March 2024 by Lucy Mcgirr
Quite expensive busy restaurant short staffed
March 2024 by Jon Axam
Was looking forward to a Sunday roast, but what I saw was 'white' peas dried out and a beef joint that was so dried out, it looked like it had been sat there all week. Disgusting. Contacted Head Office, which they just said 'we are keen to provide you with a better experience in the future'!
March 2024 by Elaine Elaine
Fantastic place. There is everything there from animal/bird feeds to plants of every genre possible. My Daughter took me there for lunch. There is a gorgeous food area and lots of seating.
March 2024 by Janet Owens
I have experienced similar issues in the cafe and by the time food is actually paid for, it is cold.There is one young lad who looks after the till and he has the right work attitude and will help out on the counter if nobody is waiting to pay. Seems to be the only one providing good customer service and is always polite even when he is running to and fro. Well done.The ladies referred to behind the counter in previous reviews ... I can also confirm their attitude is very poor. I waited so long with my grandaughter in tow, I gave up and went to Longacres! Such a shame as it is a nice place to meet friends. Staffing in the cafe needs to be looked at.
March 2024 by JOHN MCMANUS
Disapointing from what it was. Not many fish there now. 14 month old twins loved the plentiful supply of fish in latter days. Kids toy and book area diminished in size and variety. Cafe ok but is expensive although we have a Dobbies card and if you use Dobbies you need to get one. Well worth it for coffee and cakes. Overall it is still worth going. I like Waitrose , shop there a lot but witrose in Dobbies is expensive, so I use the Waitrose not far away.
March 2024 by Tufton Sinders
Good garden centre, butcher and gifts shop; well stocked aquarium. Plenty of parking and a Waitrose in store.Slow service at café (before the lunchtime rush); dirty cutlery, dog-friendly area has dirty screens, cake disappointing.
December 2023 by jan l
Dirty place, food cold, and un appetising. The glasses and cutlery looked dirty the floor was covered in food and paper the tables were not clean. The long covered bench was torn. And the stainless steel cupboard which holds the cutlery was also dirty. Never will I have lunch there again.
December 2023 by hellymcg
Booked here a month or so ago to take my son and nephew to Father Christmas with family, we booked the 15:30pm slot (bad move).. when we got there we had a look around and then took the boys (both two) to see santa.. Because of the time kids had finished school so was busy which is to be expected but oh my how slow it was! Children went in one by one and when you have two 2 year olds impatient it was painful. The staff were very friendly but they need either 2 Santa?s or have a time limit on how long you can be with him. I selected the 18m-3 years gift and they got sensory balls which were more for a one year old so that was disappointing for them. The man on the picture bit was friendly and printed my prepaid picture off for us. Off we then went to the cafe for a tea and cake.. Slowww again! One poor boy left to take orders and serve food/drinks bless him! For a restaurant that size you need more than a couple of people! Coffee was ok but overpriced. Wouldn?t book again here.
December 2023 by Marc W
Cream tea at a garden centre and a good one at that! Not my usual choice for cream teas! Scones were excellent particularly the fruit and Christmas ones. Cream was a little over hard not the runny double cream I would expect but still good with strawberry jam. Good selection of fancy cakes. Strong pot of tea. The only problem was finding a member of staff on arrival. Finally the sandwiches would benefit from better fillings eg egg mayo instead of plain egg with no seasoning. Smoked salmon was rather thick and chewy with little flavour again no lemon or pepper seasoning.
November 2023 by Margaret G
Went for lunch with adult granddaughter we were seated at table and just left I had to call a waitress who said she couldn?t take our order as a different member of staff had seated us ,eventually we both ordered fish finger sandwiches with tartare sauce which you needed glasses to find! The fish fingers were grey inside and the cheapest you could buy I reckon . the bread was cheap basic loaf, and all for the extortionist price of £9 50!
October 2023 by Ajibola Olayiwola
Enjoyed a fantastic full English breakfast at Dobbies - it?s quite affordable at just £20 for breakfast and two coffees. The eggs, sausages, and hash browns were all delicious?
September 2023 by Peter.J Harman
Another well needed visit peace and quite at last.From the moment I stepped foot into Dobies Garden Center, I was greeted with a warm, welcoming environment. The staff members are not merely employees but horticultural enthusiasts who are deeply knowledgeable about plants, garden supplies, tools, and techniques. They were always available to provide detailed advice on plant care, suggesting the most suitable options for my home and garden.In terms of facilities, the center is vast yet well-organized, making shopping a delightful experience. The wide range of high-quality plants, seeds, bulbs, gardening equipment, and outdoor living accessories is impressive. Each product section is clearly marked, and all items are thoughtfully displayed, which drastically simplified my search for specific items.The Garden Center also boasts a charming Cafe that serves delicious homemade food and beverages - a perfect place to relax after hours of browsing. The cleanliness and hygiene maintained across the premises deserve special mention.What sets Dobies Garden Center apart is their dedication to environmental responsibility. Their initiatives towards sustainability, like using peat-free compost and encouraging recycling, resonate deeply with me as a consumer.I wholeheartedly recommend Dobbies Garden Center to anyone with an interest in improving their gardens or seeking a pleasant day out surrounded by nature's beauty. The combination of excellent service, comprehensive facilities, and a friendly, engaging atmosphere makes every visit a rewarding experience.
September 2023 by Texasthesmallone
Where to start, my partner and I go every month for our Dobbies membership coffee. Here are my list of complaints as an ex catering manager: 1) No manager ever in sight to deal with problems or help with long queues, according to staff I spoke to they sit in the office all day. 2) Always a terrible long queue. Normally one assistant trying to serve all beverages by themselves. They did have a till near the beverage service area and an extra member to help but they seem to have both gone. 3) Miserable staff, I'm not surprised as they have had their hours cut. 4) Barista busy serving a long queue and afternoon chef said can you make a coffee for me when he already had a long queue, do it yourself !!! 4) Tables are all wonky. I could go on forever. I'm so said because it could be a gold mine .
September 2023 by dazp1
Risk of allergen contamination....Pretty poor restaurant / cafe experience today. Typically get a self service cake and wait maybe 5mins for a coffee, slower than expected for a queue of 2... Today was terrible, had to rejoin the hot/cold counter after all kids sandwiches had gone, it took over 20mins for 2 staff members to make 4 sandwiches and scoop two hot meals onto a plate! Cross contamination and allergen safety doesn't appear to be important. Same chopping board was used to make prawn sandwiches which spilt out onto the board, knife was wiped with a ropy looking kitchen tissue and used to make our non prawn sandwiches on the same board (not washed)! Manager didn't seem to appreciate the risks or care about tainting ham, cheese or tuna sandwiches with prawn juice. Apparently it's "Dobbies' Law" whatever that is, that they can use the same kitchen equipment for cooked prawns and other foods! Apparently they are short staffed but that doesn't translate to the very slow service today...The garden centre is nice, clean and plants appear cared for and are rarely wilted, and there's a good selection of home goods. Outdoor play area is fairly small but good for kids, especially whilst waiting for food, etc. Indoor play area is only open during dry weather at the moment because of issues with a leaking roof....
September 2023 by David Smith
Great garden centre for all ages , meat counter especially worth a visit . But! Omg the restaurant is painfully , painfully slow , with customers just giving up and walking away as jot food takes an absolute age to be served . Shame as it spoils the experience . Have attempted o 3 occasions .
