Millbrook teams shine at national GCA Awards

Published on 29 January 2026

This week the Millbrook team headed up to Cheshire for the Garden Centre Association (GCA) Awards. Competing alongside some of the very best garden centres in the country, it was a proud moment to see both our Staplehurst and Gravesend teams recognised at a national level.

Millbrook Staplehurst won 2nd place in the UK’s Local Garden Centre of the Year category - an amazing achievement given the incredibly high standard of entries this year.

There was also something new to celebrate at Millbrook Gravesend, where the team brought home the Meadow View Stone Garden Construction Award. This brand-new award recognises excellence in hard landscaping and outdoor design.

Both of our Kent garden centres were recognised for their excellent indoor plant displays in the Ian Boardman Indoor Plants Cup.

Millbrook Staplehurst was awarded Joint 2nd place in the Local Garden Centre category

Millbrook Gravesend achieved Joint 3rd place in the Garden Centre category

Staplehurst also came 3rd in the GIMA Award for Best Garden Products Retailer.

These results build on an excellent year closer to home. At the 2025 GCA South East Regional Awards, Millbrook Staplehurst was crowned Local Garden Centre of the Year in the South East for the second year running and also won Best Local Garden Centre Restaurant, while Millbrook Gravesend picked up 1st place for Best Outdoor Plant Area and Joint 1st for Best Indoor Plants Retailer.

The GCA Awards are some of the most respected in our industry, involving in-person inspections at over 200 garden centres across the UK looking at everything from plant quality and customer service to creativity and overall standards. To be celebrated at a national and regional level by the GCA is something we’re incredibly proud of.

Speaking about this year's awards Peter Burks, GCA Chief Executive, said:
“Our annual inspection process, and the awards that follow, clearly demonstrate that our member garden centres operate to some of the highest standards in the industry. Year after year, members continue to raise the bar, with competition for the top accolades becoming increasingly competitive.

Every winner and runner-up across all categories should be immensely proud of the standards they set. I would like to warmly congratulate them all for their exceptional commitment to delivering a consistently positive and rewarding experience for customers."

A huge well done to our teams at Millbrook Staplehurst and Millbrook Gravesend, and a heartfelt thank you to our wonderful customers for supporting our family-run, independent garden centre this year!

Read more about the GCA Awards and what they mean at www.gca.org.uk.