Fordham Nursery & Garden Centre in East Cambridgeshire

We ordered 2 Americanos and the coffee was weak as dishwater and the cake was dry and inedible- we should have complained but we just wanted to get out of there. They only had 2 choices of gateau and run out of scones so to be honest it was a waste of time and money

Been many times, breakfast and lunch. All excellent, sometimes very busy, but that’s really due to how good it is.

Oh dear, such bad organisation, we only wanted lunch, glanced the menu from a table near the queue, there was no food menu posted on the walls, only drinks, so at this point didn’t know where we were sitting. After a couple in front took soooo long as they hadn’t looked at the menu, it was becoming laughable. The checkout person could have taken control and ask them to step back whilst they decided and get on with serving the ever growing line. I think the woman had forgotten that we are just coming out of a pandemic and proceeded to put her fingers into the little paper sauce portion servings and then didn’t use it!! I think the cafe ought to place the little paper portion holders upside down to eliminate this problem… When we finally got served we had to nominate a table, which we did? however we did not know if anyone else had also chosen that table at the time. We had a club sandwich and hot sausage roll. The bacon in the club was good, the bread a little dry, we guessed this is why a slice was caked in mayonnaise. The salad and dressing was fresh and tasty. The sausage roll was like having a sausage wrapped in quite dense, hard pastry. Will probably not return, will try other local cafes instead.

Visited here today for the second time in the past few months. Last time was at Easter when we had a really nice tea. Today though was a very big disappointment. Sat outside but there was an awful stench coming from the drains nearby. Menu was largely restricted to a Sunday dinner or light lunch (wife had a jacket potato) food (Sunday dinner for me) although very presentable I didn’t think it was worth the money. Massive queues to get served, I waited nearly 25 minutes just to get a can of coke afterwards. Only one till open, but two available. Overall a big disappointment.

Not a great visit on a Friday lunch time. 40 minute wait for a very basic Brie and Bacon Panini which contained barely any Brie. Nice area to sit outside in the sun but seems like they are trying to serve more people than they can manage!

We travelled just under 40 miles to the garden centre as they were the closest to home that stocked APTA. Purchased what we wanted and then decided to have breakfast as we arrived early. Staff were lovely and friendly and food excellent. Very hot and flavoursome. Would definitely recommend

My neighbour and I finished our trip at the centre in the cafe. We both had the gorgeous white chocolate and raspberry cheesecake made by Barbara. It was divine.

I called in for a snack recently and as always the service and quality of food was excellent. Yes they are working a reduced menue due to not having a chef but when they can offer a specials menu that included Roast Turkey I thing they are doing a great job. The staff are always so friendly as well.

I booked for afternoon tea to take my 89 yr old Auntie......or so I thought! I phoned and spoke with a lovely young lady called Cat, she explained that they weren't doing afternoon tea but when I said I was coming up to take my Auntie out, she offered to go speak to the chef and see what he could do. Cat came back, the chef had said yes he would do it for me, so I booked for 1pm. I turn up with my Auntie just before one and find a manager called Seb, who was very off hand and said no I hadn't booked it. Not being from the area, I was unaware that there were 3 Scotsdales Garden Centres! I was unable by now to phone Cat as we were in a long queue and I had no phone signal. I did phone the Sunflower Café and spoke with Dean and apologised as Cat and the chef had been so obliging. NEXT time I am in the area, I will definitely go and visit Scotsdales Fordham and the Sunflower café, the customer service was excellent...sorry again and thank you :-)

The last time I visited there was little on offer for vegans. I visited yesterday and had a lovely Indian pasty with a jacket potato. There were at least three vegan cakes on offer too. The staff could not have been more friendly and were very helpful. I will definitely return.

Disappointing. They used to make their own coleslaw, but now they’re using what seems like the cheapest value-range coleslaw. It just feels like the whole thing has gone downhill and is half-hearted. Noticeably emptier than it used to be, so maybe other people feel the same way. A shame really.

