Garden building ex-display sale goes live

Once a year, Malvern Garden Buildings refreshes displays on its UK showsites to keep the experience for visitors fresh and inspiring. This makes over 400 garden buildings available for sale at a lower price compared to ordering a new building. If a garden office, summerhouse, studio or shed has caught your eye at a Malvern Garden Buildings showsite, this could be your opportunity to see if it’s in the sale and make it yours before someone else falls in love with it.

Key takeaways

• Every autumn, Malvern Garden Buildings holds an ex-display garden building sale across its 12 UK showsites, offering at least 25% off the original price compared to buying a new premium building. The sale runs until all garden buildings have been sold, which is typically February.
• Every kind of garden building is included in the sale from handcrafted garden rooms and summerhouses, to garden offices and studios, workshops and cedar greenhouses, as well as Breeze Houses, all designed and manufactured in the UK.
• Ex-display prices include delivery and installation when the garden building is installed within 25 miles of the showsite where it’s located, so buying local means even better value.
• Each ex-display garden building is a one-off, available on a first-come, first-served basis. They’re often finished to a higher specification, having been designed to showcase the possibilities of Malvern Garden Buildings – from premium features and finishes to bespoke customisation. If you see something you like, don’t hesitate in getting in touch with the team.

What is the Malvern Garden Building ex-display sale?

The ex-display sale is, as you might expect, an end of season sale of garden buildings that have been displayed on a showsite. Malvern Garden Buildings refreshes its selection of garden buildings on its showsites each autumn/winter and makes the outgoing garden buildings available at reduced prices.

Think of it like a ‘sample sale’ with garden buildings, offering premium quality with genuine savings. The sale usually kicks off in August and runs until every ex display garden building has been rehomed. The event covers a wide mix of garden building types. You’ll find garden rooms, garden offices, summerhouses, wooden sheds, studios, workshops and greenhouses. You can browse the current ex-display listings to see what’s available.

Where do ex-display garden buildings come from?

Malvern Garden Buildings maintains 12 showsites across the UK, each displaying a curated collection of current garden building designs. Locations include Abingdon, Buckingham, Cheltenham, Chippenham, Hassocks, Horsham, Leek, Newhaven, Nottingham, Penrith, Plymouth and Shepperton. Usually, ex-display garden buildings have been on show for one full season. Each showsite team photographs and records the exact specification for every model before it is listed for sale on the Malvern Garden Buildings website.

What types of garden buildings are included?

Almost every style of Malvern Garden Building can be an ex-display in any given year. The breadth of the sale range means there is something for everyone looking for an outdoor room, whether you want a functional workspace, a place to relax, or smart and stylish storage.

Key categories to expect include:

• Insulated garden rooms and garden studios
• Dedicated garden offices
• Traditional and contemporary summerhouses
• Wooden sheds and heavy-duty workshops
• Greenhouses and potting sheds
• Breeze Houses and open-sided structures

A particular season might feature a stunning Kew Collection summerhouse with double doors and generous glazing, or a fully insulated Studio Pavilion perfect for use as a garden office. Bespoke features such as upgraded roofing, premium glazing or factory-applied painted finishes carry through into the ex-display version, so you inherit those extras at a fraction of their original cost.

Garden rooms, studios and offices in the sale

The ex-display sale is a great way to finally take your work from home out into the garden. Many Malvern Garden Buildings’ owners use their garden rooms or studios as garden offices and acquiring an ex-display building certainly makes this more affordable. Plus the specification of many of the ex-displays make them ideal outdoor work spaces.

Malvern Garden Buildings prides itself on the quality and inventiveness of its showsites. Display buildings are typically built to a higher specification, showcasing the versatility, customisation and attention to detail that can be achieved. Each is styled as if it were in use, helping visitors visualise how a garden building could work for them.

Many of the garden buildings available as ex-displays include full insulation and double glazing for comfortable year-round use plus lockable doors and windows for security. There are lots of different styles and layouts to choose from too. So there is no need to limit yourself to a box-like structure and you can consider nice additions like balconies or covered verandas.

In fact, the Malvern Garden Buildings team works from a garden office on each showsite, so they have genuine first-hand insight into what it’s like to work from a garden office day to day.

