Anglesey Abbey is proud to launch its new Visitor Centre, set to impress visitors at this Cambridgeshire National Trust property.
Officially opened on Monday 23 June 2008 by Charlie Dimmock, the £3.5million new building makes a dramatic first impression at Anglesey Abbey. Light and airy surroundings and fresh interpretation ideas provide an inspiring hub for visitors to the gardens and house.
The visitor facilities, partly funded by the East of England Development Agency (EEDA), include a central reception area, Redwoods 180 cover restaurant, shop and plant sales, the Robinson function room and lavatories. Car parking facilities have also been revamped, improving access for the less able with traffic free pathways leading to the new building.
The focus in Redwoods restaurant is on local food, using meat from The National Trust’s sister property at Wimpole Home Farm, smoked meat and fish from a Cambridgeshire smokery and flour ground at Anglesey Abbey’s Lode Mill used in our freshly baked scones. Menus change weekly to ensure seasonal produce is at the heart of culinary creativity.
The extended shop and plant sales area gives visitors the opportunity to browse among a greater variety of National Trust merchandise, including seasonal plants which they may have spotted in Anglesey Abbey’s glorious gardens.
The original facilities were built in 1976 as a small 'tea-room' and gradually extended ten times, and were in a poor condition requiring extensive repairs and improvements. Welcoming over 175,000 people every year, the building was unable to provide the level of service the Trust and the team at Anglesey wanted visitors to enjoy.
Work on the new visitor centre started in spring 2005 and consisted of two phases; the first was the construction of Redwoods restaurant and toilet facilities, and phase two seeing the demolition of the original building.
The National Trust’s Regional Director, Peter Griffiths, said:
'This much needed new building has exceeded our expectations. It provides a wonderful gateway from which to explore Anglesey.
'My thanks go to the hardworking team of National Trust staff, volunteers and contractors. Not forgetting, of course, our visitors who have continued to enjoy Anglesey Abbey with patience while work has been in progress. Feedback about the new facilities so far has been really positive. While the house and gardens have always offered a great day out, visitors now have a new dimension to add to that enjoyment.'
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