Whitehall Garden Centre, Corsham Road, Lacock, Chippenham SN15 2LZ.

(01249) 730058.

Well into November, we turned up at Whitehall Garden Centre to find the car park almost full, with plenty of parents showing their little ones the display of sparkly Christmas decorations.

We were there for lunch and found the restaurant almost as packed as the car park.

The restaurant has a clean, bright and lively air, with large windows.

A good selection of food was chalked up on boards, offering seasonal meals and a specials board, children’s menus, scones and cakes.

It’s a self-service restaurant so, after joining the queue and deciding on our meals, Caroline and I settled at our table.

She had chosen chicken with a tarragon sauce. It came with new potatoes and vegetables – this time carrots, sprouts and roasted parsnip – but, with only a hint of tarragon, she felt it could have done with a bit more flavour.

I also had chicken, but mine had a good covering of bacon, brie and a touch of cranberry sauce.

It was delicious, but I had decided against the accompanying salad in favour of vegetables.

We both agreed the chicken was lovely. Mine was moist and flavoursome, but, disappointingly, the carrots and sprouts looked and tasted as if they had been sitting around for far too long and were only just warm.

It’s surprising how much I can eat for a lunchtime snack, but when I know it’s there I have to give it a go.

For pudding, I chose the blackcurrant and lemon sponge pudding with cream.

With a good helping of fruit and served with squirty cream – which may not have been my best decision of the day when custard was on offer – it tasted very home-made.

Staff were helpful and friendly and the atmosphere was relaxed, with families, friends, elderly and young, all seeming to be enjoying their lunches.

If you came on your own, you would feel equally happy, as there is a selection of newspapers to choose from should you wish to read.

Portions are a good size, as are the slices of cake. I would certainly come again – next time, perhaps, for the scones that looked so good.

Monday-Saturday 9am-5pm, Sunday 10am-4.15pm.

Lunch noon-2.30pm.

Seasonal menu plus specials board changing daily.

Main courses under £8, puddings £3.99.

Father Christmas on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in November, but daily in December.

Our Eating Out is an independent review carried out by the Times without prior knowledge of the owners.