Summerhouses and relaxing garden retreats

Malvern Garden Buildings’ traditional range of summerhouses make the perfect spot to relax, with large windows to let light flood in and create a bright, airy space perfect for reading, entertaining or evening drinks. You’ll find a fine selection of painted summerhouses and chocolate-box-style garden retreats in the ex-display sale with decorative features like Georgian windows and quaint cedar shingle roofs.

The sale even includes garden buildings from exclusive collections, such as the cedar garden rooms developed in partnership with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, or the best-selling Bloomsbury Summerhouse with its barnstyle cladding and two-tone painted exterior.

These garden buildings are far more versatile than their name suggests. Many owners use them as occasional garden rooms, family play spaces, or a comfortable lounge area. With the right glazing and a small heater, a well-specified summerhouse can be enjoyed well beyond summer. It is an investment in your outdoor space that you can relax in for years to come.

Wooden sheds and heavy duty workshops

Garden sheds are essential for storage and DIY projects, and the ex-display sale makes it easier to upgrade from a basic shed to something far more stylish. There is a genuine difference between a simple storage shed and a heavy-duty workshop with more headroom, stronger floors, and optional double doors wide enough for machinery or bikes.

Some ex-display sheds and workshops are pressure treated for longer-lasting protection against the elements and less maintenance for the owner. You can never have too much storage and a Malvern Garden Buildings shed or workshop not only offers a robust and secure place to store your tools and equipment, but also a stunning feature for your outdoor space.

A specific style worth looking out for is a Heavy Duty Reverse Apex Shed which has a reverse apex high pitch roof. This design offers extra vertical storage space measured in usable feet and easy access via wide doors. For keen gardeners and DIY enthusiasts, this is an opportunity to upgrade your storage and have somewhere you will enjoy escaping to when the pressures of life get too much.

Greenhouses and growing spaces

If you’re an enthusiastic gardener or grower, the ex-display sale also includes a fine selection of painted and lacquered Victorian-style cedar greenhouses and smart potting sheds of various sizes, including those with integral growing space.

Glazing options typically include toughened safety glass, with ventilation features such as roof vents and louvres to maintain healthy growing conditions. Savings on the building itself free up budget for staging, irrigation and other growing equipment, so you can kit out the space properly from day one.

Picture a painted Victorian greenhouse, becoming the focal point of a cottage garden. At ex-display prices, this dream is far more achievable.

Breeze Houses and open-sided garden buildings

Breeze House luxury garden gazebos occasionally appear in the ex-display list when displays at showsites are refreshed. These are among the most distinctive buildings on sale, and they make a real statement in any garden.

Typical features include a circular or oval footprint, thatched, cedar shingle or slate-effect roofs, canvas panels or infill sections. They function as luxurious outdoor living spaces for dining, lounging and entertaining, providing shelter from showers and strong sun while keeping you connected to the garden around you.

There is currently a wide range of Breeze Houses available in the ex-display sale with great savings and complete with all the accessories you need to enjoy outdoor living in a unique setting through every season.

How much can you save? Typical ex-display discounts

Ex display garden buildings are usually around 25% or more off full retail price. On larger garden rooms, studios or Breeze Houses, that translates into savings of several thousand pounds. Even on sheds and workshops, the reduction remains substantial enough to make a meaningful difference.

Here are some examples of the savings to be made:

• A premium insulated garden room originally priced at around £30,000 could be available for roughly £22,500, a saving of £7,500
• A well-specified garden studio pavilion at around £15,000 new might sell ex-display for approximately £11,200
• A heavy-duty workshop listed at around £2,300 could drop to roughly £1,550

Some buildings may be discounted more heavily depending on age, specification and minor cosmetic wear. Discounts of 30% to 50% have been seen on smaller buildings or models that were displayed for longer periods, but 25% is the typical saving.

Delivery and professional installation are included in the ex-display price, when the building is installed within a 25 mile radius of the showsite where its located.

Condition and quality: what to expect from ex-display garden buildings

Ex-display garden buildings have been professionally installed and maintained by Malvern Garden Buildings’ team of outdoor living specialists. They are constructed to exactly the same standards as made-to-order garden buildings, using the same materials and techniques.

Typical signs of use might include:

• Minor scuffs or small marks on flooring
• Light weathering on external paint or cladding
• Screw holes from display fixtures or signage
• Slight fading on south-facing panels

Structural elements, doors, windows, locks and roofing are checked to make sure they meet Malvern Garden Buildings’ standards before any building is sold. Viewings of ex-displays are highly recommended, so buyers can make an informed choice before they decide.

