£1m investment in Yorkshire garden centre to create new jobs and expand restaurant

One of the UK’s oldest garden centres has been sold for £1.5m with a planned £1m investment in the site.

California Gardens, which is based in Howden near Goole, has been sold for the seven-figure sum to two local entrepreneurs, Cameron Holroyd and Rob Hardcastle.

The duo plan to carry out a £1m upgrade on the centre, which will be used to create 15 new jobs and expand its restaurant.

Rob Hardcastle, said: “California Gardens is very well known by everyone in the area, and we’re thrilled to have bought an important piece of local history, which has been in the care of successive generations of the Hall family for over 140 years.”

He continued: “Our aim is now to make the garden centre even better, with a fantastic range of plants and garden accessories and an extension and upgrade of the café, which we have renamed the Olive Tree. We’re currently getting ready for the café’s reopening on 12 April and plan to extend the space so that it seats 250 people.”

He finished by speaking about the creation of new jobs: “We are looking for people to fill a variety of roles, from plantsmen to retail staff, and it’s fantastic to be able to offer something for the community in the current difficult employment situation.”

The Hall family, who have owned the garden centre since 1879, completed the £1.5m deal through property consultant Ernest Wilson.

Its sales manager, Michael Peel, said: “California Gardens is a great example of a business gaining a new lease of life under new, professional ownership. Rob and his experienced team have an ambitious, sustainable strategy to take this local landmark from strength to strength.”