I’m glad to see this cafe has opened again after Covid Lockdown 2. The food is still nice, and so is the coffee (despite what another reviewer here said - he must have caught them on a bad day, although personally I like the flat white). The staff are also mostly friendly and helpful, and it’s a pleasant place to be. However, I feel it’s become a bit expensive. A sausage roll with chips and beans used to be £6.95 I think, and I was shocked when I got my bill and found it’s now £9.95. The sausage roll on its own is £3.95, so is it really an extra £6 for some chips and beans? To be fair though, it’s good quality grub. Also, my partner didn’t get much coleslaw with her meal, but was told it would be £1 extra to get some more, which we felt was a bit penny-pinching. It also seems that now the new cafe entrance is outside, we are having to wait a long time at the head of the queue to be seated, even when tables are available. I know the staff are busy, but just standing there waiting to be seated isn’t great, especially for people who are perhaps older or can’t stand for long periods. All in all, though, I enjoy coming here.

Danny could not have been more helpful in helping us on our visit today for lunch with my elderly parents with mobility problems. We had a friendly and warm welcome, we were accommodated in asking to move tables, the food was good with even better service. Can highly recommend this as somewhere to stop for a simple hot drink and cake or for a lovely lunch. We will definitely be back. Well done Danny and team

Popped in for a quick coffee - friendly welcome at the door, shown to table, and after 15 minutes, still no service, so left. Had a lively 3 year old with me, so couldn't sit around indefinitely! Staff were around, café wasn't full. Won't be returning in a hurry.

Had lunch here on a Monday, with a family member and the restaurant was quite quiet. The tables were well spaced out and all the staff we saw, had face coverings on (and this was before it was made compulsory for them to do so). They had a one-way system in place and were cleaning down tables and chairs after use. Service and food were very good.

The setting has been well thought out & is a lovely little sun trap on an autumn day!Staff; really friendly & welcoming.Food; we only had the scones which while not amazing were fine, although the cream was in a pack.The major disappointment was the coffee. Wife ordered a standard latte & I ordered an extra strong one! Wife’s was like dishwater, a memory of a 1970’s frothy coffee in a seaside cafe! I’m sure it must have had coffee in it but we could hardly taste it! Wife drank my extra strong (in reality another frothy coffee only a little better) & we just left the other one!No excuse for such poor coffee these days!

We used to pop to the cafe very frequently, often for breakfast and never had cause to complain. HOWEVER........ we went last weekend for breakfast, the first week it was open after lockdown. While we have no issue with the social distancing, the cleanliness and the staff, the food has gone way down hill and the prices have rocketed. We each had the Sunflower breakfast, toast and tea, that was a whopping £21.08. That was for 1 rasher of bacon, 1 mushroom, 1 tomato (not vine as I was told they were), beans, 1 sausage and 1 egg..........couldn’t have scrambled, could onlyoffer fried or poached . I sent mine back as although the tomato had at some stage been microwaved it was cold, not cool.....cold, as was the egg and mushroom. I’m sorry but that is the last time we shall be going there. A friend recommended a local pub which we went to on Sunday and had 2 rashers of bacon, egg of choice, sausage, beans, mushroom hash brown and toast, hot and fresh..........and all for an amazing £4.50 plus a cup of tea for 50p. Just HOW can Scottsdale justify such a hike in their prices.....we did wonder why the cafe was so quiet, now we know. Sorry, but I think people should be aware and the owners Of Scottsdale’s need to do something to get custom back.

Even if you don't want a plant it is worth visiting the garden centre just for the cafe. Good staff, good coffee and lovely cakes - we had the 'Millionaires Shortbread' - really good!

Popped in with my wife and my mum.we all enjoy a snack here.it was valentines day.little woman serving at till,had a top on,with a big heart emblazoned.I know I shouldn't, but I told her how cute,she looked.but she did.anyway the scotch eggs in there are amazing and we all enjoy the food.only there for a visit,every 3 months,because mum lives near,but we live in North yorkshire

We had lunch for two with their offer 2 meals for £12.00. The cafe was very busy guess due to the offer. Only a selection of the meals menu included in the offer about 12 meals. But still you will find something you like. The scampi and chips look good and tasted as expected. The cottage pie presentation poor gravy just poured over it spilling over onto the peas which were mainly under the dish. The cottage pie was ok a bit tasteless and made with a high fat content mince. For the price not bad but not up to their usual standards.

Went for lunch on Sunday "no toasted sandwiches, no baked potatoes on Sunday" - so tried the Asparagus Tart Chips and Salad. The chips were poor and barely warm with black speckles [part of the ceiling perhaps?] the tart was greenish with the asparagus but had no real taste of anything and the salad had wrinkled and acidic mini tomatoes. The hot drinks were fine and the staff were superb.

