Yahoo News UK's 25 best garden centres named - and one is in Somerset
Monkton Elm Garden Centre has been celebrated in the Daily Mail's 2024 roundup of the UK’s top 25 garden centres. The family-run, Taunton-based business, which has been a staple for green-fingered enthusiasts since the early '80s, has earned its place on this prestigious list.
The Daily Mail evaluated each garden centre on their plant selection, additional items for sale, and the quality of their cafes and restaurants.
Monkton Elm took to Facebook to share their excitement: "Some good news! The Daily Mail has named their top 25 Garden Centres in the UK, and we are on the list!
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"As the only named garden centre in Somerset, we are so proud of our team, who work tirelessly to present the best range of plants, the best range of gardening sundries and giftware and a fantastic restaurant and cafe! Thank you to all our customers and staff for supporting our fabulous garden centre! "
The listing read: “This independent, family-run business started out as a successful tomato nursery run by David and Luella Bellman. Over the past 40 years, it has grown into an award-winning garden centre catering for all the local community's home and gardening needs.”
Plant selection: 9/10 – Being independent means Monkton Elm can source more unusual plants. Its rose specialist Daniel Welch has been working with roses for 25 years.
Houseplant selection: 9/10 – A wide-range of houseplants from orchids to calathea.
Other items for sale: 8/10 – Everything you need for outdoor living plus a pet centre and farm shop.
Coffee shop: 9/10 – The Elm Tree restaurant serves several hot breakfast options as well as an ‘Ocean’ menu including Southwest mussels and catch of the day.
Overall score: 9/10
The Daily Mail’s unranked top 25 garden centres in the UK are as follows:
1. Perrywood Garden Centre, Tiptree, Essex
2. Notcutts, Woodbridge, Suffolk
3. Ruxley Manor, Sidcup, Kent
4. Merriments, East Sussex
5. Haskins Snowhill, Copthorne, West Sussex
6. Hillier Garden Centre, Winchester, Hampshire
7. Clifton Nurseries, Maida Vale, London
8. Petersham Nurseries, Richmond
9. Burford Garden Centre, Oxfordshire
10. Bournville Garden Centre, Birmingham
11. Bridgemere Garden Centre, Nantwich
12. Bents Garden & Home, Warrington
13. Barton Grange, Preston
14. Fairways Garden Centre, Ashbourne, Derbyshire
15. Tong Garden Centre, West Yorkshire
16. Cowell’s Garden Centre, Newcastle
17. Hayes Garden World, Cumbria
18. Pugh’s Garden Village, Cardiff
19. The Old Railway Line, Brecon, Powys
20. Caulders Mugdock, Milngavie, Glasgow
21. Simpsons, Inverness
22. Monkton Elm, Taunton, Somerset
23. Otter Garden Centre, Ottery Saint Mary, Devon
24. Duchy of Cornwall Nursery, Lostwithiel, Cornwall
25. Coleman’s Garden Centre, Templepatrick, Northern Ireland
