Ribble Valley: riverside dining on a winter morning

However, if you take a stroll - or drive - down a narrow side road, just over the border between Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley, you'll find a place that can provide that rare aforementioned experience.

Read Garden Centre and its 'River Cafe' lie on the River Calder's banks, just down the road from Great Harwood, and, as well as selling the usual plants and decorations, specialises in British food while claiming it can "offer it all".

Buoyed by the hopes of a riverside meal to start the day - I visited to discover if it truly does "offer it all".

The dining area at Read Garden Centre (Image: NQ) To my surprise, the garden centre is a bigger operation than I first imagined, it's completely hidden from the main A680 road by trees, so I'd never seen it in full before.

Walking through a metal supermarket-style gate at the entrance, I had to weave my way through a litany of Christmas trees and wooden sliding doors to find the café.

One final sliding door later and I'd arrived at my soon-to-be dining quarters.

A babbling brook makes a change from the usual din of a garden centre café (Image: NQ) The botanical theme seems to extend into the eatery as well, there's greenery above you; to the left of you; to the right of you; it looks like what David Attenborough would conjure up should he begin moonlighting as an interior designer.

Despite the freezing conditions and a frosty view outside, I braved the chill and took a look outside.

The exterior and car park (Image: NQ) And in all fairness, the outdoor terrace is superb.

I should imagine that in August it's heaving, and if it isn't, it should be.

I must admit though, even a view that good couldn't tempt me to eat outside in sub-zero temperatures, especially when the large windows offer up the same vista from inside.

The view from the dining area (Image: NQ) In an almost unheard-of show of food restraint, I ordered 'sausages, egg, and bacon on a plate' for just under £6. I wanted to see what the place could provide on a budget.

With a bottle of Diet Coke, it came to £9.95, about what you'd expect these days.

Within about five minutes though it had arrived, which was extremely quick service.

A place as scenic as this could easily get away with making diners wait a while so they could soak in the surroundings.

What arrived was exactly what was described: two sausages, two rashers of bacon, and a fried egg.

Bacon, egg and sausage (Image: NQ) I've never been served what is essentially a stripped-down full English, so I can't even measure if the price is reasonable.

Quality-wise it was superb, normally I'll stay clear of eggs at breakfast but the cafe's was perfectly cooked.

The sausages were a bit on the thin side, but still tasty.

The bacon was hard to complain about, the usual salty taste.

I was impressed enough by this small sample to trust the full English there is in the above-eight-out-of-ten category.

But, when you can boast a setting like this, the food is always a side-thought and to be truthful it could only sell meal deals and I'd still go again.

I can't wait to see what it looks like in a few month's time when it's warm enough to sit outside!

Read Garden Centre is located in Old Coal Staithe, off the A680.