Dobbies in Fylde

Visited today with my husband for a browse around the garden centre and lunch in the cafe. We have said never again! The garden centre is nice with a nice selection of gifts and obviously home/garden ware, but the cafe was absolutely disgraceful! First impressions are that the cafe looks very run down. Empty display cabinets, and even though it was 1.30pm so peak lunch time, it wasn't busy at all. We took a seat in a booth and noticed the seats were all ripped. Dirty floors full of crumbs and food and dirty, uncleared tables everywhere. Flies hanging around and crawling over the tables. We had to clear a table ourselves to get somewhere to sit. I sat down and found a squashed chip stuck to my shoe. We should have just walked out there and then. There was a sign saying hot food wasn't available today for some reason, so I ended up selecting a cherry scone that looked like it had seen better days. We ordered two lattes that tasted burnt and strong. Overall, a terrible experience and we definitely won't be returning. I suspect Dobbies at Preston will be closing soon, as I know they have closed other stores in the North West, so they have not spent any money on the cafe and they are running on skeleton staff.

Not very good there at the moment staff off ill.nice lady at the till and guy making coffee.more than half HR wait for food and 20 mins drinks.not very good prices gone up .

Cafe was tired looking with torn seating and tables needing good wipe down. Cakes looked a bit sorry for themselves but the crisps were OK. A couple of nice coffees cheered us up a bit.

Waited 57 minutes for x2 soup and a sandwiches, asked twice how long it would be kept being told give it another 5 minutes. Cafes looking worn down , selections no where near it used to be. Tables are left full of plates waiting to be cleared, had to clear our own table. Toilets are awful and dirty, toilets are blocked, stink with mould and very grubby. No gluten menu for clout but not suitable for celiacs in really small writing at the bottom. A joke for a cafe.

Sadly, I have to agree with most of the other reviewers. I have been visiting for something like 20 years, and it was always very good. In recent years much less so. The cafe is dire in terms of service and menu, but we had coffee and cake and that was good.. There are not many plants for sale and they seem in poor condition. There are large parts of the estate empty and abandoned or unkempt. Stock seems spread out, perhaps in an attempt to fill the gaps. Most of the garden buildings and some of the rest of the stock seem to be in a clearance sale. Everything outside is tatty and decaying. But the inside clothes, Waitrose food, etc sales seem tidy. I don’t know, but it seems to me like they may be in a managed decline towards eventual closure. Certainly, if not, they cannot carry on as they are because they will have no customers returning.

Went to Dobbies in Preston yesterday with my husband and mother in law. Ordered afternoon tea. The place was dog friendly too. The good was excellent and very good value. The staff were very attentive and couldn’t have provided a better service. It’s a shame about the bad reviews as we nearly didn’t go but I’m so glad we did and we will be going back. They also have a nice range of products and plants were all healthy and a good range. The Waitrose isn’t huge but it’s perfect just to pick up a few things and fo a small shop. Only criticism is I wanted to buy Julian Charles bedding. Queued up at the till upstairs only to be told I had to go all the way back downstairs which wasn’t possible as we had come up in line with disabled mother. You wouldn’t accept cash either so sadly you lost a sale.

I don’t know what has happened to this place but today it was absolutely dreadful. The cafe always had lots of delicious looking cakes and desserts and it was always impossible to choose but having visited today all the usual dessert counters had gone and there were perhaps five or six miserable looking cakes on show. We decided not to bother so waited for a hot drink. No staff around apart from one disinterested person on the till ( with no customers) Eventually we got served and as it was sunny we went to sit outside. As you will see from the pictures it resembled a prison yard with filthy and flaking walls. We had our drinks inside and left and will not be returning.

The food and drinks, when they eventually arrive, are good. But the place is run down, woefully understaffed, and dirty. Customers have to clear a table before they sit down, and during our 45min stay, the table continued to fill up with dirty crockery. Where is the management? Also, if you get a seat by the side window, your view is a weed-ridden, desolate, block paved wasteland. And this is a Garden Centre!

