Fourth generation family garden lifestyle business Hillmount is expanding in early 2025, adding a fifth garden centre to its portfolio with a £1.5m investment and the creation of 10 jobs.

Hillmount Carrick will join four other garden centres which are already owned and operated by the Mercer family in Ards, Bangor, Belfast and Cheshire.

As well as creating 10 jobs, the £1.5m investment will enable the installation of a new 60 seater café and extended plant area on the existing site of Sunnybank which has been in the Hardy family for 58 years.

Speaking about the expansion, Robin Mercer BEM, Managing Director of Hillmount, said: “We are really looking forward to bringing the Hillmount garden lifestyle brand to Carrick. Our family has been serving the local community in East Belfast since 1940 and more recently in Ards, Bangor and Cheshire. This latest opportunity to open in Mid and East Antrim marks an exciting new chapter in the ambitious longer term expansion plans for our family business.

“The addition of a new Gardener’s Rest Café will offer visitors to Hillmount Carrick with a relaxing space to enjoy a coffee after exploring the newly extended plant area.

“Opening Hillmount Carrick is testament to the hard work and vision of our family over four generations. We are incredibly proud of what has been achieved. It also reflects our continued commitment to excellence and dedication in serving gardening enthusiasts across Northern Ireland and beyond.”

It is anticipated that Hillmount Carrick will be open and ready to welcome customers both old and new by spring 2025, solidifying Hillmount’s position as a trusted name in horticulture and garden retail. Robin added: “We would like to put on record our thanks to the Hardy family who have made the transition of their much loved garden centre as seamless as possible. We wish them well in their retirement.”

For more information, visit www.hillmount.co.uk

See GTN Xtra's pics of the centre just prior to the acquisition in december below...