Botanic Gardens Cafe in Sefton

After a stroll we ordered some food. The sausage bap was overcooked burnt. Not the best experience. Which is a shame really.

So we wanted to have a stroll today my wife is disabled and so is my son who's non verbal autistic So first stop was toilets and disappointed that botanic gardens is not part of the radar key scheme so the charge was 20p, which is nominal but for the males toilets it was disgusting in all fairness an old hand dryer stains all over the urinal and the disabled toilet and baby change not ideally fit for purpose to change a disabled child behind the toilet was ridiculous, at least show where the money is going for toilet use and see from a disabled person's point of view. Now for the cafe, The entrance was awkward again for disabled alot of clutter near the door and not much room between the tables, although nice to see dogs in there. I went to counter to order and it took at least 5 mins for them to finish their conversation before taking the order and was rather abrupt not at all friendly and welcoming. So ordered the specials beef stew and cottage pie then headed to table. While waiting for food which cafe was very quiet 25 mins later food turned up, while dubious to see how it was going to turn out after first impression of staff and toulet facilities, shocked was the word. The beef stew and cottage pie was well presented and what can I say felt like home blew me away really nice hot tasty food very happy so initially while a low score, the food more than made up and the stroll later. So constructive advice polish up on customer service clear the door of clutter and make the toilets part of the radar scheme and maintain them better

Not great. My cheeseburger had no cheese. My wife's pulled pork and apple sauce barm had no apple sauce and a spot of mould on the barm. Wouldn't go back.

This modest cafe in delightful , relaxing, surroundings, provides a variety of light meals, cakes, drinks and deserts. It quickly became apparent that proper care and attention goes into preparing all this. The ham in my ham, egg and chips, was proper roast ham. It was thickly cut, had an authentic layer of fat around it, roasted in places. It had just been cut from a solid joint of meat. I knew that I had received honest, good service, and I will return there to explore the menu further.

Great sis thank goodness you have your phone with me so you don’t need me for a ride or to come over here to pick up my phone so you don’t get to go out of town I love ur voice so I will be here all night if I can get to work but if not I’ll talk with my dad about that I will be home by about four thirty I will be at your place in a few hours so you don’t need me for anything but if you want me I will

I would have given zero if I could have. My partner ordered a breakfast tea and I ordered a peppermint tea. No peppermint tea so I asked for a cup of hot water. We were charged £3.60 which I thought was a bit steep for a cup of tea, however on leaving I noticed that tea was £1.80 so I was charged £1.80 for my hot water!, what a nerve! Not even nice surroundings. Don't bother even going in.

Ok for an ice cream, but food not the best. No toilets in the cafe, so you have to pay for a Jimmy Riddle after a poor quality but expensive coffee.

Great location.Friendly staff, coffee was not great but ok, but the food was lousy. I did not recommend to eat there.

Given 2 stars because it was a good Cappuccino Coffee but for £3.50 (not a large one) extortionate frankly. I know prices are going up but that's just too much in my opinion.

This is a no frills café in the lovely Botanic Gardens. We have been several times, and always find the staff friendly. Drinks are well priced, and they sometimes put on specials such as a tasty bowl of home made beef stew which we had on one occasion. Very pleasant stop off for a quick bite.

Just wanted a cup of tea at this nice looking café. Price of £1.50/cup seemed reasonable, however a pot of tea was prepared, two small cups poured and remains of pot thrown away. Small jug of milk added and charged £3 (cash only as under £5) General food menu looked extensive and seemed to be available until dusk. Tried to use the adjacent toilets but these had been closed by 4pm on a Sunday and I think were chargeable.

As we go here quite a lot it hadn't occurred to me to review this venue. The park is wonderfully kept by volunteers and the bird house and fernery are worth the trip. The cafe though is a family business and they have always catered well for families etc. They have a drinks licence. A large cafe with outside seating undercover weather permiting. Today 3 of us had the sirloin steak sandwiches with chips. The food is always good here but these Steak and onion barm were very tasty and great for the price of about a fiver. Doggies are welcome too. Fits with us. Highly recommended.

Went for a walk with my daughter and 2 grandkids today. My daughter is 6 months pregnant and needed the toilet but they wer closed... she asked in the cafe if there was a toilet she could use but they just replied with a No and didnt even try to help her out. The cafe was extremely busy yet there are no toilet facilities... isnt this against the law... I believe All eateries should supply these facilities for people who are dining there. I understand we.re in a pandemic but if you can serve food and have people on your premises that are supposed to be socially distancing ( no one was by the way )..... then you should have a place to go the toilet. I spoke to an elderly couple who said they where having to go home because the toilets where closed. Bad service if you ask me

Don't be misled by some of the other reviews or the photographs on this site, we went here this morning for breakfast and it proved to be truly awful. The most sophisticated item on the menu was a bacon sandwich, and even that was dreadful. What was once a rather grand and interesting building is now a run-down and seedy space, filled more by souvenirs and tat than anything else. The botanic gardens are little more than a rather run-down park. On a positive note, parking is free and the 'cafe' is dog friendly. Otherwise avoid at all costs.

This really is a 'blast from the past' but also up to date with a modern style cafeteria etc. There were beautiful flower beds, a lovely footpath walk around the lake, a well stocked shop with plants and garden ornaments and the most fantastic "Fernery" housing a wnderful collection of ferns delightfully displayed in the original building from the Victorian age. All this supported by a lovely cafeteria, serving delightful cream cakes. We visited in September but I am sure it should be even more impressive during summer months, Well worth a visit.

Beautiful park.kept in lovely immaculate condition with the excellent volunteers.Good Cafe and great for walks.

Stopped off for a cup of tea and a can of diet coke - glad we decided not to eat there, I've already got a mortgage on the house. A can of coke was £1.20 and a (small) cup of tea was £1.30 I don't mind places making a profit, but £1.20 for a can of coke seems particularly expensive to my mind.

