Dobbies Garden Centre in Shropshire

I took my parents out to the cafe and we all had a sandwich but my father wanted a toastie we waited and waited by the time my father had arrived we had all finished, it was 45 minutes before it arrived, service was slow and not very pleasant. We will not be going again

35 minutes waiting for coffee, I know what people will think why? well after you have made the effort to get there and need a drink that’s why, however it’s the last time until they improve. But what has happened to Dobbies is a staffing problem ? Terribly overpriced food I counted a new gateau today 14 small slices at £4 each that’s £56.00 no wonder they offer free drinks!

We have given this soulless restaurant numerous chances as we have a loyalty card which gives us a free drink each month, we are cancelling this as we'd rather go to McDonalds where the drinks are served quickly by friendly staff in a clean environment. We waited 20 minutes to be served today and then got told we'd have to pay as we'd already had our free drink!! Why so many people queue for this place is beyond me but happily we're no longer joining them.

What a terrible letdown. After my fiance built this up as being a lovely place to visit with a great restaurant, we were terribly let down disappointed . With a weak selection of meals and an eating area with no soul, we were constantly dive bombed by wasps. We will not be coming here again.

I had a terrible pork and stuffing sandwich costing £8.99 it was full of gristle and cold. Never worth the money. Don't think I'll bother eating here again. No wonder it was quiet here

Very poor, overpriced food. Tiny overcooked breakfasts priced at a premium. Tiny drinks measures. Good fast service but a total rip off. Sticky unclean tables and chairs.

Total experience was not good. Miserable staff in total chaos. Method of service needs complete overhall, one taking food orders while another plates up just to be left on the counter getting cold because of people ordering drinks which takes forever. Very over priced for below average food. Plenty of better places to eat in local area avoid!

A shabby shadow of it's former self devoid of stock the place looked like it'd been ram raided.. The toilets were absolutely rank. This once great garden centre seems to be being run into the ground, there is an atmosphere of decay about the delapidated premises. We won't be hurrying back.

The restaurant/garden centre was very cold. Not a pleasant atmosphere to drink coffee (which was only warm) and walk round the garden centre. Never been to such a cold garden centre. It would have been far too cold to eat in the restaurant. I did visit Dobbies to shop in the Pavers outlet, purchased boots with an extra 20% discount.

Quality, price and service. Dobbies delivers on none of these. Quality: The food was cold, even my dog would reject those sausages. Price: Almost £40 for four inedible breakfasts and drinks, cold flabby scrambled eggs and anaemic sausages. Service: order was taken by a lady who looked quite unhappy. Some staff members were bickering between themselves and between them lacked organisation, which was a key reason it took 40 minutes to get our food. The one star is solely for the hash browns, which were great. But even the hash browns couldn't make up for the overall experience. So, unless you're looking for a subpar meal that will cost you an arm and a leg, served with a side of staff drama, I'd suggest steering clear of Dobbies.

My husband and I visited recently and waited for over 30 minutes just to order a coffee and cake each. The tables were not cleaned and cleared and it wasn’t as if they were that busy! Terrible restaurant and although there have been numerous complaints over the years it doesn’t look like anything has been rectified at all!

Food was fresh and enjoyed by both of us, but the service on the drinks side was very slow as assistant was too busy talking, was to hot to be standing there waiting and although some people were moaning she didn’t seem to be bothered by this, the young lad who was serving on the till was very polite and was apologetic about the wait

I rarely write a review but we had our daughters 4th birthday party with them and the staff made it such a fantastic experience. We opted for afternoon teas which are delivered on tiered afternoon tea platters per child - parents raved about the quality and quantity of food. The soft play was small but perfect for little ones. Thank you to all the staff for making it so stress free for us.

We haven't been for a meal for a good while. After reading the reviews ,it very nearly put us off having a meal. When we arrived we noticed the restaurant was busy, hence, it couldn't be that bad. Both my husband and I had the lasagna , which was tasty ,hot and filling, the side salad was fresh, and the garlic bread was lovely. The staff are constantly on the go. Yes the queuing takes a while, it always has been like this, even when it was Woodlands. We will back again.

