Alan Roper welcomed staff and suppliers to an evening event on Monday at Bicester Avenue Garden Centre to celebrate the completion of the refurbishment from a Wyevale Garden Centre that they bought last summer to a Blue Diamond Centre that is ready and raring for Easter 2019.
"Welcome to Bicester. The new Bicester. The best manifestation of Bicester in its history since it was built, I think you'll agree. We've been refurbishing many of the ex-Wyevales: Cadbury has been going through some refurbishment, Nailsworth, my old centre has been completely finished and Endsleigh in Devon is being done currently. It's about to start at Weybridge with a new restaurant and at Melbicks. We're working on all the ex Wyevales to get them to a standard.
"Their level of turnover when we bought them was around £38 million. When all the work's complete over the next two to three years they will be around £82 million. That's the uplift that we're looking for. Currently they are 50% up on themselves in terms of turnover and they're heading on the right path.
"Both the staff here and the customers have been really positive about the changes that we're bringing into the centres.
"It's a big pressure on my team. They're looking exhausted. It's been a lot of work for all of them for all the centres. I was here two weeks ago, this is the first day I've been back and the work they've put in the last two weeks is phenomenal.
"We've got Jazz Edwards as the manager of Bicester and she's been ably supported by Nick Jones who's been working long hours and keeping the team here together. I'd like to thank Nick for everything that he's been doing here. We have Max who has been working on the shop fit along with Helen Taylor, who's been with me for 20 years, and Adam has been working with me on the design.
"There's a lot of the team are here tonight and they've done a great job. It's a good looking centre.
"The next phase here is at the end of April when we're building an Atrium that will link the main building with the next building along the Avenue. We'll be taking the wall down between the restaurant and the Atrium and that will become an extension to the restaurant with trees and a nice seating area. Then in the building next door to the Atrium we're putting in a gin distillery where we'll be making our own gin for sale across all the centres.
"We've also developed a new concept cafe called Kipling. As you can see from the prose on the wall Kipling wrote about making a cake a couple hundred years ago which is where the connection with Kipling and cakes came from. You can also see my new concept for a sweet shop. We're going to get some rock made with people's names through the middle so you can choose your name.
"From tomorrow we'll be launching on social media and shouting about Bicester. Thank you for coming this evening. You are our partners. You're very important to us. I'm glad so many of you turned out and we look forward to doing plenty of business with you through Bicester and the other centres of which we have some more coming up in the pipeline. So, thank you all and enjoy the evening. Thank you."
See GTN Xtra's photo tour of the refurbished centre below
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN001.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN002.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN294.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN003.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN296.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN295.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN005.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN006.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN007.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN297.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN008.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN009.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN010.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN011.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN012.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN013.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN014.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN015.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN016.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN017.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN018.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN019.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN020.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN021.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN022.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN023.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN024.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN025.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN026.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN027.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN028.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN029.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN030.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN031.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN032.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN033.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN034.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN035.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN036.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN037.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN038.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN039.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN040.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN041.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN042.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN043.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN044.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN045.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN046.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN047.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN048.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN049.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN050.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN051.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN052.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN053.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN054.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN055.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN056.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN057.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN058.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN059.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN060.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN061.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN062.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN063.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN064.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN065.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN066.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN067.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN068.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN069.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN070.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN071.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN072.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN073.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN074.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN075.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN076.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN077.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN078.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN079.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN080.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN081.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN082.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN083.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN084.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN085.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN086.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN087.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN088.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN089.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN090.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN091.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN092.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN093.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN094.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN095.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN096.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN097.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN098.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN099.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN100.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN101.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN102.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN103.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN104.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN105.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN106.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN108.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN112.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN113.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN114.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN115.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN116.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN117.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN118.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN119.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN120.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN121.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN122.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN123.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN124.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN125.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN126.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN127.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN128.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN129.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN130.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN131.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN132.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN133.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN134.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN135.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN136.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN137.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN138.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN139.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN140.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN141.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN142.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN143.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN144.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN145.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN146.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN147.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN148.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN149.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN150.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN151.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN152.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN153.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN154.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN155.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN156.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN157.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN158.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN159.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN160.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN161.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN162.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN163.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN164.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN165.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN166.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN167.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN168.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN169.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN170.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN171.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN172.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN173.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN175.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN176.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN177.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN178.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN179.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN181.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN182.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN183.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN198.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN225.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN226.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN227.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN228.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN229.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN230.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN231.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN232.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN233.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN234.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN235.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN236.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN237.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN238.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN239.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN240.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN241.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN242.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN243.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN244.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN245.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN246.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN247.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN248.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN249.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN250.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN251.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN252.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN253.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN254.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN255.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN256.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN257.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN258.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN259.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN260.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN261.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN262.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN263.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN264.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN265.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN266.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN267.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN268.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN269.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN270.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN271.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN272.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN273.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN274.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN275.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN276.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN277.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN278.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN279.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN280.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN281.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN282.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN283.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN284.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN285.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN286.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN287.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN288.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN289.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN290.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN291.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN298.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN299.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN300.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN301.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN302.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN303.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN304.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN305.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN306.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN307.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN184.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN185.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN186.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN187.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN188.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN189.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN190.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN191.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN192.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN193.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN194.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN195.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN196.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN197.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN200.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN203.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN214.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN215.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN216.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN217.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN218.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN219.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN222.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN223.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN224.jpg
<
>
Blue Diamond Bicester Avenue 150419_GTN292.jpg