GCA Honours Leading Garden Centres at 2026 Annual Conference

Garden centre teams from across the UK gathered on Monday, January 26, 2026, as the Garden Centre Association (GCA) recognised top-performing members during a formal awards ceremony at the Carden Park Hotel in Cheshire. The awards followed the association’s annual inspection process, which assesses operational standards across its membership base of more than 200 garden centres nationwide.

Peter Burks, GCA Chief Executive, stated that the inspection process and subsequent awards demonstrate that member garden centres operate to some of the highest standards in the industry, with competition intensifying year on year. He also noted the introduction of three new categories for 2026: Clothing, Garden Construction and Pots & Ornamentation. Burks thanked conference sponsor Kaemingk, headline sponsors Evergreen Garden Care, Westland Horticulture and Smart Garden Products, and all category award sponsors for their support.

Among the headline awards, the GCA GROW Training Award was presented to Squire’s Garden Centre Hare Hatch. The Dick Allen Award for Most Improved Garden Centre was won by British Garden Centres – Tring, with The Hertfordshire Garden Centre and Thompson’s Garden Centre, Canterbury taking second and third place.

The Barton Grange Trophy for Commercial Creativity and Innovation went to Ruxley Manor Garden Centre, followed by Haskins Garden Centre, Snowhill and Haskins Garden Centre, Forest Lodge.

The Paul Cooling Environment and Sustainability Award was awarded to Haskins Garden Centre, Snowhill, with Castle Gardens, part of The Gardens Group, and Brimsmore Gardens, part of The Gardens Group, alongside Perrywood Garden Centre, Tiptree, recognised as runners-up.

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In customer-facing categories, the Customer Service Award for Best Customer Service was won by Coolings Nurseries, ahead of Fron Goch Garden Centre and Old Railway Line Garden Centre. The Catering Awards were divided into three segments: Ruxley Manor Garden Centre won the Destination Garden Centre Category; Klondyke Garden Centre, Astbury Meadow won the Garden Centre Category; and Raglan Garden Centre secured the Local Garden Centre Category. Numerous centres were recognised in second and third place positions across these segments, including Haskins Garden Centre, Snowhill; Haskins Garden Centre, Ferndown; Klondyke Garden Centre, Wilmslow; Tingley Garden Centre; Fairways Ashbourne; Poplars Garden Centre; Meadow Croft Garden Centre; Henry Street, St Peter’s Garden Centre; Old Railway Line Garden Centre; Thetford Garden Centre; Brimsmore Gardens, part of The Gardens Group; and Webbs West Hagley.

The GIMA Award for Best Garden Products Retailer was awarded to Ruxley Manor Garden Centre in the Destination Garden Centre Category, Old Railway Line Garden Centre in the Garden Centre Category, and Fairways Garden Centre, Macclesfield in the Local Garden Centre Category. Runners-up included Planters Garden Centres, Tamworth; Perrywood Garden Centre, Tiptree; Poplars Garden Centre; Fairways Garden Centre, Ashbourne; Klondyke Garden Centre, Daleside; and Millbrook Garden Centre, Staplehurst.

In the plant-focused categories, the Ian Boardman Indoor Plants Cup was awarded to Perrywood Garden Centre, Tiptree (Destination Garden Centre Category), Cowell’s Garden Centre (Garden Centre Category), and Knights Plant Centre, Betchworth (Local Garden Centre Category). Other recognised centres included Webbs of Wychbold; Ruxley Manor Garden Centre; Aylett Nurseries; Fairways Garden Centre, Ashbourne; Millbrook Garden Centre, Gravesend; Ransoms Garden Centre; Squires Garden Centre, Milford; Meadow Croft Garden Centre; Millbrook Garden Centre, Stapelhurst; Brimsmore Gardens – The Gardens Group; and Poundbury Gardens – The Gardens Group.

