Staverton Nursery, near Lewes in East Sussex, has rebuilt and opened its new restaurant and food hall, 18 months after a devastating fire destroyed half of its retail space, coffee shop and offices.

This new development provides the business with a restaurant that has increased the seating numbers up to 116 internally, with an additional 56 outside. It also has a takeaway adjacent to the food hall and restaurant entrance, giving customers a grab and go options whilst providing support to the restaurant. 

The food hall offers a full range of goods, including fruit and vegetables, frozen goods, a butchery, deli products, bakery items and grocery.

When the fire happened the business reflected on its previous retail and catering offer, and considered what could be done differently to what was there before. They started work on the new building, and then in March 2024 they approached specialist Garden Centre and Farmshop Design and Business Consultants, Pleydell Smithyman, to review the site potential and create a scheme that would elevate the business.

Matthew Cottingham, Director at Staverton Nursery, said: “The fire was devastating, but on reflection, whilst it has been a challenging time, we are really pleased with the outcome and our new food hall and restaurant.

“The food hall gives our customers a great range of food and it has enabled us to work with a fantastic local butcher, C. Leppards of Halland. Our range includes fresh fruit and vegetables, which takes us back to our roots and the food hall adds more reasons for customers to visit than ever before. 

“The restaurant not only gives customers a lovely venue to visit, but it has a real sentimental aspect to it too, being named after our Grandad, Cecil, who set the business up originally. He started by selling fruit and vegetables on a table on the roadside, and the design reflects this story and history.” 

Andrew Burton from Pleydell Smithyman, added: “This was one of those projects that put a smile on your face. Not only were we working with great owners, who are bouncing back from a devastating fire, but this scheme has enabled the business to add so much more to its previous customer proposition. The development means that these new additions to the business are going to have a really positive impact on turnover, and essentially, they are two key areas in the garden centre industry right now – food retail and catering. We know that both food hall and restaurant trading is integral to Nurseries and Garden Centres, especially helping to reduce seasonal peaks and troughs, but at Staverton this has been carried out with a definite 'wow factor'.

“It’s been a really fast track project, and with our design and commercial team working closely with the client and coordinating with suppliers and contractors, delivery has been achieved it in a very timely and pleasing timescale, with December’s peak trade period for these two departments in sight.”