Myself and 2 friends went today for lunch and had the christmas menu. Outstanding food, lots on the plates. We had 3 courses which we couldn't finish the desserts and took them home with us.Excellent service and well looked after by the staff even though they were busy.£22 for 3 courses and a free dink and mince pies great value.We will be back.

Nice place to for coffee and a cake - on a warm day you can sit outside overlooking the huge range of plants for sale.

This cafe has always been a favourite of mine and I go there on a regular basis. It has always provided good wholesome foods and excellent cakes. However lately it has gone downhill.The portions are much smaller and the quality is not as good I went last week when they had ploughman's in the cold cabinet made up, they were seriously wilting and there was not much of anything on the plate. The big disappointment is the cakes. They used to be homemade but are now clearly bought in from cash and carry and there is no variety it is the same tired cakes every week now.

Went for their 2 cream tea offer. The scones are tiny little scones not the ones put under display cake covers. They are rock hardvand only offered us fruit scones (plain scones are meant to be for cream tea, but no alternative available,as they had run out of cheese ones, despite the offer not being on until 2.30 and it was only 2.50) Husband cannot eat fruit in scones. Scones were hard as bricks. Amount of cream offered hardly covered them. Coffee almost cold. Totally unhelpful staff. Its £8 and half an hour of my life never getting back. I’ve been bitten here once or twice before but you live in hope that they will rectify problems. Not so, it was like deja Vue!

Lovely setting for a coffee with family, a friend or a group catch-up. We often go to the garden centre and inevitably end up in the Sunflower Cafe. The staff are really really lovely and nothing is too much trouble for them. Always a great selection of food and the cakes are really mouthwatering. The vouchers are very welcome too. It is best to avoid the lunch rush hour though as they get very busy. Overall a great place to go.

excellent food excellent and v friendly staff thank you Danny and the gang well done see you again very very soon

I met some friends for some lunch and we enjoyed great food and very friendly staff. We will surely meet up again at this venue very soon.

Consistently good food and service, nice range of meals for a reasonable price, and very accommodating of special requests/requirements.

I called into Scotsdales specifically to go to the cafe. I was with a four year old who, like me, is a sausage lover: two orders for sausage, which, from the description, looked good. Nowhere, from either the adult or the child menu description, did I pick up that they were anything other than standard, normal, high end, sausages. I still can't exactly identify the unpleasant taste that stayed in my mouth through two separate teeth cleanings. Are they haggis flavoured? A poor Merguez? Certainly not a decent pork banger. The rest of the food was fine but the sausages overpowered everything. I spoke to one of the youngsters in the cafe but, to put it politely, she didn't know about the sausages and shrugged. My four year old had bad enough by that time and was too hot and bothered to tolerate me taking the sausage issue up,with a competent member of staff. After all, the cafe knows exactly what they are serving so I doubt my disappointment, and that of my granddaughter, would be of any interest. Most disappointing from a cafe that has always been good on my previous visits. Oh how I wish we had just had a something from the excellent range of cakes - I gather they, at least, were as good as they looked.

Went to the garden centre and was feeling peckish and in need of coffee! The cafe was great, the size of the scones was to die for, they were enormous!! Great tasting too, warmed up by request and melt in your mouth, the coffee was great too! Aside form that experience, the rest of the selection was very mouth watering and of ample portion size. The staff were very friendly and helpful. Go back again, yes!!!!

I came here with my Mum at the weekend. The cappuccinos were really good. I had a second one they were so nice.

Friendly staff, great selection of cakes and drinks. We enjoyed banoffee pie, coffee and walnut cake with a hot chocolate and cappuccino. Nice place to eat and chill for a while.

We had coffee here one morning, not long after it had opened. Friendly service and nice coffee - we sat outside on the decking, overlooking the the hundreds of plants for sale.

I would personally like to commend Sophie Reed for her excellent customer service when we recently visited the Sunflower Cafe, Fordham.

after finding the flowerpot that we needed we thought we would pop in the cafe in the Scotsdales Garden Centre the place was busy it appeared that the world and its mother had gone there for sunday dinner .