The Indoor Lifestyle Award for Best Indoor Lifestyle Retailer went to Ruxley Manor Garden Centre (Destination Garden Centre Category), Fron Goch Garden Centre (Garden Centre Category), and Fairways Garden Centre, Macclesfield (Local Garden Centre Category). The Outdoor Living Award for Best Outdoor Living Retailer was presented to Ruxley Manor Garden Centre in the Destination Garden Centre Category, jointly to Fron Goch Garden Centre and Poplars Garden Centre in the Garden Centre Category, and to Fairways Garden Centre, Macclesfield in the Local Garden Centre Category. Centres recognised in second and third place across these categories included Bents Garden and Home; Webbs of Wychbold; Scotsdales Garden Centre; Haskins Garden Centre, Snowhill; Barton Grange Garden Centre; Cadbury Garden Centre; Gates Garden Centre; Garsons Garden Centre, Titchfield; Fairways Garden Centre, Ashbourne; Haskins Garden Centre, Forest Lodge; Brimsmore Gardens – The Gardens Group; and Poundbury Gardens – The Gardens Group.

The Best Food Hall/Farm Shop Award, sponsored by Fieldfare, was awarded to Ruxley Manor Garden Centre (Destination Garden Centre Category), Old Railway Line Garden Centre (Garden Centre Category), and Brimsmore Gardens – The Gardens Group (Local Garden Centre Category). Garsons Garden Centre, Esher; Gates Garden Centre; Bellis Brothers Farm Shop & Garden Centre; Coton Orchard Garden Centre; Garsons Garden Centre, Titchfield; Dunbar Garden Centre; Pugh’s Garden Centre, Wenvoe; and Pennells Garden Centre, Sleaford were also recognised.

The Ruxley Rose Award for Best Overall Plantaria, sponsored by Allensmore Nurseries Ltd, was presented to Perrywood Garden Centre, Tiptree (Destination Garden Centre Category), Cowell’s Garden Centre (Garden Centre Category), and Thompson’s Garden Centre Welling (Local Garden Centre Category). Planters Garden Centre, Tamworth; Ruxley Manor Garden Centre; Squires Garden Centre, Hersham; Planters Pacific Garden Centre; Knights Plant Centre, Betchworth; and Klondyke Garden Centre, Burnside were acknowledged as runners-up.

In the Christmas Competition, sponsored by Gisela Graham, Bents Garden & Home won the Destination Garden Centre Category, Garson’s Garden Centre, Titchfield won the Garden Centre Category, and Brimsmore Gardens, part of The Gardens Group won the Local Garden Centre Category. Gates Garden Centre, Oakham; Garson’s Garden Centre, Esher; Sunshine Garden Centre; Fron Goch Garden Centre; Poundbury Gardens, part of The Gardens Group; and Pugh’s Garden Centre, Wenvoe were also recognised.

Among the new 2026 awards, the Clothing Award, sponsored by Klass, was won by Ruxley Manor Garden Centre (Destination Garden Centre Category), Fron Goch Garden Centre (Garden Centre Category), and Simpsons at Happy Plant (Local Garden Centre Category), with Haskins Garden Centre, Snowhill; Blue Diamond Garden Centre, Grosvenor; Garson’s Garden Centre, Titchfield; Fairways Garden Centre, Ashbourne; Poplars Garden Centre; Hillier Garden Centre Three Legged Cross; Thirsk Garden Centre; and Dunbar Garden Centre acknowledged in second and third place positions.

The new Garden Construction Award, sponsored by Meadow View Stone, went to Chessington Garden Centre (Destination Garden Centre Category), Millbrook Garden Centre, Gravesend (Garden Centre Category), and Klondyke Garden Centre, Howdens (Local Garden Centre Category). Ruxley Manor Garden Centre; Planters Garden Centre, Tamworth; Poplars Garden Centre; Bell Plantation; Klondyke Garden Centre, Stringers; Klondyke Garden Centre, Livingston; and Squires Garden Centre, Crawley were also recognised.

The Pots & Ornamentation Award, sponsored by Woodlodge, was presented to Chessington Garden Centre (Destination Garden Centre Category), Poplars Garden Centre (Garden Centre Category), and Webbs West Hagley and Klondyke Garden Centre, Stringers (Local Garden Centre Category). Ruxley Manor Garden Centre; Planters Garden Centre, Tamworth; Squires Garden Centre, Hersham; Fairways Garden Centre, Ashbourne; Thurrock Garden Centre; Thompson’s Garden Centre, Newchurch; Plymouth Garden Centre; Pugh’s Garden Centre Wenvoe; Coolings Nurseries; Webbs of Wych Cross; and Klondyke Garden Centre, Burnside were also listed among the runners-up.

The GCA stated that through information sharing and its inspection programme it supports members in achieving high standards in customer service, plant quality and operational reliability across the sector.