All Change As Pair Sell Garden Centre

One of Gloucestershire's most popular garden centres, Hazelfield Garden World near Newent, has been sold to a Channel Islands based company.The new owner is the Blue Diamond Group which has its headquarters in Guernsey and already owns eight other garden centres in the UK.

Hazelfields has been sold for an undisclosed amount by Steve and Sally Browning who bought the centre 10 years ago after moving to Gloucestershire to escape the rat race in the South East. Now they have decided it's time for change although they plan to remain in the area.

Steve said: "We have never regretted the move down here - the quality of life is lovely.

"But after 27 years we have decided to move out of retail into something a bit quieter.

"We were not actively marketing when Blue Diamond first contacted us six months ago but we liked their approach.

"One of the major reasons for our move is the huge increase in bureaucracy we have had to deal with.

"Our last major development took two years of our lives and cost £150,000 in administration fees alone.

"It feels as though we have been working for the bank, the local council and the VAT man."

The Blue Diamond Group dates back to 1904 and employs 550 people with an annual turnover of £33 million.

Mr Browning said the deal would be of benefit to the staff, Newent and the surrounding area and would almost certainly bring an increase in the number of jobs.

Blue Diamond's managing director Alan Roper said: "Our customers are constantly looking for the difference factor, we must create an inspirational environment which they aspire to."

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