Dobbies Garden Centre Cadnam in New Forest

Excellent breakfast and great service Had two full English breakfasts and they were fantastic. Perfectly cooked and beautifully presented. Good value for money too. Will definitely go back again

A group of 5 of us went to Dobbies for an afternoon tea and planting experience. The afternoon tea was really good quality, 3 kinds of sandwiches, 2 scones and a selection of cakes with unlimited tea and coffee. All the staff were helpful and friendly. Following the afternoon tea with a planting session given a pot and then chose from a wide selection of plants in the garden centre, loads of good information from Chris and will who were running the planting session. Would thoroughly recommend this experience had A great afternoon.

We came in for a roast pork sandwich and roast turkey sandwich. The roast pork had no stuffing and no apple sauce. I asked for turkey with no cranberry and got given just a plain turkey sandwich, was too busy to complain to the staff. Wasted half the sandwich as the meat was tough and cold and the gravy was very salty! Originally we came in for a cream tea to then get told before payment you need to pre-book. No where said this and was very disappointed as this should be mentioned somewhere as I work in food and beverage myself.

We stopped to grab a couple of coffees and something to eat. I waited at the tills for several minutes whilst staff came and went, totally ignoring me. In the end we decided not to bother. And the prices are horrendously high, almost a fiver for a slice of cake. We're sticking with Costa.

It was appalling from the start. Nearly didnt stop. There were free tables but they were absolutely piled up with used crockery from more than one previous diner. Too much to move ourselves. When I asked staff if it was possible to move some so we could get seated I got a mumble of a non answer & nothing got tidied. They were everywhere. It wasnt busy at this time but must have been as lots of cakes were unavailable. Mediocre drink & cakes in the end. I have brought minibus trips here in the past but would have been appalled and embarrassed at the whole of Dobbies if I'd brought them today. The restaurant was a disaster & the whole shop was half empty lack of stock & a total mess. Even the aquarium has vanished & was just a blocked off space. A lot different from my last visit.

Terrible. Soup spilled onto plate and made bread cold and soggy - soup itself tasteless. Lasagne only partially heated- cold in places, garlic bread cold and soggy, salad gross. Coffee OK! Really gone down hill.

We had very fast and friendly service from Cameron. We had our two free coffee. Toddler had a chocolate cake. Wifey and I had cheesy chip and cheesey garlic bread. We asked for plastic cutlery and received quickly for impatient toddler. All our food was very nice. Ended up spending ages walking around garden centre too. Bought some new jumpers. Dog toy and some bargains in Waitrose.

Disappointed. Coffee was cold before cooked breakfast turned up and bacon on the vegetarian breakfast plate!

Awful filthy chairs tables fridges etc. Had a coffee did not risk having anything else. Needs to be shut down and given a complete overhaul. Will not be visiting this garden centre again.

We have been having the 2 for £12 breakfasts which have been great, really tasty and great value but the last one we had, the sausages had hardly touched the pan, they looked almost raw. I didn't eat mine but my friend ate hers and later on, had an upset stomach. Sadly it has put us off returning for breakfast. We also have had the baked potatoes here which were pretty tasty. I like that you can sit in the outdoor eating area but still have shelter and can also bring your dog. Friendly staff and quick service.

So, last time I came here it was about 2 years ago and I ended up having to send a burger back because it was pink and raw in the middle and i ended up being very ill. Family wanted to go so went for lunch, to be on the safe side we ordered cheese scones and cake. So this was quarter to 3 on a Monday afternoon so hardly peek time. First off we walked in and tried to order at the counter but was was told that it was now table service and to go and sit down. This was really confusing, nowhere did it say this. Despite the restaurant being nearly empty most of the tables were covered in dirty plates. We found a "clean" table but the chair was covered in stains and the condiment pot on the table was vile. The plastic flower was broken and shoved in a napkin, there was old, dry sauce in the bottom of the pot, old packets of open sugar floating around the bottom and the mayo looked like it had split in the bottle, as did the mustard which had basically turned into runny brown water. Disgusting. The lids of the sauces were also caked in dry sauce. A younger guy took our order and ten minutes later a younger girl serves us our scones, coffee and cakes. We had 2 tiny butters between two cheese scones was a bit stingy, and we're given no cutlery what so ever. So we kindly asked for cutlery and start on the "freshly baked cheese scones". Dear god these were so flat and dry. No way on earth were those fresh, they not only were so dry we couldn't eat them but they tasted stale and old, like they had been in a container for a couple of days. There were easily 4 young people milling about the counter so were confused as to why most of the tables were so dirty. We went up to pay only for the lad to walk away and declare to his colleague that he was going to do table service so we're left waiting to pay while the other kids "working" just milled about before finally deciding to come and help. Honestly just wished we walked out, I don't think they would have given two hoots. Nasty stale scones in a tatty and dirty cafe with lazy staff. Had not changed one bit since I last came, definitely won't be making that mistake again, nor will my family. My only regret is not taking photos to prove how truly terrible this experience was.

After waiting for a while we went to the cashier to place our order, we were told to take a seat and someone will come shortly. Well, nobody came so we left. Disappointing.

