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As far as turnover goes this is the largest garden centre in the Blue Diamond group and 22nd largest in the UK. It is set on the Trentham Estate which not only has a garden centre but also Italian gardens, Monkey Forest, a lake with lakeside walk and lots of shops. There is more than enough to do here to keep you occupied for the day.
Costs can be high though with entrance to the gardens costing £8.50 for adults and a very steep £7.25 for children and concessions. If you want go into monkey Forest it will cost another £7.50 per adult, even the short boat trip across the lake will cost a couple of pounds.
If you have any money left after that and decide to eat in one of the cafes you will find those expensive as well. Best to take a picnic and lots of drinks from home, the price for soft drinks especially is well beyond normal prices.
Of course, entrance to the garden centre is free. The layout of the plants area is said to based on the Italian gardens although it wasn't apparent to us at ground level. Plants are healthy and well kept and there is a very large choice.
The location of the plants is a bit haphazard with appearance triumphing over utility. Even so, this is a very well laid out garden centre which maintains customer interest.
The paths are wide and fully paved and easily accessible by wheelchair. Overall disabled access is very good in all areas with wheelchairs available for no cost at the entrance.
The cafe facilities are shared throughout the Trentham Estate and there are lots of them but the garden centre has three specific cafe of its own. First is the Cafe Bello which is a coffee house serving drinks (hot and cold) as well as snacks, sandwiches and cakes.
The cafe is attractively designed and a pleasant place for a snack and a coffee although prices are on the high side. They were awarded the top five star rating for food hygiene by Stafford Borough Council in August 2023.
The next cafe is the Six Arches Restaurant which is most definitely large with about 250 seats indoors and a further 100 on the open terrace area. The design is modern and clean looking in its own dedicated area with high ceilings.
They serve a very wide range of food here with breakfast from opening time to 11.00am. Lunch main meals are available as is a carvery if you want a substantial meal. Snack meals including baguettes, sandwiches, salads, coffees / teas and cakes are all available as are cream teas in the afternoon.
Prices are above average and although the quality of the food is good prices are still too high. The Six Arches restaurant was awarded four stars out five for food hygiene in December 2024.
The third choice of eating place is the Terazzo del Giardino which is more up market (and even more over-priced) compared to the above two. They have indoor and outdoor seating and the decor has a pleasant and definitely Italian theme to it. Decor and service (meals served to your table). The food is almost exclusively Italian so don't visit if you don't fancy Italian food!
Pastas, pizzas, Italian meat and vegetable dishes all appear. The food is good but once again overpriced for what the food really is.
Closed on Christmas Day, Easter Sunday (external areas only open)
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