When this was Woodlands, it was lovely. However, Dobbies brought it and it shows! The staff wear permanent frowns on their faces, the prices have shot up, and the Christmas displays average at best. Today, the whole store was freezing cold. Then there's the restaurant. Wife and I queued for nearly 20 minutes for two Fish & Chips with peas with coffee. Took a number so the server could find us, but the food wasn't very good at all. Rock hard batter, very dry fish and luke warm chips. The coffees were decent though. Awful experience with dogs constantly barking and the very cold temperature whilst eating. Dobbies ARE usually top drawer, but there's something not quite right with this branch. Oh, I DO wish they would employ security or install CCTV, lots of blatant shoplifting from members of the public. Today, was a poor experience overall.

one of our group had a dobbies card which offers very good value we just opted for a drink and a cake the cakes where on the whole very good {lemon one was a bit dry) the coffee was very good but the hot chocolate a tad underwhelming nice garden centre to wander around but some of the prices are a tad high

We went to soft play today and lunch. We saw that afternoon teas were advertised and looked lovely. We hadn't pre booked but asked if it was possible to have two. The staff were very helpful and we were told yes. We opted for a Christmas and a traditional one. £20 for the two. They were delicious and such good value, I have paid over double for afternoon teas that were no where near as good. Even though the staff were under pressure with the volume of customers, they were very friendly and cheerful. Will definitely be returning for another afternoon tea.

Went in for a coffee and a mooch - got to the cafe at 4pm, told they have ALREADY stopped serving food despite closing 90 minutes later. Unacceptable. Staff couldn't care less, very underwhelming. Christmas display gets poorer every year and plants all overpriced. Go further afield to Gates' or Sapcote, better experience, nicer staff and a much more pleasant atmosphere. Very clearly only get away with it because it's the closest garden centre around. Even the Dobbies in Atherstone is miles better than Stapleton.

They have some serious issues here. Not only has the quality of the food gone right down. Service is exceptionally slow. By the time you get to pay your food is cold. If you are just queuing for a drink it can take up to 20 minutes. Cakes are dry and tasteless. Drinks average at best. Staff seem grumpy and miserable and customers seem to be an inconvenience. I used to love meeting my friends here for lunch. What has gone so badly wrong? Covid can’t be blamed as the service and quality deteriorated a year or so before then. Such a shame. Food used to be great and most staff at least looked friendly.

Expensive and lacking in anything to get excited about, the actual gardening areas are something of a shambles, constantly being rearranged and priced very much at the top end of what is acceptable. I now buy my plants and other gardening needs elsewhere, having used the old Woodlands almost exclusively for well over 20 years. I go for the butcher (Walter Smith) and fruit & veg stall outside. Inside, what used to be attractions - locally made bread and cakes, local eggs, Laithwaite's wines, a wonderful cheese counter - have all gone to be replaced by shockingly overpriced Sainsbury's products. As for the restaurant, service is glacially slow and the prices are extortionate. Such a shame.

Uninterested dreadfully slow service in cafe. Coffee frankly undrinkable. Avoid drink at home or elsewhere

Visited today to buy plants. Prices extortion I couldn’t believe what was being asked. Uninterested staff. The Toilets need closing down they are the most unhygienic disgusting filthy toilets I’ve see inside restaurant or store. Inside cubicles really bad paint falling off walls and doors, the rest too bad to mention. The sinks where chipped black mould around top of all sinks everything extremely dirty. They needed a good clean and mop goodness only knows the last time they had a proper clean. We had two scones and had to pay extra for jam and butter. Scones like biscuits on top too long in the oven. Coffee had grease floating on top. Didn’t return coffee as I had to wait again in a very long cue and we had just done that once. Price, very expensive we will visit our usual in future Palmers in Leicester Wonderful Garden Centre. Not worth a visit.

