Breakfast with Father Christmas at Wyevale Garden Centre

One of the highlights of my calendar is having breakfast or tea with Father Christmas at Wyevale Garden Centre. It marks the start of the festive season and gives Freddy his first taste of Christmas festivities with the family. We were invited to breakfast on November 28th, starting at nine in the morning, and so myself, Ian, Freddy and Kezia headed off bright and early to the garden centre at Bridgemere.

A section of the restaurant is reserved for the breakfast and tea experiences and is decorated beautifully, complete with Santa's grotto surrounded by hundreds of quality gifts for the children to pick from. It looks really inviting!

We arrived to see the long tables laid with activity placemats, name stickers, crackers and a bag of chocolate coins for the children. We were able to help ourselves to hot drinks or juice, before having hot toast brought to the table. A counter allowed us to collect our cooked breakfasts, freshly served up by friendly staff wearing Christmas hats and jumpers. Other members of staff dressed as elves were on hand to help children back to their seats and to assist in any way they could. Christmas songs played and the atmosphere in the room was great!

We tucked into our veggie breakfasts: scrambled egg, hash browns and beans for the kids and fried egg, fried bread, mushrooms, tomatoes and beans for the adults. The food was good, hot and filling. The helpful elves were on hand to collect rubbish and dirty plates, keeping everything tidy on the tables.

After the food was eaten, the children were greeted by Dorothy, the green witch and Scarecrow from the Wizard of Oz who mingled with the guests. Children were given a Christmas tree gingerbread biscuit, a bag of icing and three little pots containing marshmallows, hundreds and thousands and chocolate buttons. Freddy had loads of fun decorating his biscuit and even more fun eating it! 

Before Santa's arrival, the staff got everyone singing a host of Christmas carols together, which was really nice. Then the children had to shout for Santa, who burst into the room much to everyone's delight.

Children were taken up to Santa one family at a time and given the opportunity to have a chat and pose for photographs. He was a kindly, traditional Santa who put the children at ease and was very accommodating posing for numerous photos. He encouraged Kezia to come for a chat, which she secretly loved! After reminding the children to leave out a mince pie and carrot on Christmas Eve, the children were invited to pick a gift. Getting to choose what they want is a really nice touch. Freddy had his eye on a geology set, where you get to dig crystal gems from a lump of 'rock'. Kezia picked a cuddly toy cow, who she named Larry. 

The experience lasts for around an hour and a quarter and is priced at £7.99 for adults and £9.99 for children. This includes the hot breakfasts, drinks, gifts for the kids plus the gingerbread decorating. An adult lighter option of  a baked pastry with coffee is £3.99. The constant attention and entertainment from the staff was really enthusiastic and kept a party atmosphere going. The organisation was excellent.

I really recommend this as a festive family treat. Afterwards you can explore the garden centre, which at this time of year is resplendent in wonderful Christmasness!

In addition to the Breakfast with Santa experience, there is a tea with Santa option. Children can have a hot tea with squash or a cold 'My Picnic' tea for £9.99, while adults have a festive sandwich, a mince pie and a sweet treat with tea or coffee for £7.99 or a slice of cake and a hot drink for £3.99.

Breakfast and Tea with Father Christmas is available until Christmas Eve.

Visit the website for dates and availability and book tickets for your nearest Wyevale Garden Centre. Book before December 6th and get £1 off all kids' tickets. www.wyevalegardencentres.co.uk/breakfast-or-tea-with-father-christmas.

Breakfast or Tea with the Easter Bunny at Wyevale Garden Centres

This Easter, if you are looking for something wonderfully seasonal to do with the family, check out the Wyevale Garden Centre's Breakfast or Tea with the Easter Bunny event.  

Breakfast and Tea sessions are being held until the 5th April, with breakfast starting at 9 am and tea at 4 pm. Sessions last for approximately 90 minutes.

