Pictures as garden centre near Stroud reopens with TV guest
A REVAMPED garden centre in the area opened its doors over the weekend in glorious sunshine.
Gloucester Garden Centre - previously Dobbies - opened on Saturday, March 8.
The site - which is located in Bath Road, Haresfield near the M5 - has been taken over by new owners British Garden Centres.
It was officially opened by celebrity gardener David Domoney who has appeared on ITV's This Morning.
Many shoppers queued for two hours from 8am to visit the refurbished centre.
For pictures from the opening - see our gallery.
All photos by Simon Pizzey.
Dad Shiv Kalia, daughter Saskia, four, mum Lois Kalia from Stonehouse with their purchases - photo by Simon Pizzey
David was joined at the opening by team members Lin McNulty and Ian Pullin, who have worked at the site for 35 and 28 years, respectively.
Both have experienced management under Jardinerie, Blooms, Wyevale, and Dobbies.
Ian was also present 20 years ago and he helped cut the ribbon for the new Blooms development.
The centre's restaurant - known as the Gardener's Retreat - has been refurbished and features a new menu including a carvery.
Meanwhile, the centre's soft play area, mini golf course and the Works concession store also has been kept.
Long serving staff - Lin McNulty, 35 years and Ian Pullin 28 years - photo by Simon Pizzey
Centre manager Matthew Urbanowicz said: 'It's wonderful to reopen Gloucester, and we were so pleased to see so many queuing on the warmest weekend of the year so far to stock up for spring.
'The sun brought people to the store; business was booming, and the tills were ringing as people wanted to stock up for the season ahead.
'We want this to be a place everyone in the community enjoys.
'Whether you need gardening tips, want to browse our garden furniture, fancy a cuppa, or are looking for a family day out, you will find it here on the site.
'We've given the centre a fresh new look, and we're looking forward to welcoming everyone, old and new.'
David Domoney officially opens the store - photo by Simon Pizzey
Customers queuing on Saturday morning - photo by Simon Pizzey
The restaurant area - photo by Simon Pizzey
The team on the opening day - photo by Simon Pizzey
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Garden centre to host roast dinner and planting workshop for Father's Day
A North East garden centre is combining a roast dinner with a planting experience to celebrate Father's Day. Dobbies Garden Centres is hosting the Father's Day Sunday Lunch and Planting Experience on Sunday June 15 at its Stockton store, for the first time ever. Between 2pm and 3.30pm, guests can enjoy a roast dinner and take part in a grow-your-own herb workshop. The experience starts in the plant area, where Dobbies' Green Team will conduct an 'engaging' demo and Q&A session. The Dobbies team will conduct a demonstration and have a Q & A (Image: Stewart Attwood) Guests will be guided through creating a potted herb container, perfect for adding fresh flavour to home-cooked meals. All participants will receive an oakwood-effect barrel planter, made from 100 per cent recycled plastic and suitable for indoor and outdoor use. A handpicked selection of herbs, curated by Dobbies' plant buyer, will also be provided. To complete the planting experience, gloves, tools and other materials will be given to all attendees, along with recipe cards to take home. Following the workshop, participants will be served a traditional Sunday roast at the restaurant. Each meal will be accompanied by thyme-roasted potatoes, seasonal vegetables, a homemade Yorkshire pudding, and a rich red wine gravy. A bottle of Peroni, a glass of Prosecco or a San Pellegrino soft drink is included with the meal. There's also the option to upgrade to a three-meat roast for £3 per person or add an extra Yorkshire pudding for £1.60. Read more: County Durham shops warned of £200 fines if found selling disposable vapes after ban Fresh off the block, market place chippy latest in Echo's top ten Demolition plans lodged for County Durham primary school's swimming pool Ayesha Nickson, Dobbies' events programme manager, said: "Our Father's Day Sunday Lunch and Planting Experience is a brilliant way to celebrate the father figures in your life. "Whether he's a seasoned gardener or just getting started, this hands-on planting session followed by a delicious roast lunch makes for a memorable and meaningful afternoon." Tickets for the Father's Day Sunday Lunch and Planting Experience at the Stockton store are priced at £42 per person and will be available to book at
CNN
5 days ago
- CNN
A 'Disgusting Abomination' - CNN This Morning with Audie Cornish - Podcast on CNN Audio
A 'Disgusting Abomination' CNN This Morning 47 mins Elon Musk burned bridges on his way out the White House door, calling the president's agenda a "disgusting abomination." Could his criticism influence some Senate Republicans to vote no? Plus, is the president having buyer's remorse about his picks for the Supreme Court? Also: Household debt is steadily creeping up. Is this a red flag for the economy?
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Yahoo
This Morning host says ITV has changed long-standing clothing rule after decades
This Morning host Rochelle Humes has shared her happiness after ITV bosses made a long-standing rule change. Former Saturdays singer Humes is one of the daytime series' rotating list of presenters alongside Ben Shephard, Cat Deeley, Dermot O'Leary, Alison Hammond, Sian Welby and Craig Doyle. Humes has revealed that all the hosts have been following a dress code that has been closely monitored since her first appearance alongside her husband, the JLS star Marvin Humes, in August 2013. It turns out that bosses have always instructed This Morning hosts to opt for smartwear, meaning jeans is an item of clothing that has been off the table – however, all that's changed, with denim trousers now permitted. Humes, 35, wasted no time in utilising the rule change, opting for a pair of River Island jean in Wednesday's episode (28 May). She announced the news on TikTok, stating: 'There's a new rule. We didn't used to be allowed to wear jeans, did we? But we can wear jeans now. This is amazing news for me.' The Independent has contacted ITV for comment. Humes' revelation arrives amid a huge shakeup for the channel's morning schedule. Last week, it was revealed that ITV is shortening Lorraine Kelly's hour-long show Lorraine by half and will reallocate those 30 minutes to Good Morning Britain instead, as part of a cost-cutting drive. This Morning will be unaffected by the scheduling changes, remaining in its usual time slot of 10am to 12.30pm. A source close to ITV told MailOnline: 'We were very open about the challenges in the industry and so several options were discussed – the key was ensuring Lorraine was retained and was as comfortable as possible in a changing landscape. 'Her show is still hugely valued – the show recently had its highest audience share in four years and still reaches 2.7 million people.' Earlier this month, part-time This Morning host Sian Welby admitted she was scared she would lose her stint if she told them she was pregnant before she started. The mother of one, 38, welcomed her nine-month-old daughter Ruby with her fiancé, Heart Breakfast producer Jake Beckett, last June. Welby was 20 weeks pregnant when she started co-hosting This Morning alongside O'Leary and kept her pregnancy a secret because she felt she had 'something to prove'. Speaking on Giovanna Fletcher's Happy Mum Happy Baby podcast, Welby said: 'When you first start a job, you think 'Nobody knows what I'm actually like, that I'm trustworthy' and you have to prove yourself. 'I felt like I had proven myself, that I can do this and that. When I got that first This Morning cover with Dermot, I knew I was pregnant but I didn't tell anyone.' She said: 'In the back of my mind, I was thinking 'If I tell them I'm pregnant, will this put them off getting me in again?' And will they think 'Oh she's gonna be off for ages?''
