Growing business: Martin Stewart, Managing Director, Stewarts Garden Centres (centre) with (left) Darren Valet, Assistant Audit Manager, PKF Francis Clark, and Mark Johns, Partner, PKF Francis Clark.
The new owner of a Hampshire garden centre has praised its “awesome” staff and says he hopes to create new jobs within the next 12 months.
Martin Stewart, Managing Director of Dorset-based Stewarts Garden Centres, was speaking during a visit to Abbey Garden Centre at Titchfield.
The garden centre, which is next to the 13th century Abbey, was acquired by Stewarts at the end of last year for an undisclosed sum. The site covers seven acres and employs 42 people.
Martin, whose father, Edward, is credited with introducing container grown stock to Britain as well as the garden centre concept, said the company had “exciting” plans to develop the Titchfield site.
But he stressed Stewarts would only proceed with the full support of English Heritage, which owns the Abbey, and the garden centre’s five closest neighbours.
Martin said: “The support we’ve received from staff has been overwhelming and I can’t praise them enough. They are awesome.
“They welcome the fact that, after years of under investment, we are committed to improving the site and giving the business some much-needed tlc (tender, loving care).
“The coffee shop is a priority but work needs to be done everywhere. We will also be looking to create new jobs over the next 12 months and take full advantage of the centre’s proximity to the Abbey.”
Martin praised the work of his accountants, PKF Francis Clark, during the acquisition of Abbey Garden Centre.
“We were very impressed, particularly with the due diligence. It was fantastic. To my mind the whole process vindicated our decision to appoint PKF Francis Clark as our accountants a few years ago,” he added.
Stewarts, which employs 280 staff, can trace its roots back to 1742 when it was founded by Charles Stewart, the great, great, great grandfather of Martin Stewart.
The company has two garden centres in Dorset – Broomhill and Christchurch – as well as interior and exterior landscaping businesses. Many of its plants are grown on its own nursery and are also sold to other garden centres in the UK and Channel Islands.
Mark Johns, a Partner with PKF Francis Clark, said: “We count ourselves very lucky to have Stewarts Garden Centre as a client and are delighted to have assisted in the acquisition of Abbey Garden Centre.
“To look after a company with such an amazing history stretching back 275 years is very unusual. Its continuing success is a testament to the hard work and passion of Martin and his team.”
First built in the 13th century, Titchfield Abbey was the home of a community of Premonstratensian canons. After the Suppression of the monasteries, Henry VIII gave the abbey to Sir Thomas Wriothesley, Earl of Southampton, who transformed the buildings into a grand Tudor mansion called Place House.
Royal guests to Place House included Edward VI, Elizabeth I and Charles I with his queen, Henrietta Maria. It is believed that some of William Shakespeare’s plays were performed at Place House for the first time.
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About PKF Francis Clark
Chartered accountants and business advisers PKF Francis Clark has annual revenue of £38 million, a team of more than 600 people and 60 partners. Founded in 1919, the award-winning firm has eight offices across Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Hampshire, Somerset and Wiltshire. PKF Francis Clark is a member of PKF UKI which is ranked 11th in the Accountancy Age 2016 survey of top accountancy firms.
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