Suitable for boys and girls aged between 2 and 10, children get to meet the Easter Bunny in the restaurant. They also get to enjoy a meal, decorate an Easter biscuit and receive a cute, cuddly toy and a Lindt chocolate bunny!

We were invited to pop along to enjoy a delicious breakfast and some Easter fun at our local garden centre in Bridgemere. 

We were met in the restaurant and showed to our reserved table, which had been laid out ready for our breakfast.  The kids had an activity sheet and crayons to keep them busy, while Ian and I enjoyed a cup of freshly brewed filter coffee.

We ordered vegetarian breakfasts, which were served to our table with hot buttered toast.  The children had hash browns, scrambled eggs and beans, while we had fried eggs, hash browns, mushrooms, beans, fried bread and tomato.  The food was well cooked and presented, and was lovely.

After they had eaten, the children had to shout for the Easter Bunny who then appeared  at the door much to their delight.  The Easter Bunny went around every table to greet families and pose for photographs. The bunny was very obliging, hugging little ones and doing selfies with the older kids.

Freddy and Kezia were able to pick a cuddly toy from a basket, which was filled with cute, wide eyed farm animal toys.  Freddy fell in love with the yellow duckling, giving him lots of cuddles.

Every child was then given a plate with a yummy, shortbread biscuit along with a tube of icing and a pot containing sprinkles, marshmallows and chocolate buttons. Freddy and Kezia enjoyed decorating their biscuits.

They were also given a box so that the biscuits could be taken home and enjoyed later. I thought this was a very nice touch, keeping their decorated creations safe and secure.

Breakfast with the Easter Bunny costs £9.99 per child to include the food, drink, soft toy, chocolate bunny, activity sheet and biscuit decorating.  Adults having a full English breakfast with coffee or tea pay £7.99, or can have a Danish pastry and a coffee for £3.99.

Tea compromises of a hot kids' meal and a drink or a picnic option, along with all the other fun stuff enjoyed at breakfast, for £9.99.  Adults can enjoy a lovely afternoon tea of filled rolls, cake squares, clotted cream and jam scone along with tea or coffee for £7.99, or a slice of cake and a drink for £3.99.

We were really impressed with the quality and the value of the event.  The atmosphere was relaxed, the staff were all very friendly and efficient and the food was great.  The toys and the Lindt chocolate bunnies were lovely gifts to take home.

Book events online on the Wyevale website.

Times and dates may vary by centre.

We had Tea with Father Christmas at Wyevale Garden Centre

Every Christmas, we enjoy visiting our local Wyevale garden centre.  We are just a few miles away from Bridgemere, and when we were invited to enjoy Tea with Father Christmas, we were really excited about spending a festive afternoon there.

Garden Centres always go all out at Christmas with their decorations, displays and events.  The entrance to Bridgemere housed an amazing nativity scene complete with lifesize, animatronic animals.  We enjoyed looking at all the lovely displays as we made our way to the restaurant for our 4pm booking to enjoy an afternoon tea and to see Santa.

An area of the restaurant was reserved for guests and we were greeted and shown to our table, which was beautifully laid out.  We had already organised our food choices in advance. As vegetarians we opted for the Festive Hummus, Red Pepper and Cucumber sandwiches accompanied by coffee, a delicious scone with jam and clotted cream and a mince pie.  I was very impressed that our vegan daughter was accommodated for, and they supplied her with crisps in place of the cake selection. The children had a choice of a hot meal, which for us veggies was a dish of oven baked macaroni cheese and a bowl of peas or baked beans, or a cold picnic tea consisting of a cheese sandwich, chocolate cornflake cake, a satsuma and crisps.  Squash was available for the kids to drink.

There were colouring sheets, crayons and Christmas crackers on the table to keep the little ones entertained. The staff were very attentive, coming over to chat with the kids and making sure everything was participatioionOK with the food.  Once tummies were filled, it was time for Santa. The children were invited to join in with a rendition of Jingle Bells, then they had to shout for Santa. Freddy loves all the audience participation stuff and joined in enthusiastically, shouting at the top of his voice!

