* Wyevale’s Bicester Avenue Garden Centre has opened the new Garden Kitchen restaurant, below, just in time for Spring, having given it an exciting new makeover.

The restaurant has been inspired by the popular ‘garden-to-kitchen’ food trend giving visitors the chance to take a break from shopping and enjoy recently grown/sourced ingredients.

With a new menu offering delicious culinary creations sourced locally in the UK and in-season veg, the Garden Kitchen Restaurant is committed to bringing seasonal, homemade British classics to the table.

Guests can look forward to classic British dishes with a tasty twist, such as fish and chips with a beer batter made using locally brewed beers, roast carvery sandwiches, home-made soups and seasonally inspired recipes.

The restaurant’s ethically sourced coffee uses beans that are triple certified by the Rainforest Alliance, Fairtrade and Organic bodies.

Helen Pyttlik, Garden Centre Manager at the Bicester Avenue Garden Centre said: “The Garden Kitchen Restaurant is a wonderful addition for us at our Bicester Avenue garden centre.

“And it gives us the opportunity to celebrate our link with the garden and nature and share that with our customers. We know that they are always looking for fresh food cooked with great British ingredients and we look forward to surprising them throughout the year, with our changing menu and delicious dishes.”

* The Fishes has been picking asparagus all weekend and has launched a new dish called Dip Your Own.

Pop into the Hinksey pub and Dip Your Own Barfoots Farm English Asparagus into its classic garnish of Hollandaise, egg and parmesan to give you your first taste of British asparagus, hand picked from Barfoots Farm on the South Coast.

* At The Thatch in Thame, tuck into moules frites, every Thursday to celebrate the sunshine in a truly continental way.

Think moules marinière in a creamy white wine and garlic sauce served with skinny fries, along with lashings of white wine or beer. Book a table or just prop up the bar.

Or kick off the May Day Bank Holiday weekend there with a Grown Up’s G&T Party on Friday, May 1. Starting early, join in anytime from 6pm with the disco from 9pm. The Thatch is in Thame’s High Street.

Call 01844 214340.