A new area was added earlier this year with 100 more seats
Baker Jo Chambers with afternoon tea at Planters Brookfields Garden Centre in Mapperley Plains(Image: Joseph Raynor/ Reach PLC)
Afternoon tea at a Notts garden centre is always a sell-out when there’s a celebrity guest. Kylie, Freddie Mercury, Cher, Elvis, Meatloaf and Bon Jovi are some of the names to have performed at Planters Brookfields.
Of course, they’re not the real thing — that would be a miracle seeing as some of them have gone to that great stage in the sky— but tribute acts performing the songs of the much-loved stars.
They’re always a popular draw at the garden centre and the next one, later this month, Lionel Ritchie, is already fully booked.
But you don’t have to wait until the special Sunday events to enjoy afternoon tea as it can be booked any day of the week. Right now, it’s in the spotlight for winning a national award.
The garden centre, which serves both sweet and savoury versions, scooped gold at the first-ever Greatest Garden Centre Afternoon Tea competition.
Scones baked by Jo Chambers (Image: Joseph Raynor/ Reach PLC)
Star baker Jo Chambers wowed the judges with both types of the feast at the contest at the Glee Home and Garden Show at the NEC in Birmingham.
Judges congratulated the “beautiful presentation” and loved the chocolate-coated strawberries that were “a nice touch of luxury.” They were also impressed by the good-sized cakes and the option for both a sweet and savoury spread.
Jo, who has worked for the garden centre in Mapperley Plains for nearly 20 years, learnt the tricks of the trade while working for Birds Bakery’s factory in Derby previously.
Sweet treats including Black Forest gateaux and caramel shortbread(Image: Joseph Raynor/ Reach PLC)
Asked what makes the teas award-winning, she said: “The fact the cakes and scones are homemade and years of experience. We never get any complaints.
“I was pleased to win. I was quite tearful actually. It makes it all worthwhile. It was the first year they’d done the competition but I think they’re going to be doing it every year now.
“I do enjoy my job. It’s quite rewarding when you’ve made something yourself. You’ve got all those ingredients together and you’ve come out with a nice product. Some jobs, you’ve got nothing at the end of it.”
The sweet tea comes with traditional sandwiches filled with egg mayonnaise, ham salad, cheese and pickle, and tuna mayonnaise, Jo’s plain and sultana scones with jam and clotted cream, and her cakes, which change depending on what she’s baked.
The savoury pastries are supplied by Arnold butcher A.E. Chambers (Image: Joseph Raynor/ Reach PLC)
Currently there’s caramel shortbread, mini Black Forest gateaux and cranberry rocky road, with fresh strawberries and blueberries adding to the presentation.
The savoury version has the same sandwiches but the scones are replaced by cheese-topped ones with cream cheese and caramelised onion chutney. Instead of cakes, there’s a tier of sausage rolls, quiche and award-winning pork pie from Arnold butchers, A.E. Chambers, one of the local suppliers used by the garden centre.
“The prices are good as well. It’s £20 per person… some you can pay about £35,” added Jo, who used to put the finishing touches to cakes at Birds, including the iconic Elephant’s Foot’s chocolate fondant topping and cream centre.
While she had no problem wowing the judges with the food, she didn’t enjoy the part where she had to take the microphone and talk about her job since she’s quite a shy person.
Savoury and sweet afternoon teas (Image: Joseph Raynor/ Reach PLC)
Always on the lookout for new recipes she said: “I go home at night and I’m scouring the internet for ideas. We’ve been to the cake shows and saw some ideas there and we’ve come back and made our own. One trend is Lotus biscoff, we’ve been making quite a few of those.”
Since winning the award, bookings for afternoon tea (which have to be made 24 hours in advance) have increased. Soon there will be a Christmas twist, and the appearance of pigs in blankets and festive cakes, for £25-a-head. Customers can add a glass of Prosecco for a further five pounds.
Janice Lappin, catering manager, said: “We’re really lucky to have Jo. She’s a good baker. She’s been here nearly as long as I have. I’ve got a lot of long-serving staff.
“Jo’s job was always scones but then she branched out into other things like cakes for afternoon tea. We always get good feedback. We do them fresh on the day, all with good quality produce. She’s just completed all the Christmas cakes and she does our big sponge cakes. She pulls a lot in.”
To meet demand, the garden centre added a new area with 100 additional seats, which opened in May. “We were struggling, we were running out of seats and it’s given us another 100, so it’s made a massive difference. We’ve got, including the coffee lounge and outdoor seats, about 400 to 450.”
Baker Jo Chambers with her ‘famous’ chocolate sponge cake
Because Jo’s already working at full capacity, cakes for the coffee lounge are bought in, from another local supplier, Sweet House Bakery, which has a shop just a mile down the road in Arnold and a bakery in Colwick.
The cafe serves coffee from local roastery Stewarts, in Sneinton, its fruit and vegetables are supplied by Barrowcliffe in Hooton Street, Nottingham, and the bread comes from Adkins Bakery, also in Hooton Street.
“There’s a big map on the wall telling you all the suppliers. I try to stick to local if I can, it’s good to support each other,” said Janice, who manages a 40-strong catering team.
The garden centre changed hands in April 2023 after the death of the elderly owners John and Audrey Clower, who’d had it for more than 40 years. It was taken over by Planters, which has sites across the West Midlands in Tamworth, Bretby and Aldridge.
“We were really fortunate Planters took it over and again it’s family-oriented. They’ve got a little chain now. They are lovely people to work for so that makes a difference. We can still give the personal touch,” added Janice.
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