THE GARDEN Centre Association’s (GCA) North region members met yesterday afternoon at Strikes Stokesley Garden Centre for their Area Award presentations (Tuesday, July 16, 2024).
Destination Garden Centre of the Year, (DGC) was presented to Barton Grange, the Garden Centre (GC) award went to Fron Goch Garden Centre 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
Barton Grange Garden Centre
Bents Garden and Home
Gordale Garden Centre
GC
Fron Goch Garden Centre
Klondyke Garden Centre, Mortonhall
Cowell’s Garden Centre
LGC
Klondyke Garden Centre, Burnside
Klondyke Garden Centre, Howdens
Klondyke Garden Centre, Livingston
The Barton Grange Trophy for Commercial Innovation and Creativity:
Bents Garden and Home
Barton Grange Garden Centre
Simpsons Garden Centre
The Dick Allen Award for Most Improved Centre:
Fairways Garden Centre, Macclesfield
Customer Service Award for Best Customer Service:
Barton Grange Garden Centre
Fron Goch Garden Centre
Gordale Garden Centre
The Paul Cooling Award for Environment and Sustainability:
Fron Goch Garden Centre
Bents Garden and Home
Barton Grange Garden Centre
The GIMA Award for Best Garden Products Retailer:
DGC
Barton Grange Garden Centre
Bents Garden and Home
Gordale Garden Centre
GC
Klondyke Garden Centre, Mortonhall
Simpsons Garden Centre
Klondyke Garden Centre, Polmont
LGC
Fairways Garden Centre, Macclesfield
Klondyke Garden Centre, Burnside
Klondyke Garden Centre, Howdens
The Award for Catering Excellence for Best Garden Centre Restaurant:
DGC
Bents Garden and Home
Gordale Garden Centre
Barton Grange Garden Centre
GC
Fron Goch Garden Centre
Bellis Brothers Farm Shop & Garden Centre
Notcutts Woodford Park Garden Centre
LGC
Klondyke Garden Centre, Howdens
Thirsk Garden Centre, British Garden Centres, Bolton, Woodworks Garden Centre & Café & RHS Bridgewater – JOINT RUNNERS UP
Creative Gardens Bushmills
Outdoor Living Award for Best Outdoor Living Retailer:
DGC
Bents Garden and Home
Gordale Garden Centre/Hayes Garden Centre – JOINT RUNNERS UP
Barton Grange Garden Centre
GC
Fron Goch Garden Centre
Klondyke Garden Centre, Stokesley
Notcutts Woodford Park Garden Centre
LGC
Klondyke Garden Centre, Burnside/Fairways Garden Centre, Macclesfield/ Woodworks Garden Centre & Café – JOINT WINNERS
Indoor Lifestyle Award for Best Indoor Lifestyle Retailer:
DGC
Bents Garden and Home
Barton Grange Garden Centre
Gordale Garden Centre
GC
Fron Goch Garden Centre
Simpsons Garden Centre
Klondyke Garden Centre, Mortonhall
LGC
RHS Bridgewater Plant Centre and Shop/Klondyke Garden Centre, Beverley – JOINT WINNERS
Klondyke Garden Centre, Howdens
Klondyke Garden Centre, Livingston
Ian Boardman Award for Best Indoor Plants Retailer
DGC
Bents Garden and Home
Hayes Garden Centre
Gordale Garden Centre
GC
Cowells Garden Centre
Klondyke Garden Centre, Mortonhall
Notcutts Woodford Park Garden Centre
LGC
RHS Bridgewater Plant Centre and Shop/Klondyke Garden Centre, Burnside/Klondyke Garden Centre, Weaver Vale – JOINT WINNERS
Klondyke Garden Centre, Howdens
Klondyke Garden Centre, Beverley/Harrogate/Fairways Garden Centre, Macclesfield – JOINT RUNNERS UP
Plantaria (Ruxley Rose):
DGC
Barton Grange Garden Centre
Bents Garden and Home
Gordale Garden Centre
GC
Cowell’s Garden Centre
Klondyke Garden Centre, Mortonhall
Klondyke Garden Centre, Polmont
LGC
Klondyke Garden Centre, Livingston
Klondyke Garden Centre, Burnside
Klondyke Garden Centre, Weaver Vale
Food Hall/Farm Shop Award
DGC
Bents Garden and Home/Barton Grange Garden Centre – JOINT WINNERS
Tong Garden Centre
Gordale Garden Centre
GC
Bellis Brothers Farm Shop & Garden Centre
Klondyke Garden Centre, Mortonhall
Simpsons Garden Centre
LGC – please note, there are only two garden centres in this category
Klondyke Garden Centre, Beverley
Dunbar Garden Centre
The GCA represents more than 200 garden centres nationwide.
Through sharing information and its inspection programme the GCA helps members to achieve high standards in customer service, plant quality and reliability.
For further information, please visit www.gca.org.uk.
