Bourne Buildings Ltd

Bourne Buildings Ltd: a garden buildings showsite in Farnham, Surrey

Bourne Buildings Ltd is a family-run retailer of garden buildings based in Farnham, Surrey. Established in 1995, the company operates a showsite that it describes as the UK's largest garden building display site, with more than 200 buildings, 5,000 stone ornaments and 100 garden furniture sets on display. The site sits in the grounds of the Bourne Mill, now the Bourne Mill Antiques Centre, opposite the Shepherd and Flock roundabout to the north of Farnham, around a large mill pond.

The business presents itself as a one-stop shop for outdoor spaces, combining the sale of made-to-order buildings with base laying, installation and electrical work. It also works with Transform Landscapes to offer landscaping services, including bespoke garden design, hard and soft landscaping, arboriculture and maintenance.

Made-to-order buildings and the product range

Buildings are made to order, which allows for flexible designs, sizes and non-standard shapes in varying qualities and styles. The range shown on the site covers:

• Sheds and workshops, including mini sheds and tool stores
• Summerhouses and playhouses
• Garden rooms, studios and offices
• Garages
• Animal housing
• Garden bars
• Greenhouses: aluminium, timber, lean-to and potting sheds
• Cold frames and greenhouse accessories, including replacement glass
• Open-sided gazebos, arbours and arches
• Log stores
• Garden ornaments and garden furniture
• Timber outdoor living and metal sheds and outdoor living
• Ex-display models

The company has also introduced a new range of HEX metal sheds, storage solutions, pergolas, planters and garden furniture. At the time of writing, the website was still being expanded with information on this range, and the online brochure and price list were offered as the reference for it. Models of the metal sheds and storage solutions can be seen at the Farnham display site.

Design, installation and groundworks

Bourne Buildings offers consulting to help narrow down the most suitable buildings, discuss optional extras, styles and qualities. Most buildings can be designed to a specific layout, and the company states that it will design a building to fit the customer's vision. Installation is available on the majority of garden buildings, subject to the install site location.

Base laying is offered across a large area of Southern England, with teams providing a choice of concrete, paving slabs or decking, and also constructing greenhouse dwarf walls. A dismantle and disposal service is also listed. The company indicates that it now provides a wide range of electrical services when a garden building is purchased, from lighting and sockets to full wiring solutions, carried out by qualified electricians.

Landscaping through Transform Landscapes

Through its partnership with Transform Landscapes, the company extends its offer to bespoke garden design, hard and soft landscaping, arboriculture and ongoing maintenance. This complements the building, base-laying and electrical services, so that the different elements of a garden project can be coordinated through the same provider.

Price promise and special offers

The company states that it has never been beaten on price when compared against any other like-for-like building, and it backs this with a Price Promise. Special offers are published on a dedicated page; at the time of writing, the October special offers were live.

Visiting the Farnham showsite

The showsite is set over nearly one and a half acres of land with water and wildlife. Access from the car park is via a staircase and a ramp, but the entire site is covered in shingle and gravel, which may make it difficult for wheelchairs, prams and pushchairs to get around. The car park is shared with the Bourne Mill Antiques Centre and has space for about 25 cars; the company notes that it can get very busy and points to other nearby car parks, advising visitors to check parking restrictions if using any car park other than its own.

The company asks visitors to note that it is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. No appointment is necessary to visit, call or email.