AWFUL. I have been going to Dobbies Preston for many years and always called in the cafe but what has happened? Went in March bought and paid for food and drinks under the new rubbish system. Sat with our food for 25 minutes waiting for drinks. Visited in April. This time they did have the courtesy to tell us it was a twenty minute wait for drinks (but turned out to be 30). Menus taken away because only snak food available. Breakfast full English or small English. No other alternatives. The staff try to make out that it is just a blip on the day but it has been happening for months now and getting worse.It is a very sad looking cafe now. Only a few cakes on display. Obviously short staffed. Lots of tables not clear. Sorry Dobbies but I have been a loyal customer for many years but this is my last visit

Gave this place another try as I was stupid enough to sign up for their card . Please for the love of god employ decent cleaners . It’s so dirty , no wonder there’s flies everywhere . Staff need training , they shouldn’t be bringing food and drink out and ignoring the dirty dishes on the next table . The tables can’t clean themselves.

Oh dear, this cafe just gets worse. The ordering system is so slow to begin with. I just wanted a bacon butty but no, I had to have 3 items. Did order bacon, egg and tomato butty. Waited ages despite not many customers. When it came the egg was hard and rubbery. I took it back just as another customer returning their whole breakfast. When I got mine back the egg was perfect but they had put my plate under the grill to keep warm so the bread was now virtually toasted. There is so much potential here but they need to desperately sort out the ordering process, cleaning issues and food service.

We went as a group of friends for lunch, as the garden centre was handy for all of us. We were really disappointed, there was a 45 minute wait for food (sandwiches), despite the cafe not being busy and when the food eventually arrived, it was very lack lustre. The whole place looked grimy, there were flies everywhere and lots of dirty tables. Undeterred I went to order more drinks and cake for dessert, only to be told that there was also a 45 minute wait for hot drinks!! 45 minutes for a pot of tea? The cafe felt chaotic and understaffed. It was our first visit and we will not return.

The cafe needs closing down for a good clean . Everything was filthy , tables , cutlery and cutlery tray , woodwork, windows . Flies everywhere and staff had to be asked to move dirty dishes . The member of staff we asked to move the dishes was wearing jeans with underwear showing 🤢 If we’d have looked at the eating area b4 ordering we would have walked straight out . Looking at previous reviews it seems the problems have been ongoing for a long time . 2 of our party are poorly with upset stomachs since eating there . 🤮🤮please stop ignoring the negative reviews b4 someone is seriously ill.

Went for a trip with friends and ended up spending 3 hours there. It is a shame more people do not go. Breakfast was excellent freshly cooked and tasty and special offer of 2 traditional breakfasts for £14. This place also has a Waitrose outlet which was surprisingly well stocked. Lots of different outlets on the different floors. Garden section could do with a bit of tidying up from a gardening perspective rosés needed deadheading. Lots of bargains across the whole garden centre and in all the retail outlets. Great parking and now handy to get to with the new road from M55

Nice drinks and cake. Needed more staff in the dining area. Tables needed a clean but nice to see dogs welcome even though we didn't have ours with us!

Way overpriced but ok. Bought some plants and had coffees. Won't be going back too soon. Blah blah blah

Booked afternoon Tea for me and mum today. Was a bit apprehensive after reading the reviews but there was no need to be. Food was beautiful, fresh and plentiful. Staff friendly and welcoming. Well done to the team it will be highly recommended.

Oh dear what’s happened to the catering here it used to be good but now it’s poor Some confusion about ordering drinks at the till and not where you expect to order it along with limited food choices - the displays used to be so...

The coffee is excellent, it's just unfortunate that from entering the cafe to actually receiving the drinks was a completely unacceptable wait of 35 minutes. The ordering system is indescribable, far too complex to summarise here! Thank goodness we didn't want to order hot food....

