Carriages in Cornwall, Isles of Scilly

We have visited Trelawney Carriages restaurant for many years and visiting for a pre Christmas lunch was something we always did with our kids and now the grandchildren. Unfortunately yesterday's visit was the worst, we had to wait for a table which is totally understandable but a family got taken in first who arrived after us in the queue. My husband pointed this out to another staff member who just shrugged! Once at a table, no menu's, when I asked a staff member, I was told there should be one on the table. No help,a stack of paper ones found back by where we had to queue. The system now is once at a table, queue again to order and pay. By now ravenous grandchildren and a 30 minute wait for food. We then changed to a picnic bag each for kids and cake/coffee for us. Ringing each picnic bag item up individually took an age, but no sandwich or fruit available the kitchen staff did make two up fresh which arrived after they had eaten everything else! Hot drinks were brought to us but noone said we have to get the cakes ourselves which eventually we realised and did. Cakes after that a bit dry and tasteless. I then took the children to the toilet, (we had already visited the ladies which has no flush buttons in certainly 2 out of the three cubicles. The middle cubicle had a gaffataped toilet seat, which may or may not have been ok to use!) The disabled/babychange one was really unpleasant, an overflowing and smelly large bin for nappies which was no way only filled on that day, a grubby pulldown changing platform that has no ability to adjust the safety belt to keep a child secure, I struggled to keep my grandson safe on this. We spent £26 on snacks and what should have been a nice trip, really wasn't and we have left saying that we won't return. Carriages staff were all stressed, yet the customers are still prepared to queue but there needs to be a major rethink of how this restaurant is being organised alongside how the customers are looked after!!

Went in for lunch of a sandwich and chips. When we walked in we walked past about 5 unclean tables with dirty dishes. When we left there were the same five plus more. Defrosted bread for the sandwiches and no taste to the filling. Chips were over cooked looking like they had been dunked about 7 times in a fryer. The manager asked for our payment while we were still eating. Drinks, latte was milk with a dash of coffee (yes I know that's how its made) Cappuccino was so unbelievably bitter. Won't be returning

Always good food and staff are friendly nice place to eat in the conservatory overlooking the lake containing hundreds of ornamental fish, how relaxing ca that be

My husband and I are disabled and regularly visit the garden centre restaurant where the staff are all cheerful and extremely helpful. Nothing is too much trouble. Recently we invited our American Football Squad to have a team breakfast at Carriages to set them up for the day during a training weekend, and the fantastic chefs and fabulous floor crew efficiently served up breakfast to a party of around forty as if it were no effort at all, catering to individual needs and happy to give assistance to me in the usual way. The food was great quality as usual and the guys and gals absolutely loved it - asking that we do the same thing next year during our annual training weekend. The choices of cakes and drinks, lunches, snacks and lovely breakfasts cater for all tastes, and I found if there is something you fancy and they haven't got it, ask and if they can help they will. Helen the restaurant manager is very keen to listen to any queries and respond to suggestions - this is a great place to bring family, friends, or even a group gathering. Well done Carriages on your well deserved award in 2018 - keep it up! And thanks for making our regular mealtime sorties something to which we look forward.

The meat was beautifully cooked so so tender and juicy, crispy roast potatoes to die for and lovely fresh seasonal vegetables, well done chef. And thanks to all the happy welcoming staff.

Visited for the morning with my friend today. Have to say this is the best garden centres I have visited. In the restaurant we both had the egg and bacon pie with salad, very tasty and excellent value for money. All the staff friendly and helpful, but I have to mention one member of staff called Dean, he was so lovely. Would definitely recommend visiting.

Fantastic food. Had a lovely roast for a reasonable price. There’s a large selection of alternatives and desserts and drinks. Very good for a restaurant attached to a garden centre.

We tried the carvery here and it was very very disappointing. The meat was overcooked and dry. The veg had been boiled to death.Yorkshires and potatoes were straight out of the freezer. A pot of tea for two had a thimble of tea each. I wouldn't have minded if the roast hadn't cost £9.95 each. When you consider that most pubs do a tasty cooked from scratch roast for that price or less it beggars belief that they are charging as much as they do . My old school dinners were better than this!

Called in whilst shopping and had the Christmas Carvery meal. Good value reasonably priced. Generally very tasty with lovely thick slices of tender turkey. Vegetables cooked well and piping hot except for the roast potatoes which were not hot at all and were rubbery. A shame really as was very good apart from that. Good customer service too ... being disabled, I needed help to carry my food to a table and this was offered without question ... cannot fault the staff at all.

