Thinking inside the box at Avon Mill!

Lengthy deliberations over what to choose at the cake counter are now a thing of the past. At least, they are at Avon Mill Garden Centre Café near Loddiswell in South Devon.

Hungry customers would agonise over the many home made delights so café managers Gill and Ali came up with an ingenious idea: a selection of favourites inside a little taster box which, together with a pot of tea, can be yours for just £4.95, or £8.95 for two. You can then use the box to take home any leftovers to enjoy later (assuming there are any, of course).

So, what might you find inside your 'Tea in a Box'? Selections vary, and they’re always kept a surprise, but in mine there was a little slice of chocolate orange tart, some buttery flapjack, a sticky piece of chocolate brownie, and some very moist carrot cake. No complaints there, except from my waistline, but that’s not all …

Following further experimentation, you can now enjoy a retro moment with one of Avon Mill’s Black Forest gateau-style cream teas (pictured above). There’s lateral thinking for you! Chocolate scones, cherry jam and lashings of clotted cream; what’s not to like? ‘Maybe we were mad scientists in a previous life!’ jokes Gill, ‘but it’s great to experiment and come up with something new and tasty for our customers to enjoy.’ 

If you have a more savoury tooth, specials at the time of writing included aubergine, chickpea and beef curry with rice, and butternut and feta frittata with salad. Regular fare, such as oven baked potatoes, paninis and sandwiches with a choice of fillings and served with mixed leaves and Avon Mill coleslaw, is available every day.

Avon Mill Café is open daily between 10am and 5.00pm. As well as a wide variety of plants, pots and garden sundries, the garden centre also hosts a ladies boutique, and offers local art and gifts for sale, so why not make a day of it? For more information, go to www.avonmill.com.