Q&A with Noel Carrigan: The Man Behind English’s Flowers

At English’s of Brighton, our floral displays are an iconic part of our restaurant’s charm, bringing colour and beauty to our historic setting. The man responsible for keeping them looking spectacular is Noel Carrigan from The Amazing Basket Company. We sat down with him to learn more about his passion for horticulture and his long-standing relationship with English’s.

Can you introduce yourself and tell us how long you’ve been looking after the flowers at English’s?

My name is Noel Carrigan, and I’ve been looking after the flower displays at English’s for over 13 years. In fact, English’s was my very first customer!

What first got you into horticulture, and what do you love most about it?

I first got into horticulture when I moved to Eastbourne from London in the early 1990s and landed a job working on the seafront gardens. Since then, I’ve worked in many areas of horticulture, both throughout the South East and back in London. What I love about it is that there’s always something new to learn—nature teaches a lot of lessons! I also enjoy the creative side of designing flower displays and seeing them brighten up an area. It’s hard work, but incredibly rewarding.

With spring in the air, do you have any tips for people wanting to create beautiful flower displays at home?

Absolutely! If you’re looking to create a vibrant spring display, try mixing seasonal flowers like pansies and polyanthus with flowering bulbs such as daffodils, tete-a-tetes, or hyacinths—depending on the size of your container. Use a good-quality, reduced-peat compost and add a scattering of water-retaining granules to help with moisture levels (especially if we’re lucky enough to have some warm weather!). Water with a quality soluble flower feed once a week and regularly deadhead the flowers to encourage new blooms.

If you had to describe the flower displays at English’s in three words, what would they be?

Colourful, smart, and maintained.

What’s your favourite thing about working with English’s and being part of its history?

The friendliness of Simon and his team—they’re always a pleasure to work with. Knowing that we’ve been trusted to create and maintain the flower displays for over a decade means a lot to us as a small local business. It’s an honour to be a part of English’s rich history.

Noel’s expertise and dedication have been key to making English’s one of the most picturesque spots in Brighton. Next time you visit, take a moment to appreciate the vibrant displays—and if you’re looking for inspiration for your own garden, you now have some expert tips to get started!

Learn more about Noel and his work at www.theamazingbasketcompany.co.uk.