We have used carriages on many occasions and found the food and service satisfactory, although as a local I avoid it during the holiday season as it seem to encourage coach party's to lunch there, fine if you get there before them but when you've had to wait behind forty odd indecisive pensioners for half an hour to place your order it gets a bit vexing! On one occasion a coach load of old women took over ALL the toilets woman's, men's and disabled and there was a whole coach load. The garden center is the best in the area although more like a department store.

The lunches here are absolutely delicious, with a great selection of vegetables. obviously everything is freshly cooked and there is always a good variety.

The food here is very delicious, but do think of eating early - or late - they start serving at 12 noon, but nearer to 1 o'clock it is very crowded.

My daughters and I visit regularly for a quick lunch at the weekends. Service is good and the sandwiches are all freshly made to order. Good selection of cakes too!

Visited this restaurant for the first time for a Cornish afternoon tea and was not disappointed. The scones were very fresh and served with fresh clotted cream and jam. Absolutely scrumpious and worth a visit. Again the staff were very friendly and the pricing reasonable.

Have been here a few times and it is always pretty good, the carvery priced at £8.99 a head is excellent value. The pork roast today was excellent. Restaurant is spacious, staff pleasant and the cooks who are the most important people are tip top. Gets a bit crowded as it is not unnaturally very popular, but having said that; not claustrophobic. There is a large conservatory extension on the side of the restaurant overlooking the lake which is nice. The new owners "Blue Diamond" who come from Guernsey do not seem to have changed anything from the previous owners. Plenty of parking and a hand car wash. Probably the best place in Wadebridge for a meal. For Fish & Chips try Barney's on the bridge. Finally Amazon Prime are joining people for £79 with-out there permission so check your CC statements. .

The salads at this venue is excellent value for money as are their scones. The hot food I didn't like as it wasn't very exciting so every month when I go I either have a salad or cheese scone

Nos han pasado este jardín en la calle Bodmin moor, fuera Wadebridge en muchas ocasiones pero nunca visitado.

Carriges , great food for a garden centre, the carvery is one of the best around ,but they do serve some great dishes other than that and do lighter dishes and cakes and cream teas , which always go down well, always busy so it speaks for itself.

Staff are first class, helpful in every way. Cannot do enough to help wheelchair users and their carers. Food so wonderful too. Highly recommended to all. Prices are so reasonable. Defiantly a place to recommend,

Enjoyed looking around the Garden Centre - and making purchases! Had Bacon and Egg Bap and coffee and both went down really well! Busy, but we managed a seat by window. We waited only a short time for our food, having ordered it at the till when purchasing coffees. Efficient and friendly staff.

restaurant is pleasant but was a little disappointed with what was available for a light lunch.garden centre itself is quite good.

been going here for fourteen years and went yesterday to take grandchildren to see father Christmas there oranges used to be huge they are now tiny and the toy selection is half the size it used to be and as far as the food goes well disappointed does not even begin there prices are way over the top and my daughter got served a half raw egg and she is pregnant when she took it back he was so rude never again will we go back

Went here for a quick catchup with dad. Been going there for years and they never disappoint. Always helpful staff who say hello like you were only in yesterday. Fantastic cakes and I always love the salad bar and soups ^_^ I also recommend their Christmas activities such as breakfast with Santa, which is fun ^_^

Stopped on the off chance when passing. Nice welcome as we entered the building. Had to queue for the restaurant, but the queue was jovial and patient. It was Sunday lunchtime after all. Very nice Carvery of Roast Beef and Turkey with lashings of hot gravy and fresh tasty vegetables. Very friendly staff and a Chef who was clued up on Gluten Free requirements.Would most definitely recommend and visit again when in the area,

I have stopped here a few times whilst on coach trips down in Cornwall. Last week once entering you could smell the bacon which drew you to the restaurant, our coach party had stopped for coffee, but l think a few had some nice eats too. It was a nice day so l was able to sit out in the open and watch the wild life on the pond. The food here is good and quite a choice, its always buzzing with customers, but it doesn't take long to get served. Its been extended since l was last there and they have a very good selection of plants. Indoors there is allsorts, clothes, cards, gifts all worth a look. You could easily spend a few hours here.

pretty much got my breakfast thrown at me with the waitress saying "i dont know whose is whose" and walking off, plus ive eaten better tasting cardboard boxes. not that i do that a lot. cheers, gaz.

Leaving our Hotel early we were on the look-out for a cooked breakfast somewhere on our route and this place didn't disappoint.A cooked breakfast with all the trimmings and hardly any waiting either, and the coffee several light years in front of the usual fair we've been having at our Hotel.Hard to pick a fault, but if I had to, it's be for more signage as we had trouble finding the place, then when in the garden centre itself we were led by our nose really.Also the business badly needs a sign about a km down the road, both sides instead of when you're on top of the place.But very glad we called in, but eat far too much of course; If it's on your route, it's worth going out of your way a bit for somethinga bit special.

