Author: Dan Devenish, Eclipse Product Specialist
Set in the beautiful Wiltshire countryside, Lowden Garden Centre and Farm Shop is a well-loved business that has humble roots, but has evolved into a retail and hospitality destination, drawing in customers from far afield.
Jonathan Sinclair, owner of Lowden Garden Centre, was originally a farmer, but decided to establish a small nursery in the early 1980s. In 1987, he moved to his current site in Shaw and the business continued to grow and adapt.
Although a small restaurant existed onsite relatively early, in 2012 the decision was made to expand Lowden, as the supermarkets had started to monopolise the plant market and the garden centre was finding it hard to compete. Then in 2020, the pandemic was a real turning point. Jonathan used the time the business was shut to do something positive - with the help of the team, he gave the inside and outside areas a makeover, adding a permanent events barn and turning the restaurant into the stylish hospitality space it is now - comfortably seating 150 guests and employing a large team of full-time chefs and waiting staff.
The Project
Jonathan and team at Lowden wanted to create a space that was light, bright, and felt connected to the natural, rustic character of the garden centre. And it was a real team effort! Conscious of keeping costs down, the design and functionality of the restaurant was carefully devised by key staff members including Jonathan and his family, and Simon, the in-house visual merchandiser.
The large indoor ‘Garden Restaurant’ was the main project, as well as ‘The Woodshed’, a small café that serves takeaway drinks and food to hungry passersby, cyclists, and visitors who want a quick bite to eat. Lowden is also lucky enough to benefit from expansive outdoor space, centred around an attractive ornamental pond, which the team wanted to update as the natural extension to the restaurant.
Left: The Garden Restaurant. Right: The Woodshed
The Challenges & Requirements
The team at Lowden wanted to create an attractive, inviting space that was inclusive for all their customers. Jonathan was adamant that he wanted the greenery from the garden centre to flow into the restaurant areas, and for the look to be natural, rustic, and warm.
As decision making at Lowden is a democratic process, it’s not always something that happens quickly, but with Eclipse’s wide range of high-quality commercial furniture for both indoors and outside, the team found the perfect items that everyone could agree on.
For the interior, they were looking for stylish furniture with a hint of ‘rustic farmhouse’. They needed a collection that contained both an armchair and bar stool that could be used across the Garden Restaurant and Woodshed takeaway. And they needed them to be strong yet comfortable – the restaurant has a high turnover of guests, but it’s important that they feel relaxed and supported during their stay. For the outside space, the team at Lowden wanted to ‘go green’, echoing the beautiful horticulture that surrounds it. As well as being the perfect leafy shade, the outdoor furniture needed to be durable and weatherproof, after all, the British weather is somewhat unpredictable!
“I was delighted to meet Jonathan at Lowden Garden Centre, showing him samples so he could make the right furniture choices. The finished result is a masterclass in sympathetic, stylish design.”
Dan Devenish, Eclipse Product Specialist
The Garden Restaurant
The Products
The Thiery collection proved to be the winner for the restaurant’s interior seating. The armchairs and bar stools have an industrial-inspired, rustic look with angular frames in old anvil steel. The upholstered seats in vintage-style brown faux leather fit with the palette of earthy tones that the Lowden team wanted while providing support and comfort for guests.
A mixture of tables can be found in the restaurant, including stylish yet practical tops in solid character oak supported by innovative Auto Adjust Dining Table Bases, which makes the furniture stable and wobble-free. After all, you don’t want to spill your beautifully crafted coffee before you’ve even had a sip! Other, larger tables were built by the in-house team to complement the ones from Eclipse and echo the warmth of the wooden panelling and dividers throughout the space.
Clockwise from top left: Thiery Armchair in Brown, Thiery Bar Stool in Brown, Auto Adjust Dining Table Base, Solid Character Oak Table Top, Arini Armchair in Olive Green, (bespoke) Opera+ Table in Cactus
For the outside areas, the team settled on the elegant Arini Armchairs in olive green. These were matched with bespoke tables that were sourced specially for the project. The subtle shade of green looks beautiful in the sunshine and complements the picturesque surroundings. The outdoor dining furniture is finished off with easy-to-use parasols which offer protection to guests, whether from the heat of the sun or an unexpected rain shower.
Left: The Garden Restaurant Exterior. Right: The Woodshed Exterior
The Result
The revamped Garden Restaurant and Woodshed takeaway are a real success. The restaurant feels airy and inviting, appealing to a wide audience. You can’t help but notice the stunning plant walls as you enter – something that was a labour of love for Jonathan. He constructed them, during covid, from galvanised gutters filled with a stunning selection of foliage. The commerical furniture feels entirely fitting, helping to convey the laid-back, rustic style that the team were after. The Woodshed, although designed for ‘grab and go’ food and drink, still feels in keeping with the restaurant, but with a more casual vibe achieved using high tables and bar stools.
The outside areas feel relaxed but smart – the stylish olive-green colour of the tables and chairs was the perfect choice. It feels natural yet elevated. The elegant simplicity of the metal bistro-style furniture suits the exterior of both the restaurant and takeaway and provides comfortable seating for guests while withstanding the temperamental English climate!
The Garden Restaurant
The team at Lowden are thrilled with the results, which really speak for themselves. The restaurant is always busy, with two-thirds of the space pre-booked for lunch on a regular basis. The Garden Restaurant has become a destination in its own right but naturally boosts the business of the garden centre and farm shop. In fact, of the total turnover of Lowden as a business, the restaurant and farm shop account for 60%.
Jonathan is delighted with the service he received from Eclipse Furniture and will use us again in the future without a second thought. He says that the team are proactive with product suggestions and delivering material samples for sign-off. He knows that he can always find exactly what he’s looking for, enabling the team at Lowden Garden Centre to create spaces that people want to come back to again and again.
The Garden Restaurant Exterior
“Eclipse is my ‘go-to’ whenever I need commercial furniture. I’m impressed by the wide range of styles on offer and the excellent, speedy service I always get.”
Jonathan Sinclair, Owner of Lowden Garden Centre
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Get in Touch...
We thrive on helping businesses make the most of their hospitality spaces. If you’re interested in finding out more about our design-led contract furniture and would like a free consultation, please don’t hesitate to call one of our customer success team on 01452 336 520 or email sales@eclipsefurniture.co.uk.
About the author: Dan has been with Eclipse Furniture for 3 years, having gained experience in product sales for over a decade. He loves to work collaboratively with businesses, sharing knowledge and insight to create successful outcomes.
