WALKERS NURSERIES LIMITED

Name

WALKERS NURSERIES LIMITED

Legal name

Walkers Nurseries LTD

Website

https://walkersnurseries.tv

Company type

Private

Founded year

1951

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Walkers Nurseries Limited is a family-owned garden centre and leisure destination in Blaxton, Doncaster, established in 1951, selling plants, gifts, outdoor living products and operating the 200-seat Glasshouse Cafe plus the ROSES 1951 upscale dining concept across an 8-acre show garden site.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Garden Centre and Horticultural Retail

NAICS

Nursery, Garden Center, and Farm Supply Retailers (44424), Zoos and Botanical Gardens (712130)

SIC

Retail-Building Materials, Hardware, Garden Supply (5200), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Plants, Seeds & Nursery Retail (Garden Centers) (CRAIAIAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Patio & Outdoor Furniture Retail (Seating, Dining, Umbrellas) (CRAIAIAF)

Keywords

• Garden centre retail
• Plant nursery
• Outdoor living
• Destination dining
• Family leisure experience

Headquarters

HQ city

Blaxton, Doncaster

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Garden Centre & Plants Retail: Sale of plants including shrubs, flowers, bedding plants, grasses, pines, conifers, houseplants, and garden sundries. The business grows its own stock including pines, conifers, and bedding plants in its on-site nursery.
2. Dining & Foodservice: Revenue from the Garden Restaurant (The Glasshouse Cafe) with 200 seats, ROSES 1951 fine dining experience, food to go counter, and outside catering services. Includes breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, and Sunday roast offerings.
3. Gift Shop & Retail: Sale of gifts, homeware, interior décor, children's toys and books, hand-crafted chocolates, artisan gins, and Christmas decorations. Also includes Bobo's Boutique children's clothing concession.
4. E-commerce & Outdoor Living: Online sales of outdoor furniture, Traeger BBQs, and related products with local delivery within 20 miles of Blaxton, Doncaster.
5. Experiences & Activities: Revenue from beekeeping experience days, wedding photography in show gardens, and other event activities.
6. Gift Vouchers: Sale of gift vouchers for garden centre and restaurant, valid for up to one year.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Walkers Nurseries operates a destination garden centre and hospitality venue selling plants (shrubs, flowers, bedding plants, pines, conifers, houseplants) and garden sundries from its own on-site nursery, alongside a gift shop, an outdoor living showroom (garden furniture, BBQs), two restaurants (The Glasshouse Cafe and ROSES 1951), fine foods and food-to-go, 8 acres of show gardens, a children's play area, and ticketed experiences such as beekeeping days and afternoon tea.

Product overview

Walkers Nurseries is a family-run garden centre established in 1951, offering a multi-faceted retail and hospitality experience. The core offering consists of a Garden Centre with plants, shrubs, and garden sundries, complemented by a Gift Shop, Outdoor Living showroom, and extensive Show Gardens spanning 8 acres. The hospitality division includes The Glasshouse Cafe (200-seat garden restaurant serving breakfast, lunches, and Sunday roasts) and the newly launched ROSES 1951 upscale dining experience. Additional services encompass Food To Go with award-winning sausage rolls, fine foods from local suppliers, outside catering, children's play area, beekeeping experiences, and wedding photography. The business also retails premium BBQ products including Traeger wood pellet grills and hosts seasonal events such as a Christmas shop. All operations are headquartered at Mosham Road, Blaxton, Doncaster DN9 3BA.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ROSES 1951: A brand new dining experience at Walkers Nurseries, named in honour of Lawrence and Vera Walker who began growing roses over 70 years ago. Offers barista coffee, light breakfast menu, and afternoon platters with wines, beers and cocktails.
• The Glasshouse Cafe
• Beekeeping Experience Days

Products and services

• Garden Centre / Plants & Nursery

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Tiffany FashionminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Tiffany Fashion is opening a new shop at Walkers Nurseries in a sustainable, low-carbon, off-grid unit powered by solar energy. This enables Tiffany to show their existing casual brands and new collections in a beautiful setting. Occasion wear remains at their city centre location.
• Miracle GrominorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023Supported David Domoney talk event at Walkers Nurseries on houseplants, including book giveaway.
• Doncaster Deaf TrustminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Supported Graham Bodle's Sculptor's Picnic Garden design at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2015, which won Gold Medal and Best Artisan award.
• ResDiarycoreTechnology or IntegrationOnline booking system used for restaurant reservations. Data stored securely in Microsoft Azure data centres within the local country jurisdiction.
• Armstrong ButchersminorOthersModern butcher with traditional values supplying locally-sourced native and rare breeds, prepared with care and expertise.
• The Gentleman FishmongerminorOthersQuality fish and fresh seafood supplier with team available to share tips and advice.
• K.D. Davis & SonsminorOthersGreengrocers offering the freshest fruits and vegetables, celebrating seasonality.
• EverlandsminorOthersIndustry-leading supplier of Christmas trees, wreaths, and realistic artificial trees including Koreana Spruce and Snowy Vancouver Pine varieties.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Dobbies Garden Centres: Largest UK garden centre chain with 70+ stores, restaurants, and broad online delivery. Comparable as a multi-vertical garden centre with dining, but operates at chain scale across the country, whereas Walkers is a single destination site.
• Blue Diamond Garden Centres: UK's second-largest garden centre group with 40+ destinations combining retail, dining, and events. Closest broad incumbent to Walkers' destination model, with similar food-led and experience-led revenue layering.

Direct peers

• Hillier Garden Centres: Long-established (since 1864) family-run garden centre group with own nursery, multiple restaurants, and Christmas events. Closest peer on heritage and on-site plant production comparable to Walkers' own nursery.
• Haskins Garden Centres: Family-owned destination garden centre group in the South of England with restaurants, gift shop, and seasonal events. Comparable mid-sized family operator combining retail and dining.
• Barton Grange Garden Centre: Family-owned destination garden centre in Lancashire with award-winning show gardens, multiple restaurants, events, and a strong leisure component. The most directly comparable single-site destination garden centre to Walkers in scale and concept.
• Van Hage Garden Centres: Family-owned garden centre chain with restaurants, gift shops, and Christmas attractions. Comparable family heritage and leisure-led garden centre format.
• Frosts Garden Centres: Family-run garden centre group in the Midlands and South with restaurants, events, and on-site growing. Similar family heritage, multi-vertical structure, and destination positioning.
• Webbs Garden Centre: Family-owned West Midlands garden centre with restaurant, gift shop, and seasonal events. Comparable destination retail model, though located in a different UK region.

Regional players

• Notcutts Garden Centres: Established regional garden centre group (since 1897) with restaurants and own plant production. Comparable on heritage and vertical integration, but operates across multiple UK sites rather than as a single destination.
• Squire's Garden Centres: Family-run garden centre chain focused on the South East of England with restaurants and events. Similar multi-vertical destination format, but geographically distinct from Walkers' Yorkshire base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/walkersevents
• Facebookfacebook.com/walkersnurseries
• Instagraminstagram.com/walkersnurseries
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/walkers-nurseries-limited

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about WALKERS NURSERIES LIMITED