Wakefield Bake Off star Karen Wright supports local businesses by popping into Blakes Cafe

No matter how good a holiday is, it is always lovely to get back to your own home and settle back down. I was keen to spend a bit of time with my mam. We decided to have a run out and a spot of lunch somewhere. But where to go?

We went to Spring Green Garden Centre near Wakefield. I remember this place from my teenage years. It has flourished and expanded lots since then. It has many sections to browse, not just plants and garden products. It has an aquatic centre, camping and outdoors specialist shop and last, but by no means least, a café.

Blakes Café seats 33 people. It is so popular that, to manage demand and socially distancing requirements for COVID-19, if it is full when you arrive, you are given a buzzer to call you back when a table becomes available.

We were very impressed with the menu on offer and, when we saw the plates and platters coming out of the kitchen, we quickly made our choices. Mam had the afternoon tea for one and I plumped for homemade quiche, chips and salad.

I am always interested to hear about the back stories to places I visit so I asked the questions. It turns out the proprietor is Lauren who, during lockdown, lost her job at the Rhubarb Tearoom in town when they closed their doors. Lauren is only 30 but she had an idea that she was determined to bring to life.

She took over the café and called it Blakes after her first born baby. She used daisies as decorations for her daughter Daisy. All the food served is made locally and of top quality, including the brownies supplied by Amy from Wilkies Whisk. It just shows you that even the most difficult of situations can become a positive.

On October 9 I am co-hosting an online quiz with Chris Hale, our local Masterchef quarter finalist, in aid of Wakefield Hospice. Anyone can join by registering on the hospice website or Facebook event page. They will then receive the Zoom link and password. It is £5 per person or £15 for a team of up to four. We start at 4pm for about an hour.