UK: GCA hands out awards to top garden centres at 2026 conference

Garden centre teams from across the United Kingdom are celebrating after receiving awards at the Garden Centre Association's (GCA) annual conference today (Monday, January 26, 2026).

They were presented to the highest scoring member garden centres during a special ceremony at the Carden Park Hotel, Cheshire, as part of the GCA's 60th anniversary year celebrations.

Peter Burks, GCA Chief Executive, says: "Our annual inspection process, and the awards that follow, clearly demonstrate that our member garden centres operate to some of the highest standards in the industry. Year after year, members continue to raise the bar, with competition for the top accolades becoming increasingly competitive. We're delighted this year to have also introduced three new awards – Clothing, Construction and Pots & Ornamentation.

"Every winner and runner-up across all categories should be immensely proud of the standards they set. I would like to warmly congratulate them all for their exceptional commitment to delivering a consistently positive and rewarding experience for customers.

"We are very grateful to Kaemingk for sponsoring our conference on Monday, as well as to our headline sponsors Evergreen Garden Care, Westland Horticulture and Smart Garden Products. I would also like to extend my thanks to all of our category award sponsors for their valued support this year."

The full list of winners was announced on Monday, January 26. The GCA GROW Training Award was presented to Squire's Garden Centre, Hare Hatch.

© Garden Centre AssociationThe winners of the GROW Training award, Squire's Garden Centre, Hare Hatch

The Dick Allen Award for Most Improved Garden Centre was won by British Garden Centres, Tring. The Hertfordshire Garden Centre and Thompson's Garden Centre, Canterbury were named second and third place winners.

© Garden Centre AssociationThe winners of the Dick Allen award

The Barton Grange Trophy for Commercial Creativity and Innovation was awarded to Ruxley Manor Garden Centre. Haskins Garden Centre, Snowhill and Haskins Garden Centre, Forest Lodge took second and third place.

© Garden Centre AssociationThe winners of the Barton Grange Trophy

The Paul Cooling Environment and Sustainability Award went to Haskins Garden Centre, Snowhill. Castle Gardens, part of The Gardens Group, along with Brimsmore Gardens, part of The Gardens Group, and Perrywood Garden Centre, Tiptree were recognised as second and third place winners.

© Garden Centre AssociationHaskins Garden Centre with the Paul Cooling Environment and Sustainability Award

The Customer Service Award for Best Customer Service was won by Coolings Nurseries. Fron Goch Garden Centre and Old Railway Line Garden Centre placed second and third.

© Garden Centre AssociationThe winners of the Best Customer Service award, Coolings Nurseries

In the Catering Awards, Ruxley Manor Garden Centre won the Destination Garden Centre category, Klondyke Garden Centre, Astbury Meadow won the Garden Centre category, and Raglan Garden Centre won the Local Garden Centre category. In the Destination Garden Centre category, Haskins Garden Centre, Snowhill and Haskins Garden Centre, Ferndown were second and third. In the Garden Centre category, recognition went to 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 and Thetford Garden Centre. In the Local Garden Centre category, Brimsmore Gardens, part of The Gardens Group, and Webbs West Hagley were named.

The GIMA Award for Best Garden Products Retailer saw Ruxley Manor Garden Centre win the Destination Garden Centre category, Old Railway Line Garden Centre win the Garden Centre category, and Fairways Garden Centre, Macclesfield win the Local Garden Centre category. Second and third place in the Destination category went to Planters Garden Centres, Tamworth and Perrywood Garden Centre, Tiptree. In the Garden Centre category, Poplars Garden Centre and Fairways Garden Centre, Ashbourne were recognised. In the Local Garden Centre category, Klondyke Garden Centre, Daleside and Millbrook Garden Centre, Staplehurst placed.

© Garden Centre AssociationThe Old Railway Line team with the award for Besdt Garden Products (Garden Centre Category)

The Ian Boardman Indoor Plants Cup was awarded to Perrywood Garden Centre, Tiptree in the Destination Garden Centre category, Cowell's Garden Centre in the Garden Centre category, and Knights Plant Centre, Betchworth in the Local Garden Centre category. Webbs of Wychbold and Ruxley Manor Garden Centre were second and third in the Destination category. Aylett Nurseries, Fairways Garden Centre, Ashbourne, Millbrook Garden Centre, Gravesend, Ransoms Garden Centre, Squires Garden Centre, Milford and Meadow Croft Garden Centre were recognised in the Garden Centre category. In the Local category, Millbrook Garden Centre, Stapelhurst, Brimsmore Gardens – The Gardens Group, and Poundbury Gardens – The Gardens Group were named.

