According to Blue Diamond, the handover took place on the 2nd of October, making Busy Bee the 52nd site in the Blue Diamond portfolio and bringing the group’s estimated annual turnover to £400 million. The acquisition has been under discussion for several years.
Established in 1987, Busy Bee was managed by Chris and Mary Leslie, who transformed the garden centre into a sought-after destination for gardening and homeware on the island. Busy Bee has a reported turnover of £4.6 million and employs around 60 staff – all of whom will transfer to Blue Diamond.
Senior managers from Blue Diamond have visited the site to meet the team and outline future plans. Blue Diamond’s Managing Director, Alan Roper, has confirmed that the Busy Bee name will remain.
“Busy Bee is a much-loved garden centre at the heart of its community. We are committed to building on its strengths, particularly in plants, and believe we can create even more variety and choice for customers. With these enhancements, we see potential for sales to reach £7m+,” said Roper.
Now retiring, the former owners, Chris and Mary Leslie added: “Busy Bee has been at the centre of our lives for nearly four decades, and we are incredibly proud of what it has become. We’ve always believed in creating a place that brings people together — whether for plants, gifts, or simply a great day out. As we retire, we are delighted to be passing Busy Bee into the hands of Blue Diamond, whose passion for plants and commitment to customers give us every confidence that the centre will continue to thrive for years to come.”
