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Eden production has ended — here’s what to buy instead
Eden Greenhouses are no longer manufactured. The factory closed in 2024 and no new units have been built since. If you arrived on this page looking for an Eden, the genuine question is: what to buy now? After 16 years of fitting greenhouses across the UK, the honest answer is Vitavia or Elite. Both are aluminium-framed, both fit on the same base footprints, and both are installed by our own team UK-wide.
Browse our complete range of greenhouses, or jump to the size that suits your plot: 6x4, 6x8, 8x6, 8x10, or 10ft wide.
Why we recommend Vitavia and Elite
When the Cotswold factory closed in 2024 we spent six months reviewing every aluminium greenhouse manufacturer still trading in the UK. Vitavia came out on top for build feel, glazing-bar tolerances and price — German extrusion at the same kind of money the discontinued range commanded. Elite came out on top for longevity and frame strength — British-made in Halesowen with the longest manufacturer warranty in the UK market. Between them they cover every size, colour and glazing combination we have ever fitted.
— Matt W, founder of Greenhouse Stores
Vitavia vs Elite: which range suits you?
Both ranges are aluminium, both come in 4ft-12ft widths, both offer horticultural or toughened glass or twin-wall polycarbonate. The decision usually comes down to three things: build gauge, warranty length, and budget.
| Feature | Vitavia | Elite |
|---|---|---|
| Made in | Germany | UK (Halesowen) |
| Frame warranty | 12 years | 20 years |
| Aluminium gauge | Standard (1.4-1.6mm) | Heavy (1.8-2.2mm) |
| Glazing standard | Horticultural / toughened / polycarbonate | 3mm toughened standard on most ranges |
| Colours | Silver, green, anthracite black | Silver, green, olive, anthracite |
| Low-threshold door | Available across most models | Available across the Belmont range |
| Price (8x6 toughened) | £949-£1,250 | £1,099-£1,475 |
| Best for | Best value for everyday gardeners | Long-term investment, exposed sites |
For a deeper read on how aluminium ranges compare across the UK market, see our wooden vs aluminium comparison and our UK greenhouse pricing guide.
Types of aluminium greenhouse we install
Compact gardens (4ft & 6ft wide)
Vitavia 6x4 and Elite Compact 4ft are the right call for narrow plots and small allotments. Single sliding door, single roof vent, full toughened glass on the Elite. Browse 6ft wide greenhouses.
Family-sized (8ft wide)
Vitavia Venus and Elite Belmont 8ft are the volume-sellers. Double sliding doors, two roof vents, low threshold base built in. Browse 8ft wide greenhouses.
Serious growers (10ft+ wide)
Vitavia Sirius and Elite Supreme give you the floor space for tomato, cucumber, pepper and salad rotations in parallel. Browse 10ft wide greenhouses.
Lean-to & house-attached
Vitavia Ida and Elite Edge lean-to models suit narrow boundary positions and house-wall installations. Browse lean-to greenhouses.
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Matt’s Pick: Elite Belmont 8x10Best for: Anyone who wants a long-life aluminium greenhouse with low-threshold access and a 20-year warranty. Why I recommend it: The Belmont 8x10 is the model we have fitted most often as a replacement for discontinued aluminium ranges. 1015mm double doors, integral low-threshold base, heavy-gauge British-made frame, 20-year warranty on the structure. The 8x10 footprint fits where most older 6x8 frames sat with room to spare. Price: £1,339 |
Quick guide: choosing your replacement size
- Measure the base footprint of your existing structure if you have one. Vitavia and Elite use slightly slimmer frames, so your old slab will almost always still fit.
- Decide on glazing: horticultural for the lowest budget, toughened for safety with children or pets, twin-wall polycarbonate for cold or shaded gardens.
- Match the colour to your garden: silver is traditional and reflects heat; green blends with planting; black/anthracite reads as modern alongside contemporary planting.
