2 days ago
I paid a visit to a North Wales seaside resort's unique garden centre and café
A garden centre and cafe with a difference was officially opened last month. Bryn Euryn Nursery and Café in Dinerth Road in Rhos-on-Sea had already been operating for some time - but the site may have flown under the radar for some.
So what can customers expect? This garden centre and café, with an adjoining shop, provides employment mentoring to people with disabilities wanting to get into paid work. Cllr Charlie McCoubrey, Conwy Council's Leader, has said he is proud that investment by the local authority, with extra money from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, will enable the team to help people with learning disabilities to learn useful skills.
The nursery and cafe are at the very bottom of Dinerth Road, before you get to the underpass, and the site is well-signposted. Around the corner, in fact, is Bron-y-Nant Cemetery by Colwyn Bay Crematorium and Mochdre Recycling Centre.
You can park on Dinerth Road, although it's quite a slope. You can walk straight down a ramp or steps to the nursery itself or go through the shop into a bright, colourful cafe.
There are lots of square tables in blue, green, orange, pink and yellow so there are plenty of places to sit.
I went to the counter and was told meals weren't being served due to a staffing issue, I believe. But coffee and cake were available.
There were lots of "homemade" scones, bara brith and other desserts. So I chose a slice of vanilla sponge cake with mixed berries, paid and sat down by the window.
When the waitress came over the cake tasted light and soft. It was very pleasant although I would have liked a thicker piece. A latte washed it down which was fine.
The menu shows they normally serve traditional fare with some nice touches. For breakfast you can have a breakfast bap for £6 - comprising bacon, sausage, tomato, hashbrown and an egg - or cheesey beans in a slice of bloomer toast for £4.50.
For lunch there are sandwiches and lite bites, including Welsh rarebit (£5), or layered hummus (£6), topped with red onion, tomato, pomegranate and coriander with crispy bread.
There is also a Speciality Ciabatta with Italian meats, mozzarella, pickles, rocket and mustard (£7). Or try a Reuben one (for £7) with thin beef, cheese, sauerkraut and thousand island dressing.
The cafe itself is in a large, hangar like room. Colourful paper balls dangle above the window and ribbons are festooned across the ceiling. It looks like there's been a permanent party.
I particularly liked the coffee table, cookery style books left on each table for you to peruse. On mine was Sabrina Ghayour's Persiana Everyday with recipes for dishes like Bazaar, spiced, chickpea & feta salad, and Sticky tamarind, garlic and tomato green beans.
On another table was Mary Berry's "Classic" recipe book. There were lots of ideas for amateur cooks to take inspiration from: Pan-fried cauliflower steaks, anyone?
But I think that the main attractions of an informal lunch or coffee break at Bryn Euryn are the purpose of this place and its setting. Not only are you supporting the staff to mentor those needing a helping hand, you can do so while enjoying the wonderful array of plants on sale.
Wandering around the adjoining nursery before or after the food is a lovely thing to do. It puts you in a good mood and soothes you.
In the shop are a plethora of seed packets on sale - spinach, radish, kohl rabi and so on - as well as pots of freesias and sweet peas. Outside, below a terrace, there are a range of products on display from Cordyline to orange, climbing sunblaze roses.
The facts
Location: Bryn Euryn Nursery and Cafe, Dinerth Road, Rhos-on-Sea, Conwy, LL28 4YN is open from 9.30pm till 4pm most days. 01492 577530.
