TWO school friends who set up a dining hub in Cirencester last year are celebrating their thriving business' first birthday with two awards and an exciting announcement. 

Culinary duo Toby Baggott and Sam Lawson-King first opened Roots + Seeds Kitchen Garden, a popular food hub located at the Old Kennels in Cirencester Park, on Friday, April 7 last year and have been extremely busy ever since.

The kitchen team use seasonal artisan produce from within a 25-mile radius plus fruit and vegetables grown in the on-site kitchen garden.

Alongside running the café restaurant, the founders have also opened up a deli, hosted an array of community events and have scooped up a number of accolades including Start-up of the Year Award at the Gloucestershire Foodie Awards and Best Restaurant in the Cotswolds at the inaugural Slow Cotswolds Awards. 

Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard: Toby Baggott and Sam Lawson-KingToby Baggott and Sam Lawson-King (Image: Roots + Seeds Kitchen Garden)

To mark the business' first anniversary Toby and Sam have decided to open up the onsite kitchen garden to the public from Friday, May 24.

Visitors will be able to enjoy a cup of coffee or take out in one of the five glasshouses while admiring the flourishing garden. 

In addition, Toby will be there every Thursday and Friday to talk to anyone who wants to find out more about growing their own food. 

Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard: The onsite kitchen garden at Roots Seeds Kitchen Garden in Cirencester The onsite kitchen garden at Roots Seeds Kitchen Garden in Cirencester (Image: Roots + Seeds Kitchen Garden)

Reflecting on the busy year, Toby said: "We are incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved in the 12 months since opening our café/restaurant and feel incredibly grateful and proud to have all our hard work recognised by these awards, particularly as we only opened our doors last Easter.

"We started out offering socially-distanced fine dining in five greenhouses in a Cotswolds field following the first Covid lockdown four years ago and have come a long way since then. 

"Our focus since opening Roots + Seeds is all about building on our relationship with the wider community and providing a fun, welcoming, family-focused environment, whilst celebrating the fantastic fresh produce grown in our own 1/4 acre kitchen garden and from our amazing suppliers within a 25-mile radius.”

Roots + Seeds Kitchen Garden is open for breakfast, brunch and lunch Monday to Sunday and dinner on Friday and Saturday evenings.