53 Years & Still Blooming! A New Chapter For Arts & Flowers
A New Chapter For Arts & Flowers
For 53 years, Arts & Flowers has been part of the heart of Crossgates. The much-loved family florist is moving from its long-standing Austhorpe Road shop to new premises on Manston Lane, close to The Springs. For owner Kirstie Lancaster-Gillson, it is far more than a change of address. It is the continuation of a family story built on hard work, love, laughter, loss, and determination—and with daughter Leah by her side, Kirstie hopes to keep the business blooming for another generation.
Photo: Jenny & Roy
The roots of the business trace back to 1973, when it was established by Kirstie’s parents, Roy and Jenny Lancaster. Flowers were already in the family blood, with earlier generations growing blooms and making wreaths. Roy handled the buying and books while Jenny ran the shop day to day, with Kirstie joining full-time in 1990.
The close-knit Crossgates community has been there through the family’s happiest and hardest days. When Jenny died in 2005, local shopkeepers closed their doors and stood outside to pay their respects—a kindness Kirstie has never forgotten. Then in December 2013, Roy passed away. Even right after hip surgery, his very first words to Kirstie were: “How many Christmas trees have you sold?”
Hours after losing him, Kirstie was right back behind the counter serving customers. “Our family had been blown apart,” she recalls. “Yet we still had to make other people’s funeral flowers and Christmas displays. There was no time to sit with our heads in our hands. Dad would have expected business as usual, and that’s what we had to do.”
As shopping habits have changed, the business has adapted too. The new location offers dedicated parking, better accessibility, and a purpose-built space, standing on land originally bought by Kirstie’s grandparents. The new chapter also brings beautiful tributes to the founders. Alongside the bouquets and seasonal plants, customers will find Roy’s Daily Grind, a small coffee and cake shop named for her dad, and Jen’s Wishing Well, a special space to remember Jenny.
The move comes at an exciting time, as Arts & Flowers has been named a finalist in the Yorkshire, Humberside and North East Family Business Awards 2026. Ultimately, the family’s message to their community is a warm thank you: they aren’t leaving Crossgates or their customers behind, and they can’t wait to welcome everyone to their new home.
1A Manston House, Manston Lane LS15 8AE
Planned opening 30th November (see Arts & Flowers social media for latest updates)
Open: Mon - Fri 08:00 - 17:00, Sat 08:00 - 16:00
Open: Sun Seasonal Hours
Tel: 0113 260 5259
Email: shop@artsandflowers.co.uk