Nice to be able to sit in the sun, overlooking the plants section of the garden centre, and enjoy cup of coffee. Good service, nice coffee, and reasonably priced.

Lovely atmosphere, seating inside and out. Good choice of wonderful cakes and pastries and good choice for a light bite or something more heartier on the menu as well as specials.

We had a small family gathering here today 8 adults 2 babies, the food was excellent as always. We have a couple of adults that are coeliacs and dairy free which were well catered for.

Great choice of food. Brilliant breakfasts. Plenty of it. Well cooked and presented and comes out hot. Friendly staff.

Freshly made sandwiches, huge slices of cake, excellent gluten free choice. Very busy at lunch times but quick moving queue. We were spoilt for choice but opted for sandwiches which were brought to the table freshly made with a small side salad and lovely coleslaw. Just had enough room to share a cake, very generous slices. Great choice of tea's too! Worth a visit even if not going to the garden centre!

Called in to have look round the centre then went to the restaurant for a coffee. Had a coffee and scone that was very nice the cakes are to die for and the lunches looked lovely roll on the next time we call

Came here with my Mum for coffee and cake. Coffee was hot which was a plus and the carrot cake was moist. Service was prompt and efficient?

Visited for Sunday breakfast. Lovely warm welcome as usual. Clean and bright surroundings.

My friends and I had lunch today as usual food was freshly cook and really good.

Doing the buy one get one free offer on the meals meant the place was busy. The queue was out of the door but surprisingly we got to the till within about 15 minutes. Service was very good and we didn't have long to wait for the food, which everyone enjoyed. Well worth the visit.

Had a lovely lunch, freshly prepared and very tasty. I have to say the whole staff in the restaurant is great, smiling, hospitable, friendly and efficient... well done and thank you!!

There are many favourable reviews of the food in this restaurant but none, as far as I can see, about the speed at which it is able to process customers and get food on their tables. Staff here work as a complete team and orders and payment are taken at one point. The customer is given a number on a stand which they take with them as they go off to find a table.

We had breakfast there last week could not fault the food. All produce very good, able to swap the egg for tomatoes. Normal option either beans or tomatoes. The tomatoes come on the vine, good service too. Only fault we sat in the new extension at the far end. This heated by a oil burning blower could smell the fuel fumes also loud either very hot blast of not air or cold when off, do not sit in this area.

Family lunch at a garden centre.

We have eaten here on several occasions and on the whole the meals have been good a little on the pricey side but you accept that if you enjoy the meal but sadly on this occasion not good, My partner had her usual scampi and chips and I fancied fish and chips as I hadn’t had them for a while now why the choice was only Plaice and not Cod I have no idea but I like fish of all sorts so I went with that, now plaice is a more delicate fish so needs cooking correctly so when it arrived the batter was a very dark brown with the corner broken off and when I tried to cut it it shattered into several pieces obviously over cooked and ruined my partner said her meal was OK and the rest of mine was also I know I should have complained but the place was full and I don’t like creating a scene as I said we have been here several times and this was a one off so we will return but probably avoid the fish and chips.

Went here for lunch and ordered the lasagne at £9.95, board said it came with salad and garlic bread. Very disappointed when it arrived, lasagne was mostly liquid cheese, no real substance, one small slice of garlic bread and small salad. Other person had jacket potato which looked better value. Don’t mind paying for the experience and maybe other dishes are better but not good value for price charged.

The best gluten free afternoon tea I have ever had. Thank you.

Popped in on our way home from Ely. The staff were especially friendly and helpful and the meals were delicious, the chips are amazing! Sadly we didn’t have room for cake, but it looked fab. Highly recommend.

The cafe is very clean and there is a varied menu. I had jacket potato with cheese. Skin nice and crispy. Managed 3 cups from my pot of tea. Only gripe is the free WiFi not working which was disappointing as being self employed I wanted to catch up with paperwork. Large car park. Friendly staff.

What a lovely place to meet with friends and enjoy some coffee and cakes while sorting the world out!

We went into Café for some food and drinks and soon walked out again due to excessive noise and tables squeezed so tightly together. There was a play area at the entrance end,which was very noisy to be part of a small busy Café. It was a very hot day and no fans or AC at all.

