Yahoo News Much-loved garden centre near Kent shuts suddenly weeks before Christmas as new owner answers questions about site's future
A garden centre just over the Kent border has revealed with "huge sorrow" it is going to close within days but the new owners have come forward to answer customers' questions. The sad news which will leave the staff looking for work in the run-up to the festive period was announced today by the team at Merriments Gardens near Hawkhurst.
The last day of business will be November 21 and the centre's post says the freehold had been sold and the new owner did not want to "continue with the business".
Staff found out 10 days ago and had "no idea this was coming" and were making plans for next year, said the announcement on Facebook, underneath which in the comments, Caravan Tech in Hurst Green revealed it was "the new owners" and were "super excited".
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The garden centre, a garden and nursery with an extensive selection of plants and flowers in Hurst Green in East Sussex, is a Royal Horticultural Society partner garden. The post continued: "I would like to take this opportunity to thank my amazing team who have been so gracious over the last 10 days since we found out. As you will know from recent posts we had no idea this was coming as we were making plans for next year.
"The love and care the team have shown for each other, supporting their colleagues, and wiping away each other's tears, has been humbling to witness. We would also like to thank you, our wonderful customers, many of whom have been there since the beginning 35 years ago. You have been there for us during thick and thin supporting us during the good times and the bad."
The news was met with a wave of shocked comments, with people saying how much they loved visiting, walking around the "beautiful and peaceful gardens", watching birds from the hide, and having lunch in the licensed restaurant, including superb Sunday roasts and Christmas lunch. One person even claimed people's ashes were scattered there, because they had been regular visitors.
Others made the point it was a bad time to close for staff, with Christmas coming. Caravan Tech, a trailer dealership, a repair shop and mobile home dealer said the garden centre was a mile "down the road" from its current site along the A21 and it would be expanding its family business.
It confirmed the garden centre was closing and it would welcome its first Caravan Tech customers in 2025.
It said: "The purchase of this site is a big step for us, and we can’t wait to see what the future holds. There will be a short period of closure at the Merriments site whilst we get organised, but we plan to reopen in the late spring."
'We'll keep restaurant and gardens'
"We will still operate as normal at our current site for the time being, so don’t hesitate to come along and say hi. We are delighted to confirm that the restaurant and the gardens will be reopening!
"We, like most of you, love the gardens and know they have a lot of sentimental value to a lot of our local community, as well as some of our members of staff. It is a great place for a bite to eat and a walk around the gardens, and we don’t plan on changing that. So rest assured, they will be kept open and maintained for all to enjoy as normal, said Caravan Tech.
Merriments Gardens is now having a clearance sale, with 50 per cent off all stock (gift vouchers excluded) as the site has to be cleared in the next fortnight.
