GCA reveals regional winners

The Garden Centre Association has announced the winning garden centres at all eight of its regional awards presentations.

In each area, all of the awards are divided into two category winners - a 'garden centre' winner from a smaller site and a 'destination centre' winner from a larger site.

In the Midlands, Planters Tamworth took away seven awards including best people and best centre, while in the destination category Van Hage Peterborough was the big winner, also taking home seven awards.

In Northern Ireland (which doesn't have a destination centre category) Donaghdee was the star of the night, winning six awards including best plant department and best service and facilities.

Moving to the North East, Cowells took five awards in the garden centre category, including best lifestyle retailer, while Langlands Leeds won four, including most improved. The company's Shiptonthorpe centre took four awards in the destination category, including best gardening retailer.

Up in Scotland, Simpsons stole the show winning seven awards in the garden centre category, while Caulders took best display and best POS. In the destination category, Dobbies Lasswade won six awards, while Raemoir took the remaining four, including best people.

In the South Thames area, Squires won awards for both its Shepperton and Hersham centres, Coolings in Kent took best POS and Garsons Titchfield won best food hall and best service and facilities. For the bigger centres, Haskins Ferndown won four awards including best centre, while Garsons Esher won three.

Moving to Wales & West, Raglan was the star performer taking seven awards including best people, best service and facilities and best pets and aquatics. In the destination category, Whitehall Lacock took five awards including best centre, while Cadbury won best gardening retailer and best lifestyle retailer.

In the North West, All In One took a massive eight awards in the garden centre category, including best POS, while Barton Grange Brock was the big winner in the destination category with six awards, including most improved and best centre.

And finally in the North Thames area, Sunshine Garden Centre took five awards, including best people and best plant department. Frosts at Woburn won six awards in the destination category, while Frosts at Willington was named most improved.

Commenting on the win in Scotland, Simpsons managing director Andrew Simpson said: "We are absolutely delighted to receive these awards from the Garden Centre Association, particularly as we celebrate our 10th anniversary."

Source : DIY Week.net