the creative garden and café – Puravida & The Coffee Den

When husband and wife team Jody and Lucy Lidgard moved their landscape business to Wortwell on the Norfolk/Suffolk border, they had no idea that the coming months would see the whole business horizon change forever. Now with an ever-growing following behind them, they have created a bohemian hideaway in the heart of the Waveney Valley.

At a glance, one could be put off by the stark, black, industrial-looking building you see as you drive along the A143 past the Homersfield junction. However, if you take time to drop in, you are immediately immersed in a creative space with quirky, cool decor and a distinct slant towards ‘shabby chic’. 

The interior at Puravida has evolved through the recycling of materials that garden designer Jody – a Royal Horticultural Society Chelsea Flower Show Gold Medal winner – has collected and saved from numerous show gardens. His creative and playful style is evident throughout the café. 

When the first lockdown came along, Lucy decided it was time for the business to move to its next evolution, and this is how The Coffee Den at Puravida was created. The couple’s love and passion for the café culture derives from family holidays spent abroad in Italy, and this has been Lucy’s driving force in creating an ambient space with the look and feel of being in Europe. 

Opening this year has been a roller coaster ride for the whole team, but Puravida has firmly taken its place in this vibrant and diverse part of East Anglia and is a great addition to peoples’ choice when eating out. 

The food itself celebrates the abundant local produce available within the Waveney Valley, with the couple feeling spoiled for choice when it comes to selecting items to add to their menu. The café offers a relaxed, unhurried atmosphere, where one always feels welcome.

The café is open for breakfast and lunch Tuesday to Sunday, offering a range of traditional breakfasts as well as scrambled egg and avocado on toast, freshly baked cakes, gourmet burgers, and more. The Coffee Den will also open the first weekend of each month for evening dining with themed menus as well as delicious pizza that can either be enjoyed there or ordered as a takeaway. Larger parties are welcome for business lunches or private events. 

Alongside the café is Jody’s landscape and horticultural side of the business, offering workshops as well as creative ideas for gardeners of all levels. Both businesses run alongside each other, with the combination of enjoying a fresh coffee and great food with garden solutions gently entwined together.

The winter months will also see a series of garden-related talks and workshops, offering informative and humorous goings on within the landscape gardening fraternity. 

With the emphasis on community and people, the Puravida team are well on the way to creating a vibrant hub where food, drink, and a love of gardens are what it’s all about.