The Patio Restaurant at Cardwell Garden Centre is now providing a range of baking, including its famed scones, strawberry tarts and meringues, as well as takeaway teas, coffees, sandwiches, toasties, paninis, baguettes and ice cream cones.

The garden centre, near Gourock has been busy since it re-opened on May 29th after the Scottish Government eased lockdown restrictions and entered Phase 1 of the Route Map out of the coronavirus pandemic. Cardwell is open seven days a week from 10am to 4pm.

One of the first customers to try the new Cardwell takeaway service was Rebecca McGarrity, from Inverkip who said: “It’s great that the restaurant is now open for takeaway food.

“I’m a regular at Cardwell and I always pay a visit to The Patio Restaurant.

“At least with the takeaway service being launched, we know we’re starting to get back to some sort of normality.”

Cardwell director, Kieran Gallagher said: “We know a big part of the Cardwell experience is paying a visit to our Patio Restaurant for breakfast, lunch or even just a cuppa and a cake.

“I’m sure people will appreciate that under the Scottish Government’s current coronavirus guidelines we can’t open the restaurant as normal, but we thought the next best thing would be to offer a takeaway menu, since we are allowed to do that.

“The first of the delicious treats available will be our chef and brilliant baker, Bernadette’s range of home baking that includes her superb scones and amazing meringues.

“And some of us working at Cardwell can’t wait to get some tasty homemade food at lunchtime, instead of a pot noodle!”