Food was ok.(two toasted sandwiches and a bowl of chips) However the cafe was cold(had to keep coats on) and very poorly lit.

I hadn’t been for a while, so wasn’t familiar with the new process for ordering. As I approached the drinks counter, a chap said “order at the till, love”. As I made my way across to the till, the same chap shouted “find yourself a...

Dirty and disgusting. In a time where we understand the risks of cleanliness better than ever, this place is an artifact from the past. Dirty plates, cutlery, dishes everywhere.

Went to Dobbies this morning for the Little Seedlings Christmas party. It was a super event ! All of the helpers, elves and Father Christmas were so friendly and helpful and the event was a lot of fun. I bring my daughter each month to...

Called in for coffee today 3rd Dec only a handful of customers were in the cafe but every vacant table had dirty pots on ,food was strewn over the floor it was disgusting. Walked straight out,we complained to a cashier upstairs who said they were...

Went to see Santa at Santa's Grotto on Saturday at lunchtime. The staff were friendly and we was able to take our own pictures as well as having one taken for us as part of the experience which was printed out. There was no line...

We visited for coffee . Bit of consusion of what to do as so many empty counters where you used to choose food . Guided to till where you now order and pay . Food and drinks delivered to table. Lovely coffee . Only downside...

What a dreadful stench awaits you when you open the door to the toilets. This is nothing new and has been like this for at least 2 years. This needs to be addressed when they are next to the cafe. Went to the cafe today...

Writing this looking at the remains of a crispy fish and chip meal which certainly was not anything like its picture in the menu. Only aired chips, cold mushy peas and whilst the fish was hot and obviously freshly cooked, the batter was very thick,...

Took my brother for his birthday as it's half way between our homes, we specialise in afternoon teas and were impressed, the freshest sandwiches, huge scones and perfect afternoon tea cakes small and plenty of them, great service and a nice area to sit with...

Decided to visit Dobbies to purchase a pair of Wellington boots for hubby today Saturday the 8th of October 3pm hubby decided on a pair then he wanted a coffee so off we toddled off to the cafe, I picked up a delicious looking scone...

Called on Sunday to get a few things as we were over that way , we have been using barton grange recently , which by the way is fabulous , but we thought we would give it another chance as our last visit was disappointing,...

This was our first time using the dog cafe we go to Dobbies often. By accident we sat in the wrong place the waiter approach us in a very aggressive manner and told us to move into the dog area the people on the next...

Went for afternoon coffee and cake to Dobbies Preston, the cafe was quiet with only a few people in it. There were many staff about, but despite this all of the tables were dirty! We had to clear and clean our own table with hand...

Lovley display of cakes, we chose ours then procedded to the coffee counter, as we were about to order we were told to give them our table number and coffee would be brought to the table, this was a new procedure. Ok we ordered our...

Called in for tea and a cake. Arrangements for ordering/paying seemed a bit confusing, needed table number as they were going to bring drinks food to where you were sitting, previously you collected the drinks and took them with you. Every outdoor table had trays...

This rated 1 as there was no option of zero. We waited 25 minutes for 2 coffees. The tables had not been cleaned and the floor was covered in squashed cakes. The service is slow and seems totally without direction. The table adjacent had food...

Overpriced, unhelpful - don’t give a damn - staff. This is a garden centre which ought to be printing cash. At 5 past 3 on a Saturday we were rudely told that the chef “stops at 3” which was actually a blessing, as we later...

Considering it’s a cafe in garden centre, it’s a good place for lunch. Nice seating area outside and inside. Most of the staff are very polite apart from the lady on the till who didn’t put order number on the order slip and was rude...

Cafe isn't good & the staff seem very disengaged, this can only be down to poor management. Such a shame. Somebody needs to take control & revamp the disgusting toilets. I mentioned it to a member of staff who said she gets many complaints &...

