A long-awaited adventure mini golf will be opening at a garden centre this weekend.
Hawley Garden Centre in Sutton at Hone, near Dartford, will be soft-launching its newest addition tomorrow (Saturday, January 31).
The adventure mini golf at Hawley Garden Centre in Sutton at Hone. Picture: Hawley Garden Centre
It had previously hoped to get the attraction ready to open in the first week of December, however this was pushed back due to several changes.
Manager Mike Oliver said: “It’s been delayed and delayed, so we’re having a bit of a soft opening this weekend.
“We’ve got eight families booked to come in tomorrow, and there’ll be a few others that turn up to the centre, see that we’re open and come along for the ride.
“Works started on it in May and the golf has actually been ready to open since around November.
Manager of Hawley Garden Centre, in Hawley Road, Hawley, Mike Oliver
“There was a lot of groundwork to do, and there were other projects going on in the garden centre at the same time as well.”
The centre decided to launch a mini golf in a bid to attract new customers.
Mike explained: “People can come in and play golf and then have a wander around the garden centre.
“We’ve got a lovely garden centre full of nice stock and a great range of plants, so we want to show that to more people and make the garden centre more profitable.”
Aztec Adventure Golf at Hawley Garden Centre near Dartford. Picture: Hawley Garden Centre
Mark previously told KentOnline he wanted to make Hawley a destination, adding that he is diversifying to step up and fill the void left on the high street.
He previously said: “With the decline of the high street, garden centres have become more of a go-to place meaning we need to have a more versatile offering which is not just plants and nice furniture.
“There has got to be more to garden centres than that, especially now with the high streets on their last legs.
“I think the industry has known that for a while and our aim is to continue utilising the space to diversify the centre.”
The adventure mini golf will be opening at the weekend. Picture: Hawley Garden Centre
The 12-hole mini golf will open for bookings seven days a week during garden centre opening hours.
New photos shared by the garden centre this week show the finished attraction, Aztec Adventure Golf, with artificial grass pathways and stone-like borders.
Decorative palm trees are scattered across the course, as well as a large totem pole statue and a forest mural across the wall.
The formerly family-run garden centre was put on the market for £5 million in 2023, and was acquired by Kent-based paving and walling manufacturer Castacrete the following year.
The adventure mini golf at Hawley Garden Centre in Sutton at Hone. Picture: Hawley Garden Centre
The site was sold as a going concern in order to remain a garden centre.
At the time, the new owners unveiled plans to open the mini golf course, as well as a nursery, alongside the existing complex.
The 7.6-acre site has several independent concessions, including a dog grooming business, a car wash, and Maidenhead Aquatics.
There is also a range of products sold, including giftware, Christmas ranges, furniture, barbecues, compost, chemicals, and bird feed.
Hawley Garden Centre in Sutton at Hone, near Dartford
The previous owners took over the Hawley Road garden centre in 1981 and developed the site from a basic plant nursery into what it is today.
Last summer, Pulse Padel submitted plans to build four double and one single padel tennis court on grey belt land at the garden centre.
It wants to transform the existing polytunnel, paddock, and storage space into a fully covered canopy structure with toilet and shower facilities, changing rooms, reception area, and shop.
A new parking area with 35 spaces, including electric vehicle charging points and accessible bays, has been incorporated into the scheme.