I had lunch at 'secret' garden centre by Birmingham M&S and made an unexpected discovery

In a couple of steps, I'd gone from the busy Birmingham high street to a secret garden that felt like somewhere miles away. If it wasn't for the rumbling sound of traffic from the road, I might have thought I'd fallen down Alice's rabbit hole into somewhere else entirely.

If you've ever walked or driven through Moseley, the garden centre and gift shop on the corner of Oxford Road and St Mary's Row, opposite the M&S, has no doubt caught your eye. The family-run shop looks cool even from the street, with interesting ornaments, plants and gardening supplies visible through the metal fence, but inside, Moseley Gifts & Gardens is an inner-city oasis, filled with hidden nooks and surprises in every corner.

I visited the little wonderland for lunch at The Yard, a café run from a shed in the shop's garden, but couldn't resist having a look around. Out the front, there was metalwork art, antique-y outdoor mirrors, hanging ornaments, terracotta plates, huge plant pots big enough to grow trees in and smaller ones of all shapes and sizes.

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It had stone sculptures, funky wind chimes, a trolley filled with half price plants, bird feeds, metal archways that flowers grow around and vintage-looking signs to pop in your vegetable patch. There seemed to be only a few of everything and loads of one-off buys, perfect for gifts.

I couldn't tell exactly what was for sale and what was display as some things didn't have prices on. There were daffodils growing in an old vintage pram and a flower bed in a bidet. The place was quirky to say the least.

At the back, there was a veranda I hadn't spotted from the street, filled with old armchairs and a few tables. The four people seated all had their laptops out. I walked past a workbench, no doubt where some of the curious wooden wares on sale had been crafted, and into the shack that housed the gift shop.

I don't know what I was expecting, but it wasn't this. Mismatched sofas created a cosy seating area in front of a wood fire and the rest of the cabin was filled with miscellaneous bits and bobs starting from a couple of quid - soy candles, vintage glassware, retro lamps, indoor plants, picture frames, signs with witty slogans, crochet blankets and old-timey furniture. It felt like my nan's back room and an antique shop rolled into one.

After a thorough mooch, I headed back out to the colourful café for lunch. The converted shed was so small, it just about fitted a counter, a diddy kitchen with a sink, toastie maker and coffee machine, and shelves stacked with odd plates and mugs.

The Yard only has a tiny menu comprising a few different cheesy sourdough toasties and breakfast baps. I went for the caramelised onion option and made it a deal with a latte for £7.50.

The soft-spoken woman behind the till told me to sit wherever I liked and I realised she meant literally anywhere - on a leather sofa inside the shop, on the veranda with the mobile workers or on any of the benches dotted around the garden. It was nice out, so I chose the picnic table in the sun, wishing I'd brought my book with me, and admired the view until my lunch arrived on 70s crockery.

The coffee was smooth but full-bodied, not like the cheap stuff, and had a swirly design in the froth. My toastie wasn't huge but it had big flavour, a generous helping of sweet and tangy onion chutney and gooey cheddar oozing out of the sides. But the sourdough bread was the star of the show - thick and bouncy with tough, flaky crusts. I could have eaten two of them.

Like many of the unusual items for sale, Moseley Gifts & Gardens is one of a kind and an unexpected gem of a lunch spot. If you're big into gardening, vintage shops or just fancy lunch in totally unique setting, it's certainly worth a visit.