With over 150 years experience, Garners Garden Centre is still a family run business with friendly staff who can provide expert advice. We have a large tarmacked car park, situated close to Newcastle town centre and can offer a delivery service at competitive prices.

In addition to our gardening products and services, we have a large pet shop, newly extended craft centre, beautiful gift departments, and supply a large range of garden furniture, tools and DIY equipment. We now also have two independent family businesses within the garden centre in Valor Works a bespoke gift shop, who can customise and engrave anything. 

The History of Garners Garden Centre

The local family business has its origins in Newcastle Under Lyme where it began life as a seed merchants and florist in the 19th century. The business was founded by Moses Jenkinson in 1840, an ancestor of Edgar Garner after whom today's business took its name. Even in the 1920's, the shop at 21 Iron Market, Newcastle Under Lyme, had been established for so long that it was able to proclaim that it had 'over 100 years of practical seed experience' attached to it. Edgar Garner took over the running of the business in the 1930's and opened a new shop on the Iron Market.

John 'Jack' Garner took over the nursery side of the business, when his father died, whereby the shop was moved to Merrial Street in 1961, and to a warehouse in Pool Dam. George Barlow married Margaret, Jack Garners daughter, and took over the running of the shop by 1969, with Jack Garner running the now very successful farm seed supplies business. Jack Garner died in 1980 and as a consequence George and Margaret Barlow took over running both sides of the business. George and Margaret's son David joined the firm that same year, working first in the shop and then selling farm seed. With David's help the business would later enjoy considerable change and expansion.

Seven years after Jack Garners death, the opportunity to buy land in Silverdale, on which to build a garden centre, finally presented itself. Work on the new garden centre began in June 1987. Thus the famous Garners Garden Centre was born, with David running the new enterprise. Garners farm seed warehouse was then built across the road from the garden centre. The farm seed side of the business eventually closed when Arthur retired in 2000.

Garners Garden Centre today includes great staff, such as Keiron and Lyndon, with over 50 years combined service, and is still family run. Mark Woodvine has to be mentioned who accompolished 45 years service for Garners and has seen everything from the shop in

Merrial street to the Garden Centre today. George Barlow managing director up until 2018 unfortunately passed away during the COVID-19 pandemic, but will never be forgotten, especially for what he has left behind. To this day David runs the Garden Centre, with Thomas Barlow his son also working there: the 6th generation of the family business. 

Despite the widespread challenges posed by the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, the garden centre not only weathered the storm but emerged resilient. Fortuitously, the recognition of gardening as beneficial for mental health played a pivotal role in the centre's survival. As people sought solace in outdoor activities during the lockdown, the garden centre found itself in a position to reopen shortly after the initial lockdown phase. The appreciation for the therapeutic value of gardening sustained the business.