RHS Garden Bridgewater is a Royal Horticultural Society public display garden based in Worsley, Salford. It is one of the largest gardening projects undertaken in Europe in recent years. The aim of transforming the 154-acre green space is part of the Society’s wider, investment programme to achieve its vision ‘to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.’

The catering experience was to be a key component of the visitor experience and Vision’s work involved the catering services for the cafe in the Welcome Building including the kitchen and servery. The offer was to be appropriately priced, of excellent quality, offering adequate choice of product (showcasing garden produce where possible) and excellent customer service. The total covers was established to be 412 covers, 182 internally and 230 externally split between the front entrance external seating area and the decking area to the rear of the welcome building overlooking the lake. The site was to be operational 7 days a week. The visitor numbers were expected to increase over time and so there was a future strategy developed for future kiosks and a further secondary full catering offer, but for now the Welcome Building cafe would be the only facility. The cafe needed to accommodate both brief dwell time for coffee and cake, as well as providing hot and cold meal options for those wanting a substantial meal. The facility would also need to cater for out of hours events and functions as well as for staff dining. The aspiration was for the cafe to become a destination venue in its own right.