New Café garden puts the rest in the shade

Chef Richard Smith is telling customers they can come into his garden to eat – whatever the weather.

Two giant parasols imported from Germany, complete with space heaters and down lights, have sprouted in the walled garden of his popular Thyme Café on Glossop Road, Broomhill.

Tables and chairs have always been here but the canopies, one of which stretches from wall to all, should allow for dining out for around 30 weeks a year.

“We had people eating out after 8:30pm the other Saturday when it wasn’t that warm”, says Richard.

The outside seating area has 34 covers while there are 50 inside. To prevent the parasols sailing of in windy weather they have been anchored in cement six feet below the ground.

The Garden has been planted with plenty o herbs which also supply the kitchen.

There are several varieties of thyme, of course, together with rosemary, sage, parsley, celery leaf and other herbs.

Richard sent his staff for a slap-up meal on him and ended up with a bill for well over £3,000.

Sixteen chefs and waiting staff from his new Catch and Artisan restaurants at Crospool, Sheffield went to Gordon Ramsays three star restaurant in London.

“They set of in a luxury coach and had the nine course tasting menu,” says Richard, who closed the two eateries last Bank Holiday for the trip.

“If we have a good summer they will have a six star day out in Bray – lunch at the Waterside Inn, dinner at the Fat Duck – both 3 star restaurants,” promises Richard, who stayed at home.

Incidentally, despite rumours, his Druid Inn gastro pub at Birchover, Derbyshire, is no longer on the market.