Coolings Garden Centres in Bromley

From the last few years, this garden centre is our favourite. But look like they are lowering the standard. I brought a pack with pepper seeds, paid £2.50 for it. Went home and I found .. surprise 5 seeds. I couldn't believe it. Just 5 seeds. Think twice when you want to buy something like this.

Title: Blossoming Oasis: A Review of Cooling Garden Centre Nestled amidst the tranquil outskirts,Cooling Garden Centre is a verdant haven that effortlessly marries nature's beauty with impeccable service. From the moment you step foot onto its lush grounds, a sense of serenity envelops you, transporting you into a world where the vibrant colors of flora and the soothing melodies of chirping birds reign supreme.The array of plant life at Cooling is nothing short of extraordinary. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or a novice enthusiast, the vast selection caters to every need and preference. From exotic orchids to hardy perennials, each specimen is meticulously tended to, ensuring optimal health and vitality. The knowledgeable staff members are always on hand to offer expert advice and assistance, making every visit an educational experience.Beyond its impressive botanical offerings, Cooling excels in providing a holistic garden experience

Arthur’s cafe. A place that presents itself as a prestige cafe, but in reality falls far short. The coffee is mediocre at best, you pay nearly £4 for a large latte that tastes more like a £1.50 cheap street coffee. As for food, I ordered the ham, egg and chips meal. The ham was decent, but the eggs were not great. The egg yolk was mostly cooked but the egg white was still raw. I even found a glob of raw egg white in my chips (see picture)! The kitchen clearly cuts corners where it can and there is absolutely zero quality control. The whole meal cost just under £14 so it’s overall very disappointing, not including the tiny portions that are more for show rather than to keep you going. Chips alone are £2.95 and you literally get them in a small metal cup no bigger than a small mug. Never before have I payed £3 for a single dry potato.

I’ll be avoiding Arthur’s in the future - the prices are quite frankly scandalous. £8.50 for two waters and a cookie - that’s either comical or criminal, I’m not sure, but it’s not good either way. The coffee is made by untrained professionals who wouldn’t know how to pull an espresso shot if their life depended on it. Not their fault, just a clear lack of training. And to top it all off, they finish breakfast at 11 and don’t start lunch until 11:30, so a 30 minute slot where food is just not served?! Oh well, at least I can get a £3 cookie. Drive past Coolings and head to Polhill five minutes away, you’ll be very pleased you did.

Third time at the center this Sunday gone. I am still "frightened" at the amount of things I want to buy from you. You have converted us, compared to other centers, this is just the place to shop at. We are looking forward to visiting the markets again (first time at the farmers market was a bit lonely, not very many stalls ) as well as the antiques and crafts fairs. We had a bite at Arthur's as well, in all it was a great experience. We will be visiting again soon, and of course spending more money.

Good Coffee/Tea and Cake. Would recommend. Also a good selection of food for lunches.

A friend and I fancied a scone and a coffee at Arthur’s within Coolings . Scones are triangular and always over baked, common sense should tell them that something with 3 corners is going to overbake. They really need to clean the kitchen door as well, it was disgusting and totally put me off to think they keep touching the door and then touching plates, cutlery etc to take to customers.

I find £6-45 for 1 slice of toast with baked beans extortionate.

I like Coolings. It does not so mobbed as other places further into London. So it is calm and pleasant to shop there.

The plants here look so lovely and fresh. They have larger trees as well, including an olive free for £999!

Friendly staff, excellent presentation of garden centre plants and shrubs. Very good food if a tad pricey

Quiet. Very quiet. Day after Queenies funeral so maybe most of the clientele were still in mouring. Nice coffee and cake at the restaurant and uninterrupted walk around the plants. 27/3/23 - sun out people out. Busy I thought for a Monday but not rushed. Never is. The way we like it 30/4 - Busy today which was surprising as day after BH. 30/10 Very quiet due to substantial rain. Easy if wet to look around. Reorganisation for Xmas

Lovely garden centre with an excellent restaurant (Arthur’s) .

