Our Heritage
Ransoms Garden Centre was founded in 1966 by David and Janet Ransom and has remained an independent garden centre since then. David Ransom is a graduate of Kew Gardens like his father Donald was before him.
Katherine and Rebecca Ransom the second generation now run the garden centre. Rebecca also trained and graduated from Kew Gardens. Katherine is the long-time mastermind behind the gift buying and the garden centre has become far more than a plant shop, it now has a pet shop, clothes shop, barbeques and gifts and a massive Christmas shop.
Sarah Ransom started the Restaurant with Janet Ransom and when they could not decide if it should be a Tearoom or Restaurant they decided to make it both, and so The Gardeners, now Ransoms Tearoom & Restaurant came into being – a family restaurant with table service and a big menu.
Through the years
1950
Alice Sales, Janet Ransom's mother, in her pet shop in Abbingdon Road, Kensington, London
1957
David Ransom graduated from Kew
1959
Janet & David married in New York, on Christmas Day
1965
Alice & Fred Sales move from London to Jersey.
1966
Ransoms Garden Centre opened on site that is now the Tearooms
1976
Alice Sales with her blue & gold macaw Bobbin
1988
Rebecca graduated from Kew
1989
The Garden Centre opening in its current location
1992
The tearooms opened
1993
Rebecca Ransom co-hosts The Garden Club on Channel 4
1998
David & Janet retire
2002
The girls take over the businesses
2013
The Potting Shed gift shop, opposite the Tearooms, opens
2016
50th Anniversary Celebration