Garden centre announces opening date
By Connor Steel
ALVER VALLEY’S new garden centre will finally open to the public next month following an important business announcement via social media this morning (March 31), providing a boost for many eager shoppers alongside employed staff and Gosport’s local economy.
Posts via social media have confirmed the site, located in Barrington Close, off Howe Road will see its first buyers from 9am on April 11; meaning the businesses will be open just in time for the Easter Bank Holiday weekend which starts just four days later.
Alver Valley Garden Centre will be one of three stores under the garden centre company MGGC Ltd, with the others at Stansted Park near Rowlands Castle and one in Warwickshire. Plans were first presented to Gosport Borough Council ten years ago, with most of the development work carried out during the pandemic induced lockdowns during 2020 and 2021.
Although the main attraction will be the garden centre there will be many additions to help set it apart from competitors in the region such as Garsons; including a large restaurant and coffee bar opening on the same morning (April 11) for hungry visitors.
There will be disabled access throughout all stores and the main site, whilst dogs are also free to visit with owners providing they are on a lead and excrement is picked up. Free parking for all vehicles is permitted for the garden centre, whilst delivery and carry to your car services are provided if needed.
Toilets will be available for all and a specialised meeting room will feature inside the main building, which will be bookable for community groups, parties, or private events. An ice cream bar and children’s play area are set to open later in the summer pending the final development.
Shoe-brand Pavers have already opened their store on the site as written in the Globe last month, whilst ladies retailer Klass Clothing and sellers Happy Hot Tubs (opening April 14) set to be joining the site very soon as partners according to the Your Garden Centre website page.
However there is still opportunities to become a retail partner of the garden centre and join the site in one of their concession spaces; with anybody interested asked to contact them via the website to be put forward and next stages put in place for opening a store.
The location is enhanced by a natural surrounding in the form of Alver Valley Country Park, which offers a great area for dog walkers, cyclists, and nature lovers. Other attractions near the garden centre include the 17th Century Living History Village alongside a ‘Wild-grounds’ Site of Special Scientific aimed at providing nature and conservation in the area.
Opening hours for the garden centres run from 9am until 5:30pm every day except Sunday; when the shops will open at 10:30am and close at 4:30pm. Its restaurant will open daily between 9am and 5pm Monday to Saturday, whilst opening between 10am and 4pm on Sundays.
For more information readers are asked to visit the garden centre website or ask questions via their Facebook page; which has over 3,500 people following any updates.
PICTURED BY ALVER VALLEY GARDEN CENTRE: Birds eye view of the new site and car park in Gosport, which will open at 9am on April 11 (Monday) to excite shoppers.
