Rose & Rust, a garden features business based in Northiam, East Sussex, has been awarded a coveted three-star award for its standout trade stand at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Founded in 2017 by husband and wife team Sonny and Hannah Banham, Rose & Rust specialises in creating distinctive high-quality garden features not commonly found in mainstream garden centres.
Designed and built by Sonny, the award-winning display showcased the company’s newest innovation—the Corten Steel Pod – which was inspired by architectural elements that play with visual weight and elevation. The pod appears to float above the ground, creating a striking centrepiece.
The Chelsea installation, which took a week to assemble, was completed with the help of Annie, a garden designer from Garden Transformations, a landscaping company based in north London. The design features a modern blend of textures and tones: verdant ferns and grasses contrast beautifully with the rich, industrial hues of the corten steel. The exhibit includes tiered planters, water features, and concrete steps that lead to the eye-catching corten steel-clad pod.
Sonny commented: “This award means so much to Hannah and me. Exhibiting at RHS Chelsea has always been a dream, and to be recognised with a three-star award on our very first appearance is truly incredible.”
How did the business start?
Sonny started the business in 2017 after dislocating his shoulder. He was off work for three months and wanted to keep himself busy. He had already been making gazebos, pergolas and benches for people in his spare time and wanted to offer people other unique items for their gardens. He started selling pots and other small decorative items that he didn’t need to make himself. He soon realised that there was a lot of interest in these items so he went on the hunt to source more unusual items. When he recovered from his injury he started making desks and bedside tables from reclaimed scaffold boards and hairpin legs. These were popular but soon realised that they wanted to focus on offering exclusive, good quality products for the garden, so they moved away from selling homeware.
What was the motivation to create this business?
Sonny wanted to create a business that offered something special to customers. He found that other businesses were selling products that were imported and cheaply made. He wanted to offer quality and distinctive designs that enhanced the look and feel of people’s gardens.
How did the company get a place at Chelsea?
After visiting the show in 2022, Sonny made the decision that he wanted to exhibit there. He applied for 2023 and 2024 but didn’t get a stand. Still he persevered and was finally accepted for 2025. It is hard to get accepted as an exhibitor, so he was overjoyed to have got a space.
What were the highlights at Chelsea?
Sonny’s highlight was definitely meeting his idol David Beckham. “There were so many celebrities there on press day, including the King, but it’s always been a dream of mine to meet David. Also, seeing all of the show gardens and other business in the industry was so inspiring and has given me lots of ideas for the future.”
Hannah’s highlight was meeting so many wonderful people at their stand. “It was so lovely talking to people and hearing their feedback on our products and stand design. It’s always good to speak to people who appreciate what we do and who love our products.”
Image Credits: Rose & Rust , Rose and Rust .