10-05-2025
Popular Cumbria garden centre still for sale
A family-run garden centre in Plumpton, the Pot Place, is still up for sale following the owners announcing they will retire.
Owned by Paul Thomas and Kevin Roper, the garden centre was created over 20 years ago. The property was first brought to the market in August last year.
Sitting on a roughly 2.75-acre plot, on the site of a former railway, it boasts a specialist pot and garden building centre with a charming tea room, furniture centre, plants, and gift shop.
The Pot Place has been up for sale since August 2024 (Image: Christie & Co.) Owner Paul Thomas said: 'We are looking for somebody who will carry on the business the way we have run it, it has taken us more than 20 years to build it up to what it is.
'We are looking to secure the future for it, for our staff that work here but also for our customers.'
The Pot Place has a 76-space car park and 90 cover café, which has helped build a community within his customer base.
Paul said: 'We are very proud that it is a meeting place where people get together with their friends.
'They use the tea room and the other eating area to meet with friends. There are regulars who come every week.'
Alongside the business, Paul and Kevin have also dedicated their time to their charity work through Cumbria Aid Ukraine, a non-profit focused on providing emergency vehicles and humanitarian aid to Ukraine's frontline.
Cumbria Aid Ukraine delivering vehicles to Lviv (Image: The Pot Place) Paul said: 'If it hadn't been for the support of our customers here at the garden centre, we wouldn't have been able to set up Cumbria Aid Ukraine.
'However, the reason for forming Cumbria Aid Ukraine was to separate it from the garden centre, such that whoever takes over the garden centre, I wouldn't want them to feel obliged to continue the efforts.
'We will be carrying on the work through the organisation anyway, whether that be from the garden centre or elsewhere.'
Paul and Kevin, believe their proudest moments for the garden centre was acquiring the full plot of land in 2005, which they didn't own originally, which included the tea room.
Paul said: 'Once we did that, and established the tea room in 2006, that is really when we could see there was a good future in being a garden centre.
'The other major moment was when Cumbria Oak came onboard, which they did at a similar time, and added their furniture store, and allowed the whole centre to work as a business.'
With the property being listed since August 2024, Paul provided an update on the sale of the business.
He said: 'There has not been anybody who we consider to be a serious enquiry, however we have had enquiries.
'We are looking for someone to run it as it is, we are not in any hurry even though we are looking to retire, we want to wait for the right people to take it on.'
The 'lifestyle business' is being marketed for sale through a share sale of 100 per cent of the limited company.
Andrew Birnie, Director – Retail at Christie & Co, who are selling the location, said: 'The marketing to date has identified some interest but the site remains for sale.
'We are still looking for that special person who appreciates the glorious location, high profitability and lifestyle that owning and running this business would provide.'
Christie & Co, who have listed the site, are encouraging all interested parties to get in touch. You can contact Christie & Co. via enquiries@
