Notcutts Garden Centres have entered discussions to acquire Garden Pride Garden Centre in Sussex with a view to complete the sale before Christmas.
If all parties reach an agreement, the transfer of the business could go through by December 6. Garden Pride is an independent garden centre located on a 26 acre site in the South Downs National Park in the village of Ditchling, Sussex; it is a thriving business with a turnover of over £5m and has a strong horticultural offering and a restaurant.

The centre has been run by Trevor Wenham for over 20 years, who is now planning to retire but will be staying on in a consultancy role along with Kathleen McDonald. The existing staff at Garden Pride will become part of the Notcutts family, helping to minimise disruption to customers in the run up to Christmas.

Mr Wenham said: "I am delighted to be selling to a family owned business that I know will continue to provide excellent ranges and service for the local customers and continue to look after my valued staff."

Notcutts interim ceo Andrew Staff added: "Garden Pride is a great fit with the Notcutts business. It is an independent garden centre with all the qualities that are important to us as a family owned company; great service, strong local reputation, quality ranges and a real focus on plants and gardening. We are delighted to welcome the colleagues into the Notcutts family."

Following the sale of the Notcutts Horningsea centre near Cambridge in September, the addition of Garden Pride will be the company's 19th centre and it said this is a positive and progressive move for the business. It is also looking forward to the opening of its brand new garden centre in Tunbridge Wells in spring 2014.