Bents Garden & Home is celebrating not only being awarded Best Show Feature at this year's RHS Tatton Flower Show, but being named Best Destination Garden Centre in the North West 2016 by the Garden Centre Association.
The title of Best Destination Centre in the North West comes following a strict audit of garden centres throughout the country with the results announced on a regional basis. The GCA comprises over 200 of the country's best garden centres and as a member each undergoes a strict audit process with judges assessing every part of the centre from plant and product quality to customer service and innovation.

Bents received a spot visit by the GCA auditors and recorded one of the top scores in the country, which not only saw them awarded Best Garden Centre in the North West but also regional titles for Best Outdoor Living Retailer, Best Restaurant and the Barton Grange Trophy for Innovation and Creativity. It is also one of only three finalists from the North to be shortlisted for the Best Plant Area in the UK, which will be announced following a further audit in the autumn.

All Bents' GCA awards were quickly followed by success at this year's RHS Tatton Flower Show. Bents attended the show as part of the Cheshire Gardens of Distinction display, dressing the stand for the occasion and their work was recognised by judges with the award for Best Show Feature.

Says managing director Matthew Bent: "The GCA awards are extremely important within the industry as they are based purely on quality standards throughout the centre. This quality is not only in relation to products and departments, but also people and service, which makes it a very special award to win.

"We have a great team who work extremely hard and the title of Best Destination Garden Centre in the North West is a fantastic way to thank them for all their input. And to follow it up with an award at one of the country's most popular horticultural shows is just the icing on the cake!"

Garden centres don't pay to enter the GCA awards or put themselves forward; members are all visited by inspectors with no prior knowledge of the exact date to ensure standards remain high at all times. The award also sees Bents being acknowledged as a Garden Centre of Excellence, one of 10 in the country.