Come here often, we had lunch in the cafe, the choice is good, prices ok, good atmosphere ,the Staff are friendly, but the best worker was the man cleaning the tables and chairs he was a credit to the company, the store is worth a visit

This is our local Dobbies and it suits us to visit sometimes taking our grandchildren. There are some great high points but the cafe has become a thing of dread. The staff are rude and the service poor. The process is just so unnecessarily slow and the sour faced unhelpful staff add insult to injury. Not all Dobbies are so poor why is Stapleton? Not nearly good enough Dobbies!

Service and quality has gone down hill. Used to be far better under previous ownership. Will not be in a hurry to visit again.

Rude staff, basic underwhelming food. Will not be returning!! No member of staff with a smile, everything was a big effort. Even asking for tap water seemed too much for one member of staff.

Four meals took so long to bring out that all four teas were stone cold. Queues too long to go back and get more. Croque Madames quite tasty. Plenty of time to observe staff wandering around with meals trying to find right number cards on...

Twenty minutes to get a coffee and harangued by staff member because I sat at a table which had pots on. If there had been any tables without pots on I would have used them !

Absolutely stinks , the chairs make you feel sick. Either renovate or close it down. Junk and rubbish outside, not something paying customers want to look at , why would anyway want afternoon tea there. Staff aren't happy , no wonder they are rude ....

Decided to get my drink with my Dobbies card. Took my puppy in with her carrying bag. Sat down in the 'dog' area and didn't know how I would be able to get my drink if I didn't go and get it myself as there...

Awful restaurant staff. Rude, unprofessional, and accommodating. No wonder theres never any customers now. This restaurant was the place to be 20 years ago. It felt like a real treat when it was Woodlands. Misery guts staff. No wonder, a very depressing experience. Go away...

When the garden centre was ‘Woodlands’ me and my family used to go there quite regularly but since Dobbies has bought it out it’s rapidly going down hill. I went today for the first time in a few years and I have to say that...

When it was simply 'Woodlands', this was an excellent garden centre, selling quality products at good prices. The restaurant was reasonable and the various non-gardening outlets, including a butcher & deli, cheese counter, locally produced bread & dairy, and ranges of cooking and table sauces...

After buying a few things in the garden centre we had lunch, it was well laid out, your details were taken, plenty of room, the man who was cleaning the tables was doing a good job, tables and chairs were cleaned. Nice place to eat...

So we visited this Garden Centre and I'm not going to lie we're a little sad to see Dobbies had mow taken over being as their is one already not too far from here. The lay out hasn't changed but sadly the food on offer...

Called in Doddies today, found the walk around ok, apart from most plants looking like they need a drink and some TLC.... Some of the younger staff seemed uninterested and bored, but the worst was the restaurant staff, quite rude... One woman snapped to say...

We visited the garden centre with my daughter as part of her birthday activities. She made an official complaint Afterwards as we were bullied and harassed by a vile man in the outdoor cafe area. Despite interventions by several staff we were so upset and...

Had a lovely coffee and cake today after a busy morning, very refreshing. As was the service, lovely ladies. They were very friendly and abided well by the regulations I would expect in these unprecedented times. They kept everything nice and clean, which I am...

Staff are working hard to make the garden centre and cafe as good as before lockdown but seems they have lost a lot of staff from the cafe-not sure why-but have been several times and appear to be only two people serving... one for orders...

Had a look around here today, the restaurant had just closed, but i bought some meat and cheese from the butcher and deli. An interesting place to visit

We use this garden center regularly and they must be doing something right as the queue for coffee is so long. We love the selection of plants and we especially love the butchers department. Quality food with friendly service. Look out for the special offers which are great value for money. Their lasagna is a legend.

