Topping family poised to sell Barton Grange Garden Centre

An award-winning Lancashire garden centre that has become a popular visitor attraction is set to be sold to a major national player in the sector.

Barton Grange Garden Centre in Brock is owned by the Topping family. In February this year it was named as the best garden centre in the UK.

In a statement, Peter and Guy Topping announced they were in discussions to sell it and their wholesale nursery to Blue Diamond. No price has been revealed.

Blue Diamond is one of largest garden centre groups in the UK and Channel Islands.

As well as the garden centre, the site off the A6 also includes the Marina and The Flower Bowl leisure complex which would not form part of any deal.

The Toppings said it had been a "difficult decision" but added: "It just feels like the right time.

“With the next generation focusing on new paths outside of horticulture, and both Peter and Guy ready to slow things down, we felt now was the time to make a change.”

The owners also paid tribute to their customers and staff.

Their statement said: "The hardest part of this decision is saying goodbye to the people; our team and of course the wonderful customers who've supported us through the years.

"Your loyalty and enthusiasm have meant the world to us, and we're incredibly proud of everything we've achieved together. Thank you for being part of our story.

"As we begin this next chapter, we're excited to have more time to relax and enjoy life, but we'll always have a special place in our hearts for Barton Grange and for all of you."

It added: "Several of the younger members of the family are passionate about the leisure industry, so we'll be keeping The Flower Bowl, the Marina, and most of the site at Brock.

"We've always been impressed with Blue Diamond, and we feel confident they're the right team to take the garden centre and nursery forward.

They share our values and passion for the industry, and we're sure they'll continue to build on what we've created here"

The Barton Grange story began their Edward and Ada Topping bought a small mansion in Barton, just north of Preston with plans to convert it into a six-bedroom hotel which opened in 1951.

While the couple worked together to build up the hotel business, their son Eddie was at college training as a horticulturist and landscape gardener.

He opened the garden centre in May 1963 operating out of a small shed next to the hotel car park.

Work on the current garden centre site began in 2006 in a £12m project.

It opened in March 2008 and in 2012 was named the UK's Destination Garden Centre of the Year for the first time.

The Flower Bowl opened in August 2018 complete with a curling rink, luxury ten pin bowling, a premium three-screen cinema, an all-weather crazy golf course and two golf simulators.

In 2019 the family sold the 51-room Barton Grange Hotel to concentrate on the garden centre and Flower Bowl. it was bought by Skelmersdale based Mellors Catering Services.

Blue Diamond recorded sales of £338m from 47 garden centres in 2024 and spent £20m on the purchase of two sites, according to reports. The business is headquartered in Guernsey in the Channel Islands.