Shops / News

Garden centre to close

By Milan Perera  Wednesday Oct 2, 2024

A garden centre is to close down as part of a national restructuring process of its parent group.

Little Dobbies on Whiteladies Road opened its doors in 2021 in a former bank as the first in England following the success of the first Little Dobbies shop that had opened in Edinburgh the previous year.

Dobbies, one of the largest garden centre chains in the UK, has around 70 stores nationwide; with Little Dobbies focused on urban areas.

Independent journalism
is needed now More than ever
Keep our city's journalism independent.

Under their current restructuring strategy, however, 17 shops are to close down as they are deemed “unprofitable” where the group attempts to “address historically uneconomical rent costs and ensure a return to sustainable profitability”.

The plans will also see the closure of its branches in Gloucester and Cheltenham.

Little Dobbies in Clifton sells houseplants, pots, a selection of thematic gifts along with gardening tools, bulbs and seeds – photo: Milan Perera

The Little Dobbies on Whiteladies Road stocks a large range of gardening products, especially for urban spaces with limited gardening capacity.

Its shelves include houseplants, pots, a selection of thematic gifts along with gardening tools, bulbs and seeds.

The shop also serves freshly-ground takeaway coffee on top of its gardening offerings.

Little Dobbies opened at the former Royal Bank of Scotland branch on Whiteleadies Road in 2021 – photo: Milan Perera

When Bristol24/7 visited the store, the staff said it will be closing down at the end of November. They added that although it will be a “sad day” but thanked the customers for their continued support.

It is feared that due to the restructuring process, some 465 of the firm’s 3,600 employees will be impacted.

Main photo: Milan Perera

Read next:

Our top newsletters emailed directly to you
I want to receive (tick as many as you want):
I'm interested in (for future reference):
Marketing Permissions

Bristol24/7 will use the information you provide on this form to be in touch with you and to provide updates and marketing. Please let us know all the ways you would like to hear from us:

We will only use your information in accordance with our privacy policy, which can be viewed here - main-staging.bristol247.com/privacy-policy/ - you can change your mind at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in the footer of any email you receive from us, or by contacting us at meg@bristol247.com. We will treat your information with respect.


We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By clicking below to subscribe, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing. Learn more about Mailchimp's privacy practices here.

Related articles

You've read %d articles this month
Consider becoming a member today
Independent journalism
is needed now More than ever
You've read %d articles this month
Consider becoming a member today
You've read %d articles this month
Consider becoming a member today
Join the Better
Business initiative
You've read %d articles this month
Consider becoming a member today
* prices do not include VAT
You've read %d articles this month
Consider becoming a member today
Enjoy delicious local
exclusive deals
You've read %d articles this month
Consider becoming a member today
Wake up to the latest
Get the breaking news, events and culture in your inbox every morning