We ordered Pulled Pork with apple sauce on a barm withchips from the specials board and was served with a plate of food which looked and tasted disgusting. The soggy pork barm was drowned in a BBQ sauce and we had approximately 8 chips each. The coffee tasted like hot water and milk!!. Upon complaining we were offered a plate of chips and another coffee. The chips were under cooked and there was no improvement in the quality of the coffee. We paid almost £17 for an inedible meal and left feeling completely ripped off and hungry. Never again.

A family lunch spoiled by poor service and cold food. When told, the staff advised that it was hot when it left the kitchen ! Not sure where it waited the 30 mins it took to arrive but st $22NZ a portion it was as we say in the UK, a rip off. Arrived in New Zealand a month ago with three months left before we fly back but this is the worst place we have eaten in so far. Hope the remainder of trip gets better. M

Called in for a cuppa while strolling around the impressive Botanic Gardens. We sat outside to make the most of the weather but were impressed by the internal Victorian cafe setting. Pleasant experience.

This Victorian cafe is a delight. The decor is of the period and there are plenty of tables inside plus some outside. We had a light lunch which was nicely presented and promptly served. Staff were friendly and welcoming.

After a stroll around the beautiful gardens enjoying the array of wildlife and vegetation alike a friend and I decided to pop in this very old stylistic looking restaurant and are very glad we did. Expecting to find a range of teas, coffees, sandwiches and cakes we soon noticed the menu had a fine selection of home cooked meals plus a kids menu. And all at a very reasonable price. My friend and I had the ham, egg and chips with a mug of strong tea. All for under £20. Waiting time was well within the expected the food hot, fresh and very tasty. A great find and a return is imminent with kids.

My husband and I took our little grandchildren for a wonderful walk around the gardens and then stopped for some lunch. The food was really delicious and great portions. They also serve alcohol so was a very relaxing atmosphere. It was such a mix bag of people from elderly to young and well behaved dogs are allowed. Very enjoyable

This is a little gem of a place. It's a large open plan pavilion type building which they've set out with wooden tables and chairs and some comfortable wicker chairs nearer to the bar area. It sells hot and cold drinks (including alcoholic drinks), cakes, sweets, scarves, gloves, hats, little gifts etc. Went there over the weekend whilst walking the dog and as it's a dog-friendly place, popped in for a cuppa. Very welcome warm break on such a cold day. The coffee is hot and strong (it's machine coffee) and though the room itself with it's high ceilings and openness was quite cold, once you're out of the wind it is quite lovely. Ideally situated on the park it's a perfect little stopping-off point. Give it a try one day! You'll probably go back again.

We didn’t eat here but it was warm and welcomingWe bought plants from the nursery which were good quality and excellent value and found that we could have bought bird seed to feed the ducks and swans. For her last 30 years it’s always been a favourite family day out .the gardens are being planted with their winter displays. The park for children and the paths suitable for all to walk round the lake . The lovely range of birds in the aviary appeals to all especially our granddaughter. It’s a shame the museum is now closed due to lack of funding.

Delicious Banoffee cake and coffee, sat outside under a type of ,marquee. Lovely view over to one of the ponds, Plenty of water bowls for the many dogs who were visiting

Called here last year for food was great they had a free jukebox and it was brilliant called again at the weekend gone downhill jukebox not working food prices gone up food standard gone down need to improve before I return

You must visit the Botanical Gardens when near the West End and be sure to drop in for a tea/snack at the cafe where you will be welcomed with a smile and an irresistible cake selection.

The original cafe which was housed in a Victorian style conservatory is closed.and appears to be undergoing refurbishment; possibly for use as a gift shop.

I visited here with my 90 year old father, having forgotten his wheelchair. Steve and the hardworking staff from the cafe and shop found a neglected wheelchair stored at the back of the cafe. They worked for around 20 minutes pumping up the tires and solving a problem with the wheel. Dad and I went on to have a lovely afternoon and chatted to gardening volunteers before heading back to the cafe for a delicious ice cream each. We really were blown away with how kind everyone had been towards us.

An unusual, large café/bar with an eclectic mix of furniture. Friendly staff, nice coffee and excellent cakes. Reasonably priced.

Went here on a Sunday with 6 month old baby. The café has moved to a big hall next door which has loads of potential but, it was cold, echoey and unwelcoming. The coffee was terrible and the eggs were undercooked and slimey.

I have to admit that i didnt eat there but i did see some of the food that was being served and it looked very nice. The place is licenced so after a nice walk around the park you can pop in for a proper drink if you wanted alternatively you could have just tea or coffee

Cheap beer and the kids loved the open spaces pity about the toilets. We tried the fish and chips and they were ok but nothing special would have been nice on a sunny day.

It was the worse cup of tea I ever had in my life. For years we use to go in the cafe when it was in the conservatory and it was very good. Great tea, coffee and food. However the cafe has now gone and is filled with a Christmas shop. This is a shame as it was really nice sitting in there when it was a cafe and looking out onto the park. The cafe is now in a big hall next to the conservatory, which is also a pub now. The tea was made in a very strange way by this young girl who clearly did not know how to make tea. It was the worst I ever had in my whole life. The girl put some cheap teabag in a teapot. Then kept pumping hot water out of a machine on it and swirling it around in a strange way as the water went into the pot. She then stirred it for 5 seconds and poured it in a teacup. I told her that it had not brewed! She said she'd do it again and brew it. She then repeated what she had just done!! She got another teapot and did the same thing again and brewed it for only 10 seconds and she choose how much milk I wanted and gave me the same unbrewed tea again!! It was beyond a joke! People who want tea should be given a teapot and milk separately and choose how to brew the tea and how much milk you want. When the cafe was next door they served it properly. The tea tasted hideous and I had to leave it. The hot water tasted horrible, like metal. Because it was out of some machine. I couldn't taste tea at all as it was completely unbrewed. I thought she was going to let me have the teapot the second time she made it, so I could leave it to brew but she didn't! Clearly no one has trained her how to make tea and she doesn't know. It was disgusting. I may as well have drank water out of the lake.