Always meet very nice, friendly, and knowledgeable staff here.... Would always recommend...👍👍

Excellent Garden Centre. Craft Fair all this weekend, including live pottery making & a Blacksmith, which was fascinating to watch.

Never been here before favouring other garden centres. But that was a mistake, this is an excellent garden centre and a real one not a glorified furniture shop and all that other rubbish. Arthurs restaurant breakfast was also very good.

We came this weekend for maybe our 4th visit for a cooked breakfast and some plant shopping and we were really satisfied. It seemed like the quality of the ingredients and presentation had got significantly better since last time we ate here, and the coffee in particular was much improved. Really good selection of plants, garden tools, etc. Will definitely be back soon!

This is a review for Coolings Garden Centre in Knockholt, Kent. I rang this morning hoping to be able - at the last minute - to arrange for the delivery of fruit trees to a church in the area, for a wedding this Saturday. They have been wonderful, beyond helpful, quite extraordinarily patient, kind, intelligent, and helpful. First I spoke to the delightful Jace, who is warm friendly and immediately on the ball. She helped me through the initial enquiries, checked that delivery would be possible, found me Mark, treeman extraordinaire, to help me with the choice. Mark has been just great. Like Jace he immediately got what it was that we were hoping to find, advised me, found great choices, photographed them, dealt with me chopping and changing and coming up with new plans - and, brilliantly, he added to the ideas, so great - and was taking photographs in torrential rain. Then lovely Nicky was just as helpful and great with ideas and help for ways to wrap the trees - and so warm, so kind - altogether it has been a really very happy - joyous indeed - experience. There is something so special about the sort of extra, above-and-beyond sort of professional help that this team have given so generously. I just wish you were all going to be at the wedding - thank you so much!

Had a gorgeous piece of cake at Arthur's! Tasted home-made, not too sweet. And bought some fantastic plants too!!

Visited Arthurs restaurant, visited this afternoon, ordered two jacket potatoes one with cheese & butter only. It was served with a mediocre salad consisting of lettuce & grated carrot. The potatoes were luke warm. very disappointed with the food overall, and was overpriced.

Food is very basic and overpriced. I asked to add avocado to my sandwich (i was refused first and got an approval only after a lady went to the kitchens). I was charged an extra £1.0. I think I've got 1/4 of avocado (best case) spread on a gummy piece of a very basic bread.

Great garden centre. Such good quality plants & so much to choose from. Arthur's Restaurant is our favourite. Sadly, we're finding meal prices have increased a lot recently.

It's a great garden centre. Well stocked, nice people and fair prices. Bonus for being dog friendly too.

Went as a treat for cooked breakfast on a Bank Holiday. Disappointed. Long queue out the door despite many empty tables in the cafe. Food took ages to arrive. We arrived at 1040. Got food 1130. Clearly under staffed. Average food, almost cold, expensive for what was on the various plates. Awful coffee. Used to be so great, what a shame! However, excellent plant selection as always and of good quality.

Very disappointing. We visited on a bank holiday Monday and very busy (to be expected) but only 2 ladies dealing with the orders and a huge queue which moved at a snails pace. The system they use was just inadequte. We have been here several times but I'm afraid I would be tempted not to return except that the plant side of things is fabulous. Somebody needs to review their system of dealing with and serving customers at Arthurs.

I had been looking for ways to train my honeysuckle plant without attaching it to neighbours' fence. Jason went out of his way to help and came up with a great solution. On previous occasions I've asked staff about plants and they are always so knowledgeable and helpful. A great place for gardeners.

Excellent experience at coolings this morning. I was looking for a new acer for my south east London garden, but had trouble finding something durable enough for the strong wind conditions. A very helpful member of staff gave me valuable guidance on what was best for my specific situation and I came away with a beautiful semi mature maple tree which seems very happy in the garden. The checkout was excellent and they provided me with a £10 discount due to being a member. Thank you coolings - very well done.

