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Blue Geranium Café

Garden lovers travel from all over Ireland to visit Hosfords, which is one of the country’s best garden centres and specalises in hardy geraniums hence the name of their attractive new cafe, which is proving popular with locals as well as garden centre customers.

It’s a large airy glasshouse-style space with modern pale wood, and large tubs of palms and tree ferns used as dividers; large sliding doors open on to an inviting outdoor patio area where tables and chairs are set up, and there is a children’s playground alongside.

The setting is attractive, with§ seasonal flowers such as a bunch of sweet peas on every table and the food, although self-service, is good quality.

Typical of the best type of food now expected at lifestyle shopping outlets and top garden centres, with prices to match, you can expect to find dishes like quiche and salad (€10.50), chicken pie with mash (€13.50), and home-bakes such as freshly baked scones with jam and butter (€2.75).

Staff take the self-service aspect of the operation a little too literally at times - no help appears to be available for elderly or incapacitated visitors taking food to their tables.

Open Mon-Sat, 9am-6pm, Sun 12-5.30pm.

Directions:

On the Bandon-Clonakilty road (N71).