As the deadline clicked over yesterday, 26th June 2018, for bids in the first round of the sale of 145 Wyevale Garden Centres by Terra Firma, GTN’s Trevor Pfeiffer met with CEO Roger McLaughlan for the first of what we hope will be a series of meetings to keep us all updated during the potentially lengthy sales process.

Understandably Roger was not able to comment on the process right now but a Terra Firma spokesperson said: “We have been delighted by the level of interest we have received in Wyevale Garden Centres. We have received a significant number of offers for all and parts of the business from national, regional and financial operators as well as local entrepreneurs. We will now be considering the offers over the coming weeks.”

What Roger was able to do was to pass on re-assurance that it really is business as usual at Wyevale Garden Centres; “I’m greatly enjoying speaking to and supporting my great team, both here at Syon Park and out in the centres. I was able to spend all of Thursday, Friday and Saturday last week out in stores.”

Roger also stressed that it is business as usual in-terms of forward buying and ordering even as far ahead as for next summers outdoor leisure and plant ranges with his slimmed down senior management and executive team ready and able to make fast retail decisions.

So, the first round bids are in.  All we can do now is wait for the smoke signals from Christies, the sales agents, and Terra Firma, the shareholders, when decisions are made and the second round gets underway.  In the meantime, we wish Roger and his Wyevale team well in their management of the business during the coming months.

If you have a comment about the process or the speculation, please use the comments link below or e-mail trevor.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk

Leader in landscaping innovation Deco-Pak has revealed sales of its New Penny stepping stone has outperformed every other in its range this year.

The new Penny Stepping Stone sold 12,500 units – enough to go around all the pitches at the World Cup - during pre-season, thanks in part to a chance inclusion during a live business segment on BBC breakfast at Glee 2017. 

The product was selected for its classic design, profitability for garden centres and for representing UK manufacturing, produced in Yorkshire where Deco-Pak is based.

Up for a GIMA Award this summer, the stone can be set in the lawn, in gravel or in borders - but its most popular use has been as a garden feature and focal point for garden centre displays.

Available in a light copper colour, each stone is 450mm in diameter and can be ordered in pallets of 40.  Deco-Pak also sell a slightly smaller Half Penny stepping stone which comes in a twilight grey, measuring 300mm in diameter.

Find out more

To browse the full range of Deco-Pak stepping stones visit http://www.deco-pak.co.uk/product-category/stepping-stones/, or to place an order call the sales office on 01422 204394.

Rose Festivals across the country have provided a boost to sales and in the second week of June Roses climbed to No 3 in the GTN Bestsellers plants chart on the back of a 35% increase year on year.

That growth in sales of roses helped deliver another week of plant sales increases, up 21% on the same week last year.  Plant sales volumes are now up by 6% cumulative for the year to date.

Peter Seabrook, who led the call for Rose Festivals to be held in garden centres was seen out at Millbrook Gravesend last week, helping sell some plants while he was there.

Prettiest rose competitions have been held at many centres including Scotsdales in Cambridge.

And at Baytree in Spalding they had over 350 entries for their Rose Queen competition, see our gallery of pictures below...

Visitors to the HTA National Plant Show, sponsored by Hortipak, have voted Rose ‘Timeless Purple’ from Whartons Roses as Best in Show at the New Plant Awards.

The Visitor Vote Award, sponsored by Floramedia, proved extremely popular and with over 100 entries for visitors to choose from, they were once again spoilt for choice.

The rose is intense, floral and has very fragrant blooms, which produce plentiful flowers that are suitable for cutting. Bred and tested for its health, fragrance and suitability to cut for the vase and home flower decorations, it also makes a superb garden plant grown in the border or in large pots and containers.

Full Visitor Vote results were:-

Best in Show and Best Shrub & Climber – Rose ‘Timeless Purple’ from Whartons Roses

Best Annual – Helianthus annuus SUNBELIEVABLE BROWN EYED GIRL Sunbeliv01’ from Thompson & Morgan

Best Herbaceous Perennial – Digitalis Firebird from Farplants

Best Houseplant – Ficus Elastica Melany from Plant Partners

Best Tree & Conifer – Laburnum anagyroides Yellow Rocket® from Frank P Matthews Limited

Visitors also voted for their most inspiring retails stands and concepts at the events.

