Who is Mabel?
Named after someone very special.
Mabel was our Managing Director’s mother and a much-loved part of the Shallowmead story. She was still coming in one day a week to help with propagation up until the age of 95, bringing warmth, patience and practical nursery knowledge to the place.
The café carries her name because it reflects the kind of place we want Shallowmead to be: welcoming, generous, rooted in family and connected to the nursery’s working heritage.
Breakfast, lunch and garden views
No ordinary garden-centre café.
At the heart of Shallowmead lies Mabel’s Café, a light-filled and relaxed space designed for unhurried breakfasts, coffee with friends, lunches after browsing the nursery and afternoons overlooking the gardens.
The café combines warm timber, hanging planting, generous seating and garden views with a menu that feels familiar, freshly prepared and properly satisfying. It is a place to pause, not just a place to pass through.
During the warmer months, the courtyard and garden seating make Mabel’s part of the wider Shallowmead experience, giving visitors space to sit among the planting and enjoy the New Forest air.
Our current menu
Freshly prepared favourites, seasonal specials and something for every visit.
From breakfast through to late afternoon, Mabel’s serves a generous menu of cooked breakfasts, eggs on sourdough, granola bowls, sandwiches, toasties, flatbreads, light lunches, burgers, mains and sides. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options are available across the menu, with local and seasonal produce used wherever possible.
Breakfast
Available until 11.30am
Light lunch
Available from 12.00pm
Main menu
Available from 12.00pm
Featured specials
Look out for what’s fresh today.
Alongside the main menu, Mabel’s regularly features seasonal specials, cakes, afternoon treats and dishes inspired by what is available, popular and suited to the time of year.
Ask the team what is on the board when you visit. Specials may change frequently, particularly around weekends, events and peak garden seasons.
Events at Mabel’s
Indoors, outdoors and in the garden.
Keep an eye out for seasonal events at Shallowmead, from garden gatherings and outdoor occasions to indoor workshops, tastings, afternoon teas and community-led activities.
Events may take place in the café, workshop room, courtyard or gardens depending on the season and the nature of the occasion.
Private hire
A distinctive space for your own event.
Mabel’s and the surrounding Shallowmead spaces may be available for customer events, private functions, group bookings, workshops and informal celebrations.
For smaller gatherings, the café offers warmth and character; for seasonal occasions, the courtyard and garden setting can make an event feel especially memorable.
Gather at Shallowmead
A setting that feels more personal than a standard function room.
With its café interior, planted courtyard, garden views and connection to the wider nursery, Mabel’s offers a setting with atmosphere. It suits customers looking for something more relaxed, more individual and more rooted in place than a conventional venue.
Speak to the team about availability, food options, afternoon teas, group bookings, workshops or private use of Shallowmead spaces.
Allergen information
If you require information regarding the presence of allergens in any of our food or drink, please ask. Whilst a dish may not contain a specific allergen, due to the wide range of ingredients used in our kitchen, foods may be at risk of cross-contamination by other ingredients. We use local and seasonal products whenever possible.