General Chat

Looks like they have definitely gone bust. Such a loss to the community, the only coffee shop in the village which was really well used too. Maybe it will be taken on by somebody but it is in a prime spot for housing!!

Ann xx

Fond memories pottering round there on a Sunday with Dad. What a shame. Looks like we've just lost a nice coffee shop/restaurant in Trowbridge - so many empty shops now.

That's sad Ann.. from an economic and social point of view...

Have they closed the other centres too?

The situation is very worrying as of course any closure has a knock-on effect in the community.

Gwyn

Gwyn I don't know, we were walking past this morning and a car stopped outside, it was a man who worked there. We asked him if they had gone bust and he just said yes. Didn't like to ask any more as it was his job gone.
Sucj a shame the old man, Arthur Hurran, dead now, started the business as a market stall in Gloucester market. His son runs it now i think. I wonder if they have just closed the one branch. shall miss them, not just for the coffee but for the plants and pots etc as well. We have another garden centre near but a five minute car ride, Hurrans we could walk to.

Ann

:¬(( So we won't be having coffee there, then!! What a shame... and as Ann said, a prime spot for housing.

Love

Daff xxxx

Well there is my place Daff, Norton GC (Twigs) or on most days Nature in art Twigworth (Wallsworth House)

ann xx

From the local paper

The county’s first-ever garden centre has gone into administration.

Hurrans in Churchdown closed its doors on Wednesday.

Customers were ushered out of the store at the end of the day as staff locked up.

Gary J Corbett and Colin Burke of Milner Boardman & Partners have been appointed joint administrators for the 100-year-old group, which began as a nursery and a stall in Gloucester Market.

The shock closure came a day after Hurrans attempted to sell off its five garden centres in a bid to save the business.

Mike Gilbert, director of estate agent Hammond Phillips, said he was hoping to sell the £3 million-turnover group as individual centres to independent buyers or developers.

Chairman Arthur Hurran said: “Selling the family business is a difficult decision but unfortunately the trading conditions, coupled with a large pensions deficit, have left us with no alternative.”

Hurrans, founded by Arthur’s father Alfred, has also closed stores in Cowbridge in Glamorgan and Langstone in Monmouthshire.

Two garden centres in Banbury and West Hagley, Worcestershire, were open yesterday but aren’t believed to be trading under the Hurrans name.

A member of staff at one of the stores said: “It was sprung on us at 9am.”

Councillor Bill Whelan, who sits on the parish, borough and county councils, said it was a blow to Churchdown.

He said: “It is sad for the local community. “It means more local jobs will be lost.

“Groups like the Churchdown carers used to meet in the coffee shop and they will be sad to see it go.”

The business was founded by Alfred Hurran, who came to Gloucester in 1909.

Hurrans in Churchdown was opened in 1967 by BBC gardening expert Percy Thrower

It makes you wonder who will be next doesn't it?

That is just so sad. I spent many blissful hours in Hurrans near you, Ann, as you know. Mis-spent might be a better description, lol!!

Love

Daff xxxxx

Or over-spent Lol!!!!

lol Ann definitely that.. why buy one when 10 will look so much nicer, lolol!! But I used to hide there for an hour or so when I got stressed out at work... not in the cafe, but in the plant section..... rarely failed to soothe, lol

Love

Daff xxxx

So sad to hear of local businesses closing Ann and as well as being a loss for buying things there are lots of memories too.
We have a family store T.G. Allan's....stationery,toys and wonderful book-store upstairs.....has been in our town for 79 years.Our chilldren and their children have used it for school books etc. and it closes at the end of the month. It will be a big miss!

Woolworths have just closed and now M&S food store is next victim, seems most of UK is closing down!! :O( who's next we wonder?

Morning Ann in Glos. I am so sorry to hear of a garden centre closing down, particularly so close to yourself. I suppose I am fortunate that for only about 20mins drive in various directions,I have access to four, without having to go further afield. I can assure you, that these are used regularly by us, summer and winter alike. They have super pressies, and decorations for the Christmas period, then clear away the baubles and bring in the seed potatoes, (particularly good for us as we have an allotment), then bring in the yellow Kinderpots of 'grow-on' plantlets, before it is time for the summer bedders. Although we can see, from being regular visitors, that they manage to keep going all year, we can also see the 'high's and the 'lows'. For us, as keen gardeners, it is sad to hear your news.
Julia in Derbyshire

Well, except for losing the cafe we are fortunate too as there are two garden centres five to ten minutes away, one has a cafe! Then we have six within half an hour by car. it is not so much losing the garden centre as losing a great village facility. And our recycling centre is now locked inside their car park Lol1!!!

Ann