Gardener's Retreat

Gardener's Retreat is the café at Carr Gate's British Garden Centres site, sitting right inside the garden centre with both indoor seating and an outdoor terrace. It's the kind of place where you can settle in for a proper afternoon tea, a cream tea, or just a coffee and a slice of cake while the kids are happily occupied nearby.

There's a good selection of gluten-free cakes and dairy-free options for hot drinks, so it's not a bad shout if you've got dietary needs in the family.

The big draw for families with little ones is the soft play area, which is separate from the restaurant and has its own seating for 30 or more. It's sized just right for pre-schoolers, with a dedicated baby section too, so you're not worrying about bigger kids charging around.

This is a solid choice for a relaxed mid-week outing with pre-schoolers, or a weekend treat with the wider family. The garden centre itself gives you something to browse before or after, and the afternoon tea is worth booking ahead if you fancy something a bit more special.