Barton Grange, Preston, were multiple winners when the Annual Inspection Awards were presented at the GCA winter conference at Blackpool on Monday. Poplars Garden Centre also picked up two awards.

The award ceremonies took place at the conference at the Hilton Blackpool Hotel where Will Armitage, Chairman of the GCA, said: “I would like to congratulate all of the winners of the awards.

"It is great to see so many people who are passionate about what they do and where they work and it is down to them that their garden centres have come out on top.”

Iain Wylie, Chief Executive of the GCA, added: “Congratulations to everyone who picked up a prize during the conference, you are all very worthy winners and have worked extremely hard during the past year.”

The full list of winners to be announced were:

•  Ruxley Rose (Garden Centre category) – Cowell’s Garden Centre

• Ruxley Rose (Destination Garden Centre category) – Van Hage Great Amwell

• Barton Grange Trophy for creativity and innovation – Bents Garden & Home

•  Customer Service Award – Barton Grange, Preston

• Indoor Lifestyle Award (Garden Centre category) – Fairways Garden Centre, Ashbourne

• Indoor Lifestyle Award (Destination Garden Centre category) – Poplars Garden Centre

• GIMA Award for Excellence in Garden Product Retailing (Garden Centre category) – Planters Garden Centre, Tamworth

• GIMA Award for Excellence in Garden Product Retailing (Destination Garden Centre category and overall winner) – Barton Grange, Preston

• Dick Allen Award (Most Improved Centre) – Newbridge Garden Centre 

• IFSE Award for Catering Excellence – Best Restaurant (Garden Centre Category) Poundbury Gardens

• IFSE Award for Catering Excellence – Best Restaurant (Destination Garden Centre Category) Chessington Garden Centre

• IFSE Award for Catering Excellence – Best Restaurant (Destination Garden Centre Category) Ruxley Manor Garden Centre

• Weber Outdoor Living – Best Outdoor Living Retailer (Garden Centre Category) Squires Garden Centre, Hersham

• Weber Outdoor Living – Best Outdoor Living Retailer (Destination Garden Centre Category) Poplars Garden Centre

• Environment and Community Award: Barton Grange, Preston

Earlier in the day the four GCA judges (pictured above)  – Ian Boardman, Andy Campbell, Roger Crookes and Liz Hutson – showed examples of the best ideas they saw during their trips to garden centres.