© Garden Centre AssociationCowell's Garden Centre with their award

The Indoor Lifestyle Award for Best Indoor Lifestyle Retailer was won by Ruxley Manor Garden Centre in the Destination Garden Centre category, Fron Goch Garden Centre in the Garden Centre category, and Fairways Garden Centre, Macclesfield in the Local Garden Centre category. Perrywood Garden Centres, Tiptree and Barton Grange Garden Centre were second and third in the Destination category. Garsons Garden Centre, Titchfield and Old Railway Line Garden Centre placed in the Garden Centre category, while Brimsmore Gardens and Webbs West Hagley were recognised locally.

© Garden Centre AssociationRuxley Manor, winners in the Destination Garden Centre Category

The Outdoor Living Award for Best Outdoor Living Retailer was awarded to Ruxley Manor Garden Centre in the Destination Garden Centre category. In the Garden Centre category, the award was shared by Fron Goch Garden Centre and Poplars Garden Centre. Fairways Garden Centre, Macclesfield won the Local Garden Centre category. In the Destination category, recognition also went to Bents Garden and Home, Webbs of Wychbold, Scotsdales Garden Centre, Haskins Garden Centre, Snowhill, Barton Grange Garden Centre, Cadbury Garden Centre and Gates Garden Centre. In the Garden Centre category, Garsons Garden Centre, Titchfield, Fairways Garden Centre, Ashbourne and Haskins Garden Centre, Forest Lodge were recognised. Brimsmore Gardens and Poundbury Gardens, both part of The Gardens Group, placed in the Local category.

© Garden Centre AssociationFron Goch Garden Centre with their Outdoor Living Retailer award

The Best Food Hall/Farm Shop Award, sponsored by Fieldfare, was won by Ruxley Manor Garden Centre in the Destination Garden Centre category, Old Railway Line Garden Centre in the Garden Centre category, and Brimsmore Gardens – The Gardens Group in the Local Garden Centre category. Garsons Garden Centre, Esher and Gates Garden Centre placed in the Destination category. Bellis Brothers Farm Shop & Garden Centre, Coton Orchard Garden Centre and Garsons Garden Centre, Titchfield were recognised in the Garden Centre category. In the Local category, Dunbar Garden Centre, Pugh's Garden Centre, Wenvoe and Pennells Garden Centre, Sleaford were named.

The Ruxley Rose Award for Best Overall Plantaria, sponsored by Allensmore Nurseries Ltd, went to Perrywood Garden Centre, Tiptree in the Destination Garden Centre category, Cowell's Garden Centre in the Garden Centre category, and Thompson's Garden Centre, Welling in the Local Garden Centre category. Planters Garden Centre, Tamworth and Ruxley Manor Garden Centre placed in the Destination category. Squires Garden Centre, Hersham and Planters Pacific Garden Centre were recognised in the Garden Centre category, while Knights Plant Centre, Betchworth and Klondyke Garden Centre, Burnside placed locally.

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 and Garson's Garden Centre, Esher were recognised in the Destination category. Sunshine Garden Centre and Fron Goch Garden Centre placed in the Garden Centre category, while Poundbury Gardens, part of The Gardens Group, and Pugh's Garden Centre, Wenvoe were named locally.

A new award for 2026, the Clothing Award sponsored by Klass, was won by Ruxley Manor Garden Centre in the Destination Garden Centre category, Fron Goch Garden Centre in the Garden Centre category, and Simpsons at Happy Plant in the Local Garden Centre category. Haskins Garden Centre, Snowhill and Blue Diamond Garden Centre, Grosvenor placed in the Destination category. Garson's Garden Centre, Titchfield, Fairways Garden Centre, Ashbourne, Poplars Garden Centre and Hillier Garden Centre, Three Legged Cross were recognised in the Garden Centre category, while Thirsk Garden Centre and Dunbar Garden Centre placed locally.

Another new award for 2026, the Garden Construction Award sponsored by Meadow View Stone, was won by Chessington Garden Centre in the Destination Garden Centre category, Millbrook Garden Centre, Gravesend in the Garden Centre category, and Klondyke Garden Centre, Howdens in the Local Garden Centre category. Ruxley Manor Garden Centre and Planters Garden Centre, Tamworth were recognised in the Destination category. Poplars Garden Centre and Bell Plantation placed in the Garden Centre category, while Klondyke Garden Centre, Stringers, Klondyke Garden Centre, Livingston and Squires Garden Centre, Crawley were named locally.

The final new award for 2026, the Pots & Ornamentation Award sponsored by Woodlodge, was won by Chessington Garden Centre in the Destination Garden Centre category, Poplars Garden Centre in the Garden Centre category, and Webbs West Hagley alongside Klondyke Garden Centre, Stringers in the Local Garden Centre category. Ruxley Manor Garden Centre and Planters Garden Centre, Tamworth placed in the Destination category. Squires Garden Centre, Hersham, Fairways Garden Centre, Ashbourne and Thurrock Garden Centre were recognised in the Garden Centre category. In the Local category, 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 named.