Went today with the family 2 adults 3 kids. staff an fella who runs it lovely love the new bar great an free juke box fab. Only thing older generation think its just for them the Soul night as kids dancing an got funny looks (was about 5.30) owner said its for The whole public not just them as a young family kids dancing loved an livened the place up too. The porta loos were disgusting an need a good clean beer glasses an Wee on seats in loo. They are horrendous so dirty no need who cleans these?? The food is so expencive £6.99 ham eggs chips £5.00 cheese on toast cheesy chips £4.00 prices crazy for a little park place. Shud do a meal deal for kids Starter main pudding drink instaed £4.00 Just for a main. Ice-cream an Price of bar very reasonable. But a lot more needs to be done thats why not 5* an only 3*.

13 of us went last night for a friends leaving party

Bueno poder tomar café en la cafetería para perros después de el paseo. Siempre ponen bowl de agua pueden corregir controladamente los matices. Personal amable y servicial. La vía láctea el café se sirve en una taza con una rica galleta de té. Se pone un poco caliente al sol. Un montón de antiguo al mar de mercancías para la venta tienda de regalos horteras, pero también uno de los mejores lugares para comprar Thomas los motores tanque. A mí me gusta. Sentirse cómodo sentado en propio con perro en ropa desaliñada. Y un montón de muy incluido personas con discapacidades bienvenidos.

Great park, very average cafe, smallish cups, just functional seating and amenities. Nice to sit outside if the weather is warm.

A nice big functional cafe. Food is good enough, but not fancy like the cake stand on the photo. The park is beautifully maintained by local residents, including toilets which are also kept clean by volunteers - never seen that before!

Parecía en tripadvisor para encontrar un café para comer en la zona de southport. Este sonaba prometedor. Se sentía como un sobrante de los años 1950 con manchas (quiero decir manchada) techo de vidrio, plástico y manteles descoloridos hoola aros tenso desde el techo. La comida regular y té.

Called in to the cafe in the week. The cafe was very clean and tidy,the food look very presentable.We had lovely cakes.There are lots of things to buy for the children. The staff were very attentive especially Jill who's been there for many years always a smile always very helpful

The place looks OK from the outside but as you step inside it starts to tail off. Décor is pretty dated. There were a handful of people inside so not very busy at all. We were looking for fish and chips (described as our famous fish and chips which is generally quite a boast when you're at the coast). After we ordered the chef came out to pick up frozen fish and frozen chips from the two huge chest freezers in the café seating area. I should have noticed this before and left. Anyway, we were still waiting after about 10 minutes for our teas and had to request them again. The kids drinks were provided straight away with a warning about spilling them. Food came after twenty minutes. It was very average. Like it was cooked from frozen. Oh it was. I think fish and chips at the seaside means fresh fish and real chips. When clearing the plates there was an odd comment made to my son telling him "there's no need to make that noise". The way it was said sounded odd.........Overall it was about £40 for the four of us. Not loads of money but we'd have been better off at a simple chippy. Not going back.

Its a good fast food cafe but the cake stand does not fit what I have seen. The emphasis was on burgers sausage chips pies fish fingers etc

I felt that the facilities were a bit dowdy and looking quite run down. Could do with a coat of paint and upgrading

Great cafe and a lovely place to visit. We went on one of the hottest days so far, 31°C. Gorgeous walks , scenery and wildlife. Free entry. Lots of refreshments of all kinds in the cafe. We had ice creams then went back for ice cool drinks. Wheelchair access no problem. Definitely worth a visit.

I have to confess this is my sons review, he went with his grandparents. He is only 12 but was disgusted at the services in this cafe, the food was awful, he found a hair in his hotdog. The rest of the park is lovely and definitely worth a visit but I suggest taking a picnic

I was visiting Southport Botanic Park AviaryMy question, and I heard a lot of people saying the same thing, what were the birds we were looking at ?. There were hardly any notices to say what the birds were or any information on them at all. Surely especially for children and school parties it is a must to give information that is how they/we learn ? Aviary is a good idea but please give the people/children the information for learning that we need.Thankyou

I love coming here for a coffee and a bacon barm! The staff are lovely and the location unbeatable on a warm summers day!

Such a lovely day, so sad there was a nothing we could eat or drink.We asked for say milk and were offered semi skimmed cows milk.For the cost of a carton of long life soya ..2 customers left and went else where.

The Botanic Gardens Café has been operating as long as I can remember, back to the 1960's. It still offers excellent beverages and basic food, from egg and chips to afternoon tea at really low prices.At the other end of the café is the most amazing variety of things to buy, from books and toys to pet stuffs!

Ideal for morning coffee in the park prices are reasonable and tables are outdoors and are kept clean from the last visitor.

On Wednesday, my friend and I decided to take our children (ages 9, 6, 4) to Botanic Gardens for the afternoon. After a walk around and a play on the play area, we decided to visit the cafe. The experience was far from pleasant! On entering the cafe, it looks more like a school dinner hall with old fashioned tables and mismatched plastic chairs, accompanied by a large amount of 'tat' (which is classed as a shop). Not to let the appearance put us off, we proceeded to order a hot drink. On approaching the counter, the staff member who had not been present appeared from no where. We asked the female in the West Ham tracksuit for two teas, which where made without asking our preference. The teas were weak and looked like dishwater. I asked for a spoon for the sugar, and she looked at me like I had three heads! She indicated with her head to where the spoons where near the chocolate bars. On finishing the teas, our children wanted to look around the selection of items. When leaving, we asked our children to be a little quicker so we could go home. Another female member of staff, approached from the kitchen to clear the tables and made a rude comment to us about our children stating; "I feel sorry for you two". Feeling abit dumbfounded my friend said "sorry?" To which the woman indicated to our children. We asked the woman what she had meant but she ignored us and carried on tidying. If our children had been boisterous or disrespectful, I could maybe understand a comment being made (as rude as that would be), but they hadn't been. In leaving the cafe we were in disbelief. It is such a shame that ill mannered people can dampen the day you have had. The gardens are beautiful and it's an enjoyable experience for children on the park, however the cafe lets it down greatly. Although I will return to the gardens, I will not return to the cafe. I suggest that the cafe have a major revamp and either change the staff or teach them the life lessons of basic manners.

