GROW HQ first opened its doors to customers in October 2016. We believe GROW HQ is the world’s greatest homegrown food experience and hope you agree. You can immerse in the world of GIY, learn how to grow and cook food and, most importantly, eat delicious, organic, seasonal food right where it’s grown.

The Beginning

HQ’s site used to be a neglected field. However, there is food production in its DNA, as it was formally part of the farmland attached to St Otteran’s hospital. Waterford City Council gave the 3-acre site to GIY in 2015, and we raised over €1m in funding from partners, sponsors and the GIY community to create what is now GROW HQ. The eco-building was designed by Solearth and built by Tom O’Brien Construction. The orange pergola has become an iconic image of GROW HQ, as it appears in the opening credits of the TV series GROW COOK EAT.

The GROW HQ Ethos

Zero Waste Café

GROW HQ is a zero-waste café. Any waste in the kitchen is handed to our Head Grower, Richard, and used as compost for growing our delicious food in our gardens. Food goes the full circle here at HQ – from ground to plate and back to ground again.

Our Menus

We rely on what is in season, as well as sourcing only from Irish producers, therefore our menus are ever changing. We grow lots of our food on site and believe in very low food miles – any food not grown here and supplied to our café comes from local producers.

GROW HQ Goals

GROW HQ is the mothership of the GIY movement and a working model of a sustainable food system. Everything we do is guided by five principles, inspired by the simple but powerful act of growing food:

Eat more plants
End food waste
Support small producers
Stop food pollution
Connect with nature

Awards

Georgina Campbell 2020, Café of the Year
McKennas’ Guides Best in Ireland 2020
Foodie Destinations 2019, Overall Winner
Irish Restaurant Awards 2019, Best ‘Free From’
Irish Restaurant Awards 2018, Best Kids Size Me

GROW HQ Story