The man himself, accompanied by Alice, the Queen of Hearts and the Mad Hatter from Alice in Wonderland, arrived.  Santa took his seat in his lovely little grotto, surrounded by toys ready to be given to the children.  Children were invited up a table at a time and each enjoyed a friendly chat with Santa.  I was able to take photos of Santa with the children and it was very relaxed.  Freddy and Kizzy then got to choose any gift from the tables of toys.  Both chose a tube of multi-coloured rubber ducks!  Other offerings included dolls, craft sets, toy cars and games.  There was a good selection of nice quality gifts.

To finish the day, children were given a gingerbread tree, a tube of icing and a bowl of toppings (chocolate, raisins and marshmallows) so they could decorate their own biscuit.  These were foil wrapped to be taken home.

It was a really lovely event and Freddy was absolutely thrilled by the experience.  The older girls also enjoyed themselves with the good food and the festive spirit that prevailed!

Breakfast and Tea with Father Christmas is available until Christmas Eve at Wyevale Garden Centres (dates and times vary by location.)  The all inclusive price includes a meal, a visit to Santa, a present and a Christmas tree biscuit to decorate for each child.  Adults get to join in the fun with something to eat and a hot drink.

Breakfast with Father Christmas

For children

Pork sausage, hash brown, baked beans and toast soldiers.

or

Scrambled eggs, hash brown, baked beans and toast soldiers. (v)

£9.99

For adults

Pork sausage, two rashers of bacon, black pudding, fried egg served on fried bread, hash browns, roasted flat mushroom, grilled tomato and baked beans. Served with a slice of toast and tea or filter coffee.

or

Fried egg on fried bread, hash browns, roasted flat mushroom, grilled tomato and baked beans. Served with a slice of toast and tea or filter coffee. (v)

£7.99

Adult mini ticket

A freshly baked breakfast pastry served with tea or filter coffee.

£3.99

Tea with Father Christmas

For children

A hot meal with chicken goujons/sausages and chips with beans or peas. 

or

Macaroni cheese and peas. (v)

or

'My Picnic' meal which includes a delicious sandwich, snack, dessert, fresh fruit and a refreshing drink.

£9.99

For adults

A festive turkey sandwich, a mince pie and a sweet treat.

or

A festive cucumber and red pepper hummus sandwich, a mince pie and a sweet treat. (v).

Your choice of tea or filter coffee included.

£7.99

Adult mini ticket

A slice of delicious cake served with tea or filter coffee.

£3.99

Gluten free options are available and my vegan daughter was accommodated on request.

To find out more, to check availability at your local garden centre and to book a Breakfast or Tea with Father Christmas, go to www.wyevalegardencentres.co.uk/breakfast-and-tea-with-father-christmas

Country Kids - A day out at last!

At last, a weekend where the sun was shining and we were all germ free!  It was absolutely wonderful to head out for a lovely walk and play in the fresh air.  Freddy donned his wellies and made the most of the weather as he climbed, ran, slid and jumped to his heart's content.  I hadn't realised just how much I have missed the great outdoors, and we fully intend on making the most of all the local places we are lucky enough to live near.

Today's adventure was to Bridgemere, which includes Britain's largest Garden Centre and covers 50 acres of land on the Cheshire, Staffordshire and Shropshire borders.  There are extensive gardens to explore which have lovely play areas for the kids to enjoy.  There is also a restaurant, a cafe with a soft play area and some great shops.  Freddy was delighted to spot one of his friends from school and had a lovely play with him in the indoor play area while we enjoyed a nice hot drink.  It's lovely to see him so sociable and joining in with the other kids.  He used to be so shy and reserved, now he gets stuck in and makes new friends wherever he goes. It reminds me just how far he has come!

Hopefully we will see many more lovely weekends where we can enjoy many more lovely family days out.