No - I am not (yet again) talking about the wonderful views from the cottage. This view is from just the other side of the Mendip Hills. There in the most unexpected place is the headquarters of the Yeo Valley organic dairy products business. It started there as a family business and remains so. And we do love and use their products a lot.
Over time they have developed a range of new and thoughtful features including the 6 1/2 acre Organic Garden with fantastic Fodder Cafe. That is located down in the valley near the lovely Blagdon Lake and it opens for certain days each week during summer (normally you pay an entry charge).
Anyway there is a new venue on the block. A few years ago the Yeo Valley Canteen started to open to the public for Wednesday lunches, then Friday lunches and now they have opened for lunches Monday to Friday every week. And we finally got along to try it. And we were very very impressed.
So firstly it is nothing like a canteen as most of us would know it: it is in a stunning location high up on the north side of the Mendips just above Blagdon village. The views out across the Chew valley are mesmerising. We sat out on the terrace until the sun went in and the clouds gathered but it is is just as much fun inside: lots of very creative and quirky design details. It feels like a restaurant and not a canteen, but a nicely informal restaurant at that.
Then the staff are very friendly and efficient - we really felt welcome, even though they were very busy. The menu was limited but it was all excellent and the single main vegetarian dish was brilliant, flavoursome and light enough that we went for a perfect small pudding (unusual for us). And prices were fair. soft drinks and beers and wine were a great selection.
So we'll be going back! We'll take family and friends. Clearly we know we'll need to book - they seem very successful already with the extended timings. But it is well worth the effort. And we'll certainly be adding it to the restaurant recommendations in the cottage.
Enjoy!
Over time they have developed a range of new and thoughtful features including the 6 1/2 acre Organic Garden with fantastic Fodder Cafe. That is located down in the valley near the lovely Blagdon Lake and it opens for certain days each week during summer (normally you pay an entry charge).
Anyway there is a new venue on the block. A few years ago the Yeo Valley Canteen started to open to the public for Wednesday lunches, then Friday lunches and now they have opened for lunches Monday to Friday every week. And we finally got along to try it. And we were very very impressed.
So firstly it is nothing like a canteen as most of us would know it: it is in a stunning location high up on the north side of the Mendips just above Blagdon village. The views out across the Chew valley are mesmerising. We sat out on the terrace until the sun went in and the clouds gathered but it is is just as much fun inside: lots of very creative and quirky design details. It feels like a restaurant and not a canteen, but a nicely informal restaurant at that.
Then the staff are very friendly and efficient - we really felt welcome, even though they were very busy. The menu was limited but it was all excellent and the single main vegetarian dish was brilliant, flavoursome and light enough that we went for a perfect small pudding (unusual for us). And prices were fair. soft drinks and beers and wine were a great selection.
So we'll be going back! We'll take family and friends. Clearly we know we'll need to book - they seem very successful already with the extended timings. But it is well worth the effort. And we'll certainly be adding it to the restaurant recommendations in the cottage.
Enjoy!
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