Above: (From left) Marcin Schmitt, Kirsty Goble and Julian Winfield enjoy the birthday cake with customers Norman and Audrey Saunders.

Haskins Garden Centre at Roundstone near Worthing celebrated the first anniversary of the opening of the £12 million new centre and restaurant by handing out birthday cake to regular customers.

Serving up the confection, specially made in the Roundstone kitchen, were chief executive Julian Winfield, general manager Kirsty Goble and sous chef Marcin Schmitt. They said that most people were astonished that a year had gone by since local MP Nick Herbert officially opened the centre.

“Fortunately, and despite the best efforts of the economic and environmental climate, the new centre has lived up to the expectations of our customers and our turnover is double that of the original Roundstone garden centre,” Julian said.  “We are delighted that the new centre has been accepted as a vast improvement and is now enjoyed by thousands of visitors each week.”

The recent opening of a Hobbycraft store and other concessions following a £1 million redevelopment of horticultural buildings adjacent to the centre has substantially lifted footfall, making the provision of a 500-space car park a good call.