Pleasant enough staff but long wait for drink once ordered. Had eaten food long before drink came. Management need to look at this

We had afternoon tea for four. We are an elderly couple and the staff were very helpful. Food and service were excellent, and we weren't kept waiting. It made our wedding anniversary tea very special.

If you like door stop sandwiches ,rock hard scones then this is the place to go for afternoon tea .The saving grace was the small selection of cakes .Very disappointing

Weng with my partner as I fancied a breakfast, my partner had scrambled egg on toast. My full breakfast was very nice, hot and quite tasty. My partners! Well it looked liked it was just dropped on to the bread. The bread wasnt toasted, and...

I went into Dobbies for breakfast. My partners fry up was perfect. I asked for simple scrambled with malted bread. I got a slab of what looked like Microwaved scrambled egg on two slices of bread that may well have been toasted but were completely...

I met some friends for lunch at Dobbies several years ago (before Covid) and we were very disappointed with the food. However, it is a convenient meeting place for us between Preston and Blackpool, so we decided to try their breakfast - and we have...

After arriving there was no information about limited menu, like a ghost area! Had to ask what was happening. Only baked potatoes, sandwiches, toasted sandwiches available. Ordered baked potatoes - they were absolutely awful, coffee also dreadful! Both of these should not be difficult for...

First time I have ever visited Dobbies Preston Cafe and I hope it is the last.We ordered drinks and sat down and it took 25 minutes for our four drinks to be served.We sat facing the drinks area and the amount of customers who complained...

Very poor. Not cutomer focussed, expensive for what is presented; service not good and badly arranged. A total rethink is needed

Upon arrival, we had no idea where to queue or where to view a menu. There are sticky menus on tables but nothing on the walls or anywhere else to help customers decide whether they wish to eat there or not. There are ‘islands’ but...

I visited Dobbies last year with a group of friends for afternoon tea and everything was great. I went with different friends for another afternoon tea recently and although the staff were very pleasant the cakes weren't as fresh as they were last year. The...

It’s so depressing in the cafe itself, it’s dark, the staff are miserable, there’s no food out and you have to order everything at the till. The food was awful, the cook took no pride whatsoever in their work. Our food order was wrong, no...

Called in at Dobbies today and had lovely cakes and coffee with my daughter and grandson. To be fair, the last time I visited wasn’t the greatest of experiences....However today we had a lovely time. The service was excellent and we had lots of tables...

Called in today for lunch and use my loyalty free monthly coffee. What coffee....i was told they had all been wiped off as it was. end of year!! You should have used them, was the reply. Well with covid and all its restrictions it had...

Called in today for sale Xmas decorations,prices very confusing as sale stock mixed in with full price stock,so didn’t know what was in the sale. I took 2 boxes of the same decorations to the till, 1 was £14 99 and the other was £7...

Very disappointed. Tuna melt was more like tuna paste. Cheese and caramised onion was very runny cheese and onion without the caramelised. Ordered sweet potatoes fries as side to be told run out and came with more chips as unclear on order that chips are...

I often meet up with friends for a coffee and scone as it's half way between us. Today was a shocker, they changed the ordering and paying system yet again. The staff were running around collecting table numbers and finding the correct customers awaiting hot...

Dobbies are known for their inflated prices that's understood. I needed a box of Xmas crackers at short notice this week so I bobbed in. After paying £6 for these crackers, I headed home waiting for our grandson to arrive. We are unable to see...

Me and my family have just been to see father Christmas at the grotto the kids had a nice time. However the garden centre was virtually empty there was absolutely no atmosphere no music playing. We'd tried to book at the restaurant but online said...

Drove here today, with a friend for a Christmas catch-up.Whqy a dreadful mistake. The cafe (if you can call it that)was shambolic. No food at all in displays ,long que,and completely disorganised. Sandwiches, made to order- 20 minutes wait. You have to que, order and...