My granddaughters always insist on having a snack in the café after we have seen all the animals and birds in the Botanic Gardens. Quality, value and service are all very good.*** RECOMMENDED***

The Botanic Gardens, in Churchtown, Southport, is but a short walk from my home and over the years I have been a frequent visitor. So, time for me to write a review of this beautiful park and it's cafe. Following a succession of rainy days, the sun finally broke through the clouds, so it was definitely time to head off to my local park.The park itself is largely maintained by volunteers, owing to cuts imposed by restricted council funding, but it is a credit to all involved. It is a joy to experience at any time of year; a jewel in Southport's crown.Following my stroll around the gardens, it was then time for a coffee and toasted teacake in the cafe within the park. The cafe is situated within a large conservatory and serves some meals, with discounts for pensioners, and also cakes and a selection of ice creams. Also on sale are toys, gifts, memorabilia and greetings cards.The cafe is cheap and cheerful and good value for money'

Yet again I've been in the Botanic Gardens Cafe & as previous got great service from the very friendly staff along with good home cooked food at sensible prices. The cafe is always bright clean and tidy. I also went in on the Victorian weekend when there was the biggest crowd of people I have ever seen in the park, I think this not only surprised the staff but also the organisers of the event. Everyone was rushed off their feet but still supplied a great happy day.

Had a fantastic time at the Victorian Gala. Lovely lunch in Botanic Gardens cafe. Lunch served by the lovely Michele and helped by the rest of the staff.Michele

Wow, I have never seen a park so busy as this. We went on " Victorian Gala Day" & " Fairy Festival Day" .. There were literally thousands of people. We tried to get in the café but the queues were out of the door. We have been before and thoroughly enjoyed it so we were adamant to try to get in later. Which we did. I see from an earlier comment that they said there was rubbish on the floor and how they had to wait. Good grief, with that volume of people what do you expect ! The staff were rushed off their feet. We had to wait 20 mins for our food, as well as wait in the queue, home baked pie, chips, peas n gravy... which was delicious. But believe me it was worth the wait. As for the events in the Gardens, it was all FREE and fantastic. Well done to all the volunteers of the gardens for hosting such a busy event. We will be back next year

I had a fantastic family day out on Sunday the 6 th of September. Me and the family came along to the Botanic Gardens Community Association Victoria Day. My self and the family have lived in southpor for over 10 years. Once we had a good walk around ( and a little pay on the swings and stalls). We went to the cafe for a late lunch. I ordered poched egg and chips, my mum ordered fish chips and peas, my nan had a jacket potato with cheese and beans. We did have to wait a bit as the cafe has so busy u had to be there just witness it. All the staff made us Welcome They did a fantastic job. Yes there was a little but of rubbish on the floor. But want to do expect when it's was that busy there. After we had our late lunch we tucked in to some ice cream there was a bit of a que but hey it was worth it can't wait for the next 1. Well done to all the staff at botanic gardens cafe.

A 1 HOUR WAIT.from ordering a childrens meal ,a bacon barmcake,a toasted tea cake that was served obviously burned and had to be replaced.the waitress was a surly was very surly and even worse when she returned with the replacement.we would have asked for our money back but our daughter had paid for the meal????with her debit card and left.THE WHOLE CAFE EXPERIENCE HAS SPOILED WHAT WAS A NICE DAY IN THE PARK,DIRTY TABLES, FOOD ON THE FLOOR DIRTY FURNITURE.SACK THE STAFF AND START AGAIN.

Went here for a few hours with my family for the first time. The play area is great for the kids, and the park itself is lovely to walk around. There weren't many places to sit for a picnic really, which did surprise me (maybe we missed the benches?) The birds were a nice extra, seeing the peacocks, budgies etc! Toilets were ok, but you have to pay to get in, so make sure you have some change with you.Parking is free, and plenty of it. Can't comment on the cafe as we did not eat there, although we did buy an ice cream at £2 each.Good place to visit, could be better though.

Ordered meal for child from child menu and meal for self was asked if mine was adult and said yes, only daughters meal arrived, on asking where was mine was told had only ordered meal off kids menu and had been charged adult price, even though I had seen that the girl had written 2 meals down on her order pad. Total rip off and no aplogy even though it was staff error avoid like the plague.

I have been going to the cafeand gardens for over 50 years and it has hardly changed! Mug of horlicks is delicious and takes me right back to my childhood and think some of the tea towels and toys on sale were probably around then too! The gardens are well maintained, there are play areas, crazy golf, tunnels to walk through, lake and stream ( although rental boats seem to have gone), ducks and geese, lots of lawn areas for picnics and a fabulous fernery ( tropical greenhouse with wishing well and steps above the waterfall). At Christmas there was a snow making machine in the fernery from above the wishing well - magical. A very special place for six generations of our family - we now take our grandson.

This cafe is a in a lovely garden and a coffee and cake finished our visit in a lovely way. The menu is very comprehensive and great value.

Hi allI visited Botanic gardens cafe today,for some food with my family,The young lady behind the counter was very helpful with menu's and deals on,I had a giant hot dog with chips which was not good im afraid,As for giant hot dog,this was 2 cheap hot dogs in 2 buns which were soggy wet for some reason and the chips were soggy too.The card machine was not charged so i had too pay some cash which i did not have much off,The tea cake was great for my son but the chips and gravy for my gf were poor too.With better food and decor this cafe could be nice.I will visit again

As afternoon tea experiences go, I'd rate this highly. I took friends and their children here whilst they were over from the USA and they loved the cafe, gardens and food. The tea was generous and the hospitality excellent. Sandwiches and cakes were freshly made, and not pretentious!

