Green Fingered Opportunity

The British have often been called a nation of gardeners and TV programmes such as Dragons Den and The Apprentice celebrate our entrepreneurial spirit but how do you combine the two

Well, an opportunity to do so has just arisen.

Alfords Garden Centre, on Grimsby Road Laceby on the outskirts of Grimsby, has just been placed on the market by commercial property agents Scotts.

It is very much business as usual in the run up to the very busy Christmas period but owners Peter and Dee Skiba would like to retire and pursue other interests.

They bought the business approximately 20 years and over the years have built it up to include the retail element and a popular café, together with a thriving nursery business. The retail accommodation has also been expanded recently by way of a newly constructed greenhouse.

Ed Chisholm at Scotts said ”The premises extend to approximately 44,000 sq ft on a site on 2.85 acres and are located opposite Morrisons supermarket. Access is available directly from the A46 and the A18 is only 2 miles to the west. It is ideally located”

The location opposite Morrisons may also offer longer term opportunities for redevelopment for either retail or residential uses although this would need to be the subject of a planning application.

Mr Chisholm added “The popularity of the café is such that it is often full so planning permission has recently been granted for an extension and also to enlarge the car park. A new purchaser could put their own mark on the place immediately. We understand that there is also an opportunity to acquire additional land to the rear of the property, which could be utilised to further extend the garden centre.”

The guide price is upon application; nevertheless, this is no seedling business and in the right hands, with the right management team could grow to become a giant in the garden centre world.