The Garden Centre Association has revealed its winners for the North East and North West regions. Cowell’s was named Best Garden Centre and Armitage’s Pennine Garden Centre Best Destination Garden Centre in the North East. Burleydam scooped Best Garden Centre and Barton Grange Best Destination Garden Centre in the North West...

Iain Wylie, Chief Executive of the GCA, said: “We are delighted to have announced our winners for these two regions last night and would like to congratulate all our members who picked up awards. It is a reflection of all their hard work and dedication to excellence, and they should all be very proud of their achievements. Thank you also to the Harlow Carr team for your hospitality and to Langlands Garden for providing a barbecue after the awards presentation, it was greatly appreciated.

“The awards included Best Customer Service, which in the North East went to Armitage’s Pennine Garden Centre and in the North West to Barton Grange Garden Centre, and Best Garden Products Retailer, which in the North East went to Cowell’s Garden Centre in the Garden Centre (GC) category and Langlands Garden Centre – Shiptonthorpe in the Destination Garden Centre (DGC) category. 

“In the North West region these titles were awarded to the Klondyke Group – Lady Green Garden Centre and Barton Grange respectively. The Best Environment and Community award went to Barton Grange Garden Centre in the North West and Harlow Carr Plant Centre and Gift Shop in the North East, and the team at the RHS site also took the award for the Most Improved centre.

“There were lots of other awards presented on the night by our inspector, Liz Hutson, who attended the ceremony, and it was an inspiring and motivational event for everyone involved.”

The full results for the North East and North West regions GCA area awards are as follows for the GC and DGC categories:

North East

Best Garden Centre: Cowell’s Garden Centre (GC) and Armitage’s Pennine Garden Centre (DGC)

Best Customer Service: Armitage’s Pennine Garden Centre

Best Environment and Community: Harlow Carr Plant Centre and Gift Shop

Best Creativity and Innovation: Cowell’s Garden Centre

Most Improved: Harlow Carr Plant Centre and Gift Shop

Best Plant Area: Cowell’s Garden Centre (GC) and Armitage’s Pennine Garden Centre (DGC)

Best Restaurant: Armitage’s Birchencliffe Garden Centre (GC) and Armitage’s Pennine Garden Centre (DGC)

Garden Products Retailer: Cowell’s Garden Centre (GC) and Langlands Garden Centre – Shiptonthorpe (DGC)

Best Indoor Lifestyle: Harlow Carr Plant Centre and Gift Shop (GC) and Armitage’s Pennine Garden Centre (DGC)

Best Outdoor Living: The Klondyke Group – Beverley Garden Centre (GC) and Armitage’s Pennine Garden Centre (DGC)

North West

Best Garden Centre: Burleydam Garden Centre (GC) and Barton Grange Garden Centre (DGC)

Best Customer Service: Barton Grange Garden Centre

Best Environment and Community: Barton Grange Garden Centre

Best Creativity and Innovation: Barton Grange Garden Centre

Most Improved: Bridgemere Garden World

Best Plant Area: All-in-One Garden Centre (GC) and Bents Garden & Home (DGC)

Best Restaurant: Fron Goch Garden Centreand Bents Garden & Home (DGC)

Garden Products Retailer: Klondyke Group – Lady Green Garden Centre (GC) and Barton Grange Garden Centre (DGC)

Best Indoor Lifestyle: Fairways Garden Centre – Macclesfield (GC) and Barton Grange Garden Centre (DGC)

Best Outdoor Living: Moreton Park Garden Centre (GC) and Klondyke Group – Houghton Hall Garden Centre (DGC)