Visited Scotsdales Sunflower café (at Fordham) for morning coffee and cake, but once I saw the reasonably priced breakfast menu I was tempted to an early brunch. Food came very quickly and was good (in fact I would say excellent value for money).

Came here today with a friend for lunch, both ordered burger which we were told were very skinny fries which is what we liked as apposed to the big fat chips that we don't lie so out came our burgers with the biggest fattest "skinny fries" the burgers were tasteless and dry/overcooked, the bun was all greasy and awful! there was no room for complaining because we were hungry and had to eat it was too late for us move somewhere else, we then though well we would have dessert so enter the nicest looking chocolate cake with the gooey frosting and trifle, choc cake was big mistake it was stale cake that stale would have been around for at least four days in its container! the only good thing was the frosting, the trifle was the only thing but where was the sponge in the trifle. the only good thing about our visit wast he garden bit where we sat the first coffee I ordered was like gnat's piss so therefore had to change it for a stronger one and that was how I described it as well! it was awful, I don't know whether I will be back, I shouldn't think the management would want me back anyway with my review!! lol Staff was nice and pleasant except for the lady at the till who I felt thought we were dining and dashing! which we weren't I was just with an older person who had never been to the cafe before, which I did try and explain ! so great I have said my piece and so there you have it handy hint to the lady who said they were skinny fries "they weren't"

Floors Very dirty needs steam cleaning Enough dirt in corners to set potatoes!!! We arrived Earl on Sunday morning as they opened so had not been cleaned on the Saturday. Young staff walked about with hot breakfasts in and outside must have been cold by the time it found the table. They looked half asleep. Just stood there when ever you saw them. Young people don’t want to work.

We had a party of eleven friends and family. We all had a fantastic time with beautiful home made food. I had a roast lamb. The lamb was so tender. The roast potatoes were crispy on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside. The vegetables were cooked to perfection where they weren’t hard but weren’t over cooked either. There were a large assortment of different desserts which again were cooked freshly on the premises. We all ordered the strawberry roulade and the meringue melted in your mouth.

Good garden centre lovely shop ,handy if you need a quick present as the choice is amazing.

Great staff Danny makes me laugh When i come to visit on my days off. Anna is so great at doing her job.

Another great breakfast, perfect start to a Sunday morning. Bacon, sausage (the best for miles), egg, beans or tomatoes, hash browns and toast, all perfectly cooked and presented. We’ve tried other places but have never found one as good as Fordham Scotsdales. Scrupulously clean and tidy and plenty of staff to serve and clear away. A friendly welcome from Danny as usual. Looking forward to our next visit.

This place was fun for the children. With the robotic Bear band playing away in the corner. The kids leave you to enjoy your coffee and food. Just the usual cafe food. Nothing wrong with it.

Lovely, good value for money breakfast, lots of variety to choose from, staff very friendy and accommodating

Where do I start? This place is a real gem! We go here so often as the food is excellent and great value for money. Good sized portions, well cooked and presented and plenty of staff to serve and clear away. The cakes are enormous and delicious. Our children are always getting us to take them there for the Club Sandwich ( not many a garden centre cafe can boast being a first choice for 20 and 22 year olds). We often go for breakfast at the weekend, best sausages for miles. Yes it does get very busy at lunchtimes but there are plenty of staff to clear tables quickly, and surely this is testament to how great this place is. Danny and the team do a great job!!

Visited Scotsdales Sunflower café for morning coffee and cake, but once I saw the Eton Mess (£3.50) this soon became morning coffee and dessert!

Should have listened to my own previous advice and avoided at lunchtime but was in the area, so unfortunately decided to give it another try.

I have used the restaurant on numerous occasions and the food is always good and the coffee excellent. It can be very busy but that is simple an indication of popularity

This had become one of or regular places to eat out, either afternoon tea if lunch.. Considering it is hidden away at the far end of the extensive garden centre shop it is surprisingly well attended. The menu is extensive but basic. It is just displayed on a board by the counter. One orders your choice at the till and one is given a number to display on your table. Considering this method it works surprisingly well. The food arrives at your table remarkably quickly, is well cooked and HOT.

