Newchurch – JOINT RUNNERS UP
3. Thompson’s Canterbury

Outdoor Living Award for Best Outdoor Living Retailer:

DGC

1. Haskins Garden Centres, Snowhill
2. Stewarts Christchurch
3. Garsons Esher

GC

1. Garsons Titchfield
2. Henry Street and Squires Garden Centre, Shepperton – JOINT RUNNERS UP
3. Busy Bee, Ransoms and Squires Garden Centre, Hersham – JOINT THIRD PLACE

LGC

1. British Garden Centres, Staplehurst
2. Squires Garden Centre, Reigate and Coolings Wych Cross – JOINT RUNNERS UP
3. Squires Garden Centres, Cobham and Crawley – JOINT THIRD PLACE

Indoor Lifestyle Award for Best Indoor Lifestyle Retailer:

DGC

1. Ruxley Manor Garden Centre
2. Haskins Garden Centres, Ferndown
3. Haskins Garden Centres, West End

GC

1. Garsons Titchfield
2. Squires Garden Centre, Wokingham
3. Canterbury Garden Centre and Ransoms – JOINT THIRD PLACE

LGC

1. British Garden Centres, Staplehurst
2. Squires Garden Centre, Reigate and Coolings Wych Cross – JOINT RUNNERS UP
3. Squires Garden Centres, Crawley

Garden Construction

DGC

1. Chessington Garden Centre
2. Haskins Garden Centres, Snowhill
3. Haskins Garden Centres, Roundstone and Ruxley Manor Garden Centre

GC

1. Haskins Garden Centres, Forest Lodge
2. Coolings Nurseries, Canterbury Garden Centre and Henry Street – JOINT RUNNERS UP
3. Busy Bees and Squires Garden Centre, Woking – JOINT THIRD PLACE

LGC

1. Thompsons, Newchurch
2. Coolings Wych Cross
3. Thompsons Welling

Food Hall/Farm Shop Award

DGC

1. Garsons Esher and Ruxley Manor Garden Centre – JOINT WINNERS
2. Polhill Garden Centre
3. Chessington Garden Centre

GC

1. Garsons Titchfield
2. British Garden Centres, Pepperhill
3. Hilliers Garden Centre, Weyhill

LGC

No centre in this category

The Dick Allen Award for Most Improved Centre:

1. British Garden Centres, Thatcham
2. Busy Bee
3. Knights Woldingham

Ian Boardman Award for Best Indoor Plants Retailer

DGC

1. Haskins Garden Centres, Roundstone
2. Ruxley Manor Garden Centre and Haskins, Snowhill – JOINT RUNNERS-UP
3. Stewarts Garden Centre, Christchurch

GC

1. British Garden Centre, Pepperhill
2. Ransoms
3. Squires Garden Centre, Milford

LGC

1. Knights Garden Centre, Betchworth
2. Thompsons Welling
3. Coolings Wych Cross

The Paul Cooling Award for Environment and Sustainability:

DGC

1. Ruxley Manor Garden Centre
2. Haskins Garden Centres, Snowhill
3. Chessington Garden Centre

GC

1. Garsons Titchfield
2. Coolings Nurseries
3. Canterbury Garden Centre

LGC

1. Thompson’s Welling
2. Thompson’s Chiselhurst
3. Coolings Wych Cross

Clothing

DGC

1. Ruxley Manor Garden Centre
2. Haskins Garden Centres, Snowhill
3. Garsons Esher

GC

1. Busy Bee
2. Garsons Titchfield
3. Hilliers Garden Centre, Eastbourne and Squires Garden Centre, Wokingham – JOINT THIRD PLACE

LGC

No centre in this category

Customer Service Award for Best Customer Service:

DGC

1. Haskins Garden Centres, Snowhill
2. Garsons Esher
3. Chessington Garden Centre

GC

1. Coolings Nurseries
2. Haskins Forest Lodge
3. Hilliers Garden Centre, Newbury

LGC

1. Coolings Wych Cross
2. British Garden Centres, Staplehurst
3. Thompson’s Welling

The Award for Catering Excellence for Best Garden Centre Restaurant:

DGC

1. Ruxley Manor Garden Centre and Haskins, Snowhill – JOINT WINNERS
2. Chessington Garden Centre
3. Haskins Garden Centre, West End

GC

1. Canterbury Garden Centre and Ransoms – JOINT WINNERS
2. Tenterden Garden Centre
3. Henry Street and Hilliers Garden Centre, Weyhill

LGC

1. Squires Garden Centre, Chertsey
2. Squires Garden Centre, Reigate and Coolings Wych Cross – JOINT RUNNERS UP
3. British Garden Centres, Staplehurst and Squires Garden Centre, Crawley – JOINT THIRD PLACE WINNERS

The GIMA Award for Best Garden Products Retailer:

DGC

1. Haskins Garden Centre, Snowhill
2. Ruxley Manor Garden centre
3. Garsons Esher

GC

1. Busy Bee
2. Garsons Titchfield
3. Canterbury Garden Centre

LGC

1. Thompson’s Welling
2. Thompson’s Chiselhurst
3. Coolings Wych Cross

Plantaria (Ruxley Rose):

DGC

1. Newbridge Nurseries
2. Haskins Snowhill
3. Ruxley Manor Garden Centre

GC

1. Coolings Nurseries
2. Squires Garden Centre, Hersham
3. Garsons Titchfield

LGC

1. Thompson’s Welling
2. Coolings Wych Cross
3. Thompson’s Chiselhurst

The Barton Grange Trophy for Commercial Innovation and Creativity

1. Haskins Garden Centre, Snowhill  
2. Ruxley Manor Garden Centre
3. Thompson’s Welling

The GCA represents more than 200 garden centres nationwide.

Through sharing information and its inspection programme the GCA helps members to achieve high standards in customer service, plant quality and reliability.

For further information, please visit www.gca.org.uk.