The Thousands

We all get a little nostalgic at times and a visit to the quaint Cottage Garden Nursery is a prime opportunity to step back in time and leave your iPad2 at home. It won’t impress anyone here anyway.

Step inside the nursery to find an unexpected collection of antiques but poke around the not so surprising collection of seedlings, herbs and flowers to where Gillian’s Garden Café lies and you’ll be greeted by locals in-the-know bantering over Devonshire tea. It’s a tough call for just which one of the specials scribbled on an old rustic door to go for. A personal recommendation is the signature dish, sand crab lasagna, and who could resist some lavender and honey ice cream?!

Watching chef, caterer, and restaurateur Gillian Hirst and her protégé, Tracy Hirst through the kitchen window tells you they have something sweet going on; it’s rare to see desserts bustled out to each table after a decadent luncheon. Not surprisingly the food here is made with local market produce and oh, it shows!