Just an update to report that Peter Beales Roses has now been sold, as at 5th Feb. 2024 to Bell's Horticultural, an established garden centre business. I understand that the brand name Peter Beales Roses will remain and for now it is business as usual.
Rather sad to report the news that this nursery is now up for sale. Of international renown, much loved by so many in the past, although I understand the Beales family connection ceased some time ago, and they are much changed in recent years.. however, it does seem like the end of an era. I do not know if whoever buys the business will keep the name going, or not.
As far as I'm concerned, I see it as another rose nursery, one of the most famous in the world, biting the dust.
Very sad indeed. Visited the centre in the last fortnight. Cafe was packed and there seemed to be plenty of people in the centre. Like to take photos in the display garden but rose names in the main were hard to find because of the weeds; sorry, companion plantings. In Peter’s days the potted roses offered for sale would invariably be in flower so you could go along and photograph the ones you were interested in, and of course they were more attractive and an inducement to the buying public.
What has happened to this nursery? I've used them a number of times in the past and had quite good roses and adequate service, but this time has been an absolute disaster and I can only suggest anyone wanting roses looks elsewhere. I ordered 5 roses, none arrived with more than 2 sticks, and one of them, Polly, had only one stick, and hardly any roots. Generally the roses looked undeveloped and in poor condition. I complained, but received no acknowledgement. At the same time as ordering from this company, I also ordered roses from Petales de Roses, Rosen Direct, and Belle Epoque, all provided far better service, and wonderful roses, often with 5 or 6 stems, and very well developed root systems. They were also all cheaper than Peter Beales. See the attached photo for the obvious difference. The two Petales de Roses plants arrived a week before the Peter Beales 'Polly', but that doesn't account for the difference.
You could be right, although this is something the client should be made aware of if it is the case, and none of the other hybrids they sent looked much better.
