Dobbies Garden Centres Reviews 32,065

I have to wonder if Dobbies are trying to run this particular store into the ground?

It’s a dump! Tired, rundown and neglected - gaffa taped floor at the entrance, really gives a good first impression!!!!
It’s untidy and unclean - especially the loos (disabled loo is a health hazard)!
Stock is woeful}
Cafe is absolutely dire!
Food hall is pathetic!

You want to stick expensive garden furniture in a dump and expect people to come and buy?

We went 17.02.26 and a large area of floor space was like a rubbish tip…I’m assuming some part of a valentines display??? 2.5 days on from the event, it’s inexcusable that it was left like that…a dog/child could have picked something up and choked, aside from the fact it looked a mess!

I don’t know if the manager was sent to run it down, has given up or just doesn’t have a clue what he’s doing? What is clear, is that staff are totally lacking in direction and have no pride in their workplace at all.

It used to be fantastic, a great place to grab gifts as well as garden stuff and the cafe was always buzzing - now it’s like a morgue!

Dobbies, your customers deserve better than this!

Visited the store at Braehead for the Paw-perfect experience on Saturday 14 February 2026 which was prebooked.
A total shambles, the sniff experience for the dog was a non event as all the tins of treats were empty.
There was only one member of staff who was totally inexperienced resulting in the photographs being terrible.
In addition the queue of people waiting was unmanaged.
To be fair he should have had assistance.
A very disappointing experience and not worth the £15 paid.
I did contact customer service who were not in the least helpful or sympathetic.

Have been going to dobbies at Chesterfield for many years. But my last two experiences in the cafe have not been pleasant. On both times staff were rude. The area were you sit with dogs was disgusting, all tables dirty, food on floor and the area by window has been taped off since before Christmas. It is very sad to say I won’t be returning

The staff seemed overworked and not really very happy in the cafe which is a shame. The plants are nice. But £1.55 for a 20p freddo, or £1.55 for a small penguin bar.. whaaaat!!!!!

Well stocked with good quality products. Staff helpful. Good service.

We came to the Lisburn Dobbies for lunch today. What an improvement! We waited (with a buzzer) for our meals but only a few minutes and when we got it, both meals were fresh, hot and very tasty! We also got a lovely slice of cheesecake and two coffees. The coffees were both lovely and hot. The friendliness of the staff and the service would challenge any more expensive restaurant. I think probably hygiene in the restaurant has also improved. We have visited this garden centre and cafe frequently since it opened and this has been, by far, the best experience of all. Well done to the management and of course all the staff!

We ordered two pots of tea and sat right beside the area where they were being made. I took the two pots back as you could taste that they had not been made with boiling water. Yuk! The girl proceeded to argue with me that the water had been hot - although she could put her hands on the pot without being burned. She did make fresh pots complaining to the other girl the whole time. She tried to put her hands on the pot and swiftly lifted her hands back.
She and the other girl continued to moan about dissatisfied customers. A few minutes later I assume out of pure spite she slammed a tray on the counter right beside us. From the noise level she held it at one edge and using both hands struck the counter for maximum impact. Do you train your staff
1. How to make a pot of tea with boiling water.
2. How not to speak to customers or disparage them to other staff.
3. Not to have a temper tantrums if someone does complain.
I was totally disgusted with this behaviour and will never go there again and will advise all my family and friends likewise.

Awful place, if you like waiting, and then waiting some more then this place is for you!

Morgan,Calum and Debra helped me today smiling and happy creating a happy atmosphere.
Great selection of beautiful plants instore and outside.Plant area looking well stocked and so tidy Diane and Mallgochata looking after all the plants .A huge range of small mini plug plants inside all so beautiful set out .

Charge for a phone call 7p a minute what a rip off.

Awful service in bury st Ed’s cafe. Waited ages then when I ordered a drink with vanilla she exclaimed “ what in a flat white?!” Asked for butter on jacket potato she said well it comes with that on the side, no butter anywhere. Whilst waiting at table took a phone call and jacket arrived with a rude interruption . Poor meal and terrible customer service was spoken to like I was a number not a customer. Will never go again.