Very disappointed with our meal. We got the adults food straight away whilst my 1 year old daughter had to wait 20 minutes for hers. She did not want ours she wanted her own. The food was dry as if it had been there all week. Very expensive as well. We love going to garden centres but will not be going back there

I have visited this dobbies cafe many times for coffee and a snack but recently the value for money has forced a change. I have just been served four slices of bread and jam for just under £5.00. Whilst I realise everyone has to make a living these prices do not reflect value for money.

Stayed for a sandwich after small grandchild had been in the Soft Play(soft play great value)One sandwich of egg and cress and one of chicken salad-egg and cress had at least half and egg used and filling had been placed on the outer edge so it looked full and Chicken salad version has two pieces of chicken in it-again-put on the edges so it looks full-Not impressed at all

Well I must say I could not believe that we used the small cafe in the centre & we had a puppy with us & were told to sit outside in the cold with hot drinks & food & the service was very poor it's funny that you can sit inside at the main restaurant it's a joke very very poor.

We go to Dobbies garden centres at least 3/4 times per week!!just been this morning for coffee and it was absolutely freezing in there everybody was sitting in their coats not nice at all surely they can put some sort of heating on in cafe area !!

I find the restaurant needs an overhaul. Food is not hot . To queue for food then for drinks then queue to pay by that time the food is cold. Plenty of staff but unfortunately half don't seem to know what they are doing. Even the coffee bar it takes ages to get a coffee. It would make more sense to pay for the food and have it delivered to your table hot that way you're only cooking what you need rather than over cooking on some items.

We come here for garden products, gifts and no a look at the Christmas stock - which has all gone downhill since Dobbies took over.We keep trying the food but the quality and service continues to be poor now Dobbies have taken over - previously, when Wyvale, it was first class.One reviewer said 'perhaps it is still in the transition stage'. HOW LONG DO THEY NEED?

My family and I visited dobbies on our drive home for a spot of dinner on the most recent late night. Approaching the food counter, understandably there wasn’t all that much left, because it was late. A lady, in her 60’s was stood at the hot food counter amongst a couple of young girls, she appeared to be some kind of supervisor or at least her attitude seemed that way. She was very bossy and rude towards myself and my family, rushing us into our decision and then ordered the young girls to plate up our dinners for her! Made us feel very uncomfortable and sorry for the young girls who actually did a remarkable job, unlike the old bat. The food was lovely and the other members of staff were very sweet and helpful.

We have a Dobbies loyalty card, so we visit every month. Last month (June) when we visited and had a coffee in the restaurant. We to the ladies and there was 1 out of the 6 toilets out of use. Last week when we visited and popped into the ladies, there was 3 toilets out of use. It's bad enough to have to queue for the ladies at the best of times, but this is rediculous! It doesn't seem to be a priority to management to get the problem sorted. It's always a state, the taps are covered in limescale and the decor is so tried looking. Yet the prices for the products within the store & the restaurant do not reflect the appreciation of the customers who visit...They are always updating the product areas and spending money on new shelving but very little on the necessities, this is always a shame..

What has happened to the quality? One traditional breakfast and one vegetarian breakfast. Very small and tasteless sausage on the traditional and a hash brown that looked like a burnt frisbee! We were advised that there were no more hash brown, thank goodness, for the vegetarian breakfast so I opted for more mushrooms. The quorn sausages were OK but all in all a definite let down. Our food was delivered to the table so it was reasonably warm but otherwise it gets cold queueing for hot drinks and then paying at the same till. Why not place your drinks order at the start of the counter so they are ready when you get to a till? No wonder the separate coffee shop was so busy; that’s where we will head next time. Really disappointing. Wyevale at Rothley do things much better.

I Was going to have a meal I thought I would just have a cake and this wasn't very nice . My Friends meal wasn't very good either! O My Goodness What's happened !!!

Love going to Garden Centre but since it has changed to Dobbies from Wyevale Woodlands it seems to not quite got its act together.

A quick stop off on a beautiful sunny day. Had coffee with a scone & cream. Pleasant atmosphere, service for once was quick. Currently refurbishing the gift section so a little messy, but hopefully will make a big improvement once finished