DIYWEEK.net

Garden King garden centre in Newhall has revealed plans for expansion that will include a brand new restaurant.
Following the announcement that one of two Planters garden centres that trade under the name Garden King is closing down, big plans are under way to expand the remaining garden centre.

Garden King in Bradley, Staffordshire will close at the end of March, but manager Darren Sanders has revealed a three-pronged approach that will hopefully see profits at Garden King in Newhall, Derbyshire soar.

Speaking to diyweek.net, Mr Sanders said: "The centre is located in a fairly big village and close to a main road. It picks up a lot of passing trade, making it an ideal location compared to our centre in Bradley.

"Firstly, we have taken on extra land and have gained planning permission to build a caravan storage facility. This will hold around 200 caravans and will provide us with rental income.

"Secondly, we have taken on an extra building at the front of the centre, which has been empty for around 10 years. We will rent this out as part of the franchise in the form of a farm shop or clothing shop, which will provide us with further rental income.

"And finally, we have applied for planning permission to extend the centre, which will increase the size of the business by a third. This will house a restaurant and allow us to expand our range of gardening products.

"We know from our other two Planters centres that a restaurant brings in half of the business' profit. When we are quieter during January and February a restaurant will help to bring in extra trade when there is no other need to come to a garden centre. This is great news for Garden King."

Mr Sanders hopes the restaurant will be open in time for Christmas, with 2015 shaping up to be a good year for Garden King Newhall. Meanwhile, Garden King Bradley is now running a closing-down sale until March 30 and is also looking to sell of fixtures and fittings to other businesses.