Have now been to eat breakfast three times, and the most important thing is the consistency of quality. You can go to a chain pub or eatery and pay similar amounts or in some cases more for what is often a dire tasteless experience. Not so here, everything cooked well, and with great ingredients, in particular the sausages are to die for. There is a reassuring absence of grease on the plates, which are always hot, an important concept sometimes lost on eating places. Can't commend this highly enough, my only concern is for my waistline as breakfast here could quickly become habit forming

Nice garden centre with good selection of products, however highlight had to be the cafe, i had scotch egg, absolutely enormous (i didn’t eat anything else all day!) and really tasty, my mum and sister borh had asparagus and cheese tart with chips, they raved...

Really good. Would recommend all the time. Only let down is that the restraunt gets heaving . Other from that really good.

We have been going to the Fordham Sunflower restaurant virtually every week to have our lunch for about three years, and intend to enjoy this experience for any more. The food is always fresh, tasty and in good quantities, and served by a welcoming staff....

Ive just come back from a lovely Christmas lunch here .I was , when friends suggested a little sceptical at coming here . Ive been many times for coffee and lunch but never for a Christmas meal. There were 10 of us and everyone was...

I've been here many times for many wonderful lunches , the food is always great. The Staff are super friendly & very efficient , they all so have a wide choice of lovely cakes. Its well worth a visit to this friendly Cafe.

Wonderful selection of cakes, Scotch eggs that are amazing and a bacon &a; egg pie that is just unbelievable. All this an plants as well.

Good food, especially the cake, which I believe is homemade. Reasonably priced and a large menu. Nice restaurant, though would benefit from keeping the conservatory child-free as it does get very noisy.

Stopped in for morning coffee and cake and to purchase some plants. Nice varied selection of plants all in good condition. I had the fruit scone which on previous occasions have been very dry. On the previous I spoke to the gentlemen who looked after...

Cake not great today which was a shame and scones were dry. Normal this coffee shop is usually on top of its game. Lets hope its just an off day.

We took advantage of the current special offer - "Two cream teas for the price of one"- and arrived toward the end of service; we were, nonetheless, greeted by cheery staff who were helpful in the extreme and still energetic as we finished. I mention...

Tasty treats and a pleasant environment out of the hustle and bustle of the city. Overall a good experience

I've been here on a number of occasions with family surprisingly more so for their restaurant - the food is delicious and the staff are efficient and very polite

Have had lots of meals in this restaurant over the years with family and also friends.All meals cooked fresh never had a bad meal or have heard of anyone that has. The scotch eggs are the size of an ostrich egg (true) delicious cakes and gateau .Also good breakfast and Sunday lunch. Very generous portions.Beware always lots of diners,waiting time for meal is not very long, young waiting staff which I have always found to be very polite.

We went to celebrate my niece's birthday. A table of 9 and the service was very quick. The scotch eggs are delicious and the size of a small planet! The selection of desserts and cakes is brilliant and something for everyone. Staff are really polite and helpful.

Coffee could be a lot better in terms of brand. Food was average and service was alright. Ambience was pleasant but not much for children to do or toys to play with in the eating area. Portion size of food was very standard. Nice selection of sauces to choose from. Value for money was okay I guess.

Been here several times for a ''ladies that lunch'' with my daughter, its bright and airy and comfortable. The cakes are to die for! The food is served quickly and we have never had reason to be unhappy.

My mother, myself and my newborn came for lunch. It was busy but not overly. My mother seemed to think the staff were too slow but I thought they were just being thorough and engaging with the customers. The selection is varied and the cakes make you want to become Augustus Gloop, they look incredible. Today we had the steak burger and sausage roll meal. My steak burger was delicious, the chips were ok but the dryer oil needed changing as little black burnt bits covered them. The homemade coleslaw was lovely however the salad was gritty like it was unwashed. Both my mother and myself had sandy like grains in our salad. My mum said her sausage roll was dry and nasty. The seating was a bit overcrowded but I think that was down to the bulky chairs (in the extended eating area). All in all I think I would return and try some cake!

Visited for Sunday lunch the food was good and reasonably priced but no atmosphere. The beer was overpriced

Hungry, try Fordham nursery. Large restaurant. Good range of dishes, never seen such huge scotch eggs, before. Sunday lunch, very popular. Try the roast beef, mmmm.Would I come again, definitely

After riding out in to the Fens via Upware and Wicken on a day when the average temperature was 35.1 degrees Fahrenheit, it was such a welcome sight to enter the warm and welcoming restaurant. There was plenty of choice of both savoury and sweet and 'cyclist-sized' portions too!!

