Ben's Plants to reopen at Neasham Nurseries in Darlington

After a popular first season, more growth is on the horizon for budding entrepreneur, Ben Sanderson as he expands the size and range of his seasonal nursery and garden centre, Ben’s Plants and adds a specially converted horse box to the venture, as an on-site café.

The business is situated on the site of Neasham Nurseries near Darlington; Ben’s family’s long-established business.

Ben Sanderson (Image: BEN SANDERSON)

Ben’s Plants has just reopened and will be welcoming customers from Wednesday to Sunday until June 30.

Opening hours are 10am to 4pm Wednesday to Saturday and 10am to 2pm on Sundays.

Alongside the plants, Ben’s Coffee Box is 31-year-old Ben’s latest venture, which saw him buy a converted horse box before getting it expertly fitted out with top-of-the-range equipment to serve a wide range of hot drinks.

Ben's Plants business (Image: BEN'S PLANTS)

A wide variety of other drinks will also be on sale at the coffee box, which is located within Ben’s Plants, but it is open to everyone, not just garden centre customers.

According to its owner, Ben, there will even be free biscuits for all the doggy visitors. 

Ben’s own dogs, Ziggy and Bear are frequently on site, and they make the most of the free dog biscuits.

Mr Sanderson said: “I’m delighted to have re-opened for another season and it’s been lovely to see so many people during our first week, many returning customers and some new faces.

The inside of Ben's Plants (Image: BEN'S PLANTS)

"We have expanded the business over a larger area, and we are now offering a greater range of bedding and container plants and more perennials.

"We are also selling pots and containers and offering a service so you can bring back your hanging baskets,  and we will refill them for you. People can also choose their colours and plants for new baskets, and we will make them up and message them when they are ready.

“Customers seem to appreciate that the majority of the plants we sell are grown here – we are not shipping them in from anywhere else”.

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Ben’s Coffee Box will sell a variety of teas, deluxe hot chocolate, latte, americano, espresso, cappuccino.

The menu will be expanding soon to include milkshakes. as well as a selection of cakes and biscuits.

Out of season the Coffee Box will be attending local events and will be available to hire. It will trade as Sandy’s Coffee Box for outside events.