The much-anticipated reopening of a popular garden cafe took place today – complete with a new name and makeover.
Last November Trevena Cross Nurseries at Breage announced it was taking over the running of the on-site café, which has been closed for a complete refit since the end of January.
Today (Saturday) marked its reopening as the Palm Tree Bistro, with the new name reflecting the direction it hopes to go in.
Manager Mandie Lewis told the Packet: “We just wanted that new ambience. The guys in the kitchen have come from a restaurant and I’ve come from a café – and we have met in the middle as a bistro.”
Mandie has been at Trevena six years now, although people may also recognise her from Lidl and Warrens in Helston previously.
Ten members of staff have also stayed on from before and they have been joined by a number of new faces – including the two chefs, Dave and Ricky, who have come from the award-winning Peterville Arms in St Agnes that took gold as 'Pub of the Year' in the 2023/24 Cornwall Tourism Awards.
They have developed a seasonal menu based around local produce, including much of it grown at the garden centre itself.
The new menu includes cooked breakfasts from 9am to 11.30am – including the ‘Full Cornish’, Eggs Royale, Benedict and Florentine, avocado toast and house porridge – and then lunch between 12pm and 3.30pm. This ranges from salads and sandwiches, to more substantial dishes such a burgers, fish and chips, Moroccan tagine and Spanish seafood stew.
As the seasons change, there will also be roast dinners on a Sunday.
The much-loved cake range also remains throughout the day.
“It’s fresh quality and what we hope is an affordable price. It’s about keeping the customers happy.
“I feed back to the kitchen what customers are asking for,” said Mandie, who added: “I’ve been here six years and I love it. I love the customers; we have so many local ones. Some are elderly and they like that bit of a chat.
"It's great we've been so busy on the first day back."
Inside the café has been given a makeover too, with Rachel Jeffery - owner of the garden centre with husband Graham - creating a lush, tropical effect with plants, and the tables each featuring a leaf design.
The undercover outdoor seating area remains, including as an overflow for customers who want to bring their dogs. There is also a designated area of the cafe for dogs.
Another new addition is the tiki hut in the covered section of the garden centre (the area used for the Christmas markets) where visitors to the garden centre will be able to grab a takeaway coffee or ice cream more quickly during busier times.
“I’m buzzing for it to go forward,” said Mandie.
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