Plantation House Tobacco Seeds in the Press

Plantation House founder Chris Gurney's quest to tell people they could smoke for free caught the imagination of the press and public alike. Extensive coverage in the UK and international press has brought in tens of thousands of visitors. Some of the published articles have been reproduced below.

TV Program
Chris was featured in Carlton Country, shown in the UK in May 2002. Click here to find out more about the TV program.

BBC TV News South East 30th July 2001
Chris was interviewed on his feeling regarding the proposed new duty imposed on the homegrower. Chris was also filmed manufacturing the leaf into a smokable cigarette from his home in Croydon.

BBC Radio 5 London Live 30th July 2001
A live interview at 7.20 am bought Chris swiftly awake. The interview went well, and when the interviewer asked how many cigarettes can you get from a packet of the seeds (around 50,000) it was felt a better question couln't be asked. It was though, she asked how much will the seeds cost her (£15). Thank you London Live. The interview was repeated during the day.

The Sunday Times 22nd July 2001
An artical on Plantation House brought a large number of new Tobacco home growers. It also bought information from the tobacco manufacturers about new excise duty from HM Customs and Excise on home grown tobacco. This will shortly be resolved, hopefully to the growers satisfaction.

The Field Magazine August 2001
A four page feature showing pictures of Chris manufacturing the leaf into cigarettes. This is only recognisable by his cuffs and a photo of Chris at the end of the piece. Still, the important parts were photographed.

The Croydon Advertiser is a popular weekly local newspaper in the area that Chris Gurney lives, Croydon, South London, UK. On Friday 19th September 2003, the Croydon Advertiser carried a 3/4 page feature about Chris and his tobacco seeds. The full article has been reproduced here. Click here to read this article.

BizArre is a popular magazine in the UK claiming to be 'A magazine about life in the extreme ... and more'. Issue 74, June 2001 carried a double page spread about Chris and his tobacco seeds. The full article has been reproduced here. Click here to read this article.

The Express is a well respected daily newpaper in the UK. On Saturday 12th February 2000, The Express carried a 2 page picture feature about Chris Gurney and his tobacco seeds. The full article has been reproduced here. Click here to read this article.

The Times is an internationally renowned daily newspaper in the UK. On Saturday 5th February 2000, The Times carried a 1/4 page feature about Chris Gurney and his tobacco seeds. The full article has been reproduced here. Click here to read this article.

The Sun is Britain's most popular daily newspaper selling about 4 million copies per day. On Saturday 15th January 2000, The Sun carried a feature about Chris and his tobacco seeds.

'SUN SPOT'
Smoker Chris Gurney, 57, escapes tobacco taxes by growing his own on his allotment then turning it into cigarettes in Croydon, South London.

The Guardian is popular local newspaper in the South London area with a weekly circulation of over 112,000. On Thursday 20th January 2000, The Guardian carried a 1/4 page feature about Chris and his tobacco seeds. An extract from this feature is reproduced below.

'CHRIS ROLLS UP TO TAKE ON THE TOBACCO GIANTS'
A green-fingered smoker from Selsdon is rolling up to take on the tax man, Europe and the cigarette giants by selling "grow your own" tobacco over the Internet.

The Croydon Advertiser is a popular weekly local newspaper in the area that Chris Gurney lives, Croydon, South London, UK. On Friday 14th January 2000, the Croydon Advertiser carried a 3/4 page feature about Chris and his tobacco seeds. An extract from this article has been reproduced below.

'CHRIS SETS LIGHT TO HIS CROP TO SAVE BURNING MONEY'
A smoker from Selsdon is taking on the International cigarette giants by growing his own crops of tobacco. Chris Gurney has bred hardy forms of the tobacco plant for cigars and cigarettes which he says are happiest growing in our climate. Now he is selling the seeds over the Internet. Group Features Writer MARIO AMBROSI speaks to a man who claims home-grown tobacco can provide all the smokes you can handle for next-to-nothing. So there is only one word for all those whose New Years resolution to kick the killer weed has held out for two whole weeks.....SORRY!

BBC GLR Radio (now BBC London Live) is one of London's most popular radio stations, attracting over 250,000 listeners each week. On Friday 14th January 2000, GLR interviewed Chris in the Prime Time slot.

Plantation House Director 'Chris Gurney' attended a 5 minute interview on the breakfast show regarding the benefits of home-grown tobacco and his system for growing and curing tobacco in the UK climate. There was also mentioned on BBC Radio 2 by Steve Wright.

Gardening News. On 24th February 2000, Gardening News carried a 1/4 page feature about Chris and his tobacco seeds. An extract from this article is reproduced below.

'HARD-UP SMOKERS URGED TO BUY THEIR OWN TOBACCO SEED'
A semi-retired upholsterer reckons he's got the answer to the prayers of smokers who are feeling the pinch. Chris Gurney, 58, of Selsdon, Surrey, has been perfecting the art of growing tobacco for many years and he's now selling Havana and Virginia seed so that smokers can grow their own.