Haskins Garden Centre in Ferndown has been announced as a semi-finalist in the 2018 BAPTAs for the Afternoon Tea Award. These awards celebrate tourism across the BH postcodes.

Sponsors of the Afternoon Tea Award category, Country Fare, visited Haskins last week to present the popular garden centre with its certificate.

The Afternoon Tea Award is given in recognition of a company offering a quintessentially British afternoon tea for locals and visitors, amongst other food offerings.

Scones at Haskins are made fresh daily throughout the day by the restaurant's team of pastry chefs. Last year, Haskins sold 219,000 scones and 3,591 Afternoon Teas for two. The popular garden centre restaurant offers a daily choice of plain, fruit and cheese scones.

Ben Harrison, group catering manager at Haskins, said: "We're delighted to have been voted for by the public to reach the semi-finals of the BAPTA Afternoon Tea Award. It really means so much to all the dedicated and skilled chefs that work so hard to deliver a delicious afternoon tea experience for our customers."

Haskins has a special Valentine's Day Afternoon Tea offer - a selection of finger sandwiches, scones with cream and jam and cakes, served with a complimentary glass of Prosecco (£19.95 for two). This is available on a pre-booking basis only; bookings are still available in the Ferndown restaurant.

Tim Whyatt, marketing manager at Country Fare, who presented the certificate to Haskins, said: "Congratulations to the team at Haskins for a well-deserved place in the BAPTA semi-finals. Country Fare is proud to sponsor this category and in turn support the best the BH area has to offer."

The BAPTA Afternoon Tea Award, sponsored by Country Fare, is one of few categories voted for by the public. Other semi-finalists include Christchurch Harbour Hotel & Spa, Compton Acres, Frieda's Tea Room, Hotel Miramar, Hotel Collingwood, Marsham Court Hotel, The Courtyard Tea Rooms, The Cumberland Hotel and The Greenhouse Hotel.

Jackie Phillipson, director of ROUTEpr and the BAPTAs, said: "The Country Fare Afternoon Tea Award is a public vote category which attracts entries and nominations from across the BH postcode area.

"The public has a real passion for the quintessentially British pastime of tea and cake. This award recognises the importance of excellent customer service, homemade produce as well as a relaxed setting to enjoy it in. Entries for this category range from hotels, restaurants and tea rooms."

The winners will be revealed at the 2018 BAPTA Ball Awards Ceremony on Thursday March 15 at Lighthouse in Poole.

Haskins Garden Centre is located in Ferndown, Dorset. Visit www.haskins.co.uk<http://www.haskins.co.uk> for more information.

Pictured, from left tor right: Tim Whyatt (Marketing Manager at Country Fare), Kris Hall (Sales Manager at Country Fare), Simon Hallam (Centre Manager at Haskins Garden Centre in Ferndown), Chelsie Eyre (Pastry Chef at Haskins), Ben Ryding (Restaurant Supervisor), Ben Harrison (Group Catering Manager at Haskins).