Bath mum Georgie Crawshaw heads to Flourish’s Farleigh Road site near Norton St Philip with her young son and a friend, discovering a crowd-pleasing Sunday roast, warm family-friendly service and plenty to keep little ones happy.
Is there anything better than a slap-up Sunday roast and catching up with a friend you haven’t seen for a while? We’re both big fans of Flourish Glenavon Farm in Saltford, so this seemed like the perfect opportunity to check out their sister site at Farleigh Road. Spoiler alert – it lives up to every bit of the hype!
Based in Norton St Philip, just off the A36, there’s a generous car park and I’ve barely turned off the engine before my small human spots the outdoor play area for kids. Thankfully, he’s ravenous after his mid-morning swim lesson so it isn’t too difficult to convince him to head straight in for our reservation. (A quick word of warning: Farleigh Road only accepts bookings for Sunday lunch and groups over six.)
The café itself has the same rustic feel as Glenavon Farm, and the staff are just as warm and welcoming. We’re lucky enough to get a table by the log burner, which is a bonus on this grey December day, but I notice there’s also lots of outdoor seating – complete with lush green countryside views – for the milder summer months.
As you’d expect, the Sunday afternoon menu is all about the traditional roast. But there’s a vegan option, and a selection of burgers and buddha bowls if you fancy something different. Needless to say, child-size portions are available, and Farleigh Road is dog-friendly so your furry friend can join you. They even have a handy ‘dog wash and dry’ station in the car park.
I order a portion of the honey and mustard glazed pigs in blankets to start, and my mate selects the smoked game terrine. I can’t resist ticking another of their trademark smoothies off my list – this time the mouthwatering Mango Dream – while my son sticks to his favourite: orange juice freshly squeezed in the adjacent food hall.
It’s a big thumbs up for the terrine and, I must admit, the bacon-wrapped sausages are simply heavenly. In fact, I’m a little heartbroken when my wee human manages to drop one of ‘his’ on the floor. It’s a good job the main event is still to come…
Talk about Sunday lunch with all the trimmings. Picture a giant Yorkshire pudding surrounded by roast carrot, parsnip and the most perfect roasties – you know the ones, with that very satisfactory crunch. Finish it off with some braised red cabbage and Brussels sprouts that are so good I simply have to ask for seconds. Last, but by no means least, a delicious slice of sirloin beef. There’s turkey and pork on the menu today too, or you can opt for half and half if you’re struggling to make a choice. I think our three empty plates say it all.
Sadly, I have to admit defeat in the face of the dessert menu. That said, it’s impossible to miss the impressive selection of cakes and traybakes on display, so the grown-ups order a slice of the red velvet sponge and a gluten-free millionaire’s shortbread to take away.
Of course, four-year-olds always have room for ice-cream. So a couple of scoops of chocolate (Marshfield Farm) later, we head outside for a quick play on the swings and slide before going our separate ways with full bellies, happy hearts and – best of all – no washing up!
