Taking the road out of Tamworth to Sutton, you go past the Grangewood Garden Centre. It used to be called Florascape. Inside there used to be a cheap, awful cafe. The new owner has turned a very ugly building and turned it into something quite nice indeed, somewhere we wanted to try for a Full English Breakfast.
Its quite clever that you forget that you are in a horrid building, but instead are in a woodland place that has been very tastefully done. This place only opens for breakfast and lunch and shuts at 4pm. Its screaming out for some pop-up chefs to come along and take over the venue in the evenings.
The menu is printed on posh paper. The sort with cotton in it. This makes it easy to wipe. Sadly, the marks on this menu and another let me believe that they are not wiped often, (there were a few sauce marks on them).
I ordered a Full English Breakfast, my wife ordered a vegetarian version. We wont discuss this apart from the fact that she said it was excellent and very tasty – I forgot to take the photos…
The breakfast turned up within at minutes or ordering. Beans were not included, however, they do their own, (baked beans, mixed beans, some vegetables(?) and spice – I didnt bother. My breakfast didnt come with a mushroom, (something that I think would have been a nice touch), it came with 2 roasted tomatoes though, (swapping one for a mushroom would have addedd a bit of contrast in colour and another flavour). I mentioned this to the chef – who didnt seem to disagree.
The sausages were ‘Owen Taylor’ Lincolnshire sausages. I have never heard of Owen Taylor? I wish I had. Some of the best sausages I have ever eaten, cooked perfectly. They are based locally, in Derbyshire.
Back in the day, I used to say that Katies was the best breakfast in Tamworth. More recently, I would recommend Tudor House. Now, there is no question that The Forest smashes the competition into oblivion.
Would I recommend The Forest – Absolutely. Infact, I insist that you give it a try.
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