Starters
Few places offer the chance to indulge in a spot of retail therapy, tuck into a delicious homemade meal and stroll around a beautiful garden to your heart’s content. But then Burford Garden Company always did aim to offer that something extra, says SOPHIE RAE
Locavore F
or many of us, our gardens play as an extension to our homes: we relax in them, entertain in them, dine
alfresco in them (when the sun stops sulking) and spend more time than we care to admit weeding, digging, sprinkling and hoping that our efforts will pay off with a bountiful space fit to scoop gold at the next Chelsea Flower Show. Admittedly, all of this effort
usually needs a little nudge in the right direction to get going – and perhaps some inspiration from the experts. Plus, of course, no garden can keep up appearances without the necessary seeds, tools, and gardening gadgets. The solution? We think a trip to the local garden centre is in order. And if Burford is your local, then what a lucky, green-fingered bunch you are. For owners Nigel and Louise
kitchen shop and an expanding food hall that works hard to promote fresh, local produce. Our first choice is, and always has been, to source local manufacturers, growers and craftspeople.” The highly acclaimed café
and kitchens are at the heart of the store, with six creative chefs working under the guidance of head chef Diarmuid Rogan, previously of neighbouring foodie champions, Daylesford Organic. “They cook everything from
Burford Garden Company has more than 250 varieties of roses on offer
scratch, and often from produce grown on the premises in our own kitchen gardens,” says Louise. “Nico Luca is the organising force behind our café and, despite his exotic name, is an Englishman who lives in the heart of the Cotswolds! He’s always been keen to provide customers with wholesome food that’s ethically sourced and is constantly on the look-out for new local suppliers to provide top-
Johnson, gardening life began with a humble plant nursery on a derelict piece of land amidst the lush Oxfordshire countryside. Thirty years on and their gardener’s paradise, still in its original location, now spans an impressive 15 acres. “Our underlying ethos has always been to make
the garden and home as one – to reflect the stunning countryside that we live in, and provide a collection of products that are both beautiful and useful,” says Nigel. With an army of loyal regulars and a fair few famous
faces popping by (David Cameron is a regular – but don’t let that put you off!) it’s little wonder the company has grown in strength. “We aim to offer the largest selection of high-quality
plants and gardenalia imaginable,” explains Louise. “Then there’s our stylish interiors store, filled with soft furnishings, new and vintage furniture, British ceramics, glassware and even an art gallery. We also have a gorgeous
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quality ingredients for both our kitchens and food hall. “We currently use local outfits including Toddenham
Manor Butchery, Upton Smokery, Hobbs House, New Wave Seafood, Shipton Mill and Nell’s Dairy.” Once you’ve pottered around the beautifully sculpted
gardens, picked up a few seedlings, a fruit tree or two, perhaps an edible hedge and – oh, go on – a herb pot, a well-deserved cuppa will surely be calling. But what should go with it? “Our reputation for delicious cakes has steadily grown,”
says Louise, “but our chocolate Guinness cake has always been a firm favourite [turn to page 16 for the recipe]. Our scones, cupcakes and cakes are available throughout the day, and we always have a gluten-free option too.” Thankfully it seems that, no matter when you visit,
crafting your own gardener’s haven is hungry work. A recent visit saw breakfast time offerings include homemade muesli, fresh fruit salad and a full
crumbsmag.com
LOCAVORE – Someone interested in locally produced food, not moved long distances to market
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