Our expansion plans are on track for September completion
You may have noticed the building work that is going on around the centre.
Managed by our Project Manager, Sarah Ritchie (pictured with our MD, Mark Farnsworth), the work is the second phase of a £4.5m expansion and will create new facilities for our team of 200, a new 180 seat restaurant plus 15,000 sq. ft of retail space.
The workforce of predominantly Yorkshire contractors, adopted work placed distancing measures during lockdown and were able to continue building the two storey 25,000 square feet extension that is due to open at the end of September.
Our MD, Mark Farnsworth said: “Following government guidelines, we have been delighted that we could continue with the development project throughout lockdown. We are very grateful to everyone who has kept working in what has been very challenging circumstances.
“At the end of September, we will have a great addition to the centre with the ground floor being used for gardening products and a much bigger house plants range. On the first floor, as well as the new restaurant, our team will also benefit from some vastly improved team facilities and offices. This is another phase of our continued investment into the centre and we hope everyone can enjoy the new space”
“The new restaurant, called The Mezzanine, will be a table service restaurant which gives a point of difference to our main restaurant. The menu will be driven by local suppliers with plenty of focus on seasonal choices and there will also be a large patisserie counter.”
With the completion of The Mezzanine, we will be able to accommodate over 750 diners, including seats in Grass Hoppers Indoor and Outdoor Play.
Phase one of the expansion opened last summer and included a new plant canopy, an indoor play area for Grass Hoppers and the new events centre.
Work on phase two is being carried out by many of the same teams who completed phase one. “In our continued support of, and investment in, the Yorkshire economy, we have appointed Yorkshire tradesmen wherever possible,” said Mark.