Haskins Garden Centre at West End has officially opened its new £2.3m restaurant.
The Right Worshipful Mayor and Mayoress of Southampton Councillor Terry Matthews and Lesley Matthews cut a giant cake made by one of the restaurant's two new pastry chefs, and then accompanied Haskins chairman Warren Haskins and chief executive Julian Winfield on a tour of the new facilities.

The restaurant, which took seven months to complete, seats 460 people and includes a traditional stone hearth pizza oven, a daily carvery and one of the most extensive cake counters in the regions. Costa coffee is served throughout and internet users can also benefit from free Wi-Fi.

There are also two large patio areas for alfresco dining, with one overlooking a new children's play area. An extendable function room, named the Swan Room after the original centre built on the 10.5 acre site, is also available to organisations and private parties.

The company's sister garden centre at Longham, Dorset, opened a new restaurant with similar features in 2008, and has seen catering turnover increase from £1.2m to £2m per year, says Haskins.

Chairman Warren Haskins said: "We are grateful to the Mayor and Mayoress for performing the opening of the restaurant that is not only double the size of the original restaurant built in 1996, but now employs a total of 82 catering personnel including eight full-time chefs. We know that the restaurant will become a destination for anyone who wants a great choice of menu and a superb standard of service within a modern, clean, friendly environment."