Testimonials
Floristry by Lord Hurst
Andrew Hurst has planted a little bit of Primrose Hill in Doncaster. A moped sits outside the pale green frontage of his shop, with a table and chairs alongside. Plants and flowers are everywhere. "This the perfect location," he says, indicating the street outside. "Bennetthorpe has this wide, tree-lined feel. It has something of Paris about it."
Inside Floristry by Lord Hurst are more plants and flowers. The place is part flower shop, part boudoir, part coffee lounge. It provides everything for special occasions, from bouquets to stationery, photography to post-event gifts. Thanks to Andrew's business partner Sue Robinson, you can also visit for coffee and cakes in an upstairs lounge. "There's something for everyone here," Andrew says. "People can buy small ornaments, too."
The shop is visually awe-inspiring, hardly surprising as Andrew's background is in design and graphics. "It helps with the floristry as well as interior design," he explains. "I can think and feel in 3D." He wanted, he says, to "create a little oasis of civilisation," he says. "Somewhere people can come and feel relaxed." So far, public response has been highly positive. Thanks to a loan from Donbac, the whole world can share the experience. "The Donbac funding allowed me to create a really good website," Andrew explains. "It seems to be visited often, which is encouraging."
This place is a long-held dream come true for him, after a 30-year career in design and publicity. "I trained at Doncaster College as a florist," he says. "I've been doing flowers for years. I was a closet florist. It was a long time before I came out of the closet. Andrew is proud to come from Doncaster, and thinks this shop is something the town deserves. It was worth the wait.
Website: floristrybylordhurst.co.uk
