Hot Summer Fuels Growth At Crown Pavilions

A luxury garden specialist has enjoyed a 30 per cent rise in sales this summer as a series of heatwaves and soaring temperatures across the UK have encouraged homeowners to embrace their gardens like never before.

Crown Pavilions is celebrating one of its strongest summers to date as people continue to invest in their gardens and create outdoor spaces designed for entertaining and relaxing throughout the year.

With forecasters warning that hotter summers and more frequent periods of extreme heat could become increasingly common, the company believes the appetite for comfortable, versatile outdoor spaces is likely to continue long after this summer's temperatures fall.

Unsurprisingly, air-conditioning is top of the extras’ list, with smart thermostats enabling homeowners to manage the heat from afar.

Luke Dejahang, Co-Founder of Crown Pavilions, said the strong performance reflects both the exceptional weather and a much wider shift in the way people view their gardens.

“It's been an incredible summer for outdoor living, and we're seeing that reflected in the demand for our products, including gazebos and garden rooms,” said Luke.

“Sales are up just over 30 per cent, which is a fantastic result, but what is particularly exciting is what that tells us about the way people are thinking about their gardens."

“People aren't simply buying something to sit under on a sunny afternoon anymore. They're creating spaces where they can entertain friends, work, exercise, cook, relax and spend meaningful time with their families."

“After a summer of heatwaves, people have really seen the value of having somewhere comfortable to enjoy their gardens without being exposed to the full intensity of the sun. And if hotter summers are going to become more common, that is only going to become more important.”

Luke said attendance at shows across the UK had also boosted sales, with niche events such as New Forest and Hampshire as successful as the big RHS events. Now he’s investing in his Oxfordshire workshop to ensure his craftsmen can cope with the demand.

“We know this summer has been exceptional but all the forecasts predict this won’t be a one-off, and so I’m ensuring our team is ready with new products, machines and innovations to seize on this sales spike."

“One of our biggest strengths as a family company with our own manufacturing site is our ability to respond to the trends in the market, so we’re excited about the future.”

Once considered an occasional space for a barbecue or a few hours in the sunshine, gardens are increasingly being treated as an extension of the home, with bespoke pavilions, garden rooms and outdoor entertaining spaces becoming destinations in their own right.

Luke said:

“We believe this is much more than a short-term summer trend. People have invested heavily in their homes and outdoor spaces over recent years and are now thinking about how they can get even more from them."

“While air-conditioning has been top of the extras list for the summer, we also know that customers want instant heating to enable them to maximise their space in the winter. They want year-round enjoyment.”

The company's show season has already delivered an impressive collection of industry recognition, including Four Star Tradestand Awards at both RHS Badminton and RHS Sandringham, following a Five Star Tradestand Award at RHS Malvern Spring Festival, Best General Trade Exhibit at the South of England Show and Highly Commended at Hertfordshire County Show.

For Crown Pavilions, the shows have provided an opportunity to showcase not only its craftsmanship but also a new generation of products and features designed around the changing way people use their gardens.

Among the latest innovations is the company's Smokeless BBQ Collection, which combines Crown Pavilions' handcrafted timber structures with integrated smokeless grilling technology. Designed as a social dining environment, the collection allows homeowners to cook and entertain outdoors while reducing smoke and extending the barbecue season beyond the traditional summer months.

Luke said:

“We've had an amazing response at the shows this summer, from RHS Badminton and the Great Yorkshire Show through to RHS Sandringham and the New Forest & Hampshire County Show. People are genuinely excited about their gardens, our products and the possibilities they offer.”

Recent research by Oxfordshire-based Crown Pavilions, which has show sites in London, Surrey, Essex, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Cheshire, has highlighted just how dramatically garden use has changed. The company found that garden rooms are increasingly being transformed into workspaces, hobby hubs, private retreats and spaces for teenage or adult children, while the average amount invested in a garden room has risen significantly as homeowners opt for larger, better-equipped spaces designed for year-round living.

The company has also seen the average garden room increase in size over the past decade, while features such as triple glazing, air conditioning, kitchen appliances and bars have become increasingly popular.

“People are becoming much more imaginative about what their outdoor space can be,” Luke added.

“It's no longer about simply making the garden look beautiful; it's about making it useful, comfortable, and somewhere you genuinely want to be."

“Whether that's a spectacular pavilion for entertaining, a garden room for working or a dedicated space for cooking and relaxing, we're seeing people invest in creating something that adds to the way they live.”