Garden Centre Catering Awards winner profile

Thetford Garden Centre was established in 1982, with the Lime Kiln Kitchen evolving from its original coffee shop concept. Redesigned and enlarged in 2017, the coffee house and eatery is inspired by travels near and afar, furnished with over-sized sofas and artefacts designed to allow guests to dine in a comfortable and relaxing space. With the recent addition, in 2025, of an in-house bakery and kitchen extension, the company now makes all of its cakes and bakes on site. The aim to ensure that your visit to the Lime Kiln Kitchen is as enjoyable as possible, via fresh, lovingly made food, a wonderful range of drinks and exceptional service.

Still thriving after eight years, with great reviews from both local members of the community and tourists and customers who are just passing through, it aims to maintain its good reputation. The business wants to provide a fantastic choice for all of its guests, including daily specials, and vegetarian, vegan, gluten- and dairy-free options in all sections of its menu. It even provides dog-friendly cupcakes and snacks that its canine guests can enjoy. The menu changes seasonally and the business always aims to use as many local suppliers as possible, including Hyams bread, Butterworth's & Sons coffee and Marimba Chocolate.

Although it changes its seasonal offerings, the menu maintains its constant favourites, such as sausage rolls with onion chutney and cheese scones. The most popular cakes, including the Victoria sponge and carrot cake, are also now baked on site in a new bakery.

An afternoon tea, which can be taken in the restaurant, glass house or Isabella's, a vintage tea cabin, is also on offer. During the warmer months, the Norfolk Pizza Company’s trailers appear at the rear of the garden centre, offering a selection of delicious hand-made pizzas cooked to order. Thetford Garden Centre is a disability-inclusive employer, dog-friendly and it says it will always aim to accommodate any request.

The company’s vision, over the past 40 years, as an independent, family-run business, has been to thrive at the heart of the local community. Its ethos is simple: supporting local – whether this be through supporting the local community, supplying the local community or serving the local community. The aim is to prioritise local suppliers, local partnerships, the local area and local people.

Thetford Garden Centre’s mission is to ensure that the physical environment and experience make customers feel comfortable, relaxed, positive, welcomed, accepted, appreciated, satisfied, happy and respected. The business takes its social and environmental decision-making very seriously, aiming to create a sustainable, happy, healthy and fundamentally kind environment for all.

From 2023 to 2024, Thetford Garden Centre worked hard on proving that it is a company worthy of displaying the B Corp logo with pride and join the other businesses that are part of this amazing collective. And it wasn’t an easy ride.

A spokesperson says: “We proved that we are a part of the B Corp movement in making our store a better, safer and more sustainable place for our customers to shop, eat and spend time in. Showing our B Corp Accreditation also means that we must continue to strive and improve each and every year to ensure a better place for people and planet.”

You may also be interested in…