POPLAR Nurseries in Marks Tey has added a new string to its bow by providing outside catering for parties and receptions. 

The garden centre, in Coggeshall Road, opened a farm shop at the site in 2010 and later expanded this into a stand along food hall on site. 

In a move to further expand the business the firm will be launching a catering arm. 

Paul Gooding, catering manager at Poplar Nurseries, said: “The farm shop opened in 2010 and just blossomed. 

“It went from strength to strength and outgrew its site and from there, the Food Hall opened in 2021 in the middle of the Covid pandemic and is built on the success of the farm shop which was started by Mandy Cowan. 

“It is three times the size of the original shop, but the same principles still exist.”

He added: “Mandy has always had a passion for cooking and through her background of travelling around Europe had a vision of opening a deli that oozes charm and the foundations of simple home cooked food.”

Mr Gooding has a background in catering having worked in gastro pubs, restaurants and wedding venues. 

He now uses his experience in the garden centre’s popular restaurant and is also driving the new outside catering project.

Mr Gooding said: “My thought process was how do we take our home cooked food from our Food Hall to our customers further afield? 

“We have lovely, loyal customers who like to socialise, and this allows us to take the culinary pressure off them through either on site collection or a home delivery service.

“We very much support local suppliers and traditional family values of top-quality food and the best service for our customers.”