The winner of the Planting the Seed Award as voted by visitors, via the National Plant Show app and supported by Garden Connect, which highlights stand displays that capture the imagination, provide clear information and attract attention was:

Winner -  Classiflora Zelari

Highly Commended – The Bransford Webbs Plant Company

Commended – Javado UK

Special mentions also went to Oakgate Nursery, John Richards, Wyevale Nurseries, Allensmore Nurseries, David Austin Roses, New Leaf Plants, Taylors Bulbs and Florna Plants.

The Best Plant Concept for Retail award was again voted for by visitors, and the winner of this award was WD Smith for their Scented Geraniums.

The winner of the New Product Showcase in the Nursery Supply Show was the Smart Plant App from Dura-ID Solution Limited.

For further information visit www.nationalplantshow.co.uk or follow us on Twitter @HTANews #HTAPlantShow

Volume sales in garden centres have now closed back to within 2% of last year according to the EPOS data analysis of GTN Bestsellers.  The second week of June saw volumes up by 7%.  That means we've now had 8 weeks out of 9 that have been up year on year since the week after Easter.

With 2 weeks left until the end of the half year it's possible the gap could close to 1% which many garden centre owners will be more than confident can be made up in the second half or the year, particularly with a great Christmas and no snow until after December 25th!

We heard that many companies have used our GTN Bestsellers graphs and charts to reassure senior managers and boards as to the overall trading performance this year.  If you've found them helpful in explaining to people outside the industry or who have never experienced a poor spring before do let us know:  trevor.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk

Insight DIY has reported this week that there are now seven Homebase stores closing in the near future.

The notification of the store closures was emailed to suppliers on June 21st and includes the following branches:-

York
Chippenham
Hatfield.
Colchester, St.Andrews Avenue
Whitchurch
Wick
Splalding

Insight DIY adds that in the communication to suppliers, Homebase confirmed "the list of seven stores have been confirmed for closure in the near future. If suppliers have any outstanding orders for the stores, please contact the store order teams".

Read the full story here: http://www.insightdiy.co.uk/news/seven-homebase-stores-to-close-/6269.htm

Laburnum anagyroides Yellow Rocket® from Frank P Matthews has been crowned this year as Best in Show at the New Plant Awards on the opening morning of the HTA National Plant Show at Stoneleigh Park, Coventry.

Laburnum anagyroides Yellow Rocket® is a fantastic form of the already popular spring flowering Laburnum. It is a columnar growing tree with a very narrow upright habit so perfect for any size of garden and even patios and balconies. The bright sunny yellow pendant flowers adorn the tree in May creating a beautiful sunny effect and perfect for attracting bees and butterflies to the garden. It is also winter hardy and heat resistant.

The New Plant Awards, sponsored by the RHS, are the beating heart of the show and create an area bursting with inspiration for our visitors.

Judging Panel member Sabatino Urzo from RHS comments, “We really were spoilt for choice with this year’s plants with all the category winners really bringing something different to the market. It was a unanimous decision that the Laburnum won overall – perfect for gardens of all sizes with its compact nature and bright yellow flowers.”

The winners are:

Annuals

Gold and Best in Category –  - Helianthus annuus SUNBELIEVABLE BROWN EYED GIRL Sunbeliv01’ from Thompson & Morgan (pictured below)
Gold - Cobbins Nursery Ltd - Helianthus Hybrida Sunfinity®

Silver - Syngenta UK Ltd - Impatiens walleriana Imara
Silver - Thompson & Morgan - Isotoma axillaris FIZZ N’ POP GLOWING PURPLE ‘Tmlu1301’
Silver - Newey - Dahlia Hypnotica Icarus
Silver - Newey - Dahlia XXL Calaya
Silver – Earley Ornamentals Ltd – Pansy Freefall XL Bright Yellow
Silver - Thompson & Morgan - Begonia x tuberhybrida FRAGRANT FALLS ORANGE ‘Tmbg1307’

Bronze - Javado UK - Dianthus – Hilkaylee
Bronze - Newey - Petunia Sweetunia Miss Marvelous

Herbaceous Perennials

Gold and Best in Category – Eryngium Magical Blue Globe from Allensmore Nurseries Ltd