The roast I had was very tasty. Good quality ingredients. It was very quick service and at a very reasonable cost. Takes credit card.

Lovely garden centre with excellent plants and products. Staff are really knowledgeable. Thoroughly recommend.

Very good as ever, plants exactly and coffee shop well presented and tasty snacks.

Arthur’s is completely overpriced, understaffed We were given a pot of hot water and tea bag!by the time we got to table water was no longer hot enough to steep tea properly Slices of cake 4.75 !! So around £70 per whole cake Rip off Compared to how it was this is a rip off Profit I understand But quality must be maintained

Lovely centre. Beautiful plants and everything for the outdoors. We enjoyed great cuppacinos and hot chocolates as well as scones at cafe. The woodlands trail was such fun for the grandchildren despite the cold. Would have liked to see more information boards about the birds - I am from overseas - so this would be useful

Visited the garden center and cafe as a mid week treat with my mother. Garden center well stocked, and clean ( although over priced ). Restaurant on the other hand was dirty, with some tables needed to be cleared. Ordered a breakfast, and ... well it was the most expensive and sad offering I have had in a long time. No toast. No bacon. A poor catering sausage ( thick plastic skin ), no black pudding, a dehydrated herby grilled tomato and some off brand beanz. I have eaten better at Weatherspoon's and on motorway service centers. This is supposed to be a high quality restaurant, yet the food was poor and overpriced, and the service was lacking.

Have visited this Garden Centre a few times previously, but today I was disappointed with the Breakfast we received. Good friendly service as always, however food was only warm and not as much as usual. It was always a reliable place to go for good food in the past, but would not make the effort to travel here again sadly!

(Coolings Lifestyle Knockholt Pound) This is a slightly off of the beaten track garden centre but worth seeking out. Lots of parking, very spacious. Interesting garden centre shop. There's a nice cafe with light bites and drinks which is very easy to access. Opposite the cafe is a bird of prey / nature trail too- chargeable. Good to take the kids around. About a mile north east on Rushmore Hill is their other centre, which is slightly busier and bigger.

Large garden centre with eating area and a shop

Good selection of indoor n outdoor plants

Very helpful service. The koi water barn gave fantastic service with so much advice, offering deals and information to support in decisions about the koi and pond. Thank you!

Probably the best garden centre for miles around! Huge choice of quality plants and other garden items. Always enjoy a wander around here, followed by tea and delicious cake in Arthur's café!

Brilliant garden centre with so much choice. Reasonably priced too. Lovely little cafe at the back with a great selection for a snack or lunch.

Great range of good quality plants and garden accessories.

After noon birthday tea was the best we have ever had. Staff where very attentive. Plenty of everything.

We visited cooking’s Lifestyle garden centre on the 25th October, Very pleased to see that the cafe had Gluten Free options Staff where very pleasant and helpful well done

Found lovely stocking fillers for Christmas

Wonderful staff , great cafe / coffee shop that does a brilliant 🤩 Sunday roast. Great plants and just a good day out.

Just been and stocked up our spring bulbs and indoor hyacinths. Excellent choice as always as in previous years. Also excellent selection of perennials , roses and other plants for autumn planting . It has for many years been my first choice of garden centre for its wide choice of top quality and well kept, mainly local and UK grown, plants Arthir's good for a refresshing cuppa and good food. Coolings family card a must for good offers Unreservedly recommended..

Great garden centre. They have huge variety of plants, water fountains, sculptures, equipment and everything you could ever need for gardening. The cafe/restaurant serves nice food and has a huge seating area indoors and outdoors. The staff are friendly and are always happy to assist and answer any questions.

Excellent garden centre. I studied my RHS Practical Horticulture course at here. It has a great selection of plants, trees, flowers, seeds, gardening tools, etc. it has free parking space and toilet facilities.

It is always good to go there, a wide range of plants shrubs that leave you spoilt for choice. A lovely bit of cake to be had there also. Staff are helpful and friendly to.

Great range of plants. Clean, very tidy and well presented.

