The walled garden in the secret heart of Padstow

Prideaux Walled Garden hides in plain sight in the centre of Padstow. Owned by the Prideaux-Brune family, who have lived above the town for 19 generations, the garden has been under restoration since 2023 and is now open to the public as a café and productive garden. It offers a tranquil haven from the thronged main streets.

Ivy has been removed from its steeply sloping walls, an old peach house has been gently uncovered and filled with tomatoes although it still clings precariously to the old stone.

The footprint of more glasshouses is visible on what now serves as a café terrace with views over the Camel estuary where the sandbanks come and go.

This was the setting for a wonderful dinner by chef and friend Michael Novitsky-Thompson, who created a six-course seasonal menu to pair with Limeburn Hill’s wines and spirits.

As a talented potter, he also hand made the plates and bowls on which to serve the food, using glazes made from materials foraged from the vineyard including vine canes.

Michael’s clay dishes waiting for their culinary dishes

The evening began with a welcome drink of Limeburn Hill eau de vie de vin with a botanical syrup and herbs, enjoyed on the terrace, overlooking the estuary. Head gardened Emma Restorick explained the restoration project before Robin and Georgina introduced the wine flight and Michael described his inspiration for the food pairings.

Then to the cosy candlelit bothy where guests could watch the chefs serving up beautiful plates of food, tantalized by the scent of cooking drifting through the window from the Japanese grill.