Silver - Allensmore Nurseries Ltd - Eryngium Magical Blue Lagoon
Silver – Farplants - Digitalis 'Firebird'
Silver – Farplants - Gaura lindheimeri ‘Walberton’s Gold Fountain’
Silver – Farplants - Salvia ‘Rockin Deep Purple’
Silver - Seiont Nurseries Ltd - Heuchera Isabella
Silver - Whetman Pinks Ltd - Bridal Star
Silver - Whetman Pinks Ltd - Flutterby
Silver - Kernock Park Plants - Heuchera Primo 'Wild Rose’

Bronze - Lovania Nurseries Ltd - Ligularia Pandora
Bronze - Lovania Nurseries Ltd - Ajuga tenorii Princess Nadia '
Bronze - Seiont Nurseries Ltd - Heuchera Madison Bride
Bronze - Wyevale Nurseries Ltd - Salvia Kisses and Wishes
Bronze - Wyevale Nurseries Ltd - Veronica Pink Passion

Houseplants

Gold and Best in Category – FICUS ELASTICA PETIT MELANY from Plant Partners

Silver - Javado UK - Zantedeschia Frozen Planet
Silver - Profitplant UK & Batchmere Ltd - Hydrangea Macrophylla Campino

Bronze - Javado UK - Cambria
Bronze - Javado UK - Cambria RENAISSANCE® CORAL
Bronze - Javado UK - Heliconia psittacorum Curaçao
Bronze - Javado UK - Chrysanthemum (Indicum Grp) Yin Yang
Bronze - Javado UK - Phalaenopsis Indian Summer 501371
Bronze - Plant Partners - Epipremnum pinnatum ‘Marble Planet’
Bronze - Plant Partners - Phalaenopsis Little Kolibri Orchids Lausanne
Bronze - Profitplant UK & Batchmere Ltd - Begonia Elatior Pigonia

Shrubs and Climbers

Gold and Best in Category - Rose ‘Timeless Purple’from Whartons Roses            

Silver – Farplants - Spiraea japonica 'Walberton’s Plumtastic'
Silver - Hillier Nurseries Ltd - Hydrangea aspera ssp sargentiana 'Gold Rush' (GIEL)
Silver - Lovania Nurseries Ltd - Hydrangea paniculata Polestar
Silver - Lovania Nurseries Ltd - Berberis thunbergii Orange Sunrise
Silver - Seiont Nurseries Ltd - Diervilla splendens Diva
Silver - New Leaf Plants Ltd - Clematic Prince Louis

Bronze - Fairweathers & Darby's Nursery Stock - Lavandula Fairy Wings Blush
Bronze - Plant Partners - Loropetalum chinense Ruby Snow (‘Iwai’PBR) EU 20152503
Bronze - The Bransford Webbs Plant Company, Seiont and Lowaters- Hebe 'Starlight'           
   
Trees and Conifers

Gold and Best in Category –  Laburnum anagyroides Yellow Rocket® from Frank P Matthews Limited

Silver - Frank P Matthews Limited - Apple Eden®                                                    

This year’s judging panel included Ken Cox from Glendoick Garden Centre, Sabatino Urzo from The RHS, Val and Steve Bradley from The Sun Gardening Correspondents with HTA’s Martin Simmons overseeing.

All the entries were validated by Joy of Plants.

In addition to the formal announcement in the New Plant Awards area on the opening morning of the show there was also a seminar session for visitors highlighting the award-winning plants and the benefits that they bring to help bolster plant sales.

All New Plant Award entries can be viewed at the show and visitors too can have their say by taking part in the Visitor Vote Awards, sponsored by Floramedia. The winner of the Visitor Vote Award will be announced on the afternoon of Wednesday 20 June.

Haddonstone, a leading UK manufacturer of fine architectural stonework and garden ornaments, has acquired the Blanc de Bierges brand.

Haddonstone’s experienced team has previously worked with Blanc de Bierges to create high quality cast stonework for homes, gardens and landscapes. Haddonstone will continue to provide a dedicated design and manufacture service for the Blanc de Bierges brand.

For over 40 years, Blanc de Bierges has been synonymous with the highest standards of cast stonework.

The Blanc de Bierges story began when a husband and wife team entered a competition to redesign the centre of their town Bierges in Belgium. They won, and with that Blanc de Bierges was born.

Since then, Blanc de Bierges has become an established name in the industry, both in the UK and internationally. Blanc de Bierges’s innovative paving sets have been used across the world, from the British Embassy in Doha, Qatar to Georgian farmhouses in the English countryside.

Joshua Stone from Pershore College has been presented with Wyevale Nurseries’ Peter Williamson Travel Award.