Key factors to evaluate when buying a garden building include material quality and construction, and on both counts, ex-display models retain the same core craftsmanship, premium materials and long-term performance as new builds. All ex-display garden buildings come with a guarantee, giving buyers confidence that the building will deliver for years to come despite its time on display.

Planning permission and site requirements

Most garden buildings used as summerhouses, sheds or garden rooms fall under permitted development in most cases across the UK, meaning formal planning permission is not required. However, there are exceptions that every buyer should be aware of.

Key planning considerations include:

• Overall height and footprint of the building
• Distance from property boundaries
• Whether the garden office will receive regular business visitors
• Whether the property is in a conservation area or near a listed building
• Planning permission may be required for larger garden buildings with utilities

Local planning rules must be considered when buying garden buildings. Malvern Garden Buildings’ team can offer guidance on typical planning scenarios for garden rooms and larger garden offices, and will advise when it makes sense to speak to your local planning authority. Should your garden building require Planning Permission, Malvern Garden Buildings also offer a fully managed planning application service.

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On the practical side, garden buildings require a flat, level base to prevent warping and damp. A concrete slab or paving is the most common choice. The foundation type affects the stability and longevity of garden buildings, so it is worth getting this right. You will also need to ensure adequate access for delivery and installation, and leave clearances around the building to maintain it easily over time.

In many standard rear gardens, ex-display garden buildings can be installed without formal planning permission, but we would always encourage homeowners to check their specific circumstances.

Malvern Garden Buildings’ outdoor living specialists will conduct site visits if there are concerns over access.

Insulation, heating and year-round comfort

Insulation is the single biggest factor that determines whether a garden building is a fair-weather retreat or a genuine year-round living and working space. In the UK climate, where temperatures can swing from below freezing to the high thirties (if this summer is anything to go by!), proper insulation is necessary for year-round use of garden buildings.

Many ex-display garden rooms and studios are specified with premium insulation in walls, roofs and floors, plus double-glazed windows and doors. Pre-insulated garden rooms support year-round use straight out of the box, needing only modest heating in winter and good ventilation in summer. Options such as upgraded roof materials, thicker framing and integrated electrics make it straightforward to add a small panel heater, underfloor heating or additional lighting.

A properly insulated garden office can be genuinely comfortable in January as well as in August, with heating costs that are surprisingly low. An ex-display insulated garden room delivers all the comfort of a new build at less of the cost, which is one of the strongest reasons to shop the sale if a year round workspace or studio is what you are after.

Doors, windows and security features

Doors and windows define both the look and the functional feel of any garden building. In a garden office or summerhouse, they control how much light enters the space, how well ventilated it is, and how secure your equipment and furniture remain when you are not there.

Common features in ex-display models include:

• Wide double doors for easy access, often fully glazed
• Full-height glazing panels for maximum light
• Different window styles from heritage to Georgian
• Toughened safety glass as standard on many models

Secure locks, robust hinges and multi-point locking on some garden rooms help protect everything stored inside. Ex-display buyers inherit any upgraded options that were chosen for the display model, such as uPVC windows, additional opening windows or decorative glazing bars. Good security and glazing can also positively influence home insurance considerations and give genuine peace of mind for year-round garden office users.

Roofing, cladding and timber treatments

Roofing, exterior cladding and timber treatment are vital to the longevity of any garden building. Ex-display buildings reflect the full Malvern Garden Buildings specification, which may include high-grade felt, cedar shingles or slate effect tiles, along with carefully finished timber cladding in a range of profiles.

Timber quality affects the lifespan of garden buildings significantly. Malvern uses kiln-dried slow-grown redwood from Sweden for its redwood buildings and kiln-dried Western Red Cedar for cedar builds, all sustainably sourced.

Some sheds and workshops are pressure treated for enhanced resistance to rot, while many garden rooms are factory painted to protect the wood and add colour. Vertical or horizontal cladding profiles contribute to the building’s style, from traditional tongue-and-groove to more contemporary lines on modern garden rooms.

Maintenance expectations are straightforward. Occasional re-touching or cleaning will keep an ex-display building looking smart for years, and the quality of the original timber treatment means you are not starting from scratch. These are buildings constructed to last, regardless of their discounted price.