Nice venue. Very friendly staff.. Nice cakes. Good value. I really liked the coffee cake and the meat pies

I am surprised to read bad reviews! The service, and food were second to none! We took visitors there from Southend on sea,we had myself my mum, my sister and her new born baby. we all tucked in to the beautifully made sandwiches and hot meals, which were just as tasty! The staff were fantastic, couldn't be more accommodating, when we turned up We really could not fault our experience, there really was something for every1. i was getting a ice cream(very nice it was) for my sister as i was in the que. there was a Member of the public that was so rude to the member of staff i was in shock i could not understand why, the member of staff was so cool and did not rise to how she was spoken to (must of been the heat!!!!! ) hats of the the staff defo will be going again in the summer.

I've just returned from a family visit here.Ordered food in the cafe - poached eggs on toast for me, bacon toastie and a hot dog for the kids. All presented nicely, and the eggs and toastie were lovely.But it was only after these had been eaten that we noticed that my 5 year old was halfway through eating a hotdog which actually had blue mould growing on the bread.Not one to make a scene, particularly in a busy post-Christmas cafe, so we told the boy behind the counter who offered us either a replacement or £2 refund....!

On 3 September I visited the conservatory cafe with my family after an enjoyable day at the park. I had already reviewed the park and given it a really good review except for the cafe but felt I should have reviewed the cafe in this section. So here goes - we entered the cafe to be glared at by the young lady working in there. She then went on to serve us well all i can say is quite disgusting tea. 2 cups of weak dishwater and 1 cup of dark brown gravy looking tea and 1 stale tea cake! She didn't speak once just looked at us as though we were a nuisance and such a pain to serve. My father actually commented that the tea looked a bit weak. Still nothing was said. Later my daughter put money in a machine and no ball came out. Due to her disgusting general attitude in serving us earlier i went straight over to tell her. Again she just looked at me with grumpy look and said rudely ' I'm serving someone'. Not long after somebody else had the same problem with the machine. Perhaps a sign might help saying 'out of order'. The general service at this cafe by this young girl was absolutely disgusting. Training in urgent need!

I am reviewing the cafe in the conservatory type building. I have visited here occasionally over many years and always enjoyed it. This time it was not good. The girl serving was a disgrace. There was absolutely no acknowledgement by way of a smile or even a word. Cake was good but tea terrible. Get the Uncle Joe's mintballs and other old fashioned sweets back and the staff that are pleased to see us. This place is quite unique and a valuable asset to the Botanic Gardens and Southport.

This is not the fanciest cafe you will ever visit, however it is worth a visit. It has good simple food, sandwiches and mugs of coffee. All the staff are helpful and you'll always get a warm welcome from Jill! The botanic gardens are definitely worth a visit and don't forget you're bird seed from the cafe for 50p to feed the birds!Great for sitting outside in the sun for a lovely brunch!

Went on a group on voucher. Had not read ANY reviews and to be honest had a very open mind. This is a Sefton Council run park that has been ignored and allowed to run down. There are a wonderful group of volunteers who are trying to keep this park and its history alive. It is an important part of Southport's heritage. I knew all this being local so was NOT expecting afternoon tea with glamour the likes of which you would see at the ritz ! The voucher was £14 for two , so expectations had to be managed accordingly. I had a lovely time. The staff were attentive , the food plentiful and clearly home made. As much tea as you liked. We were stuffed by the end of it. No , the sandwiches are not dainty or inventive or pretty but they are fresh and delicious and for £7 a head well worth the money. The setting is NOT glamorous , it is a cafe at the end of the day that sells souvenirs as well but it is clean and tidy. This cafe is branching out and reaching out to new custom in this way and should be supported and applauded. The same family have run this cafe for over 40 years and are part of the local community. So , if you want a glamorous , wagtastic , dainty afternoon tea this will not be your bag. If however , you want a traditional , value for money , fulfilling afternoon tea with a big heart go for this option as you will not be disappointed. The setting is eclectic and the staff wonderful. .. Plus you will be helping to keep Botanic Gardens open for us all to enjoy for years to come.

I am surprised to read bad reviews! The service, and food were second to none! We took visitors there from Bermuda, and we had 3 teenagers with us, we all tucked in to the beautifully made sandwiches and rolls, different types of bread, made with proper ham, sliced chicken, and salad. Also cheese, and tuna, which were just as tasty! The victoria sponge was fresh, and light and fluffy, and the scones too! The staff were fantastic, couldn't be more accommodating, as our friends arrived late. Anything we asked for was no trouble, plenty of hot tea, extra mayonnaise, and they took care of everything! The teenagers opted for some homemade soup off the menu, and it came piping hot in a big bowl, with a large bread roll, they loved it.We really could not fault our experience, and we only discovered it by the groupon voucher! The park and gardens, with the birds, and small pets, makes for a lovely day out with the family! At the end of the day, it is a cafe, in a park, which gears up to families, and people need to simply judge the food, and service, and all we can say is it was "top notch"! We will definitely go again, and recommend it to our friends and family :)

My mum booked afternoon tea at the botanical gardens cafe for a birthday treat. Upon getting there we struggled to park & so in the end just abandoned the car wherever we could find a space as we didn't want to be late. At first we couldn't find the tea room so decided to nip into a shabby looking shop/cafe to ask where it was, only to be informed that the shabby cafe was where afternoon tea was held! Tables looked like something out of a school dinner hall and it was full of tacky 'gifts & souvenirs' making it look like you were at some kind of fun fair stall! They had reserved us a table near the window which was about the only decent thing of the whole experience. The arrival of the food was a HUGE disappointment! My previous experience of afternoon tea were dainty little sandwiches, a variety of cakes, scones with jam and cream and tea served in lovely china cups. If that is what you are hoping for then DO NOT come here. We were given huge ham and turkey sandwiches which were dry and quite frankly disgusting and half a tuna mayo/cheese mayo sandwich which were awful too. The cake was a slice of victoria sponge which tasted like it had been sat out for days and the scones were not any better either. Overall the whole experience was a big disappointment. We were hoping for a lovely relaxing afternoon tea with some good quality food, what we actually received couldn't be further from that. The term 'you pay for what you get' springs to mind here & ill be sticking to afternoon tea at Ribby Hall from now on.