The 19-year-old, who has just finished in his first year of a Level 3 Extended Diploma in Horticulture, scooped the accolade after impressing the judges with a written submission and an interview.

Steve Ashworth, Director at Wyevale Nurseries in Hereford, explained: “We would like to say a huge congratulations to Joshua on winning this prestigious award. We designed it to encourage a student towards a career in nursery stock production by assisting with a practical placement at a nursery in the Netherlands.

“Joshua was chosen as the winner due to his spirit of adventure, his application to study and participate in extra-curricular activities at college, and his belief that we all have to step outside our comfort zones to gain anything. As an aspiring landscape architect, Josh hopes to progress on to the Landscape Design degree course at the University of Gloucester.

“The Peter Williamson Travel Award was started in memory of Wyevale Nurseries former owner and chairman, Peter Williamson, who passed away in 2011.

“Annually the award is presented to a student at Pershore College in Worcestershire, which was Peter’s own seat of learning in the 1960s. The award subsidises and organises for the successful applicant to do a period of work in the Netherlands during the college summer vacation, as Peter also did more than 40 years ago.”

Joshua will spend six weeks with Menkehorst Nurseries in Hengelo, Netherlands, starting on July 17. Wyevale Nurseries also presented Joshua with £500 to help pay for his travel costs.

Joshua said: “I feel honoured to receive this award and I am very excited about the opportunities it will provide.

“As this will be different from what I’ve done before, I’m sure the skills I learn from this placement will have a lasting impact on my career. I hope to be a good representative for Wyevale Nurseries and to create a good business connection between the two nurseries.”

With the annual GIMA Awards just weeks away, final preparations are now underway. This year Glee – the leading trade exhibition for the garden retail sector – has been confirmed as the headline sponsor for what is set to be another exciting evening celebrating the best the industry has to offer.
 
Matthew Mein, Glee Event Director said: “We’re so pleased to confirm our sponsorship of the 2018 GIMA Awards. Celebrating the amazing innovation, dedication and teamwork that make the garden retail industry one of the most varied and exciting markets there is, is a huge part of what Glee stands for, so it was an easy decision to align ourselves with such an event.”
 
The gala dinner is also being sponsored by a number of other garden industry companies, including Bord na Mona who has generously agreed to sponsor the table drinks during the awards ceremony. 

Before guests arrive at their tables they will be treated to a pre-dinner drinks reception, supported by both Gardman and Smart Garden.

Diners will sit at beautifully decorated tables by Kelkay and La Hacienda, and enjoy the Glee sponsored main event consisting of a three-course meal, entertainment and the awards themselves. 

Some categories have individual sponsors – the GCA has sponsored the Supplier of the Year Award, the HTA has sponsored the Plants Seeds and Bulbs Category, and Gardenex will once again sponsor the Export Achievement Award. 

Award winners will receive champagne delivered to their tables by Hornby Whitefoot PR, and those that didn’t win will still get the chance to enter a grand raffle provided for by More People.  The marketing for the event is sponsored by CM Ventures.
 
Garden Centre Update, Garden Trade News, Gardenforum and Garden Radio are all confirmed as media partners of the 2018 event.

GIMA director, Vicky Nuttall, said: “As always our thanks go to all our sponsors for their continued support. The event is nothing without your support, and I know that the attendees at this year’s event – 12th July, Celtic Manor – will greatly appreciate the effort of all sponsors that will go a long way to creating another incredible night of celebration and networking.”
 
To find out more about how to book one of the few remaining seats at the GIMA awards 2018 please visit http://gima.org.uk/gima-awards/. Why not also join in the conversation on Twitter by using the hashtag #GIMAAwards18.

Malcolm Scott Consultants has successfully slashed a London garden centre’s Community Infrastructure Levy by £83,000 in a landmark appeal for the sector.

Acting on behalf of a garden centre on the outskirts of London, the business appealed against a £96,000 CIL liability equating to £315 per sq m, a charge calculated based on high street rental value.

Chris Primett of MSC said: “Ever since the Community Infrastructure Levy was introduced in 2010, it has caused concerns to many garden centre owners looking to implement their planning consents.

“This tax is levied on certain types of approved new development, including retail development, and the general belief has been that the charge is a ‘fait accompli’ in that the rate applied cannot be challenged.”

