Barton Grange crowned best garden centre in the north

The team at Barton Grange Garden Centre in Brock near Preston is celebrating after being named Destination Garden Centre of the Year in the North region at the Garden Centre Association (GCA) Awards.

It triumphed against competition from garden centres across the North West, Northern Ireland, Scotland and the North East to take the prestigious title.

As well as winning the overall top prize, the family-run centre picked up four additional awards at the ceremony which was held at Strikes Stokesley Garden Centre on Tuesday July 16^th.

Barton Grange collected the Plantaria (Ruxley Rose) prize for its outstanding outdoor plant area displays and the GIMA Award for Best Garden Products Retailer. The popular horticultural centre also won the Food Hall/Farm Shop Award and the Customer Service Award.

Barton Grange’s Plant Area Manager Will Clark says: “Wow, what an incredible result for all the team. We are thrilled to win so many categories and to be named Best Destination Garden Centre is a massive achievement.

“Our people are at the heart of our success and these awards are testament to the incredible hard work our amazing staff put in every single day. This is a wonderful boost for everyone and we can’t wait for the national finals!”

The thriving centre, which is owned by the Topping family, also came runner up in the Barton Grange Trophy for Commercial Innovation and Creativity and the Indoor Lifestyle Award for Best Indoor Lifestyle Retailer categories.

Peter Burks, GCA CEO, says: “Our North area awards meeting was a triumph! 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.”

GCA Inspector Gordon Emslie made unannounced visits to member garden centres in the North area across a 12-week period. The winning centres will now undergo further visits to be assessed in the national category which will be announced in January 2025.

The GCA represents nearly 200 garden centres nationwide and each year awards the centres that set the benchmark for high retailing standards within the industry.