How to choose the right ex-display garden building

Each ex-display garden building is a one-off so it pays to focus on fit and function rather than trying to match an idealised catalogue specification down to the last detail.

Key decision factors to consider:

• Intended use: Garden office, hobby room, storage, guest space or family lounge
• Available space: Measure your garden area carefully, including access routes
• Orientation: Which way will the building face? South-facing windows bring more light
• Access for installation: Can a delivery vehicle reach your garden?
• Essentials vs nice-to-haves: Prioritise footprint size, door position, window layout and insulation level over small cosmetic preferences that can be altered later

Malvern Garden Buildings’ showsite teams are on hand in person or on the phone to talk through how each ex-display model could work for your particular garden and lifestyle. This is about making a smart, practical choice that delivers significant savings while still meeting your needs. A slightly individual building with its own character is part of the appeal.

Reserving and buying an ex-display garden building

The buying process is straightforward. Start by browsing the current ex-display listings online, shortlist the options that catch your eye, and then contact the relevant showsite to reserve your chosen building.

With each building one of a kind, reservations are secured with a deposit and taken on a first-come, first-served basis. Customers are encouraged to view the ex-display beforehand to check its condition and talk through any questions.

Once reserved, a delivery and installation date is agreed, and any necessary preparation advice is provided, including base requirements and access checks. The team handles practicalities like delivery scheduling and any minor upgrades required making the process as straightforward as possible. If you shop early, you will have the widest selection to choose from.

Delivery, installation and aftercare

Ex-display sale prices include delivery and professional installation within a 25 mile radius of where the garden building is located. Experienced fitting teams dismantle the display building from its showsite, transport it carefully and reassemble it in the customer’s garden.

It’s worth knowing that Malvern offer a relocation service if you were to move house and want to take your building with you. The fitting teams are adept at taking down and reinstalling garden buildings as they do throughout show season.

Installation usually takes place between October and February on a day that suits the customer. Customers receive guidance on caring for their timber garden building, including re-coating schedules and simple seasonal checks to maintain it in top condition. Aftercare support, spare parts and expert advice remain available after installation, exactly as with made-to-order garden buildings. You can collect all the information you need from the team when you place your order.

Visiting one of the 12 Malvern Garden Buildings showsites

There is no substitute for seeing an ex-display up close, feeling the finish and comparing layouts in person. This is why visiting a showsite before buying, whether ex-display or new, is so valuable.

Malvern Garden Buildings has a dozen showsites around the UK, typically located within established garden centres or destination retail sites. Call ahead or check online to find out which ex-display buildings are currently at each showsite so you can plan your visit and avoid disappointment. Malvern Garden Buildings’ outdoor living specialists can provide advice on everything from seeking planning permission to base preparation and interior layout ideas.

If you are ready to explore the possibilities, find your nearest showsite and see the quality of these garden buildings first hand. It is the best way to decide which building is right for you.

Bespoke options if you can’t find the right ex-display building

Although the ex-display sale offers excellent value, some readers may need a fully bespoke garden building tailored to exact dimensions, layouts and finishes. Malvern Garden Buildings can be customised or designed from scratch for made-to-order garden rooms, offices, summerhouses and sheds to precise specifications.

Features like additional windows, alternative door positions, specific cladding styles and custom paint colours are often easier to achieve with a new build. Readers who browse the ex-display list but do not find a perfect match can use those models as inspiration when specifying a new garden building from the full collection.

Why buy your ex-display garden building From Malvern Garden Buildings?

Malvern Garden Buildings has built its reputation as an outdoor living retailer of premium garden buildings. Every component is designed and produced in the UK, using quality materials and meticulous attention to detail.

Key reasons to choose Malvern Garden Buildings for your ex-display purchase:

• British design and manufacturing
• Quality products built from sustainably sourced timber
• Experienced, professional installation teams
• Responsive aftercare and warranty support
• A network of 12 showsites where you can see and touch the buildings

Ex-display buyers receive the same craftsmanship and service as customers ordering new garden buildings, simply at a lower price.

The ex-display sale is one of the best-value ways to invest in a long-lasting garden office, studio, summerhouse or shed for a UK home. It is your chance to acquire a premium garden building at a price that makes your dreams far more achievable, creating a space that will make the most out of your garden and improve your outdoor life for years to come.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are answers to common questions about the Malvern ex-display garden building sale that are not fully covered above.