Excellent garden centre , also had a wonderful lunch here .

All garden needs catered for. Cafe there too.

Great garden centre with large Cafe on site. Plenty of free parking.

Nice garden centre with great selection of plants and other essentials for the garden. Couple of staff members really took the time to talk and help with my choices. Free local delivery when spending over £80 is useful when the car is not suitable. A bit pricey though and some plants were definitely not worth the marked prices... inflation seems to have kicked in here too. Did notice some neglected rows too... shrubs area for missing letter D is a clue.

Visited garden centre, Rushmore Hill yesterday 4th June. Extensive choice of quality plants and pots which could have been overwhelming for my sister and myself as gardening novices. My sister Teresa and myself were assisted by a wonderful member of staff called Jenny. She had endless patience, was well informed, reassuring and couldn't have been more helpful. A very pleasurable visit.

Huge garden centre, loads of choice, plants all appear to be looked after well and we really enjoyed the cafe for lunch :)

Always a pleasant experience. Everything neat and tidy and beautifully presented with a lovely dining area to match.

Bang average food and drink at premium prices. Had not been for a long time as I considered it to be too pricey. Had a coconut and raspberry slice which was as dry as sawdust along with well overpriced coffee. Disappointed

A great garden center tucked out of the way from houses and traffic. Worth a visit for their great selection of plants and trees.

Lettuce could have been washed better - I had a live maggot and others left their lettuce because it was brown. Other than that good service.

Great garden centre, fair and reasonable prices. All plants are well looked after and they have a really good houseplant section with plenty of choice including some of the less common

Despite having a Coolings Family card I’m left wondering how family friendly Coolings really are. I visited the other day with my grand daughter in a buggy. The plants fitted perfectly in the basket which hung on the back of the buggy. At check out I was not allowed to take the basket to my car and advised to either use a trolley (and push it along with a buggy) or to somehow balance the plants in a box on the buggy. After great difficulty I managed the latter! I will not be returning until there is a more helpful approach to single adults with young children. Your competitors are much more helpful!

Such a good variety of plants, pots of all types.There are lots of different things for the garden and in the home. very friendly and helpful staff.

My first visit here and I enjoyed it very much. I found everything I needed and had a good browsing experience too. I didn't try the refreshment place, Arthur's, but perhaps next time.

Did the behind the scenes tour. Brilliant. The whole place is beautiful. cream tea in Arthur's afterwards delicious. Staff are super friendly and helpful

Always excellent strong pla ts.

Pop into the cafe for coffee and cake . A lady came to counter to complain that her coffee was too strong . I took my 2 cups of coffee and cake back to table and when I stirred it I couldn’t believe my eyes it was basically milk . My husband coffee was very weak as well . I couldn’t taste any coffee , I was drinking warmed milk . Think twice about going back in for coffee and cake

A brilliant family firm which values the customer. We had a tour behind the scenes, through Kent Association for the Blind. An amazing operation brings you quality plants.

Well stocked and they do generally look after the plants properly. Staff always helpful.

Ordered a fruit scone and a large cappuccino. Both were very disappointing. The fruit scone fell to bits as you cut it - a fault in the baking - too little liquid. The cappuccino was a milky latte - too little froth. What a shame as they both tasted good. Probably won't visit again if this is the basic standard.

Was only there briefly to buy compost, but it looked organised, clean and well set out.

Always a pleasure to shop and spend time at Coolings. The staff are very helpful

Arthur's cafe very expensive for a small lunch.

Always a delight to walk around. Massive selection of flora and very helpful staff.

So much choice every kind of plants you can think of lots of special offers plus loads of other garden furniture and tools etc. Nice food in the restaurant as well. Good pond equipment and fish all on site

After looking blankly at a wall of compost for 10 minutes, a very knowledgable young man (by the name of "Bobby" by one of his coworkers lol) assisted me in getting the right stuff for the job. Very friendly and knowledgable staff. Couldn't ask for more! Ill be back, next time knowing what Im looking for! Thanks for the help.

