Aquatics chain Maidenhead Aquatics has agreed to buy a garden centre from Wyevale Garden Centres.
Maidenhead Aquatics will acquire Dummer garden centre in Basingstoke, which converted from a traditional nursery in 1986, for an undisclosed sum, reports the Retail Gazette.
David Lawrence, MD of Maidenhead Aquatics, said: “Maidenhead Aquatics are pleased to have acquired Dummer Garden Centre. Having traded from the site for over 10 years as a concession, it was an opportunity to secure both the future of the site as a local traditional garden centre as well as enhancing and securing our existing specialist aquatics offering.
“We very much look forward to working with the existing team and further improving the centre.”
Wyevale Garden Centres, the country’s largest garden centre operator, was put up for sale by investment group Terra Firm in May 2018. Specialist business property advisor Christie & Co has been hired by the private equity firm to help sell the 145 branches across the UK.
The sites range in size from one to 132 acres and many have pet centres, restaurants and cafes. Many also have concessions including Maidenhead Aquatics stores.
In the latest round of sales announced mid-June, Wyevale said it would sell 11 of its centres in four transactions to Maidenhead Aquatics, British Garden Centres, The Plant Area Limited (t/a Clandon Park Garden Centre) and Coolings Garden Centres.
Anthony Jones, chief operating officer at Wyevale, said: “The sale of a further 11 centres takes the total number sold to 101 since the sale process began.
“I’m delighted that these 11 centres will remain as garden centres and would like to thank all colleagues for their commitment and contribution and wish them all well for the future.”
