The Potting Shed, Manorbier Garden Centre.
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| The Potting Shed Platter. |
Location -
Station Rd,
Manorbier,
Tenby
SA70 7SN
Website - http://manorbiergardencentre.co.uk/
Date of Visit - 25/10/2023
The Food
OK. This was not listed as a ploughman's, but if it's not a ploughman's in name, it was in spirit and substance. I don't usually do an introduction, but I have to say, it was exceptional. Let me present:
The Potting Shed Platter.
10 -Pickled Onion and beetroot.
The onions were good. Crispy, tasty, sharp - perhaps on the edge of too sharp, but not as they worked very well indeed with the rest of the plate. The beetroot was a delight! It can be a divisive vegetable. Some do not like it. Some like it pickled, and some hate it pickled. I personally like a bit of acidity on it, as it can be an earthy vegetable. Anyhow, I would recommend this to all - try it even if not usually a fan. Cooked to perfection, slightly sweet, hint of acid, toned down earthy tones - I'm not sure, it might be in a light jelly pickle. Delicious!
10 -Pickle.
Two pickles arrived. The ploughman's fine chopped (OK, it might be Branston - it's that sort of thing) plus a chutney. The Chutney was superb. Both in separate ramekins on another dish with the bread, because there was already so much happening on the plate!
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| Lovely Fresh bread - and the pickles |
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10 -Cheese / Ham. Can I give this a 15? I wish I could!
Cheese.
A nice quantity of cheese. Lovely creamy, tasty cheddar (suspect Welsh, as it is usually creamier than the English stuff) and an equally delightful Brie. The Brie was Creamy and soft, and at the peak of it's powers before it gets too ripe.
The Ham.
There are not enough superlatives for it. Well, there probably are, but they can be trite and I can't be bothered to think of any. It was excellent! A proper, home-cooked ham that so delightfully tender it had made itself impossible to carve. There with thick slices, chunks, bits, all sorts of shapes of the softest, tastiest, tenderest ham ever. The stuff of dreams.
But wait, there's more!
There was a half of pork pie and a half of Scotch Egg. Both of these gave a full account of themselves and were very delightful. I won't go on, because I can't - there was so much excellence on this plate I almost found it overwhelming.
10 -Bread.
Just tip top. Look at it - you want it! Fresh, home-baked taste, slightly warm. It reminded me of the bread rolls my Grandmother used to make, indeed in my youth that many used to make.Sheer delight.
5 -Spread
Butter, perfect temperature, Welsh, fantastic taste. Spot on.
5 -Presentation
Beautifully presented. The salad was nicely arranged, everything on show, yet still a voyage of discovery. All just superb. The bread and pickles plus chutney on a separate plate was genius.
5 -Salad, etc.
Fresh, tasty, nice dressing that occasionally delivered a little herbiness, a little something there to delight and surprise. Fresh-made coleslaw appears again here. I have had that a lot in Wales. It is such a delight and this was executed very well.
5 -Originality.
Very original. The various additions of Beetroot, Scotch Egg, and Pork Pie, and not as a substitute for superb ham, cheese or pickles, were beyond the expected. The bread was knockout.
Food total: 60 - a full house.
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| Flatlay - Potting Shed Platter. |
Beverages
10 - Drinks.
Tea was sought, and it was perfect. Good quantity, their own blend, teapot, china, everything! Lots of other drinks are available including some crazy good-looking milkshakes and hot chocolates. Not licenced, but sometimes, who cares.
Drinks Total: 10
The venue
10 - Service
Just excellent... From the moment we walked in a warm welcome and lots of help as we were a large group and one of our number was in a wheelchair. Friendly, helpful and the staff were just fantastic.
Food and drinks were on the table promptly, especially considering the size of our group.
They were all absolute stars.
10 - Atmosphere
Really rather nice, especially for a garden centre cafe, that can have a bit of a stayed feel.
It's out the back, so through the greenhouse bit, which is usually full of beautiful flowering plants. (Yes, a garden centre that has plants is a bit of a rarity, they're usually all sorts of other shite that's got a very tenuous connection to the outdoor space). Out through the outdoor section that is usually equally as pleasing (seasonal, obviously, not so exciting in the late autumn / Winter). Into a capacious building that looks like a converted barn. Not an old stone barn, but rather more a 50-year-old one. It's very nice indeed, lots of space.
4 - Location.
In the beautiful Pembrokeshire countryside, however, just a bit hidden. Nothing wrong at all, really very pleasant, just not picture postcard.
4 - Toilets.
The loos are great. The only reason a point dropped is that there is no fully accessible disabled toilet. OK, compared to some of the others this is a very minor point, as disappointingly very few have accessible toilets. That said, they are very good, and there is baby change (ladies - men have to change the baby in the cold) and this translates into more space.
Venue total: 28
Score: 98
The score could be 103 if I had completely busted the rules over the Cheese, Ham, Pork Pie, Scotch Egg situation...........
Editors note.
Whilst this is now the top of the list for excellent ploughman's lunch, the main reason for doing this was not to crown a winner. Far from it, It was to warn the unwary of the awful. To this day I have not yet found another as truly awful as the one that inspired me with indignation to start reviewing these offerings. It's still at the bottom of the table.
N.B. For the purposes of transparency. It is worth noting that this foul offering was many years ago, so by now it may have improved. If anyone has sampled it, please let me know.
Do you like a ploughmans?
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