Harper’s Bazaar

Petersham Nurseries is a veritable labour of love. What began as a humble garden centre that backed onto the 17th-century Richmond home of Gael and Francesco Boglione has become a thriving family business of restaurants, homeware shops, a deli and an artisanal nursery. ‘It was a simple idea: our vision was to reflect how we live at home,’ explains Gael, ‘the way we socialise, enjoy food and surround ourselves with nature.’The couple initially set their sights on opening a teahouse for the nursery in 2004 and approached their friend Skye Gyngell to develop a menu. But with such rich potential for a flourishing kitchen-garden, Gyngell floated the idea of starting a restaurant specialising in organic produce instead.