Great place and exceedingly stupidly amazing homemade cakes!!!! We meet here on a a regular basis and to be honest it's the best place for lunch at a very reasonable price in the entire area. Newmarket goes from one extreme to the other food wise. Full of fast food, cheap and nasty and then there are 2/3 really nice ones that cost!This is just a lovely place but be warned it gets very very busy over lunch time so make sure you get their early. Service is great and food is fresh and delicious and of course the cake totally storms it!!! See you guys again soon!

Great food in lovely tranquil setting. Loved who;e set up with great variety of plants and super shop. Great day.

The staff here are great and most of the menu is of a good standard. The food is tasty and fresh, the prices average for a Garden Centre. Although the Afternoon Tea is disappointing, there are several very good places in nearby Newmarket that serve a lovely Afternoon Tea, for around the same price. However the biggest problem here is the high noise levels, when it's busy. It is impossible to hear anyone even at your own table, not sure what can be done, but opening a few windows would certainly help. Unfortunately it means that we now only visit for Coffee, at times we hope are less busy and usually go elsewhere for lunch.

I visited here just before Christmas with my in laws to see Father Christmas. Unfortunately my mother in law hadn't clicked through the 3 links on the website to find the actual times the grotto was open and had believed the headline of it being open 27th Nov- 24th Dec. It was only actually open at the weekends and so was closed when we went. This in itself was not a problem and we would have been very happy to have a look at the Christmas decorations and visited the cafe. We wandered through the winter garden area outside the grotto which had a swing gate at one end and open at the other only to be told by a member of staff to 'Get out, please' as if the please made his rudeness acceptable. We shall not visit again and am pleased that we did not give this business any our money.

With high expectations, We had an afternoon tea.It was really disappointing! Dry scones, a slice of Victoria sponge and a slice is caramel chocolate. Really boring, unimaginative and poorly presented.For what you get, it's totally over priced and there are much better options locally.

Called in to buy some 'patio magic' and decided to have a bite to eat - it was 20 mins before breakfast stopped and lunch started but the staff were more than happy to let me have my full English and my companions meals from the lunch menu - so nice not to have a jobsworth sticking rigidly to times!!The breakfast was well cooked and fresh, and the lunch meals likewise.Was so happy with my delicious breakfast I forgot to buy the patio magic!! ( or did my subconscious give me a reason to go back ?? )Would highly recommend the staff and the food

We enjoyed a 241 voucher from the Scotsdales magazine for afternoon tea. I had misread the voucher and believed it started at 1400 hrs and not 1430 hrs. The ladies at the till offered us the opportunity to pre-order our afternoon tea which I accepted however the staff then stated that I would need to have my drinks now and wait until 1430 to have my food a little odd however we didn’t mind as we had lots to chat about!The tea was served on a 3-tier stand however we had to ask for an additional plate to eat the food from as did everyone else around us. We were given standard size plates however later in the afternoon I did see smaller plates were being given out. We had 4 fresh sandwiches of egg, tuna, ham and cheese (2 on brown & 2 on white bread) which were served with the crusts on. A small slither of jam/butter cream Victoria sandwich, a piece of very moist fruit laden cake and a scone which was pre-cut and spread with fresh cream on one and strawberry jam on the other. Before we had finished our food a member of staff requested the return of our 3-tier stand as they were busy and wanted to give it to someone else. It is sort of what afternoon tea is all about and I was a little disappointed as this was a birthday treat for my Sister. In summary the café is open plan and is very noisy. The tables are quite close together. I would have preferred to have paid more and had fewer customers to enhance the whole experience. £7.99 was probably too lower price point however good value for all the food we had. Just not a classic tea room experience.

Visited late afternoon and ordered a Jacket Potato and Beans, I was informed that there were no Jacket Potato's left and would I like something else. Being on a diet, having to avoid bread and being a rather fussy eater, I asked the ladies serving (Zoe & Cat) if they had Omelette. This is not on the menu but a quick question to the kitchen and hey presto, Omelette, baked beans and salad.... Perfect. And I must say that the Omelette was cooked to perfection, so thank you James & Nick and the ladies out front for such fabulous service to a 'faffy' customer.