Five weeks of cleaning, clearing, re-flooring, creating a new restaurant atmosphere, moving the exit and tills, recruiting extra staff, plus almost £2m of stock have seen the re-energised Woodlands Garden Centre trade for two weeks now at amazing levels.

Gates owner, Nigel Gates, told GTN Xtra at the weekend: “The business of the centre amazes me already with days takings getting very close to days back at Cold Overton.”

“Moving the tills and exit so that people have to walk through the food hall has resulted in many more food hall sales than we expected.”

Garden centre team members have received many positive comments from customers regarding dogs not being allowed in the centre a decision that has caused a social media storm in the area.  Judging by the number of people eating in the restaurant (which is now cook to order) and shopping on Saturday afternoon, the decision appears to have been well received by the majority of customers.

See GTN Xtra’s photo tour of the centre below