I was fearing the worst after reading some of the reviews but was pleasantly surprised. There was a good variety of sandwiches on different types of bread and a delicious scone and piece of victoria sponge. The Botanic gardens are lovely and the cafe itself looks out over the birds, ducks etc. A pleasant experience made more so by warm and friendly staff.

We recently bought a group on voucher for Afternoon Tea and thought it was very well worth the money. There were a variety of sandwiches with very very ingredients, slices of a light homemade Victoria sponge and freshly baked scones which were still warm. Friendly service in a lovely warm environment. The tea was hot and plentiful. We really enjoyed our experience after a lovely walk around the beautiful park gardens. Couldn't fault it and would highly recommend it! Don't let the negative reviews put you off.

I bought this through Groupon last year for the cheaper price then of £10 for our Wedding Anniversary en route to Southport for an overnight stay & the name Botanic Gardens Cafe definitely makes you think it will be somewhere quite luxurious but our faces dropped when we arrived, it is a park cafe - full stop & one that needs some refurbishment. The afternoon tea was not anything to write home about & just about worth the £10 we paid but no more & we were sat next to a kids ride machine. It was definitely a disappointment & Groupon were informed on my return home.

I bought this last time it was on groupon. It is a little cafe in the back of a gift shop. The picture is deceiving. The cakes were bought we had white bread and processed meat sandwiches. It was very disappointing.

Sitting in the cafe looking out at the peacock across the way, its great. Scones and sponge homemade and delish. Variety of sandwiches and a lovely cuppa. Don't know what there was to moan about. I really liked it and would come again. Got the groupon deal for a suprise for my mum and she loved it. Off for a walk in the gardens now. Cheerio x

This serves as a nice little place to break off from walking in the park, but it is a very basic cafe/canteen style place. Food is very limited snack type things, nothing memorable at all. Extremely basic. Lovely park though.

We also bought the Groupon voucher for afternoon tea at the Botanic Gardens and initially were crestfallen when we first entered the premises. However, what a lovely surprise to find such helpful, friendly staff, and the cakes really were homemade! The cafe really does need a facelift but that doesn't detract from the great service and food on offer.We spent a lovely, autumnal afternoon wandering around the gardens enjoying the sunshine and atmosphere.

I'd bought a Groupon voucher (after reading such great reviews) as a birthday gift for myself & a friend - what a disappointment! We firstly had to wait for a table, which I'd booked 2 weeks earlier, while the waitress chatted to a colleague about our booking - there was clearly a free table visible. The afternoon tea comprised of a wobbly 2-tier cake stand with 1 cheese triangle (pre-grated & sour-tasting) 1 tuna mayo triangle, 1/2 roll with chicken salad (mainly salad) & 1/2 roll with ham salad (mainly salad). Plenty of margarine on the bread too (I detest the stuff). The cake selection comprised of 1 small slice of Victoria sponge filled with jam & fresh cream (nice) & 1 scone with a dish of mini butters & jams. The scone had the texture of a tennis ball after the waitress admitted it had been put in the microwave, We asked for cream to go with it but there wasn't any. The waitress then told us that the other scones were the same, although other people's looked more edible than ours. We asked for another piece of Victoria sponge instead & were told to choose 2 cakes from the cake counter. Not much variety there & after choosing what looked like a similar Victoria sponge, turned out to be dry, tasteless & not fresh cream. At least we did receive a 2nd pot of tea. Can't understand why this place got so many good reviews....the roof needs a good clean too - couldn't see through the glass for the moss. It's not really a tearoom either - just a combined shop & cafe in need of restoration. Even at £10 for 2, it was poor value & I've since had a refund from Groupon! Needless to say, we won't be returning.

We had a groupon voucher and We thought it would be a pleasant afternoon. The cafe was very disappointing surroundedby tatty souvenirs, similar to the stalls in Blackpool. The "homemade" cakes were the frozen sponge cake variety. We left most of the food and went home.

Now, not wishing to sound snobby but we have been to afternoon tea at Reids in Madeira, The Peninsula Hong Kong and The Clifton Arms Lytham so the opportunity to repeat the experience - well sort of - seemed irresistable when Groupon offered a massive discount for afternoon tea in Southport. In the land of reality we knew silver service and the opportunty to sip champagne would not be ours at the price but what we discovered after our 45 minute drive made us unsure whether to laugh or just turn round and forget it. This cafe could be stunning - in pleasant gardens with interesting features. But instead it is filled with plastic tat, is in real need of renovation [esp the glass in the roof area], looking like something from my childhood in the 1950s/60sfrozen in time with the addition of 'fast food type' furnishing and lacking charm. One solo waitress was pleasant and hard working, The cup of tea from 2 teabags in a small dribbly metal tea pot with another with hot water was the highlight of the event [and the offer of a second pot a nice touch]. I will not describe the food as the earliest reviews on this area do a good job. This comes down to value standard foodstuffs resulting in a very sub standard and disappointing afternoon tea which by my calculations would have been cheaper to buy in its componant parts from the cling wrapped foods in the glass cabinet. As others have said Groupon seem to be at fault here - not this business - in the way this opportunity was described in the original email. This was NOT afternoon tea.Can we have our petrol money back please?!

We also bought the voucher on Groupon and were apprehensive after reading the reviews on here! So unnecessary! The sandwiches were very fresh in lovely bread, the cakes were home made and the scones warm. Unlimited tea and very friendly service and atmosphere. Yes, the room is dated and not luxurious but you can not fault the food! We had a lovely time looking at the birds and gardens. We have had afternoon tea on one of the hotel vouchers and I have to say the food and atmosphere did not compare! I would also like to know which supermarket stocks a 'value range' of this standard - I would certainly shop there!! For the £5 per head we paid (or even if it were £7), you could not go wrong! With a lick of paint and some new tables and chairs, this would be a gem of a place! That is my only reason for not giving 'full marks'. We will definitely go back and thanks Groupon for introducing us to a lovely unspoilt area of Southport!

