The Old Railway Line Garden Centre in Powys, Wales, has been named the UK's best garden centre by the Garden Centre Association (GCA). The family-run business, which opened in 1990, also won Best Farm Shop and Best Garden Products Retailer at the GCA's annual conference at Carden Park Hotel in Cheshire.
Award-Winning Excellence
The GCA represents over 200 garden centres across the UK. Its awards are based on surprise inspections throughout the year, judging customer service, product quality, retail standards, staff knowledge and overall visitor experience. The Old Railway Line also received Centre of Excellence status and placed third in the UK for Customer Service, Catering Excellence and Indoor Lifestyle.
Additionally, the centre earned a spot in the UK's top 10 for Christmas Displays and the GCA Grow Award. The accolades mark a significant achievement for the independent business, which has previously won the overall UK title in 2018 and 2021.
From Humble Beginnings
Founders Mark and Christina Cleary started the business by selling home-grown bedding plants from a small greenhouse near the site's entrance. Over 36 years, it has grown into a comprehensive destination featuring an extensive garden centre, farm shop, restaurant, homeware section and outdoor living space.
Visitors can explore indoor and outdoor plants, gardening supplies, gifts, seasonal displays and furniture, while the farm shop showcases local Welsh food and drink. The centre's restaurant and coffee shop are also extremely popular.
Team Recognition
The Old Railway Line praised its workforce, stating: "For us, these awards are really about our people. Every member of the team plays a part in creating the experience our customers enjoy. From the plants and products we carefully select, to the food in our farm shop and the friendly faces you meet when you visit."
Garden Retail Director Liam Cleary added: "Being awarded Centre of Excellence once again also shows how important it is to us to keep improving. We're never satisfied with 'good enough'. We're always looking for ways to do things better, offer more, and make every visit to the Old Railway Line Garden Centre a great one."
Celebrating Success
The centre said: "We're absolutely thrilled to share some incredible news. We've been crowned Best Garden Centre in the UK at this year's Garden Centre Association Awards! It was a fantastic evening celebrating the very best garden centres from across the country, and we're still buzzing from the results."
The Old Railway Line also noted: "To be recognised across so many categories in one year honestly means the world to us."
