Opened in 1987, it offers panoramic views of the city
Riverside Garden Centre is located in Southville, Bristol(Image: Google Street View)
A garden centre in Southville has been named the best in the city by our readers.
Earlier this month, we asked you to vote for what you felt was the top garden centre in Bristol – and now Riverside Garden Centre has been crowned the winner.
Opened in 1987, Riverside aims to create a “unique destination offering a wide range of high quality plants and products”.
In addition to its popular café and selection of seeds, plants, and gardening items, the centre is run as a social enterprise and engages with the wider Bristol community “by supporting and initiating projects and working with a number of local charities”.
The vegetarian café has a play area for children and outdoor seating for the summer months, and also offers gluten-free and vegan options.
It serves organic fair-trade coffee, tea, cold drinks, cakes, and a breakfast and lunch menu – with children’s meals, too. Menu items include quiche, jacket potato, and soup, while breakfast offerings include beans on toast and a Quorn sausage bap.
Content cannot be displayed without consent
Riverside explains on its website that the centre “enjoys a wonderful setting with panoramic views of the iconic Clifton Suspension Bridge, the city docks and the Bristol skyline beyond”.
It adds: “Our distinctive architecture – in particular our ‘Shade House’ – has won awards. The garden centre is easily accessed from the local road system and has ample parking for cars and bicycles.”
Riverside Garden Centre has 4.6 stars out of 5 on Google after 1,200 reviews. One visitor wrote: “Great selection of everything gardening. Not only that but they have a lovely café which serves great veggie food. I have had some tasty sweet treats from there. And their savoury food is healthy, yummy and filling!”
Another commented that there was a “good variety of plants, indoor and out”, and praised the “very friendly staff”. They said: “The café here is lovely, providing decaf options, and alternatives to milk. The decaf latte and flat white were some of the nicest coffees we’ve had. Good selection of cakes and cold drinks. Plenty of parking for a small space. The toilets are very clean and easily accessible.”
In November, we revealed that a pub in Bristol city centre serves the city’s best Sunday roast , according to our readers. After more than 700 votes were cast, The Famous Royal Navy Volunteer on King Street was the clear winner after receiving 310 votes.
We have also found out where the city’s best greasy spoon is . After nearly a thousand votes were cast, Abbots Kitchen on Dundry Road, in Whitchurch , South Bristol , became the winner after receiving 432 votes.
We also asked our readers to recommend the best fish and chip shop in Bristol and, after just over a thousand votes were cast , Marios Fish Bar on Pool Road, Kingswood , was the clear winner after receiving 586 votes. Furthermore, we have found a takeaway in South Bristol serves the best Chinese food in the city, according to our readers.
And, lastly, earlier this month we found a pub in East Bristol serves the city’s best pizza. After more than 300 votes were cast, the Red Lion pub on Whitehall Road was crowned winner.