My Friend and I spend enjoyable times having afternoon tea in the Botanic Gardens Cafe. Sandwiches have a good range of fillings and the scones and cakes ALL HOMEMADE melt in the mouth ,we both agreed that it is good value for money and to top it all the service is excellent . Ann and Judy

I too had bought a deal on Groupon for Afternoon tea here. When I read the awful reviews I was in 2 minds whether to cancel. Mixed feelings with good and bad comments on here. so I thought what the heck . I did only pay a tenner for 2 afternoon teas , What did I have to lose. all i can say is whoever wrote the negative comments must be on another planet or just pure ignorant snobs. My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. He had cappuccino which did come milk and coffee all mixed up, as this is the correct way to serve cappuccino ( somebody wrote about it in an earlier comment ) and it was served in a clean shiny stainless steel coffee pot not a tea pot as previously stated. I mentioned the negative comments to our waitress, she was horrified. The sandwiches were freshly made on white and granary rolls and bread. A selection of tuna mayo, ham salad, turkey salad and cheese. Which was correctly stated on the groupon advert. We were asked at the time of booking if either of us had any special dietary requirements, which we have`nt, so we took full advantage of the beautiful home made fresh cream Victoria sandwich cake and scones, Certainly NOT like the value range in a supermarket, ( not that I would buy those anyway ) Lol !! I had free refills of tea served in a tea pot and a jug of hot water. The staff were very friendly and attentive. All in all we thoroughly enjoyed it, enough to write the truth about it on here. Furniture is standard for a park cafe. We thought.It was like going back in time with the decor and listed buildings.Its nice to see traditional and not always modern. We also noticed it has 5 stars from the local health authority, 5 stars being the highest awarded, which assures you that it is compliant with health & hygiene and health & safety. So food quantity and quality, taste & presentation, standard and service was 1st class. We will be returning with family and friends as we also liked the look of the home made pies !!! And wish to do some Christmas shopping as they have some great gifts and bargains.

My daughter bought me a voucher for afternoon tea for 2 at the Botanic Gardens Southport and I was apprehensive after reading some not so great reviews. Not living too far away my husband and I thought we would give it a go despite what we had read and how pleasantly surprised we were! The park grounds are lovely and well maintained, lots to do and see and great for children. Upon arrival we were greeted by pleasant staff and seated outside on our request as it was such a lovely day. We were provided with a selection of fresh sandwiches and salad, cakes and scones. I read on here that somebody had compared the cakes at the botanic gardens to that of supermarket value range quality, who ever wrote that must do their weekly shop in Harrods as the cream cakes were delicious and the scones were clearly home made. The attentive staff were more than happy to provide us with refills of tea, without charge, what more could you need? I was delighted to ring my daughter and tell her of the fantasic afternoon we experience and was shocked to discover that she only paid £10 for the both of us via Groupon. Excellent value for money and I for one will be returning.

Yes, you would want to share the wonderful experience at Botanic Gardens Cafe - suitable all ages and all ranges - whatever the occasion - whatever the day - rain or shine !! You are always made welcome by their warm and friendly staff. Their home made food especially sandwiches & scones has been their family tradition for over 40 years - just like their specially prepared coffee, as only they and us regulars know ! Hungry huffs can choose from a wide range of hot/cold meals, nourishing and healthy just like their snacks. Relax in the picturesque Victorian Cafe to be inspired by nature at its best. You can always find a handy or useful gift whatever the occasion amongst mementos & keepsakes. Miander the lakeside pathways to discover the wonder of flowers, shrubs & trees. We enjoyed all the facilities and fun of the park & return whatever the season.

Had a lovely afternoon sitting outside with the beautiful scenery whilst enjoying a delicious afternoon tea!, Every detail of the lunch provided was lovely, the scones were so fresh and tasted like they had just came out the oven! The selection of sandwiches that we had were so tasteful and we enjoyed every last bite! The staff were very friendly and made sure we were well looked after! All in all we will defiantly be returning to the cafe and be enjoying it again, the price of the afternoon tea was well worth it! , the toilets were a bit of a let down, but as I am aware that is Sefton Council's job, GREAT JOB

I Attended the Botanic Gardens Cafe after having purchased a voucher for afternoon tea for 2 from Groupon, in the past these offers have been misleading and often end up incurring more charges, however at the Botanic Gardens Cafe we absolutely got our moneys worth! On arrival the staff were extremely attentive and showed us to a table overlooking the flowerbeds and aviary. We were then served a selection of fresh home-made sandwiches with proper sandwich meat, not the cheap kind that other people have written about. The kitchen staff were able to cater to our dietary needs as I am lactose intolerant & my husband is a vegetarian. We also had a cream tea with scones baked just hours before our arrival and possibly the best Victoria sponge cake I have ever tasted! The staff were only to happy to give us some much needed tourist information as we had driven from Cheshire having not been to Southport in many many years, it was well worth the drive, the Botanical Gardens alone could of sufficed for the day, we definitely intend on returning to ensure our 'Southport Bucket List' is completed. Nether the less after making our way through multiple pots of tea and sandwiches we then dabbled in the gift shop, here we bought some lovely memorabilia of our little trip which included a Botanic Gardens tea towel which we were told by the friendly cashier had been sold there for many many years after being such a hit. We have already booked in for another Afternoon Tea as we noticed it can now be purchased on the menu for £7 per head.The manager explained to us about how the popularity of the offer had resulted in it appearing on the menu for all to enjoy, and enjoy it we did. The Friendly staff and home cooked food especially completed our trip!

