Yorkshire Garden Centres branches out into North Yorkshire with two additional sites

Bradford-based Yorkshire Garden Centres has announced it is to operate two more sites in Yorkshire. The two Dean's Garden Centre sites at York and Scarborough will be added to the group that already has sites at Tong, Tingley, Otley and Bingley in West Yorkshire.

The Dean's business dates back to 1968 when they opened the York store on a four acre site at Stockton on the Forest. This was followed by the acquisition of the eight-acre Scarborough site in 1986. The business now employs over 100 people and all the roles will transfer with the sale. Richard, Helen and Sarah, who are the second generation of the Dean family to run the business, will all enjoy a very well-earned retirement.

Mark Farnsworth, MD of Yorkshire Garden Centres said: "We are delighted to welcome the Dean's sites into the Yorkshire Garden Centres group in partnership with Altia Estates. We are grateful to the Dean family for letting us take the business forward, and we intend to continue to use the Dean's name, which has become so well respected over the years. Whilst several members of the family retire, we are also really pleased that others have agreed to stay on and continue to work in the business".

Mark added: "We set out our ambitions five years ago to grow the group and our four current centres employ nearly 450 people. Planning was approved for a new site at Thorp Arch in the middle of last year but, very sadly, the delays due to the COVID pandemic and gaining Planning Permission meant that the scheme was no longer viable which was a real blow as we felt Thorp Arch was a great site. Having established a strong management team, when the Dean's opportunity came up we recognised it was a great way to continue our growth journey."

Richard Dean, a partner at Dean's Garden Centre said: "We are pleased our Centres are joining the Yorkshire Garden Centre group. We have followed their progress with interest and feel that we have many shared values. Having grown up living on the York site, we've been involved in the business in some capacity or other from a very young age. Now though is the right time for my sisters and I to retire, something that I personally was aiming to do in 2021, before Covid hit. The business can now move forward and provide, what will no doubt be an enhanced shopping experience for our customers. We wish the group the very best of luck as they move forward."

"We are also incredibly grateful to Antony Harker of Altia Estates for the financial support and faith he has shown in us," added Mr Farnsworth.

Antony commented: "We are delighted to support this opportunity and we wish the whole team at Yorkshire Garden Centres the very best. I look forward to seeing the sites continue to grow and flourish under their management."

Yorkshire Garden Centres began with the acquisition of Tong Garden Centre by Mark Farnsworth and Tom Megginson in 2015. They invested £9m to turn Tong from an ailing centre with a disenfranchised team to one of Yorkshire's leading garden centres. The Group's strategy is to operate destination garden centres with a compelling mix of retail, food and play for all the family.