Iconic garden centre announces UK closure after 36 years

A beloved garden centre in Hertfordshire has announced it will close its doors in January 2027. Hillier Garden Centres confirmed the closure of its Hemel Hempstead location, saying that “it was not an easy decision”.

The local council has reportedly approved proposals to demolish the site and repurpose it as a storage and distribution hub. George Hillier, chairman of Hillier Nurseries and Garden Centres, said: “This was not an easy decision for us to make; however, it does present an exciting opportunity to reinvest in our business and continue the growth trajectory the company has achieved in recent years.

“We are committed to supporting our Hemel Hempstead team throughout this proposed transition and would like to thank both colleagues and customers for their continued loyalty and understanding.”

Hillier Garden Centre first opened its Hemel Hempstead store in 1990. Locals have taken to social media to share their frustration with one saying: “Love going there for a cuppa and a scone… beautiful plants!

“This is very sad. Don’t we have enough storage facilities?”

Another one said: “So sad, used to go there as a child… I loved going, and now take my one-year-old as she loves the fish and flowers!”

A third one commented: “My mum would be so sad to hear this if she was still here. I got so many memories of us spending time there.”

They said: “We have decided to call it a day. The joy of growing and selling plants has been taken away by the stress and pressure of running a small business in this economy.”

Express.co.uk has contacted Hillier Garden Centres for comment