Had a nice piece of cake and a pot of tea outside .

Staff very friendly and helpful. I also sent an email to check stock availability. Quick reply received. Would recommend Coolings.

Lovely garden centre, great cafe, friendly staff, fantastic range - great place to visit and meander about

Very busy but it's huge and the food was excellent service great .

Will have to return to comment better but what we saw looked good. Main visit was to attend the antiques fair being held in one of the large greenhouse but to walk around the outside area where the plants were for sale was a no no due to the weather, will return though for sure.

Very good garden centre. Restaurant/cafe available. Host events throughout the year, Antiques fair, craft fair, local produce. Free parking

Love this place staff are soo nice. They have sooo much to look at I spent all day there by myself too so no distractions.

Love it, lots of different house plants and pots etc. Brilliant garden centre

Lovely colleagues who are always ready to help

Great place for tea and cake looking out over the gardens

This is a really good garden centre with a large variety of plants and a good shop also an excellent restaurant

Small queue to counter, not well organised, people jumping the queue & hence much disquiet amongst other customers, waited in the queue about 15 minutes & were just about to give up when we were called forward to counter. Mentioned the foregoing to server who shrugged her shoulders, & said “what would you like?”, no interest or concern shown by her but order taken. Coffees came in a reasonable time , & were tasty & good quality. After another 15 minute wait at our table for the food ordered we asked if all was well, the answer “how long have you been waiting!”, when told 15 minutes, she said “that’s not long” & walked off. However, she did check with the kitchen & returned to say there were 6 orders waiting to be done. After a further 10 minute wait our food arrived with cutlery etc, & we did enjoy our breakfast muffins, but no drink as coffee had already been drunk! Overall not a happy visit and the message to me was “don’t go there if you are in a hurry”, as there was a lack of interest or energy to serve customers. We wondered what has happened to lovely Arthur’s, where we have gone many times before but felt quite unwelcomed on this visit.

Coolings has everything, plants for indoors and outdoors, a shop with a wide choice of items, useful for gifts as well as gardens and a café. They also have additional food sellers and events.

Great picked up some compost for when it gets warmer to start planting out pots and things.

We love Cooling's, staff are very friendly and helpful, a wide range of everything you need for your garden or house plants and all the other things aswell and I must say the Restaurant is a must visit aswell, such lovely food served there and the staff are also friendly in the Restaurant.

Nice place lots of choice little bit pricey but very good quality of stock

Wonderful place. Loads of plants and gifts. Gorgeous cafe. Try the cheese scones...amazing!

Excellent as usual. Gifts, plants, bird food and lots more.

Such a wonderful time with friends meeting Father Christmas. The kids loved meeting the elves and walking down the candy cane lane too! Very well done Coolings. See you next year!

Great afternoon spent, food in restaurant was stunning, like home made and a surprise was a Christmas craft fair which was fabulous lots of stalls, very different and also supporting small business.

One of many many visits. Love it here!

Lovely place to visit. Many varieties of plants, indoor and out. Pots galore of all sizes. Spoilt for choice.

We have visited Arthur’s for many years and always enjoyed the cakes and scones. The last time we visited Coolings we we very disappointed with the quality of the sausage and mash we ordered but when friends asked us to meet there for lunch we decided it must have been an isolated problem so decided to give it another go. The lunchtime menu is quite small which seemed to indicate that greater care would be taken with the fewer varieties. We warned our friends off the sausage and mash so we all ordered the burger and chips which looked delicious when it arrived. Unfortunately the look of the meal did not match the eating experience! The burger was rubbery and unpleasant and my husband found a piece of bone in his. The burger bun dissolved on the bottom and left a wet mess on the plate and the chips tasted bland and cheap. There were four in our party, all with healthy appetites but not one of us finished the meal. Maybe we should have said something but it was very busy and there seemed little point as any replacement would have been more of the same. In future we will stick to using Arthur’s for cakes and scones as they are so much better.

The best garden centre in Kent.