The Coach House Restaurant

Once a Coach house to the nearby Manor, this hidden restaurant tucked away in the grounds of the Garden Centre has an old world charm all of its own and has been a favourite for  discerning diners for nearly thirty years.

A wide choice of excellent dishes are on the menu with our produce fresh from the market daily. Our fine wine list complements the menu perfectly, and a special two-course menu is available at lunchtimes.

Ruxley Manor Garden Centre, within which lies The Coach House restaurant.

Way back in 1080, William the Conqueror gave the land at Rokesle, as it was then known, to his half-brother, Odo, Bishop of Baieux. He rented this out to a certain Malgerius who assumed the name Malgerius of Rokesdale. At that time, eight knights commanded by William were given the task of defending Dover Castle and Malgerius did his annual twenty-day stint.

To this day, you still enter Dover Castle through the Ruxley gate.

Down the ages, various families have occupied the Manor House. Gregory de Rokesdale became Lord Mayor of the City of London from 1274 to 1285, this being perpetuated in a tablet on the wall of Lloyds Bank in Lombard Street. The present house dates from the 17th Century with later additions, although some of the interior is probably 15th or 16th Century.

To the right of the house is a large Mulberry tree which goes back to between 1610AD and 1615AD, when it was decreed in James 1st time that all landowners should be encouraged to produce silk. However, silkworms only enjoyed white mulberries and, unfortunately, the blue variety was planted.

Today, the Manor House has been converted into a Children’s Day Nursery under the name of Grace’s, she being the last member of the family to live there.

Al Boccondivino" nasce quando si uniscono tre passioni: la passione di Piergiorgio per una cucina che esprima sapori emozionali, la passione di Erminio per un cibo che mantenga il più possibile le sue caratteristiche nutrizionali rendendolo di conseguenza salutistico e la passione di Giulia e Rosa nel coccolare i nostri clienti considerandoli Ospiti con la "O" maiuscola.

La filosofia alla base della cucina di "Al Boccondivino" è Sapori&Salute. Per ottenere questo connubio utilizziamo le tecniche di cottura delle nostre nonne, a basse temperature, utilizzando sempre prodotti a filiera corta di qualità, sempre freschi e soprattutto di stagione. Ecco ad esempio la scelta di avere nel nostro menù solo pesci del territorio.