If you have ever had the ambition to run your own garden centre, then this could be your lucky day. Although you may need a few million pounds in the bank already, just to have a chance of being the purchaser.
Hawley Garden Centre, in Sutton at Hone, Dartford, is being sold as a going concern, as the family-run garden centre has been put on the market for £5 million.
The current owners took over the Hawley Road garden centre in 1981 and developed the site from a basic plant nursery into the successful business it is today. The 7.6-acre site has nine independent concessions including a home office supplier, farm shop, dog grooming business, a car wash and Maidenhead Aquatics.
They also sell a range of products including giftware, Christmas ranges, furniture, barbecues, compost, chemicals and bird feed.
Sales reports show plants to be the highest turnover department
There is a four bedroom detached house on the site with enclosed private gardens and a detached triple garage with a large separate storage area. It also has three reception rooms, a large kitchen, dining room, utility room and conservatory.
The garden centre is operated by 26 members of staff, and the ongoing annual staff bill is anticipated to be about £400,000 for 22 people. Staff are expected to transfer with the business. In its most recent recording year ending August 31st, 2022 the centre had an adjusted net profit of £517,477.
Locals are hopeful that the business can be sold to another family who can continue running it in a similar fashion. There is a concern that if they owners are not successful in finding a buyer, housing developers could begin eyeing up the land for housing.