Another disappointing experience, especially as a member of the Dobbies Club Plus scheme. From ordering our food ( tuna sandwich & chicken tikka sandwich) it took circa 45 mins to be served. The overall ordering process needs reviewing. You queue to order your food. Then...

Cafe was great for scones and coffee, however, the toilets, Ladies & Gents were a disgrace, they need to spend more attention to this facility.

We used to come here every week it was lovely. Since lockdown ended it has got progressively worse. There are insufficient staff, inclusion no chef so the menu options are so severely limited it's really not worth it. Twice they have forgotten our orders and...

We went today for pre booked afternoon tea. The first impression was a bit shambolic, however the guy on the till, kindly showed us to the area for the afternoon tea the table was set ready. The area was totally soulless and no atmosphere whatsoever....

Years ago this was a restaurant now its a cafe that is dirty, understaffed and food dull. Staff dont smile is there management that care about the place? Maybe you should get management to work a shift.

Visited today and ordered a coffee and a toasted teacake. Didn't get off to a very good start when I had to clear my own table - the place was quiet but very few tables had been cleared. I heard one lady complain because she...

Visited cafe as we have a Dobbies card which allows us a free drink monthly or so we thought. Paid for the membership and they have changed their IT system and replaced Dobbies Club with Dobbies Card plus. Dobbies card is now free but no...

A group of 5 of us went for an afternoon tea this pm and the food was great. The sandwiches were fresh and the cakes were lovely. The scones were fresh and soft to the touch. A couple of us asked for soya milk and...

Visited the restaurant with my family, waited 30 minutes for our coffees and a further 10 minutes for our food. Overpriced and not worth the money or the wait. Will not be returning

Came here for a coffee and cake. It was like dead for staff, only like 2 people was running it. One doing the hot drinks and 1 just serving cakes and taking our order. Just very poor service around the cafe. He one who was...

I have been a member of Dobbies garden club for many years, I am sad to say that over the last three years the restaurant (term used very lightly) has gone from poor to lets just shut the door and save the staff embarrassment. I...

We have just visited the canteen in dobies. I would imagine Mr Dobbie is sat in his mansion laughing at the profits he is getting. The ordering arrangement is a joke. You need to go over to a separate counter away from the queue to...

Firstly let me say the staff are very helpful but run ragged by the ridiculous ordering and lengthy wait. Today, no chef therefore no food, only cakes but no scones. Investment needed on ordering and payment system and more staff. Other recent reviews tell the...

The food is a bit pricey for what you get but it’s decent and the staff are always pleasant and very helpful. I love the fact they do gluten free options including a full English breakfast. The card machine has been broken on more than...

Went for a snack with granddaughter told it would be a 30 min wait. Food finally turned up an hour later. Tuna melt. Sweet potato wedges with salsa. Baked potato. Not a gourmet request. Didn't order drinks for a out 20 mins so we would...

Have been a garden club member for many years but after my past two visits I am seriously considering cancelling it. The place is grim. Visited yesterday and no hot meals because no cook!! Staff numbers seem depleted .Ordered 2 slices of cake but had...

I visited today and was very disappointed with all aspects of the garden centre. The outdoor section was very scruffy and a lot of the plants looked like they were dying. I picked quite a few up that were lying on their side. The indoor...

Sadly we returned to Dobbies but the situation has not improved. We tried to order sandwiches but was told it would be 30-40 minutes wait, as were the couple behind us. There never seems to be enough staff. Is was not even very busy at...

Totally understand the long wait and their system is safe. We had the full English breakfast, for the price it was disgusting. Eggs extremely overdone, large mushroom not cooked, bacon so hard it snapped. Tried to complain but the staff didn't get it. Will stick...

Staff are quite rude and dont want to help. Having read some previous reviews now im also glad i didnt use the restaurant. Will not go back but go to barton grange.

