The food was nice and hearty, but the views stole the show
Sarah Lumley Multimedia Reporter
05:50, 09 May 2026
Garden Terrace Café at Batsford Arboretum(Image: GloucestershireLive)
If you’re looking for a nice day out this Bank Holiday weekend with a tasty, hearty meal to boot, I’d recommend this one spot in the Cotswolds – which also happens to be at one of the UK’s best arboretums.
Batsford Arboretum is located a couple of miles outside of Moreton-in-Marsh, up in the north of the Cotswolds. Spread across 60 acres, it’s home to a unique collection of some of the world’s most beautiful and rare trees and shrubs, with a distinct Chinese and Japanese influence.
In fact, since 2002, it has held the National Collection of Japanese Flowering Cherries, with at least 70% of known Japanese Cherry Blossoms to be found at the Arboretum.
Seeing the cherry blossoms was primarily the reason for my visit to Batsford, as the end of April and early May is the best time to see them in bloom. But since I was making a day of my trip, I thought I’d stop for a spot of lunch at the Garden Terrace café on my way in.
It wasn’t until I arrived that I realised how much of an experience a visit to Batsford Arboretum really is.
The Garden Terrace café sits just outside the Arboretum entrance, so you don’t even have to pay for an entry ticket in order to enjoy the food here – you can just go along for a meal if you want.
But even before that, upon arriving, you’re greeted with everyone’s favourite idea of a day out (once you reach a certain age) – a garden centre.
Lunch with a view(Image: GloucestershireLive)
Despite arriving at peak lunchtime, I immediately found myself distracted browsing all the flowers, shrubs, and garden accessories and ornaments on offer.
I love a garden centre, and Batsford really does have everything you could need, from gardening tools to birdhouses, or simply bright and beautiful bouquets to add a splash of colour to your home.
When I eventually dragged myself away from the shop, I made my way through to the café itself. The Garden Terrace has a casual and relaxed feel, as you wander in and find yourself greeted with canteen-style service.
You can opt for a light bite of a sandwich and a bag of crisps, but if you want something more substantial there’s plenty to choose from.
Lunch is served from midday until 2.30pm every day, with the menu changing daily, although there is always a meat, fish, vegetarian, and vegan option on offer, with everything freshly baked on site each day using locally-sourced produce as much as possible.
On the day I visited, the menu offerings included lamb hot pot, a poached salmon fillet, and a vegan lentil vegetable chilli, all served with seasonal vegetables and potatoes, as well as a barbecue pulled brisket burger served with chips and coleslaw.
It’s all pretty affordable, too. The most expensive dish is the burger, costing £16.25, whilst all the other main meals cost less than £16. Given that I’m at a tourist attraction in the Cotswolds, I’m pleasantly surprised by the prices.
The lamb hot pot was delicious and flavourful(Image: GloucestershireLive)
I opt for the lamb hot pot, which costs me £15.95, and an apple and mango juice from Bensons Family Juicers, based 15 miles down the road in Cheltenham. Altogether my bill comes to £19 – which definitely isn’t the most I’ve paid for a meal out in the Cotswolds.
It was a gorgeous sunny day so I take my food outside and get settled on a table out in the sunshine. If you’re visiting on a nice day, I highly recommend doing this. You can enjoy your meal on a large terrace area with views of the garden centre below, and stretching out towards Draycott and the north Cotswolds.
As for the food, it really tastes like I’ve been served a home-cooked meal. Despite it having been served from a dish sat below a food heater, rather than coming straight from the kitchen, it’s easy to forget this once it’s plated up and you’re tucking in.
The lamb is delicious, if a little fatty round the edges – but nice and tender for the most part. I also got served an extra ladle of gravy over the meal just before I took it away from the counter, and it’s got a great flavour to it.
Plus, there’s more vegetables on my plate than I can actually finish – a lone potato and a handful of green beans get left behind once I am full. The potatoes, by the way, are lightly salted which packs a nice flavour punch.
Once I’m done with my meal, I sit and enjoy the lush green views of the arboretum for a bit before making my way in. If you do decide to wander around, a day ticket costs £12 including Gift Aid (or £10.90 without).
But if you’re local to the area and just want to enjoy a meal out and a little trip to a garden centre, don’t miss out on the food here at Garden Terrace. It’s a great little spot.
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