The Riverside Cafe and Willow Restaurant are pleasantly situated with views over the countryside. The official website mentions that they have "lovely views over the River Brock". You really need to go outside the cafe to get a view of the river.
There is a large indoor cafe which also has seating outdoors. Both areas are very pleasant.
The interior of the cafe is thoughtfully decorated with wood beams
and arches. The tables and chairs were wood-effect plastic.
Food in the cafe consists of sandwiches, salads and similar snack meals. they are of good quality and reasonably priced.
If you want a more substantial meal during the week then the adjoining Willow Restaurant will cater for your needs. We didn't check them out so we have no idea about prices but we were told that a full English breakfast cost around �6.50.
The Riverside cafe appears to be more reasonably priced compared to other sections of this garden centre and the surroundings and decor are very pleasant. The staff were helpful and willing.
HOUSE PLANTS
The first display you see as you enter Barton Grange at Preston is of the
houseplants. Click the picture to enlarge it and see just how ornately designed this
area is. Like no other garden centre.
The house plants are all in immaculate condition and very attractively laid out. The cost of all this is generallly higher than normal prices.
INDOOR SALES AREA
The whole of the indoor sales area is elegantly and attractively laid out. They stock an excellent range of cards, gifts, furniture, barbecues and all the other non-gardening items of modern garden centres. They also stock an excellent range of garden accessories.
The whole area is laid out with wide flooring areas suitable for wheelchair use.
OTHER FACILITIES
The indoor sales area has a Farm Shop in it which sells a range of groceries. Bizarrely we noted that they sold canned chopped tomatoes!
In reality though they specialise in good quality meats cheeses an vegetables. All good stuff but on the pricey side.
DISABLED FACILITIES Wheelchair access is good throughout with lots of wide unobstructed paths. Wheel chairs are available for no charge.
TOILETS Barton Grange Preston Garden Centre has a full range of toilet facilities including those for baby-changing and disabled. The toilets are immaculately clean. The gents toilets in particular have become famous for their decor, especially the urinals. The pictures below speak for themselves! Click any of them for a larger version.
CAR PARKING
Lots and lots of flat car parking near the main entrance.
The address is:
Barton Grange Garden Centre,
Garstang Road,
Brock,
Preston,
Lancashire PR3 0BT
Our sat nav got us to just over 2 miles from the garden centre. We then found it by driving down the Garstang Road.
A map can be found HERE
Tel: 01995 642900
Email: mail.preston@bartongrange.co.uk
Website: http://www.bartongrange.co.uk/gardencentres/preston.html
SUMMARY
A lavishly designed garden centre which will appeal to some but not to others. Totally
modern, totally stylised, this is not your normal garden centre. The roof on the outdoor
area ensures that shopping for plants is an all year round exercise.
The cafe serves good food at reasonable prices in a very attractive setting. And yes, you have to visit it (men at least), if only to see those world famous toilets.
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