Our History
The 1930s & 40s – The Beginning
Our story begins with Fred Hodges, who rented a house and 7.5 acres of land for 26 shillings a week in Almondsbury in 1933. His father already had a nursery in Henbury and I suppose you could say gardening is in our genes! This was the kitchen garden, and father produced fruit, vegetables and flowers for the house and the community.” says Phil Hodges, the third generation of the Hodges Family to run the garden centres.
During World War II, Fred turned his garden into a vital source of vegetables for the Bristol Aeroplane Company, serving meals for 2,000 workers daily. Through war and hardship, the garden flourished, laying the roots for the thriving business we are today.
Fun Fact:
Did you know Fred once dodged a German bomber’s bullets while hoeing the garden?
After the Hiatt Bakers moved to Oxfordshire in 1946, they auctioned their estate properties with an unusual act of fairness: Mr. Hiatt Baker pre-negotiated prices with his workers, ensuring they could purchase the homes. Fred Hodges acquired the property and seven acres that remain today.
Post-war restrictions on construction meant Fred faced significant hurdles. “You couldn’t build structures or anything because of permits and rationing,” recalls Keith Hodges, second generation owner.
Even basic materials like wood required ration coupons. By the late 1940s, with regulations easing, Fred began cultivating his land, constructing four greenhouses still in use today. Each greenhouse had its own boiler, demanding round-the-clock maintenance and a dedicated team of five workers.
At 15, Fred's son Keith joined the family operation, earning £1 per week. However, differing visions prompted Keith to strike out independently after two years. He established Park Garden Nurseries on Gloucester Road, Bristol, sourcing much of his produce from his father—a testament to their shared passion for horticulture.
The 1960s & 70s – Growth and Innovation
In the 1970s, Keith Hodges inherited the nursery and brought retail innovation to the business. What started as a modest compost production turned into a fully-fledged garden centre, thanks to visionary partnerships and a knack for adapting to customers’ needs. By the late ’70s, our shop and car park welcomed its first customers, marking the beginning of Almondsbury as you know it today.
“The wall used to run the length of the road and as soon as we put another entrance in, customers started driving up asking us what we sold. We didn’t really expect that! The road was only mud path and customers used to get their cars stuck!”
By the 1970s, compost production had grown significantly, with around 1,000 tonnes of bagged compost being produced annually. However, customer demand for dry goods and garden sundries increased, setting the stage for a pivotal meeting between Keith and Simon Yelland of Gibbs Palmer (now Solus Garden Leisure, Park Garden Centre's longest-standing supplier). Despite initial scepticism about retailing, Simon's enthusiasm and support convinced Keith to take the plunge. By the 1980s, the store expanded to its current size.
A highlight of this period was the creation of a highly successful Gardening Club. The club boasted 230 members and a long waiting list, hosting monthly summer events in the greenhouse, which was transformed into a lecture space with 250 chairs. These events, though rewarding, placed a strain on staff, eventually leading to their discontinuation—a bittersweet decision for Keith. By 2011, plans were underway to revive similar events.
One memorable Gardening Club incident underscores its popularity. A speaker from Gloucester faced delays due to police activity on Over Lane, which had been closed. Undeterred, members abandoned their cars and walked to the centre. Meanwhile, the speaker secured a police escort to ensure their timely arrival—a testament to the dedication of the club's members and the extraordinary lengths taken to keep the community engaged.
Keith’s commitment to innovation, customer service, and fostering a community spirit transformed the garden centre into a beloved destination for gardening enthusiasts.
The 1980s and 90s saw us expand beyond Almondsbury, acquiring Lechlade Garden Centre and later Cheddar Garden Centre. Lechlade transformed under our care, evolving into a go-to destination for garden lovers in the Cotswolds. By the late ’90s, our garden centres became fully integrated, offering everything from aquatics to coffee shops under one roof.
“We bought Lechlade with Phil in mind, we never thought he would join the business, but he was like a duck to water. He had the business savvy that we maybe didn’t and he moved up to Lechlade in 1994.” Added Keith.
“Lechlade enabled me to learn all my retailing. It gave me the opportunity to look at everything from ordering to merchandising and to really understand Garden Centre retailing” added Phil. “Lechlade was by reputation before we bought it expensive and poorly stocked and staffed. I stayed there until 1997, and I have to say they were 3 extremely tough years. We worked really hard to improve the business, and overcome its poor reputation.”
In 1997, Phil took over running the whole business as Keith decided to retire.
Here’s Phil as a baby playing in the dirt!
“We held our first ever management meeting, and I operated completely differently to my dad. He therefore had the rest of the garden centre run on a series of franchises. There was a Coffee Shop, Aquatics Centre, Landscaping Centre and Garden Buildings all run on the site as separate businesses. Within a two year period I had taken over all the franchises and ran them within the business growing turnover and more importantly profitability allowing us to invest in the business.”
Whilst restructuring the business, Phil also made some big decisions with his team and empowered staff to make purchasing decisions.
“We wanted staff to be more responsible for their ordering, to ensure the quality was high and as you can see today, the teams know their products, the quality is exceptional. It made such a difference, they felt more involved and ultimately saw that we believed in the team!”
In the 2000s, we rebuilt Lechlade and opened a garden centre in Cheddar in 2006. Both centres continued to thrive until 2010 when Phil fell ill, which led to him selling both Lechlade and Cheddar sites in 2014 in order to focus on his health and put his efforts into one site - Almondsbury.
Throughout 2016 and 2017, Phil kickstarted an upgrade project for Almondsbury. This included upgrades to the main building, plant area and a new restaurant.
Just a few years later the COVID-19 pandemic hit, which in many ways came as a turning point for both Phil and the business. This period allowed Phil to rest, get his health back on track and reevaluate the business. It’s during this time that a focus on Christmas was done for the very first time as well as garden furniture, both of which proved to be a big success! In 2022 the café reopened in it’s new location at the top of the hill.
In 2025, Almondsbury Garden Centre continues to be a family-run business, with Phil Hodges leading the way.
“We have always tried to provide a fair and equitable workplace where everyone is treated with respect. I believe in progression and it is great to have such a fantastic team of staff, who are incredibly knowledgeable and very proud of what they do.”
The business, in its 90th year of trading continues to be a place of the community where people can meet, feel welcome and just enjoy beautiful plants and wonderful food.
“I would love for Almondsbury to be considered the best garden centre in Bristol. Diversifying the business is essential but we’ll always remain as plant experts offering high-quality plants at excellent prices!”
At Almondsbury, we’re rooted in tradition but always growing towards the future. Whether you’re here for gardening advice, the perfect plant, or simply a good coffee with a view, you’ll always be part of our story.