When ever in this area we make a dive for the restraunt after wandering around the superb garden centre.Today we were in search of a water feature...seems they have gone out of fashion. From the model trains running at ceiling height through out the center,room after room of things for all ages,food comes from this pleasant place. Our table looked out over a small lake with a splendid bronze Dolphin leaping from the depth's.Service is good with attentive staff,breakfast,lunch and dinner are options but suggest you try the carvery.All in all a great place to while away a few hours...give it a try.

Carriages "Restaurant" is little more than an eating area/tea shop in the Trelawny Garden Centre. The surroundings were like a refectory or staff canteen. The conservatory area was unpleasantly hot when we visited even though the sun was not shining, but the inner area was air-conditioned and cooler. However, there was a good selection of cakes and snacks available and the pot of tea was fresh and served with a jug of hot water so that it could be topped up. Nice outlook from the conservatory over the adjacent lake .The garden centre is not dog-friendly in any area and there are many signs outside warning that you can't do this and you can't do that - off-putting when visiting for pleasure! Nothing special.

This was different as we had the choice of cheese, plain, fruit or cherry scones - and they were massive. Two of our party had a fruit scone and one had the cherry and he loved it. Only downside I would say is that a cream tea for two i.e. 1 scone each only gets you 1 cup of tea each when most places give you two and the cream tea for two gives you the same sized pot of jam and cream as one person would get with a one person cream tea with 1 scone if that makes sense. We sat in the covered area out the back which overlooked the pond which was a nice area to be in surrounded by plants. Would definitely visit again if we are ever in the area.

I had a baked potato with chilli, was asked if I would like cheese with it, said yes please. Got to the till to pay and the person said 'the cheese is an extra' £0.80p. Stupidly I assumed when the chef asked, that it was free!!!.We had a large diet coke and a large Fanta from the dispenser £1.99 each - lucky if there was even the same amount as a can.We sat in the dining room and there was two ceiling fans going, it was like an oven. It was actually cooler outside when we left and the temperature was 29 degrees outside.This was my second visit for food at Carriages and I think it will be my last.If you are trying to encourage people to come back then prices and temperature control need to be looked at.

I frequently used to come for lunch here from the 1990.s when i worked nearby and then in 2012 actually worked here for 8 months. I'm surprised at the complaints about plates being small. Most of the food was left because people load up their plates too much and cannot force another mouthful down. People should try some other garden centre restaurants in England and will soon see that it is actually pretty good. It was also clean and hygienic behind the scenes. I wouldn't take too much notice of all the negative stuff. People do this who are generally after free vouchers to come again and then get some kind of thrill from writing nasty stuff anyway.

We used to visit a lot and the restaurant has declined over past few years. It used to be really good. On the latest visit we asked for quiche with salad which was a special price meal. I went and picked up the salad in the bowls provided then was told at the checkout it would cost more than the special price as it wasn't put on the plate with quiche meal, I then tipped it onto the plate with the quiche and got charged less! Hilarious really but so unnecessary! A r eal jobswort situation but also we were made to feel we were in the wrong for not knowing this was the policy! In fact the lady who served us originally had said yes pick out the salad you want and didn't mention it should be on a plate with the quiche. Food wasn't brilliant either, the quality has definitely gone down over the last few years, now it's jjust your average run of the mill stuff, the cake after was better. Really should improve staff attitudes and service! We thought it overpriced for what it was and won't be back in a hurry which is a shame because it used to be a nice place to eat when on a day out in Wadebridge.

They do a carvery every day, some days there is a que so it shows you how well and great it is. Lovely dinning area, and great service. The garden centre is lovely to walk around afterwards, and then go back for afternoon tea.

We were at the garden centre and on the advice of my partner, who had eaten there 2 years previously, decided to have lunch. First the only good thing. The conservatory looking over the water feature was very nice. We went for the Chef's Specials, two lasagnas and a fish pie. On the menu at £6.99 each. As much as you'd want to pay for the size of meal we saw being served in what is a self service cafe, not a restaurant. First disappointment was if we wanted chips there was a 20 minute wait and additional cost. As the other food was served we devlined. Next at the till we charged £8.99 each! We had the 'large' meals apparently, not on a large plate by any means and if there was a choice of size it was not obvious on the menu nor did the server ask. The taste test - failed. Mediocre at best. Bland fish pie. Tasteless lasagna. All food was luke warm. Perhaps we should have learned from the mains but decided to finish off with tea/coffee and cake. There were three ladies in a small space behind the counter. Trying to be helpful but just getting in each others way. I was asked three times for my order. The coffee came in small mugs 3/4 full. Maybe ok if you want very milky coffee but I asked for black coffee and still had the short measure. £15 for three drinks and three cakes. Again over priced. All the cake was dry. My mother didn't eat all her main or cake. My partner didn't bother to finish her cake. We left feeling unsated and ripped off. Will never eat there again.