Dreadful service, Cameron told us table service only, take a seat and someone would take our order. We sat at a table 11.10 am waited till 11.25 went to look for someone, was again told to take a seat table service only. 11.45 Cameron came to take our order, we asked for our choice of breakfast only to be told by Cameron that breakfast menu finished at 11.30. But we were here waiting from 11.10 to 11.45 it’s not our fault. He would not allow us to order breakfast! Was very rude! No apology. So we left not having breakfast and not buying any plants. Never to return again!

Awful place! arrived for breakfast at 11.10am and told to take a seat as it was table service. After waiting until 11.25 with no sign of anyone and very aware that breakfast finishes at 11.30 I went back inside to let a member of staff know we were ready to order. I was told to take a seat and someone will be out to serve me shortly. we waited..... a young man came out to clear the table next to us and disappeared. eventually at 11.50! the young man re surfaced to take our order only to tell us that we can't have breakfast. he was very rude! the funny thing about this was he was the "manager" I would not waste your time or money here! the place was not even that busy!

As the restaurant was almost empty we decided to go for coffee and cake. Went to the counter and was told by the person at the till that 'It's table service only'. So we sat down at the nearest table to the counter in a completely empty half of the restaurant, and were then completely ignored for over 20 minutes. Getting up to leave also prompted no response from the person behind the counter. Not a great experience.

Whatever has happened to this cafe? At one time we could queue for drinks and food, be served in a short time by one of a number of counter staff, and seated straight away. Now, we have to wait at our table for a harassed member of the very limited staff to come and take our order. Ages later it may (or may not) be brought to us. This morning I was told which table the sugar was on and left to go and fetch it myself! On top of this there was some confusion about payment. My husband tried to pay at the counter but was unable to do so because the order had not gone in from the waitress’s iPad. Consequently, as we were about to drive off we realised that neither of us had paid so he went back and paid at the till. This is a ridiculously complicated approach to dealing with customers. What is supposed to be a relaxing cup of coffee turned into an irritating experience that we won’t be repeating. It’s the last time we will come here, having been fairly regular customers since Wyevale owned it. Dobbies is certainly not an improvement!

The scones looked lovely under the glass domes but were as tough as old boots, dry and hard. The hot chocolate tasted like a cheap sachet and cold drinks were warmish. The staff are lovely and were working hard but if you're going there for a hot drink and a snack you might be disappointed at the quality.

We approached the counter in the restaurant to buy lunch and were told it was table service. We sat down and waited.. and waited. No response in 20 mins whilst staff could see we were sat with closed menus. It wasn’t busy, lots of staff milling about. So we left. If you offer table service then please ask your staff to do that. It’s happened before but we put it down to a one off but again? Not good enough.

We popped up to Debbie's today for lunch firstly our drinks arrived. The glass I was given was absolutely filthy. It had sticky marks all over it and looked like it had not been washed. I returned it and a member of staff commented that...

Restaurant asked you to wait to be seated, we stood for 5 minutes and no acknowledgement from staff, so seated ourselves, quite a few empty tables but all dirty, we sat at one and after a few minutes someone came and cleared table, then left...

We went to Dobbies for their festive afternoon tea and it was delicious. The restaurant was packed and the turnover of patrons was constant but the staff were incredible and operated with both efficiency and good humour. In particular our server, Millie, seemed to be...

Here is a copy of the email that I sent to the Restaurant Manager the day after our visit:- Saturday 26th October mid morning experience. Arrived at the restaurant with my wife and found a table. While sitting there a breakfast bap was delivered to...

Waited over 10 mins to be served when other customers coming later were served before. Then told no fish and chips, when other customers were served this only 2 minutes before. Not impressed at all, will not use again...

Very average! I walked in to grab a coffee, there was no queue so I went up to the till to order. I was then told it was table service only. I found a table easily ( they were nearly empty). I then waited 10...

We had a lovely experience with the staff. In all departments they were very friendly and helpful. We had a dog with us and the staff were lovely too him as well.

On arrival 12.30pm we were told there was no hot food.There was a sign saying,'Sorry no hot food' So we went to look at cakes but we're told to sit down as it was waitress service only. When our cakes and coffee arrived,other people were...

We called in here for lunch after a long walk around Minstead. We had seen the cafe recommended on Facebook. Despite the earlier negative reviews below we had a really good experience. The staff were polite, the tables clean and well spaced. We were asked...

When we arrived, although there were plenty of free tables, we were guided to a table without the opportunity of looking at the cakes and other food on display. Strange as at the end of the meal we had to go to the counter to...

Disgusting service. We popped in there Partner cannot walk too well so I sat him In the restaurant whilst I looked around the garden centre. He is Jamaican I was gone about half hour when I got back to him he was still sitting there...

We have been in here before a few times and it was very good, but this time it was very odd. We were first faced with a sign “wait here to be seated”. Really? Plenty of empty tables. I strolled slowly towards the serving counter...

popped in on way to forest. On entry we were not allowed to look at the cakes and told to take a table as waitress service only. WE sat down and waited whilst the 2 staff members talked amongst themselves. After 10 minutes being ignored.