The rate originally applied by the Planning Authority to the client’s approved development amounted to £315/m², including the Mayor of London’s charge, resulting in a CIL liability of £96,000.

Chris, who was tasked with submitting an Economic Viability Assessment on the centre’s behalf explained: “A high street retailer such as Tesco might not blink at such a charge, but with the planning conditions imposed by the Planning Authority on what the centre could sell meant that it simply wasn’t reflective of the centre’s rental value.”

MSC’s assessment demonstrated that the charge had been calculated based upon unrestricted A1 use high street and shopping centre rental values per sq metre, which were up to 12 times higher than the garden centre’s rental value.

Having negotiated with the Council, it was agreed that the retail restrictions had reduced the rental value of the centre in question and the appeal was accepted, with the rate being dropped to £45/m², resulting in a saving of £83,000.

Chris said that while he was delighted with the result, centres seeking to replicate the appeal should give careful consideration to the key restrictions that led to its success.

“We were extremely pleased with the outcome of this appeal – such high charges can present significant financial difficulties for garden centres, but it is worth noting that those sites with an unrestricted A1 use it will find it much more difficult to challenge the CIL rate.

“CIL regulations do allow relief on a very limited range of development proposals but it is down to each individual Council to set their own rules on such relief. Over a period of several years the CIL paid may even out against the enhanced sales achieved from a wider range of non-garden related products, but owners face the dilemma of continuing to sell a typical range of garden centre goods or accepting a higher development tax should they choose to expand their shop space.

“My advice to anyone wanting to challenge a CIL Liability Notice would be to lodge an appeal as soon as it is received and focus on the Economic Assessment case, but this success story does show that those centres with sales restrictions in place have a starting point,” he added.

With the continued good weather, don’t let your stocks run too low, by re-ordering your favourite products from Bathgate Horticulture.

We provide an extensive range of quality products for professional growers, landscapers, garden retailers and dedicated horticultural enthusiasts.

Whatever your requirements, you can be assured that we only use the finest ingredients combined with the latest technology, to produce consistent, high quality products every time.

Deliveries can be made nationwide, from a single pallet to a full load. All Bathgate horticultural retail products are attractively packaged in conveniently sized, recyclable bags.

Sales volumes dropped off as we moved into June but it was a much better start to the month than last year.  Compared to 2017, week 23 saw volumes up by 32%, driven mainly by plant sales and growing media.

If gardeners keep being active, then there is still time to get sales back closer to parity by the half year.  In a year of such dismal retail news from the ‘high street’, sales performances for garden centres close to static year on year are testament to the strength of our entrepreneurship and unique offerings.

Fleet of foot decision making by management teams who are very close to the business will have been the reason garden centres will have made more of May and early June trading than big groups, DIY and supermarkets who because of their size are slower to react to market changes. We will be watching their trading statements over the coming weeks.

GTN Bestsellers Top 50 sales volumes compared to the same week last year (week 23)
Garden Products - up 32%
Growing Media - up 54%
Veg-2-Gro - down 7%
Wild Bird Care - down 7%
All Plants Index - up 51%
All Items Index - up 32%

To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk

Smart Garden Products Ltd have been included in London Stock Exchange Group’s “1000 Companies to Inspire Britain” report.

The report is a celebration of the UK’s fastest-growing and most dynamic small and medium sized businesses across the UK.

To be included in the list, companies needed to show consistent revenue growth over a minimum of three years, significantly outperforming their industry peers. More detail on the methodology can be found in the report online at www.1000companies.com.   

“We’re both flattered and delighted to be included in such a prestigious report” stated Jonathan Stobart, Managing Director of Smart Garden Products.

“The business has grown fourfold in as many years, and we are focussed on trying to double the business in size again over the next 3-5 years.”

Nikhil Rathi, CEO, London Stock Exchange Plc said: “We warmly congratulate all of the companies identified in this year’s ‘1000 Companies to Inspire Britain’ report. Five years on, the report continues to demonstrate the strength and diversity of British businesses across the country.

"These dynamic companies are the backbone of our economy, playing an important role in the UK’s ability to innovate, export and grow.

"This report is a significant part of London Stock Exchange Group’s broader campaign to support UK high growth companies. We are committed to championing British businesses and Britain’s dynamic entrepreneurial spirit.”

To find out more about Smart Garden’s market leading product offering please visit www.sgpuk.com

Legal action against the owner of a garden centre near Wargrave who lost a long-running planning dispute has been dropped after a judge ruled that it was unfair.

