Stewarts ranked seventh in top 100 garden centres

A CHRISTCHURCH garden centre has been ranked seventh among the top 100 garden centres in the UK.

Stewarts staff were presented with the Centre of Excellence Award by the Garden Centre Association at a presentation ceremony held at Luton Hoo Hotel, Golf and Spa.

The centre was the only one in Dorset and Hampshire to fall within the top 10 following an inspection by GCA judges.

Terry Head, retail and marketing director at Stewarts, which also has stores in Titchfield in Hampshire and Broomhill in Dorset, congratulated the Christchurch team.

“The award recognises the professionalism and hard work maintained by the 80 full and part-time staff employed at the centre, as they are based on thorough audits conducted by GCA appointed inspectors.

“But the real judges that make all the difference are those people who are part of our loyal customer base.”

Chief executive of the Garden Centre Association, Iain Wylie, said: “I’d like to take this opportunity to congratulate all our winners on their successes.

“It is clear that they have worked extremely hard during the past year to reach and maintain the very highest of standards in garden centre retail excellence. Our inspectors were extremely impressed with their achievements.”

Bents Garden and Home in Warrington won Best Destination Garden Centre of the Year, and the Old Railway Line in Brecon Powys was awarded Garden Centre of the Year.