All-In-One Garden Centre to close

The All-In-One Garden Centre is to close this summer after more than 51 years of business.

The Rochdale Road garden centre – twice named the best garden centre in the north west – will close in early July, with business moving online as the site has now been sold.
 

Read more: All-In-One best garden centre in North WestPublished: 27 July 2012
Garden centre named best in the North WestPublished: 03 August 2010

The All-In-One Garden Centre is a family-owned business which has been built up from its humble roots of a transformed foundry tip. The then husband and wife team, Dave and Beryl Stafford launched the business on 6 March 1971. Although nurseries and market gardens existed back then, the centre was one of the country’s very first purpose built retail garden centres.

The centre was also named the winner of best Christmas display for three years running between 2006 and 2008.

The news of the closure came on Monday 6 June.

In a statement on Facebook, the Stafford family, which run the centre, said: “We are sad to announce that finally, after serving our community for more than 51 years, the time has come to close our ‘original’ Middleton garden centre.

“As many of you are aware, trading throughout and beyond Covid has brought upon many significant challenges. Our much missed restaurant being the best example of how difficult trading has been over the last two-and-a-half years.

“Our site has now been sold and although we will soon be vacating the premises, we will be continuing to offer the products you love, trading from new premises on an online basis only.

“Being part of this community, helping our customers grow and nurture their gardens, or helping to inspire them to create beautiful Christmas displays inside and outside their homes gives us a great feeling of pride.

“So many of you came to All-In-One to see Santa, only to return many years later with your own children and grandchildren to continue the same tradition. We would like to thank you and let you know we are proud to have been a part of your memories.

“We would also like to acknowledge the help and dedication our staff have contributed to our business over all these years. We have been lucky to employ what felt like an extended family and to you all, you have our heartfelt gratitude and we feel so much pride in what we achieved together.

“The All-In-One Garden Centre will close in early July, so until then, we look forward to seeing you in store and will take great pleasure in serving you for our last few weeks of trading here.

“From those of you who come to shop or simply feed the fish, we will miss you all.”