Two family-run garden centres in England have announced they will close their doors at the beginning of 2027, ending decades of service to their communities. Hillier Garden Centres confirmed its Hemel Hempstead location in Hertfordshire will close in January, while Leighton Buzzard Garden Centre in Bedfordshire will shut in March.
Hillier Hemel Hempstead to become storage hub
Hillier Garden Centres has confirmed that its Hemel Hempstead store will close in January 2027. The site is reported to be demolished and repurposed as a storage and distribution hub after the local council approved the proposal.
Hillier Nurseries is a family business with 22 garden centres across the South of England. The Hemel Hempstead store opened in 1990.
George Hillier, chairman of Hillier Nurseries and Garden Centres, said: “This was not an easy decision for us to make; however, it does present an exciting opportunity to reinvest in our business and continue the growth trajectory the company has achieved in recent years.
“The proposed sale forms part of Hillier's long-term strategy to strengthen the business and enable continued investment across its operations, including innovation, sustainability and customer experience. Our priority remains supporting our colleagues at Hemel Hempstead throughout the proposed transition.”
Leighton Buzzard closes despite campaign
Leighton Buzzard Garden Centre, a family-run business in Bedfordshire, will close in March 2027 after serving the community for more than 30 years. Despite a long-running campaign to keep the business open, the owners have been unable to save it following the approval of a property development project.
Developers Thrive Homes say the housing development will support the local economy and create employment.
Garden centre owner Iris Lee-Lo said: “It’s heartbreaking. We have heard from Thrive Homes, which means the business is closing early next year, in March. But we are grateful to the councils, councillors, customers and the Leighton Buzzard Observer for all the support we’ve been given to help our campaign to keep the garden centre and other businesses on the site going.”
Other recent garden centre closures
Several other UK garden centres have also closed recently. The Dutch Garden Centre in Cardiff closed on September 20, 2026, Sturmer Garden Centre in Suffolk closed on October 1, 2026, and Wellingborough Garden Centre in Northamptonshire closed on July 14, 2026.
The closures reflect ongoing pressures on the sector, with property development and changing business strategies driving decisions to shut long-standing sites.
