Podington garden centre marks year of new ownership with celebration weekend

A popular garden centre in Podington will mark its first anniversary under new ownership with a bank holiday bargain bonanza.

Cherry Lane’s Podington garden centre official first anniversary celebrations will take place on August Bank Holiday weekend (August 29 – 31), with a host of special deals for Cherry Lane’s reward card holders.

Customers without a reward card can sign up in-store on the day and also be entered into a free prize draw to win £100 in Cherry Lane gift vouchers.

Richard Durrant, manager at Cherry Lane Podington, said: “We’re very pleased to be a fully-fledged member of the Cherry Lane family, with our makeover complete in time for our first anniversary.

"Every area of the garden centre has so much more to offer, from our increased range of plants to the new larger capacity Watering Can café.

"The coronavirus pandemic has made 2020 a challenging year but we are determined to mark our first birthday as a Cherry Lane and our achievements in the past 12 months.

"There is lots to look forward to for the future too – we’re already getting excited about Autumn and bringing in our Christmas ranges.”

Located in High Street, the garden centre has undergone significant changes since it was acquired by Cherry Lane 12 months ago.

Mike Ryan, operations manager for Cherry Lane Garden Centres, said: “As a family-run business, we were keen to make Podington a more family orientated garden centre and we are very pleased with the finished result.

"The team at Podington has done a brilliant job this year, not only in managing the amazing transformation of the garden centre but also trading in difficult circumstances caused by COVID-19. We definitely have something to celebrate.”

Describing itself as the UK’s only 'value garden centre group', Cherry Lane Podington Garden Centre has been extended to make room for a wider variety of trees, seeds and shrubs.

A new larger 140-seater café bistro, The Watering Can café, has sprung up at the centre, serving a wide variety of food and drinks.

The new Garden Tots indoor play area, with sections suited to both babies and toddlers is unfortunately currently closed due to the COVID-19 restrictions.

Cherry Lane retained all existing employees when it acquired the garden centre. Currently, 40 staff work across the garden centre and café.

The Watering Can café is participating in the Government’s Eat Out to Help Out scheme, which runs until August 31.

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