Hosford’s has gone into liquidation.
ONE of West Cork’s best-known businesses, Hosford’s Garden Centre located on the main N71 between Bandon and Clonakilty has closed down.
The company, Hosford’s Geranium & Garden Centre Ltd has been placed into liquidation.
A creditor’s meeting has been scheduled for the Castle Hotel, Macroom on Friday, September 28th next at 10am.
Hosford’s opened in May 1980 and has remained one of the best known garden centres in West Cork and beyond ever since, well known for its café and food offering as well as shrubs, plants and flowers.
Up to 10 people are understood to have worked at the centre.
Very sorry to hear this. Always a good place to go and they really knew their stuff.
Very sorry that Hosfords has closed. Always favourite place for our family afternoons out. All the best to everybody who has worked there over the years.
John, I just heard the news about the closing and I am so shocked, hard to believe it. I really appreciate all your help when I had my Art exhibition there this summer. you were so kind putting me in touch with the journalist in order to promote me. My deepest condolences and all I can say is I hope you can go on to something again. Yours sincerely Deirdre Keohane
This has to be one of the most depressing events of the recession. An iconic operation is not overstating the situation. A most innovative and progressive management built this landmark business and over the years they supported in a practical way every community effort.
Very sorry to hear this. Quite shocking really when I came across the closed gates yesterday. It was very much an institution for as long as I can remember.
However maybe after the financial ‘dust settles’ the centre will be able to trade again in some way.
Fingers crossed.
What a disgrace this country is to have allowed this fine business suffer. The owners both managed and worked 24/7, and its well known in West Cork that John himself worked 7 days a week, always there to offer help and advice. A victim of the recession, this never stopped his optimistic approach, and standards never slipped in the last few years even though it was obvious the business was suffering the effects of the recession. I can only hope that it re-opens in another shape or form, and that the good name and reputation that has been built around it will live on.
I wish John and his team all of the best. This was always a top class place to visit and always seemed to be thriving. I hope this is just a blip and they can get going again shortly. This has been the saddest story of the whole recession for me. It makes no sense to have a good business like this destroyed for nothing.
So sad to hear the garden centre has had to close. You have always been so supportive of my fundraising for Irish Guide Dogs , your plants adorn my garden, and your lunches will be long remembered. I hope you will be up and running again in some form soon.
Have only just come across the news and want to say how very sorry we are that the centre has closed. It was a good place to visit and John’s advice was always helpful, not to mention the work he did to promote West Cork generally. We’ll miss the centre and hope something can be salvaged from the current mess. Our best wishes to you John and the stafff.
What a shock to my system as I recently wanted to awing into my favourite garden centre and found myself facing closed gates! This is an absolute discrace! I remember all the actions that John and his team were responsible for. The music, art exhibitions, book launches, Farmer’s Markets, the hen action – to name just a few. Sunday lunch or afternoon coffee was such a treat! I am living abroad at the moment and cannot imagain life without HOSFORD’S! My garden is full of plants and shrubs from there. Is there anything we – the customers can do?????? It wouldn’t be fair if another party took over – this is the Hosford family’s lifes work! If they are not at the helm I will boycott it!
awing = swing
So very sorry to hear this. I always tried to get to Hosfords once or twice a year because of the interesting stock John kept. I was there about a month ago and made my last purchase – lemon yellow double primrose “Val Horncastle”. Will always think of John now when these flower. What will happen to all the animals and birds?
Very sad that this operation has gone into liquidation. However, it was obvious to me that the standard of plant preparation was in decline in recent years. The food was excellent but there was too much emphasis on portion control. Let’s hope that John and the team can rise up again and concentrate on the plant side of the business