It's a 30-minute drive from Bristol
Nancy Connolly
12:00, 10 May 2025
A legendary farm shop and cafe serving food that is to die for is nestled away in a historic garden centre - and it is only a 30-minute drive from Bristol.
The stunning Prior Park Garden Centre, known as Fred Daw's by locals, is a popular spot just on the outskirts of Bath, reports Somerset Live.
Set just off the main road on Prior Park Road, there is ample parking and, selling locally made foods, wines and ales, the venue also has an excellent cafe.
The farm shop is a great place to shop, offering the best country food not far from the city. Here you can buy the very best bread from local Hobbs bakery, meat from local farms, cheese from The Fine Cheese Company and lots of gorgeous treats.
Below is what reporter Nancy Connolly said about the venue after paying it a visit in May 2023:
I like to go around mid-morning, but you have to be early to get the freshly baked bread.
I usually pick up a few things for the garden and when the cafe is open grab a delicious toasted cheese sandwich and coffee before going to the lovely farm shop for my day's shopping.
The meat counter is full of fresh meat, chicken and some fish and the fresh fruit and vegetables are delicious.
I also like the loose frozen berries and fruit which I use for breakfast when thawed, it is so handy.
There are also brilliant cakes and gifts to buy, lovely things for the house and their artificial flowers and plants are really great, I sometimes cheat and use them among my fresh ones.
Their vases and crockery are really gorgeous, brilliant presents and great comfort to browse.
The garden centre was started by the legendary Fred Daw, a real character who did more than anyone else to bring to his adopted home of Bath its well earned title of 'the floral city'.
As Bath's parks director from 1952 until 1973, he put flowers onto the pavements, built ornamental gardens on bomb sites, and led the city to the finals of the Britain in Bloom contest every year that the competition was held while he was parks director, celebrating four outright victories.
If you have time when next in Bath take a detour to this great place, in one stop you can buy almost everything you need and when the cafe re-opens it is a really great place to have lunch.
The Secret Garden Cafe is a great meeting place for local people who can sit, eat, drink and chat among the greenery and flowers, with a lovely outside terrace in summer.
This article was first published in May 2023 and was updated for May 2025.