There’s an exciting new addition to The Centre’s eateries that you won’t want to miss.

High up in the Winter Garden near Aerial Adventures is a true oasis of calm stocked with tasty treats for all the family – The Wintergarden Cafe.

We caught up with the owner of The Wintergarden Cafe to find out a little more about the stylish new offering and have a sneak peek at their enticing menu.

The Wintergarden Cafe looks like such a welcoming haven – what was your inspiration behind the décor?

We wanted to create a space where people could retreat from the hustle and bustle and take time out with a great cup of coffee and a light bite or sweet treat.

We were really lucky to be working with such a light and airy space with beautiful high ceilings – we wanted to maximise its potential and for it to feel like we’d brought the outside in. With the addition of lush faux foliage, AstroTurf, chic geometric planters, wooden furniture in a contemporary pallet wood design and parasols to keep the glare at bay on brighter days we’ve transformed the space into a peaceful place to relax and unwind.

It sounds like you’ve worked really hard to create somewhere that offers a relaxed, peaceful ambience. With all the space you have, does it make it easy to respect socially distancing guidelines?

Yes, we’ve designed the cafe to offer shoppers an intimate garden cafe experience with plenty of space to socially distance, but without losing the social aspect of their dining experience.

Because we’re in The Centre, we really are a cafe for all seasons so no matter what the weather has in store you can catch up with friends and family in beautiful surroundings, while naturally remaining socially distanced thanks to the size and layout of our tables.

We’re open seven days a week so we’d like to think that we’ve created a haven where people can come and enjoy high quality coffee at affordable prices in an appealing environment, whenever they wish.

You’ve mentioned your coffee, what blend can we look forward to trying when we visit?

We’re passionate about good coffee at The Wintergarden Cafe which is why we stock delicious Segafredo Coffee Beans. We use the Segafredo Buono blend which is an expertly composed mix of South American beans - three Arabica coffee beans to one Robusta coffee bean, giving a stunning strong coffee flavour perfect for your espresso, cappuccino or latte.

With its complex yet light notes of citrus, floral and hazelnut highlights this wonderfully smooth blend has a delicate flavour that slowly reveals itself. It can be enjoyed at any time, guaranteed to satisfy the most selective coffee aficionado.

What have you got in stock for the tea lovers amongst us?

We decided to use Brodies Tea at The Wintergarden Cafe – it’s great to be able to offer our customers high quality tea from a local supplier. Brodies are based in Edinburgh and they have been importing and blending tea since the great tea clippers docked at the Port of Leith.

Brodies tea is mainly sourced from India, Africa, Sri Lanka and China but they also work with emerging tea-growing countries such as Indonesia, Vietnam and Zimbabwe.

Why not sit back and relax with a cup of Brodies Earl Grey? Quintessentially British, this tea is distinctive for its elegant flavour, delicately scented with the citrus tang of bergamot. Or, you could opt for one of their herbal teas – try an aromatic and sweetly perfumed caffeine-free Chamomile, well-known for its relaxing properties.

If you fancy a biscuit or two with your cup of tea, take your pick from our selection of Border Biscuits – from light and buttery Viennese whirls to divinely chocolatey cookies and golden oat crumbles.

What sweet treats can we expect to see on the menu at The Wintergarden Cafe?

At The Wintergarden Cafe we’ll be offering a range of tempting cakes and patisseries guaranteed to help you recharge your batteries between shopping sprees - from decadent millionaire’s shortbread and classic tiffin to muffins, flapjack and a peppermint slice.

If you’re in the mood for a taste of afternoon tea, why not opt for a traditional scone or a slice of our delicious carrot cake? Take advantage of our Coffee & Cake Meal Deal where you’ll get your choice of hot drink and a cake for £2.50

What else can shoppers enjoy at The Wintergarden Cafe?

We’ve got a great selection of soft drinks for both adults and children including bottled juices and vitamin packed mixed berry smoothies. For an autumnal treat give our decadent Segafredo Hot Chocolate a try – you won’t regret it! It’s a thick luxury hot chocolate made with the finest cocoa beans – a must for refined chocolate lovers.

We offer a range of light bites including classic paninis, warming soups and filling sandwiches – or if you can’t choose why not opt for our soup and a sandwich Meal Deal which also includes a selected hot or cold drink of your choice for £4.95.

Do you have vegan and gluten free offerings available?

Yes, we always have some tempting vegan and gluten-free options on the menu and for our hot drinks we have non-dairy alternatives such as soya milk.

Do you cater for children as well as adults?

Yes, we’ve got a Children’s Meal Deal available as well as a selection of juices. We also have Star Slush which is sure to keep little ones happy – it’s a slush that’s made with added fruit juice and contains no additives or artificial flavours.