HP Garden Centre: An Informed Shopper's Guide

Having visited HP Garden Centre, here's what you can expect, based on my experiences and observations:

Why You Should Visit

• Quality Plants & Flowers: You'll find a good selection of plants and flowers, with a reputation for lasting a long time. I've personally witnessed hanging baskets and other purchases flourishing for months, even through winter. The quality of the bedding plants is notably better than some larger retailers.
• Competitive Pricing: The plants are reasonably priced, offering good value for your money. You can often find great deals, especially during sales like the Easter sale.
• Helpful Staff & Pride in their Work: The staff are known to be helpful and attentive, and clearly take pride in the quality and care of their plants.
• Convenient Delivery: They offer a delivery service, a definite plus for larger purchases or those without easy transport.
• Family-Friendly Activities: The location often hosts special events, especially during school holidays. I've seen Harry Potter-themed sessions with activities like wand-making, slime-making, and pottery painting, perfect for keeping kids entertained. Santa experiences are available during the holidays, and they plant trees with the kids.
• Excellent Cafe Experience: The Hidden Gem cafe is a real draw. You can enjoy lovely cakes at reasonable prices, with both outdoor and undercover seating available. Even with temporary seating adjustments, the food is excellent and the staff are lovely.
• Accessibility: The garden centre and cafe are wheelchair-accessible.
• Ample Parking & Park Setting: The garden centre is located within Heaton Park. There's plenty of parking, but be aware that there are parking charges. The park setting provides a lovely backdrop and offers easy access to walking routes and green spaces. It feels remote from the bustle, yet is accessible.
• Seasonal Planters: You'll find seasonal planters to add colour to your garden.
• Good Choice of plants with unusual varieties The Garden Centre has a good choice of plants to choose from

Why You Might Consider Alternatives

• Limited Size: While offering a good selection, the garden centre is "very small".
• Reduced Variety of Shrubs: The variety of shrubs has been reported to be somewhat reduced.
• No Garden Ornament Shop: If you're looking for garden ornaments, you won't find them here.
• Parking Fees: Be aware that parking in the park is not free; there are paid parking areas.
• Potential Communication Issues: There have been reports of the phone line being unavailable, which could make contacting the business challenging.
• Not as cheap as it used to be: The prices are still competitive but may not be as cheap as previous years.