Catering was the best performer in garden centres during May, new figures from the Garden Centre Association reveal.
Compared to the same time month year sales of food and drink were up 14.5%.

GCA chief executive Iain Wylie explained: "Garden centres have so much more to offer than just plants these days, and people often make a family day out of visiting their local centre as there's something for everyone.

"They can browse the plants, pick up gifts and clothes, let the kids play in the play area and have a hearty lunch or dinner."

The second best performer during the month was outdoor plants, sales of which rose 14.0%.

Typical of GCA members enjoying good catering sales last month was Perrywood Garden Centre and Nurseries in Essex, where garden centre manager Simon Bourne commented: "May was a really great month for us, and was in fact our best-ever month in the garden centre and in the coffee shop.

"Sales were up 18% for the garden centre on last year and up 24% in the coffee shop. Plant sales in May were fantastic and were up 21% on last year.

"As always, the weather drives our sales and the higher-than-average rainfall and lower temperatures has actually helped this time around. The rain has fallen in short, sharp spells that have kept plants looking fresh, but dry spells inbetween have allowed gardeners to get out and do things.

"The lower temperatures have meant that people haven't headed to the coast/park/pub beer garden and although it has been colder we have had quite a bit of sunshine which has been perfect for spending a day doing work in the garden."

He added: "There seems to be confidence from customers to spend more this season with larger plants as well as leisure lines selling well."

During the month sales of houseplants were also up, by 13.6%, and furniture and barbecues did well at 10.3% up. Garden centres also reported a rise of 9.5% in pets and aquatics departments. Food hall/farm shop sales were up 8.2%, and clothing sales were 9.1% up over the same time last year.

Katie Eckley, manager of The Old Railway Line Garden Centre near Brecon, also had a good month. She said: "The weather was bright enough to keep bringing people out, although those few late chilly evenings were a bit worrying.

"Overall we were 16% up on last year. The restaurant is still seeing growth at 10% up for May. Outdoor living is doing extremely well for us, it was over 80% up for May compared to last year. We just hope we can keep it up as suppliers' stock levels are getting low now.

"Outdoor plants had a cracking month at 15% up. We are very happy with this level of growth for a department that we haven't made any bigger, just worked it harder and turned stock over quickly.

"Houseplants are doing well for the year so far but May was about on par with last year."

Meanwhile, in Taunton, Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre's new Elm Tree restaurant saw positive growth in its first full month of trading since opening in April, with sales up 48.6% on 2014.