Highfield Garden World in Gloucestershire is celebrating a very successful first six months for its new restaurant.  Year on year, till movements during the first half of 2014 were up by over 22,000, and the average customer transaction increased by around 28% to just over £9.  Restaurant sales overall were up a massive 82%.

Owned and run by the Greenway family, Highfield is the largest independent garden centre in Gloucestershire.  April saw the completion of a £2.5m new restaurant and retail development at the site.   Transforming the food offering was the catalyst and the cornerstone of the entire project, and the new 450 seater lakeside restaurant features far-reaching views, floor to ceiling glass walls, a vaulted ceiling and indoor and outdoor seating areas.  

Director Tim Greenway commented;  “This project was a major investment for the business and it’s just fantastic to see it beginning to pay off.  I think the feel good factor has a lot to do with the restaurant’s success so far.  On top of serving good food and drink, it’s a really nice place to be – light, airy and relaxing.  It means customers enjoy spending time there, and it means they keep coming back – and telling their friends about it as well.  Many will come twice during one visit, maybe for elevenses and then for lunch a bit later on.”

Tim continued:  “We’ve carried on being careful about where we pitch our prices, and also worked hard to get the balance right between having old favourites on offer while expanding the menu to appeal to different markets.  So far so good.   Great coffee complete with latte art, is huge for us.  So are baked goods.  We now have 3 bakers on site and project that by the end of the summer we’ll have made and sold 23,000 scones and 140,000 hot drinks!”     

The new development increased Highfield footprint by around 1,500m² to 5,300m².  In addition to the restaurant the business has expanded its fashion, home and giftware offerings and welcomed new Peacocks, Ponden Mill and Pavers shoes concessions.  Tim Greenway explained how the new development has helped broaden Highfield’s appeal;  “Since our April launch we’ve definitely seen people travelling further to come and see us, when historically it’s been within a 50 mile radius.  We’re also seeing a younger market coming through the doors thanks to the “new” factor, some of the new concessions, and of course the modernised restaurant offering.”