Founded by Gordon Rigg himself, the Garden Centre began as just a greenhouse, a shed, and a small selection of garden tools. However, fuelled by his passion for gardening and a vision for growth, Gordon Rigg's Centres have flourished over the decades, expanding exponentially to become one of the largest garden centres in the North West.
Today, Gordon Rigg Garden, Home & Leisure boast an impressive 60,000 sq ft of shopping area and employs more than 200 local people. Gordon Rigg’s stocks everything from indoor and outdoor plants through to garden furniture, tools, homeware, gifts, bird care, a pets and aquatics department with tropical and cold-water fish as well as a flower shop offering floral arrangements, bouquets, wedding and funeral flowers handmade by their experienced florists.
Award-winning garden centre
The Todmorden Garden Centre includes Rigg’s Farm Shop which offers quality local and regional produce including cheese, meat, artisan breads, fresh fruits and vegetables, plus a range of small vineyard wines and craft beers.
The Garden Centre has also expanded to include Gordon’s Garden Tea Room, where guests have been enjoying dining among the plants and flowers since 2019. Little wonder that Gordon Rigg Garden, Home & Leisure was voted the best Garden Centre in the North, and second best in the UK by Which? Magazine.
Situated opposite the site is Bottoms Mill Shop, opened by Gordon in 2003, which is the perfect place if you’re looking for clothing, gifts, DIY hardware and homeware. Upstairs, The Cotton Weaver’s Cafe serves hearty, home-cooked food, with views overlooking the picturesque Walsden Valley hills.
Gordon Rigg’s has also established a presence in Rochdale, where another branch and Bistro were opened in 1988 due to the popularity of the first site. Gordon Rigg Garden, Home & Leisure are well-known in the North West, catering to novice and advanced gardeners, but also providing great days out in the countryside that can be enjoyed by everyone.
The Garden Centre hosts a diverse range of adult and children’s events throughout the year as well as seasonal events, including a Christmas Fayre, Easter drop-in crafts and an in-store pumpkin patch at Halloween.
Family-run business
The business is now owned and managed by Gordon’s son Peter Rigg, his wife Pauline and their children. Fiona, who oversees the website and marketing, tells the Manchester Evening News a bit more.
She said: “Gordon Rigg is a real family business; my mother, father, siblings, cousins and uncle all work in the store. We stock a wide variety of products from our reputable suppliers that we have worked with for years enabling us to offer quality, choice and value which are the same values that formed the company’s foundations back in 1945.
Fiona added: "We have an extensive houseplant and outdoor plant department, supplied by the best British growers or sourced fresh from Holland and our staff are very knowledgeable and happy to give advice and resources to people who are new to gardening.'
"We are approaching our 80th anniversary next year which is very exciting and we have lots of wonderful ideas in the pipeline. Keep an eye on our Facebook page for more details!''
How to find Gordon Rigg Garden Centre
Gordon Rigg Garden Centre, Rochdale Road (A6033), Walsden, Todmorden, OL14 7TJ. Tel: 01706 813374; Gordon Rigg Garden Centre, Moss Bridge Road, Kingsway (A664), Rochdale, OL16 4UX. Tel: 01706 356089. Or email sales@gordonrigg.com
