Celebrations underway after topping out bash at Barton Grange's curling rink complex

The £8 million build at Barton Grange Garden Centre in Brock, just north of Preston, is set to bring the country’s second purpose built curling rink to Lancashire.

And traditionally, the ‘topping out’ ceremony marks the completion of the highest point on a building – but in true gardening style, this celebration saw the aptly named Topping brothers, Guy and Peter, spread the final tonne of 700 tonnes of topsoil on the roof ready for sheep to graze in a few years time when the grass has matured.

Guy Topping, who is managing director of Barton Grange Garden Centre and project manager of the Flower Bowl, said “it’s sensational to see the build really coming together” ahead of its June opening.

He added: “There’s going to be three cinema screens, four sheets of ice for curling, a crazy golf course, eight lanes of 10 pin bowling, two golf simulators, a fish and chip restaurant, a main restaurant, a bar and a coffee bar.

“There’s lots to do. It’s all going to be under cover and fantastic in all weathers.”

The soil is set to be seeded from mid-April to complete the grass roof feature, something Guy has previously said was to help the complex blend in with the local countryside.

The roof will have perimeter fencing so that the sheep don’t fall off. There will also be access via a staircase on the rear of the building for the sheep to use when the weather turns or they just want to come down into the sheltered pen at the back of the site.

Construction of The Flower Bowl is located just across the way from Barton Grange Garden Centre and started eleven months ago.