- Add installation: we fit Vitavia and Elite UK-wide, and Swallow comes with installation included as standard. See our greenhouse installation service for current pricing.
Matt’s installation tip: re-using an old base
If you are replacing a discontinued greenhouse on the same plot, double-check three things before ordering. External width and length — new Vitavia 8x6 measures 1.95m x 2.54m, Elite Belmont 8x10 measures 2.55m x 3.18m. Base level — check across the slab with a 1.8m spirit level; a 5mm deviation over the length is fine, more than that and you need to relevel before fitting. Anchor points — older bases sometimes have anchor bolts in positions that don’t match new frames. Easier to add fresh anchors at install time than try to reuse old ones.
Budget guide for replacing a typical 6x8 or 8x6 aluminium greenhouse: £500-£700 for a Vitavia 6x6 with horticultural glass, £850-£1,200 for a Vitavia 8x6 toughened, £1,099-£1,475 for the Elite Belmont 8x6 toughened, and £1,800-£2,400 for the Elite Belmont 8x10 toughened. Installation typically adds £345-£525 depending on access and base condition.
Frequently Asked Questions
What greenhouse should I buy now that Eden have stopped?
Buy a Vitavia or Elite greenhouse. Vitavia (German-made aluminium) is the cheapest like-for-like swap and fits the same base footprints. Elite (British-made aluminium, 20-year warranty) is the upgrade option for buyers who want a heavier frame and longer warranty. Both come in 4ft to 12ft widths with horticultural, toughened or polycarbonate glazing.
Are Vitavia and Elite as good as the discontinued ranges?
Yes — in some ways better. Vitavia uses German aluminium extrusion with tighter tolerances than the discontinued UK range, and Elite uses a heavier-gauge frame than almost anything else on the UK market. We have fitted both extensively as replacements over the last 18 months and the build quality matches or beats the original product on every measure that matters: glazing fit, door operation, vent function, frame stiffness in wind.
Will Vitavia or Elite fit my existing greenhouse base?
Almost always, yes. Vitavia and Elite use slightly slimmer external dimensions than older discontinued aluminium ranges, so an existing slab base will normally be the right size or slightly oversize (good for assembly access). Always measure the external dimensions of the new model against your base before ordering. Our site survey before fitting catches any base issues before the new greenhouse arrives.
Does Greenhouse Stores install Vitavia and Elite?
Yes, we install both ranges UK-wide. Our own fitting team handles every install from start to finish, including site survey, base check, frame assembly, glazing, door fitting, and vent setup. Installation pricing depends on size and base condition, typically £345-£525 for a 6x8 to 8x10 greenhouse. See the installation service page for full details.
Can I still get spares for my old greenhouse?
For some older aluminium ranges yes, for others no. If you have a discontinued aluminium greenhouse and need spares, call us on 0800 098 8877 with the model name and approximate purchase year and we can confirm availability. Glass panes, capping strips, door rails, base bolts and roof vents are the most commonly stocked items. For ranges we cannot source, the universal replacements from Vitavia or Elite usually fit with minor adjustment.
Which is cheaper to run: a Vitavia or an Elite greenhouse?
Running costs are effectively the same for the same size and glazing spec. Heating, ventilation and watering depend on the size of the greenhouse and the glazing type (twin-wall polycarbonate retains heat better than single glass), not the brand. The Elite’s heavier frame holds heat marginally better than the lighter Vitavia in cold weather, but the difference is too small to measure in real bills. See our greenhouse ROI guide for full running-cost analysis.
What sizes of Vitavia and Elite greenhouse are available?
Both ranges cover 4ft to 12ft widths in 2ft length increments. Vitavia: 4x4 up to 10x14. Elite: 4x4 up to 12x20. Common sizes (8x6, 8x10, 10x10) are stocked year-round; larger custom sizes have 6-8 week lead times. We can quote any size and configuration over the phone on 0800 098 8877.