It serves the kind of mush you'd expect to find in a run down old peoples home, and has a similar atmosphere. We love the garden centre here and it is brilliant, as is the play area and the amazing model railway that runs all the way round the garden centre. But unless you enjoy paying over the odds for at best mediocre and at worst inedible food I wouldn't bother. Lovely staff though.

After vising the Garden Centre - which itself is an impressive and well stocked shop - we went into the restaurant for a mid morning coffee and snack. It is self service - but we were processed quite quickly and armed with a large jug of hot coffee and some scones we set off to sit in the conservatory overlooking their lovely pond. This is obviously a popular and busy spot - but staff were efficient to clear empty tables and prepare the for further use. Some lovely looking breakfasts passed us on their way to other customers and the selection of foods on the servery for lunch looked tempting as we left.

Called for breakfast. Staff more interested in customers with some special voucher than us paying full price for their breakfast. Food arrived lukewarm and was of inferior quality compared to other places we took a breakfast during our holiday in Cornwall.

When we are on holiday in Cornwall we regularly go to Carriages for breakfast and have never had a bad one. Yes, the queue is sometimes fairly long but the food is always worth waiting for. The staff we have had dealings with are always very friendly too. We personally really appreciate the no phone rule - I realise that some people are so important that they must be able to communicate with others at all times, but all we want is to have a nice peaceful meal in pleasant surroundings without having to listen to endless chatter.

This used to be a very good restaurant, I remember coming here when the restaurant was still quite small and located inside the now gift shop. The food was lovely, the reason why people from outside Wadebridge does not mind the half hour travel every Sunday and every Sunday they came without fail, soon the venue became too small hence it was moved to a bigger location. Still the food was consistent. I have not had a chance to visit for a while until today 08/10/2012, and boy, what big difference! The woman behind the counter doing the carvery looks like she has not had a wash for a while, the food display looks sooo unappetizing, the very pale roast potatoes (probably did not had a chance to see the inside of the oven!) The rock hard yorkshire pudding, cauliflower cheese could easily pass as soup. All of these unpalatable changes matched with a price of £8.99 for large and small for £6.99 on a ridiculously small plate, think side plate and you're spot on!!! Whoever was carving the meat must have master the art of slicing it so thin, it almost like she begrudge giving any at all. Will never return to this restaurant any more and will tell all my friends the same thing. Whatever happened to the good chefs they used to have. Shame as they have recently expanded the car park, which if the owners does not have the intelligence to sack the current head chef will now remain half empty. Anybody who'd say their food is still great probably needs to go out more!!!

Went into the restaurant at 11.03 to be snapped at and told breakfast finished at 11. This was barked from Karen, the head chef dishing up plates of breakfast. This was from behind a full servery of many many breakfast items. When I asked about this I was told they had orders to fulfill and we could not have any. But also that we couldn't have lunch as that was not ready. Mind you having seen a further member of staff literally chiselling over cooked bacon from a baking tray onto the servery was enough to put us off anyway. Rude unhelpful and unappetising. Signs all over the place including one saying no phones to be used in the restaurant. Now I accept that constant ringing phones and loud people talking is not on but to completely ban phones altogether is a bit too control freaky for me!! So we decided this was not the place for us. Their loss. Times are hard at the moment and 5 of us for breakfast and drinks etc would have been about £50 which I would rather spend in somewhere that appreciates the business.

Carriages is the restaurant situated in the Trelawney Garden centre, Sladesbridge. It is very popular and has carvery lunch every day. A Large plate, which is not that large but plenty is about £8.99 and gives you a choice of meats and all the potatoes and veg you can pile on top. Small plate is redicuously small, but popular with the old timers. Good tasty food and carefully prepared. They also do a range of delicious desserts, Cream teas, salad bar and daily specials. Ocasionally there are special theme nights.I made recently made use of the breakfast offer that I was sent which is normally £4.99 for 8 items. Not too bad, but not the best breakfast I have ever had... On the whole a nice place to have lunch, with pleasant atmosphere. It can get busy around lunch times, so be prepared to wait at times..