Rob Scott and the owners of seven businesses formerly based at the Hare Hatch Sheeplands were due to face trial at Reading Crown Court after pleading not guilty to charges of breaching enforcement notices in May.

But this will no longer go ahead after a hearing on Wednesday ruled the action was based on misleading information provided to Mr Scott during his decision to withdraw a planning appeal in 2014.

A full report can be read on the Henley Standard website, click here to view

Every week GTN receives and analyses epos data from a number of UK garden centres to produce the GTN Bestsellers charts and weekly bestsellers sales tips.

The full charts which provide useful insight into product sales peaks, new trends and new link sales opportunities are published in the weekly GTN Xtra newsletter.

As the year goes on we give sales volume comparisons with 2016 as well as 2017 to allow your teams to see variations over a three year period.

Access is by subscription only.  For £145.00 per year you and your team can have access to the most up-to-date gardening sales analysis that has already helped many UK garden centres increase their sales.  To subscribe call 01733 775700, e-mail karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk or buy on-line using this link.

Highlights of the GTN Garden Products Bestsellers chart for this week are here

Highlights of the GTN Garden Plants Bestsellers chart for this week are here

Highlights of the GTN Growing Media Bestsellers chart for this week are here

Highlights of the GTN Veg-2-Gro chart for this week are here

Highlights of the GTN Wild Bird Care chart for this week are here

WARNING the GTN Bestsellers Charts seriously improve the business of our subscribers.  Invest 15 minutes each week in improving your sales using the GTN Bestsellers charts and your turnover and customer satisfaction will improve too.

Get the GTN Bestsellers charts in full every week in the GTN Bestsellers newsletters for only £145.00.

GTN Bestsellers is the only industry source of weekly garden centre sales information, collating Epos data from centres with an aggregate turnover in excess of £120m.

Use the weekly Garden Products and Growing Media Top 50 sales volumes charts to plan your hotspot and other promotions and ensure you have the right products in stock to satisfy the needs of your customers.

For further information contact karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk or call 01733 775700.

Buy your subscription today and start receiveing the GTN Bestsellers charts this week.

The £1 million botanical-style restaurant at a Dorset garden centre has been unveiled.
 
Malcolm Scott Consultants prepared detailed plans for the structure at Groves Garden Centre in Bridport, ensuring that it boasted an eye-catching design while remaining in-keeping with the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty it is located in.

The restaurant, constructed by Smiemens Projecten of Holland according to detailed drawings prepared by MSC’s architectural technologist Alexandra Ginés Heiwegen, has now opened its doors to customers.

Malcolm Scott Consultants gained permission for the 176-cover facility and other site developments and had a number of specific considerations to overcome in preparing the concept designs.

Chris Primet, of MSC, said: “Groves Garden Centre is located within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, so we had to ensure – and reassure planning officers – that our proposed structure wouldn’t have a negative impact on that.

“There were also strict height guidelines in place - the Environment Agency had instructed the centre to raise the internal floor level of its coffee shop to a minimum of 4.3m AOD above the existing ground level – meaning that our final design was going to be tall in order to fulfil those requirements.

“In other words, it had to be both eye-catching and sympathetic to its surroundings,” he explained.

The finished designs were created to catch the eyes of the thousands of drivers and passengers travelling along the A35  - located just 10 metres away - and will utilise curved glass panes to complement and reflect the surrounding area.

The building is positioned to curve away from the A35 rather than presenting a vertical elevation, a concept MSC had used at a previous centre, enabling the team to demonstrate how effective the end result would be to officers.

“We felt that a curved glasshouse would convey a horticultural message, both in the way the surrounding tees are reflected in the glazing, and by way of the fact that diners can see through it to the landscape beyond,” Chris added.

Charlie Groves, of Groves Garden Centre, said: “We have had a fantastic response from customers.  Along with everyone else we have had a record breaking May and the boost in restaurant sales has been the icing on the cake!

“The design and positioning of the restaurant has been the standout triumph of the project and the light airy space combined with the wonderful outdoor seating has meant we have been able to make the most of the great early summer weather.

“We have already had business breakfast meetings and children’s workshops during half term.  We also have a couple of wedding receptions booked in and some more evening parties in the future.  None of these were advertised for; they are all due to the unique design of the building, led by Alex and Chris, making it stand out from the rest of the town,” he said.