Hillier Garden Centre Eastbourne has been granted seven brown tourist signs by East Sussex County Council, officially putting it on the map as a tourist destination.
Hillier submitted its application to the council's Road Safety Department last April. In a bid to highlight the site as more than your average garden centre, Hillier included details of its coffee shop Café Pine, gardening club, regular programme of talks and children's school holiday entertainment, charity fundraising activities, and onsite attractions including Pavers Shoes, specialist aquatic business Fishy Business, Neptune Spas and Cotton Traders.

Its successful application saw seven brown tourist signs installed on the B2104 Rattle Road/Lion Hill and B2247 junctions to help direct visitors to the centre.

Hillier Eastbourne's garden centre manager Glyn Webster said: "In what's been a difficult few months for garden centres, with the unexpected snow and harsh weather conditions, we're thrilled to be granted tourist status.

"Although our focus remains delivering high quality plants and trees, Hillier Eastbourne would not be the same without our 110 seat cafe and regular visitor activities. We have a fun-filled programme of free children's entertainment planned for the summer holidays this year including magic shows, face painting and pottery decorating, so pop down and visit us for a family day out."