Bonnetts Garden Village at Brentwood, Essex – the first bricks-and-mortar garden centre from the owner of online retailer Gardening Express – was due to open its main store this week-end (11 November). Chris Bonnett has been selling plants from the site of the former Tomlins Garden Centre since late May.
Bonnett says he chose to call it a Garden Village to be different to other garden centres and to create a local hub with links to nearby businesses either as concessions or pop-up stores.
This latest phase includes a Scandinavian-themed Christmas display and a pop-up restaurant.
Subject to planning permission, the third phase scheduled for opening in late spring and will add another 25,000 sq ft, including a full restaurant offering and a bigger store with more departments and brands, plus space for local concessions.