The Garden Centre Association’s North region members met on Tuesday at Strikes Stokesley Garden Centre for their Area Award presentations.

Destination Garden Centre of the Year, (DGC) was presented to Barton Grange (above), the Garden Centre (GC) award went to Fron Goch Garden Centre (below) and Local Garden Centre (LGC) to Klondyke Garden Centre, Burnside.

Peter Burks, GCA CEO said: “Our North area awards meeting was a triumph! Thank you to all our members who joined us for the event and who brought along their teams too. It was wonderful to see everyone. More than 50 people came along to hear what our Inspector Gordon Emslie had to say and to take on board all his feedback, as well as to celebrate the area’s award wins.

“Well done to all those centres who scooped awards this year. We’re indebted to the team at Strikes Stokesley Garden Centre for hosting us and to Gordon for visiting the centres and presenting his findings in such a great way. It was great to see so many people taking notes to report back to their centres too.”

Gordon made unannounced visits to member garden centres in the North area across a 12-week period.

He said: “Yet another season where GCA member garden centres have excelled in their delivery of operational standards and customer service. I have again witnessed some outstanding levels of merchandising consistency, which in my view is not seen in other areas of retailing at present.

“This was demonstrated with 50% of centres visited this year achieving the ‘highly commended’ award for scoring 75% or more. Despite all the economic challenges and inconsistency with the weather, the industry yet again showcases what it does best by setting outstanding standards for customers.

“Every centre should be very proud of what it has achieved. I’d encourage members to embrace the inspection process fully moving forward, then they can look ahead and drive their businesses on in a positive manner.”

The full results, including runners up, where relevant, for the North region GCA area awards are as follows for the DGC, GC and LGC categories:

Garden Centre of the Year:

 DCG

1. Barton Grange Garden Centre
2. Bents Garden and Home
3. Gordale Garden Centre

GC

1. Fron Goch Garden Centre
2. Klondyke Garden Centre, Mortonhall
3. Cowell’s Garden Centre

LGC

1. Klondyke Garden Centre, Burnside (above)
2. Klondyke Garden Centre, Howdens
3. Klondyke Garden Centre, Livingston

 The Barton Grange Trophy for Commercial Innovation and Creativity:

1. Bents Garden and Home
2. Barton Grange Garden Centre
3. Simpsons Garden Centre

The Dick Allen Award for Most Improved Centre:

• Fairways Garden Centre, Macclesfield

Customer Service Award for Best Customer Service:

1. Barton Grange Garden Centre
2. Fron Goch Garden Centre
3. Gordale Garden Centre

The Paul Cooling Award for Environment and Sustainability:

1. Fron Goch Garden Centre
2. Bents Garden and Home
3. Barton Grange Garden Centre

The GIMA Award for Best Garden Products Retailer: 

DGC

1. Barton Grange Garden Centre
2. Bents Garden and Home
3. Gordale Garden Centre

GC

1. Klondyke Garden Centre, Mortonhall
2. Simpsons Garden Centre
3. Klondyke Garden Centre, Polmont

LGC

1. Fairways Garden Centre, Macclesfield
2. Klondyke Garden Centre, Burnside
3. Klondyke Garden Centre, Howdens

 The Award for Catering Excellence for Best Garden Centre Restaurant:

DGC

1. Bents Garden and Home
2. Gordale Garden Centre
3. Barton Grange Garden Centre

GC

1. Fron Goch Garden Centre
2. Bellis Brothers Farm Shop & Garden Centre
3. Notcutts Woodford Park Garden Centre 

LGC

1. Klondyke Garden Centre, Howdens
2. Thirsk Garden Centre, British Garden Centres, Bolton, Woodworks Garden Centre & Café & RHS Bridgewater – JOINT RUNNERS UP
3. Creative Gardens Bushmills

Outdoor Living Award for Best Outdoor Living Retailer:

DGC

1. Bents Garden and Home
2. Gordale Garden Centre/Hayes Garden Centre – JOINT RUNNERS UP
3. Barton Grange Garden Cent

GC

1. Fron Goch Garden Centre
2. Klondyke Garden Centre, Stokesley
3. Notcutts Woodford Park Garden Centre

LGC

1. Klondyke Garden Centre, Burnside/Fairways Garden Centre, Macclesfield/ Woodworks Garden Centre & Café – JOINT WINNERS

Indoor Lifestyle Award for Best Indoor Lifestyle Retailer:

DGC

1. Bents Garden and Home
2. Barton Grange Garden Centre
3. Gordale Garden Centre

GC

1. Fron Goch Garden Centre
2. Simpsons Garden Centre
3. Klondyke Garden Centre, Mortonhall

LGC

1. RHS Bridgewater Plant Centre and Shop/Klondyke Garden Centre, Beverley – JOINT WINNERS
2. Klondyke Garden Centre, Howdens
3. Klondyke Garden Centre, Livingston

Ian Boardman Award for Best Indoor Plants Retailer

DGC

1. Bents Garden and Home
2. Hayes Garden Centre
3. Gordale Garden Centre

GC

1. Cowells Garden Centre
2. Klondyke Garden Centre, Mortonhall
3. Notcutts Woodford Park Garden Centre

LGC

1. RHS Bridgewater Plant Centre and Shop/Klondyke Garden Centre, Burnside/Klondyke Garden Centre, Weaver Vale – JOINT WINNERS
2. Klondyke Garden Centre, Howdens
3. Klondyke Garden Centre, Beverley/Harrogate/Fairways Garden Centre, Macclesfield – JOINT RUNNERS UP

Plantaria (Ruxley Rose): 

DGC

1. Barton Grange Garden Centre
2. Bents Garden and Home
3. Gordale Garden Centre

GC

1. Cowell’s Garden Centre
2. Klondyke Garden Centre, Mortonhall
3. Klondyke Garden Centre, Polmont

LGC

1. Klondyke Garden Centre, Livingston
2. Klondyke Garden Centre, Burnside
3. Klondyke Garden Centre, Weaver Vale

Food Hall/Farm Shop Award

DGC

1. Bents Garden and Home/Barton Grange Garden Centre – JOINT WINNERS
2. Tong Garden Centre
3. Gordale Garden Centre

GC

1. Bellis Brothers Farm Shop & Garden Centre
2. Klondyke Garden Centre, Mortonhall
3. Simpsons Garden Centre

LGC – please note, there are only two garden centres in this category

1. Klondyke Garden Centre, Beverley
2. Dunbar Garden Centre