Appalling customer service. I have a disability which makes me unable to wear a mask and I was embarrassed by the way the staff handled the situation as Im the carer of a vulnerable adult with learning disabilities who was with me. This was very...

We regularly go here for a coffee and a look around as there is is plenty to see. On Monday we called in for a coffee and as the weather was nice we sat in the outdoor area. What a mess. Litter, weeds, planters and...

We’d heard good reports....which we hadn’t listened. 35 minutes queuing for breakfast. My wife doesn’t like black pudding, so we asked if they would replace it with a mushroom......no chance!!! Their system doesn’t allow this. Queues outside and one person on the till. We love...

B4 i start , i understand covid restristions , 1 lady atqueue who asks to scan , fine ,then takes order which cant understand as she gives you paper , you then take it to lady on till , who if youre having food disapears...

My family and I visited Dobbies at Preston on 19/05/2021. After dining in the cafe I paid a visit to the ladies. The first cubicle I went into (the only one that was vacant) had not been flushed (disgusting) and the toilet handle was obviously...

5th May we returned to Dobbies cafe after the lockdown. There was no queue and I was handed a lunch menu to order at the till. I decided on a Toastie, Sorry no Toasties, but they are on the menu. The Toastie maker has been...

There was quite a large queue when we arrived for breakfast, which was fine as you expect to wait at the moment. We had two full English breakfasts which were delicious. The food was good quality and really enjoyable. The staff were very busy but...

Dobbies used to very good when it first opened but the quality as gone down year on year everything is the same all the time no change in the decor or food its very dull and the staff not very helpfull so have not been...

Ordered food after a wait of 40minutes, asked how long would it be was told nearly ready a few minutes later it arrived by this time our drinks were cold, the food was not very good wrong bread wanted white which was replaced butter in...

Visited Dobbies with my son to have a spot of lunch. Arrived a little early so browsed the store and picked out some items to buy later. Went down to restaurant about 12 and told by lady that only letting a few people (it said...

Called earlier this week. No toilets open and restaurant closed. You could have a drink to take outside but wasn’t very much room to sit. We had travelled from Blackburn and one of my party needed the toilet so we had to come out and...

Went to Dobbies today it was awful and Have written a complaint to them. Had to wear a mask all around the store (didn’t have to last week) but that was ok. We went for a pot of tea. Had to sign in and was...

Nice visit to dobbies today soup was very nice and sandwich good too. The latte was nice but really wanted a hot chocolate but ran out hence the 4 star rather than 5. Was able to use my dobbies card easily and saved me lots...

We arrived at Dobbies near preston to a very grumpy lady on the door who was very stern and saying three of us could not go in so i turned round and went for a walk while my wife and daughter went in The same...

We visited Dobbies for the first time today since lockdown. It has been a very difficult situation for your business - I get that. But today! Oh dear. Outdoor plants were on the floor, blown over? Never been lifted up. Your clearance section was disgusting...

I know there are guidelines to follow for covid 19 but I was in a queue for 1 hr 15 mins it hardly moved they only let a person in every 10 mins, then to be told who was left were not able to go...

Bought some plants and thought we’d call in the cafe for drink. Although they were busy the staff that served us were pleasant and helpful. Had a lovely coffee and a delicious cake. Hope to go again soon.

We are both in our 70s and went to the garden centre to look for plants, decided to have tea and a scone each while we were there. The cafe/restaurant is downstairs through a large clothing area, witht the cakes etc displayed before going into...

Having a Dobbies card we normally now visit at least every month for our free coffee, sometimes treating ourselves to a toasted teacake. Called in today to find the price had increased to £2.05 for the teacake which is totally overpriced as they are only...

Been visiting Dobbies for quite some years, had the odd irk over the years within the cafe. E.g being told they had no Hot Chocolate by cafe assistant to then hear her say to a member of staff who also wanted a hot chocolate "you...

Went to Dobbies for a coffee and scone but the wait to get the coffee took over 15 mins which spoiled the trip out