We had breakfast here for 2 adults and a 3 yr old child. It was £32. The food came out and it was cold. The baked beans looked like they had been cooked to death and were all mushy. None of us ended eating the food hardly. A member of staff approached us and told us we shouldn’t have asked for gluten free toast as it’s a separate part of the menu. We will not be coming back again

I ordered two cherry , an apricot, cobnut and walnut. Most looked healthy, but the walnut looks dead, no green anywhere. The walnut was not cheap and I am very disappointed. I was going to order more plants, but probably won't now.

Arrived at 14:20 for a coffee and cream scone, the 2 for 1 offer on the scones doesn't start until 14:00, but there was only one scone left, we asked if they were bringing any more out, to be told that was it, but we could have one of the cheaper (no cream/jam) instead, neither me or my partner fancied that option so ask for one of the other cakes instead, but were told it would not be on the offer. We decided to ask for the manager, as we felt 20mins was a bit poor to run out of (clearly) a popular dessert! The manager although polite had numerous opportunities to come to some kind of compromise, but unfortunately nothing was forthcoming and neither was a valid excuse!
When regular customers give you the option to put something right, you have the opportunity to gain a great sense of loyalty or in this case turn a disappointed regular away! We normally have a look around the centre after our drink and dessert and buy something else far more than we don't, but neither my partner and myself feel like rerurning or renewing our membership

The Heritage afternoon tea, The staff were very helpful and understanding.I couldn't have asked for more,I accidentally arrived on the wrong day with my daughter and granddaughter, We were meant to arrive on the Sunday,but they were fantastic and managed to fit us in so a massive thank you to Paula,and her team.from Amanda Presland.

What a Wonderful Afternoon Tea with a church group of 14 . The Table was set and looked so lovely and inviting offering delicious sandwiches with very generous fillings, scones and cakes were yummy and a refreshing lemon mousse was very good too.
The staff and Manageress were excellent very attentive , very professional and our orders for drinks came promptly . We all had such a wonderful time and would certainly recommend this event to friends and family . Well done to you all and Thank you so much .

I received a birthday card from Dobbies as I do every year last year I was told you didn't get a slice of cake and a free hot drink for me and a friend you only get a biscuit? only on the card it clearly shows a piece of cake. so this year I went for my "free birthday treat" again couldn't have it because this time I didn't have the card with me??? I thought I would of came up on my dobbies card??? but no it doesn't so once again I had to pay for my "free" birthday cake it's a bit of a joke tho??? I do go occasionally to meet with friends who also have a Dobbies card and if I were to go every month it would be worth it

I must admit it's been a while since I visited Dobbies restaurant for food. But I fondly remember the great hot food at fair prices - particularly the breakfast.
Well today I thought I'd treat myself as it's pay day and took myself over for some food. I was utterly disappointed, indeed disgusted, at what was on offer. Cold, overcooked meats Inc sausages and bacon and breads that had obviously been sitting for quite some time along with dried scrambled egg and dried out, days old beans in a pot. I asked that my breakfast be prepared fresh and I was willing to wait. Well 20 minutes later I was presented with exactly what I'd seen on the open counter. I asked for a full refund and was very begrudgingly given one. Never ever will I be back to this once thriving business and restaurant. It's a real shame it has been allowed to fall into such low standards. The store itself was empty and half the floorspace had nothing on it but empty racks. How sad. Do not go here. It's a shell of its former glory and that shows in that it was practically empty and lifeless

I found that Elisa was quite rude when I asked to fix my salad. She gave me dressing when I didn’t ask for it and I could be allergic.
Shrugged her shoulders and rolled eyes!

Wish I’d checked the reviews before ordering and travelling to it. Really is poorly run and in need of overhaul.
We had a click and collect order. They charged us for the items but when we got there they didn’t have them despite confirming they were ready for collection via email. Apparently they gave them to someone else in error. Not too surprising given all the orders were just piled up in a trolley by the tills.
Whilst I can accept mistakes happen the Customer service from Dobbies central team and then finally the garden centre themselves was really poor afterwards and after a couple of weeks of getting nowhere I’ve had to charge it back via my card provider to get my money back.
We definitely won’t use Dobbies again. The reviews are pretty accurate for this one judging by our experience.