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Busy as a Bee: with your award-winning Garden Centre
BUSY AS A BEE
Almost every Island local will tell you that, from early October through the winter season, Busy Bee Garden Centre’s famed Christmas World is the place to get in to the festive spirit, but as their recent GCA award shows, Christmas certainly isn’t the only reason to visit.
The garden centre equivalent of the BAFTAs, a GCA (Garden Centre Association) award carries some serious prestige in the industry and in fact, even membership at the GCA can be quite exclusive. The awards are held annually and recognise the outstanding levels of service offered from member centres across Britain.
At the July event, Busy Bees’ restaurant, the Olive Tree, took home the gong for best garden centre restaurant in the South Thames region, an area that spans the Isle of Wight, Hampshire, Berkshire, Surrey, Sussex and Kent, and includes 52 venues. Offering cakes as tall as its Christmas trees, delicious breakfasts, the best quiche on the Island and 12-inch stone-baked pizzas to eat in or take away, it is not surprising that the Olive Tree won gold. You can even order one of those skyscraper cakes to celebrate a special occasion at home, or host a function at the venue itself. And you won’t get bored of the menu - it changes seasonally and even offers a full traditional Christmas dinner which is sure to fill your festive boots. The Olive Tree isn’t the only star at the centre - their Christmas World took home its own prize in the 2019 GCA Christmas Garden Centre Awards, where its seasonal display was named as the joint best in South England. Busy Bee’s Christmas World traditionally marks the start of the festive season for families of all ages across the Island. From early October, you’ll be greeted at the property by detailed displays featuring fairies,
elves, dancing arctic animals, singing reindeer and a train headed for the North Pole. Hundreds of Santas, life-size nutcrackers and an army of celestial angels serenade you, while magic floating candles fill a nearby grotto. Grab a trolley - you’ll need it as you choose from the vast collection of tinsel sparkling in traditional reds and greens, avant-garde pale pinks and icy blues. A menagerie of LED creatures are available to light up your garden on those dark December evenings, or create your very own village with a collection of buildings from their vast array of glowing miniatures. If it’s a tree you’re after, look no further - there are firs of every size and colour, and to make sure they look their festive best you’ll find themed decorations ranging from traditional baubles to gentle Christmas wildlife or crystal winter icicles that will turn your lounge into a frozen wonderland. So, with delicious meals that reflect the changing seasons and enough Christmas decorations to fill the largest manor house, the question now is - do we call it a garden centre with an award-winning restaurant or a restaurant with an award-winning garden centre?
Christmas World Opens on 1st October, Members evening 30th September
Brading Road, Ryde PO33 1QG t: 01983 811096 OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm Sundays 9am to 4pm busybeegardencentre.co.uk 2022 sees our Reindeer return by popular demand
