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 independent, family-owned business also won Best Farm Shop and Best Garden Products Retailer at the awards ceremony held at Carden Park Hotel in Cheshire.
Award-Winning Excellence
The GCA represents over 200 garden centres across the UK. Its awards are based on unannounced inspections conducted throughout the year, evaluating customer service, product quality, retail standards, staff knowledge and overall visitor experience. The Old Railway Line also achieved third place in the UK for Customer Service, third for Catering Excellence and third for Indoor Lifestyle, and earned a position in the top 10 for Christmas Displays and the GCA Grow Award.
From Small Beginnings
Founded by Mark and Christina Cleary in 1990, the centre started as a small plant nursery selling home-grown bedding plants from a modest greenhouse near the site's entrance. It has since expanded into a comprehensive destination featuring an extensive garden centre, farm shop, restaurant, homeware section and outdoor living space. Guests can browse indoor and outdoor plants, gardening supplies, gifts, seasonal arrangements and furniture, while the farm shop showcases local Welsh food and drink.
Recognition and Team Spirit
The Old Railway Line 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!" The centre added: "To be recognised across so many categories in one year honestly means the world to us." The business also praised its workforce: "For us, these awards are really about our people. Every member of the team plays a part in creating the experience our customers enjoy." Garden Retail Director Liam Cleary stated: "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." The centre has previously secured the overall UK title in 2018 and 2021.