Not many places like Botanic Gardens where admission is free and there is so much to do. Excellent, safe kids adventure playground, fun days with kids and park rangers, 2 bowling greens, brass bands on the lawn on summer sunday afternoons, crazy golf, well stocked aviary and pets corner. Sadly no boats or train anymore tho, hope to be when someone puts a tender in to local council, museum closed down but hoping to open as something soon.... watch this space.... cafe great frothy coffee and home made yummy cakes & pies.My kids always spend their pocket money in the gift shop.Old fashioned sweets and things. Must thank the attentive staff who helped me out in my hour of need. Great little village too , Quaint shops. Well worth a visit, you will get hooked, I did !!!

had a day out at the Botanic Gardens Cafe with a few friends we went for afternoon tea and it was really nice all fresh loved the sandwiches cake and scones really happy with it would defo be going back for some more, The staff were really nice and happy to help, after we had our afternoon tea we had a look around the banqueting hall' were there was so may gifts to choose from so we decide to get bits in for Christmas (i know a bit early lol ) the gardens its self is really nice to look at, as for the toilets out side it is down to Sefton council to keep them clean not the job of the staff at Botanic Gardens Cafe. see u soon keep up the good work

Location is ok hardly anywhere to park though. It is more like a cheap cafe, plastic chairs and table. Service acceptable. Food quality was quite good, but my cup to tea was swimming in tea, None of the plates or cups matched. Would not go again. Also toilets are outside, muddy and not in keeping with afternoon tea I've ever had before. Will only book a hotel now

I can only agree with what has already previously been said and only wish I had taken the time to read the reviews before also purchasing a groupon voucher and travelling an hour to get to this place. The gardens are fair enough and reasonably well maintained but the cafe/ 'banqueting hall' is an absolute joke - rows of cheap plastic chairs and formica tables - fortunately it wasnt raining and we were able to sit outside on a rough picnic table (at least we could look at the gardens and not the grim internal surroundings). The 'afternoon tea' described on groupon as having a £22 value for 2 people was being offered within the cafe for £7 per person - when I challenged this disparity I was told that they had recently reduced it for their 'regulars'. When the tea arrived it was as previously stated and consisted of some cheap sandwichs and even cheaper cake and scones. Bizarrely one of us asked for a cappuccino and this arrived, milk and all, mixed up in a metal tea pot!!! For a fiver a head I suppose it was OK value if you happened to be passing and fancied a sit down and a cuppa but it certainly was long way from what we expected and certainly not worth the effort to drive to and they must think we are bonkers to believe that the offering could ever be worth £11 per head. This is the final straw for me with Groupon, after some very dodgy deals I have unsubscribed, I can negociate better deals for myself!!!

As the previous reviewer, below, reported we again travelled for over an hour to take advantage of a Groupon Deal purporting to deliver an £11 per head afternoon tea. This raises a mental picture in the head of a well presented and lovingly prepared afternoon tea in delightful surroundings. This review is ,in effect, a response to the Groupon Deal. We are National Trust members so that is the yardstick we would measure any cafe against. I have never had afternoon tea in Poundland, but seated in front of a display of jumbo adhesive plasters, doggie toys and heat pads for bad backs and a manic mini roundabout tootling away by the door promotes an interesting and unique ambience. Interestingly the cafe menu makes no mention of afternoon tea, it does appear on the cafe website at £11 each, so I suppose you could request it at £11. Talking to the owner she said they produce an afternoon tea at £8 for coach parties, if booked in advance, so we have a disparity of pricing.To be more positive we paid £10 for a decent pot of tea, that didn't drip, a jug of hot water and a non matching cake stand of sandwiches/rolls, cake and scone so excellently described by the reviewer below. There was no asking of what sandwiches you would like, so the vegetarian, non fish eater, has a one slice of bread sandwich of cheap grated cheese to savour. The package appeared, dumped, on a tray, complete with non matching crockery and plastic teaspoons put upon a hastily wiped school dinner table as you sit upon grubby, food particle sprinkled, plastic chairs. So, on balance, if you had gone into a cheap cafe and got all that for £5 each you would think quantity wise that you had been charged a reasonable price. Home prepared is not the same as home produced, the sandwiches and rolls were made from shop brought materials and they were not premium range, they are a response to profitability, margins and rents charged by the council. The food actually on the menu is reasonably priced. The afternoon tea is never going to be a typical afternoon tea, a 'crook your finger', 'Ooo, look at the doilies' , 'such beautiful crockery' , in a venue to take Great Aunt Hilary from Palm Springs too.The Botanic Gardens Cafe is what it is, a low end cafe mixed in with a pound shop range of gifts and 'useful' items , serving its target audience of harassed mums with kids and local pensioners with cheap , filling, food .The Botanic Gardens Cafe has an interesting building,in a delightful setting, if they used the conservatory part of it as a well set out tea room specifically for afternoon teas and then served home produced cakes , scones and dainty sandwiches with quality fillings then they could charge £11 a head . They would get people travelling there especially to soak in the atmosphere. The 'carriage trade' grey pound residents of Churchtown and Southport would add it as a venue to meet throughout the year. The owner spoke to us at length and she is a charming personality, perhaps if more people filled in the visitors book , not just the positive commenters, the cafe would change and attract more profitable customers. As the previous reviewer stated the idea of Groupon is to publicise your business with a view to attracting a wider clientele who will return , or at the very least, tell their friends about the lovely cafe you've discovered. We can't honestly say this is the case and we feel Groupon has let us , and the cafe, down by raising unreasonable expectations.

My daughter bought my husband & I a Groupon voucher for afternoon tea at the Botanical Gardens Southport. The voucher stated that the value was £22. We had never been there before & travelled for an hour to get there. I have to say that my first impressions were not good; the furniture was akin to going into McDonalds or a school dining room, but not as clean nor modern. We decided to eat outside at a wooden bench, again, not very clean but at least we had a nice view of the park. The lady who served us was lovely & friendly but that was the only positive about the whole experience. I understand that they specialise in home-cooked food ... well none came our way. Everything was shop bought ... a slice of victoria sponge, the cheapest of the cheap scones (like the "value" range in your local supermarket), a small packet of jam & wrapped butter portion & half a bap with cheap, thinly sliced turkey & another half with cheap, nasty, "ham". There was also a half slice of bread with cheese & another with tuna/mayo. This feast was accompanied by a tea or coffee. When I asked for cream for my scone I was told there was none & the lady later told me that they had had to cut corners as Groupon takes 30% of sales. Surely, the only point of doing a Groupon is to encourage repeat custom? This was certainly NOT £22 worth, nor even the £10 paid & I for one will NOT be returning!