Midlands-based Planters Garden Centre group has opened a new Pet and Aquatic Centre, costing £2m, at its Bretby site near Burton on Trent, Staffordshire.

The centre is housed in a new standalone building (70m long by 20m wide) and includes an independent veterinary practice and a purpose-built 40 seat coffee shop and patio that is pet friendly.

The aquatic and pet accommodation was supplied by Aquaja in the Netheralnds and delivered in five arctic lorry loads.   

“The Dutch team took three weeks to build everything on site,” said Planters director Gerald Ingram. “We visited Interzoo two years ago and were very impressed by Aquaja. Our team spent a day in the Netherlands touring some of their installations.”  

Within the pet side of the centre there are eight guinea pig/rabbit enclosures as visitors enter the building plus a small animal unit for hamsters, gerbils, mice and rats. 

There are around 30 vivariums for reptiles, spiders, lizards and snakes, including a unit where children and adults can crawl through and pop their heads up in the enclosures.

The centre also includes large aviaries for birds, which are decorated with forest images.   

Gerald said the expansion at Planters Bretby should take the pet and aquatic turnover from £350,000 to £1.5m pa in two years. This would make it the largest pet and aquatic centre within the Garden Centre Association membership. Staffing has increased from five full and part time employees to a total of 10.

This development will have its own entrance from the car park, meaning that the Pet and  Aquatic and Gardening Gift and Restaurant customers are separated. It will release about 400 sq m of space within the garden centre for a new Regatta clothing store and more space for the farm shop. 

Josh Winter, Pet and Evenets Manager at Planters, said: “The opening was a great success. It was busy as soon as the doors opened. We have only done a soft opening so far while we let the staff settle in, and we’re hoping to do a big opening in a few weeks’ time.”

Josh added that sales in the Pet and Aquatic Centre were double the usual amount for the opening two days.