About Us

Alton Garden Centre first opened its doors in March 1971. Derek Bunker borrowed £1,000 from the bank and set up a small greenhouse off the Arterial Road — just enough space for ten cars and a handful of plants. That’s where it all began.

Fast forward over 50 years and we’re still proudly family-run. Derek’s still at the heart of it all, now joined by his wife, sons, daughter and more of the extended family. A lot has changed over the years, but that family feel is still the same.

The team has grown too. We now have over 90 staff, many of whom have been with us for decades. Each department is run by people who know their stuff and genuinely care about what they do. There’s no corporate head office here,  just passionate people who love gardening and helping others enjoy it too.

Gardening has changed a lot over the last few decades, and we’ve grown right along with it. Today, you’ll find everything from outdoor plants and furniture to gifts, homeware and pet essentials.

We’re especially proud of how the team pulled together during tough times. When some of our customers couldn’t make it in, staff went above and beyond, answering phones, packing orders, and even dropping things off by hand so people could still enjoy their gardens.

We’re here because of the people — our customers and our staff. And we’re just getting started.

Here’s to the next 50 years.