Opposite an industrial estate in Maghull, there’s a “hidden gem” which provides a little bit of tranquillity.
Sefton Meadows Garden Centre is not a place you're likely to stumble upon unless you're in the know but that hasn’t stopped it from becoming a much loved part of the community that people will travel across Merseyside for. The business dates back to the 1980s and has been family run from the beginning.
Despite being offering a huge plant collection and garden products for four decades, it has had a revamp in recent years and now the cafe is also a big customer draw. Managing director Tim Withers said his family took over it from the Cassidy family in 2006.
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The 31-year-old told the ECHO his family has a long history with garden centres and decided to take over the site after noticing its potential. Tim said: "We were expanding and knew it had a future if we renovated and put work into it.
"In recent years it’s got a new roof, floors, and heating. We upgraded the restaurant, got a new restaurant manager in, Graham. He has doubled the sales recently."
It’s common for tables in Rosie’s restaurant to be reserved as customers want to make sure they bag a spot for afternoon tea or a homely cooked meal, after a shop. In the restaurant, breakfast is served until 11.45am and lunch until 3.30pm.
Breakfast sandwiches, light bites and the traditional full English are on the menu, alongside daily specials that range from pies, to pasta bakes and roasts. Meals are prepared fresh on the site and the restaurant makes sure to use "farm assured" produce from local suppliers wherever possible.
Speaking about the growing popularity of the restaurant, Tim, who is from Lytham but now lives in Maghull, said: "We’re becoming fully booked more regularly when we have an event on. Recently we had an Elvis performer on in the afternoon, so we get people booking tables specifically for that. We're quite well known for putting events on."
As well as hosting regular events, with entertainment, Rosie's also puts on afternoon tea on special occasions such as for Mother's and Father's Day. Working on the events and hospitality side of things, Tim said he spends a lot of time perfecting choices and hiring the right people. He will take months to pick out the perfect Father Christmas, singers for events and new meals for the restaurant.
He said: "Our Christmas grotto is our speciality and it is loved. It's actually an award winning grotto. I’m currently working on it now to make sure it works towards the standards. It’s a lot of work."
In the garden centre itself, customers can buy a collection of plants, garden furniture, garden accessories, garden buildings, and garden tools. There's also regularly a team of horticulturists, and gardening enthusiasts, on hand to offer advice.
Tim said he’s proud of the work they’ve managed to achieve so far. He said: "We have had people come in recently and see ‘wow, it’s really changed.’ We’ve worked hard."
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