The over-50s clothing retailer Bonmarché is to open in garden centres as part of its expansion plans which could eventually lead to the company floating on the stock market.

The womenswear retailer, which sells plus-sizes, has agreed a tie-up with The Garden Centre Group that will see the company opening new clothing stores.

The first store will open this Friday at Bicester Avenue Garden Centre in Oxfordshire, with Bonmarché planning to open up to three or four branches based in other garden centres over the next few months as a trial.

The deal is the latest example of retailers agreeing to share space in an attempt to attract shoppers. Tesco has installed Harris + Hoole coffee shops into some of its stores, while B&Q, the DIY chain, has sub-let space to supermarkets.

Bonmarché, which is owned by investment group Sun European Partners, believes that it can take advantage of the mature consumer base of garden centres.

Beth Butterwick, managing director at Bonmarché, said: “Gardening is one of the biggest leisurely pursuits within the plus 45-year-old age group so for us this is an ideal partnership.

“Increasingly, people are visiting garden centres as destinations in which to browse, eat and spend leisure time. We believe there is further scope for similar partnerships like this one in future.”