The very best of the UK garden centre industry was celebrated this week as the Garden Centre Association (GCA) unveiled its most prestigious awards at its annual conference.
Winners were announced on Tuesday, 27 January 2027, during an awards ceremony held at Carden Park Hotel in Cheshire, marking a key moment in the GCA’s 60th anniversary year.
Garden centres from across the country were recognised for excellence in retailing, customer experience, marketing and overall performance, with the coveted Champion of Champions title sitting alongside the highly regarded Garden Centres of Excellence awards.
GCA Chief Executive Peter Burks said the evening was a fitting celebration of the sector’s achievements.
“It was a wonderful night celebrating the very best our industry has to offer,” he said. “To crown our Champion of Champions and our Garden Centres of Excellence winners in our 60th anniversary year made it especially meaningful. Every winner has shown outstanding dedication to delivering excellence and should be extremely proud of their achievements.”
Alongside the main awards, the GCA also revealed its Associate of the Year, voted for by member garden centres, and presented the Worrall Cup, which recognises the strongest marketing entry as judged by the panel.
Mr Burks also paid tribute to the conference sponsors, thanking them for their support across the two-day event, from stage plants and refreshments to the gala dinner and exhibition.
“Our sponsors played a vital role in making the conference – and our anniversary celebrations – such a success,” he added. “We’re hugely grateful for their continued backing.”
Award winners announced on Tuesday, 27 January 2026
Destination Garden Centre of the Year
Winner:
• Ruxley Manor Garden Centre
Second & third place:
• Perrywood Garden Centre, Tiptree
• Haskins Garden Centre, Snowhill
Garden Centre of the Year
Winner:
• Old Railway Line Garden Centre
Second & third place:
• Poplars Garden Centre
• Fairways Garden Centre, Ashbourne
Local Garden Centre of the Year
Winner:
• Brimsmore Gardens – The Gardens Group
Second & third place:
• Millbrook Garden Company, Staplehurst
• Fairways Garden Centre, Macclesfield
Garden Centres of Excellence
(Listed alphabetically, not by inspection score)
• Barton Grange Garden Centre
• Bents Garden & Home
• Coolings Nurseries
• Fairways Garden Centre, Ashbourne
• Haskins Garden Centre, Snowhill
• Old Railway Line Garden Centre
• Perrywood Garden Centre, Tiptree
• Ruxley Manor Garden Centre
• Planters Tamworth
• Poplars Garden Centre