Mid Ulster Garden Centre in Magherafelt

went to this garden centre, had intended to have a snack so i joined the queue to order and while l was waiting l was watching ...YES the staff were all wearing gloves but couldnt see the reason for this as one girl was handling money and serving food in same pair of gloves so they protect her but not us, money as we know can be filthy ... pot of tea for one was just a mug with a teabag not what l had in mind.. however after this we decided to go for a look around plant and indoor area.. l saw a chair l would have really liked but NO staff to be seen anywhere to help ( and no prices on chairs ) and we were there for quite a while,in the end we gave up went elsewhere and now have all we were looking for.

Good enough Garden dept but the cafe experience was very poor. Food offerings looked great but the visit was marred by a number of issues. Firstly, if the scones are fresh, as they should be, they do NOT need to be put in a microwave. That’s a sneaky way to hide stale food in my opinion. Secondly for the server at the counter to decide how strong you want your tea and how much milk to add without asking is the ruination of a good cuppa. What I ended up with, thanks to her, was a cup of hot water and milk. I wouldn’t accept that at home so why would I actually pay someone to do it for me. Yuck! Finally when we left the table to go out we were ordered back to clear up after us. Now I have absolutely no issue with that at all, but we had to clear a table ourselves to get one to sit at, as every table was filled with dirty dishes and crumbs and no one cleared them the whole time we were there. Perhaps his time would have been better spent sorting the original problem than pissing off customers. Anyway not an overall great experience.

We called today to shop and eat. Food selection was limited but it was 2pm so maybe missed the hot lunch items. Great selection of items in their gift shop to browse. Bit pricey but expected from garden centres. Friendly staff.

called here for the first time 2 weeks ago as it had always been a firm favourite of our neighbours many years ago and i always wanted to see and buy some plants.had coffee and a traybake which was acceptable but were asked to clear our own table which i found strange as that's the first time ever and we have been out and about a lot since lockdown.was not impressed with the layout or the tidiness of the plants.nor was there any staff around to ask for help or advice.overall it has a very run down,neglected look with rubbish and dirt under the plant stands and weeds growing out of plants for sale.also the plants were not displayed to the advantage of the customer.altogether a huge disappointment

I called in here with 3 friends for coffee. I ordered the Berry fruit smoothies which was advertised at £2.99 on the chalk board but was charged £3.25 at the till. Also ordered a slice of the carrot cake and part of the cake had broken away, so my slice was only 3/4 of a slice but was still charged £2.49. Then to top it off the smoothie was so bland tasted like frozen berries in water rather than fruit juice.We also had to clear our own table when it wasn't overly busy.So disappointed on this occasion.

Love this little spot! Definitely worth 5 stars! Staff were so helpful and food was out of the world

I love this place! I don’t think it gets the credit it’s due! This place is such a hidden gem! The food is out of this world! I recommend if they have it to try their raspberry and white chocolate cheesecake wow just! The staff are amazing and the setting is perfect!

We have just enjoyed yet another unforgettable luncheon at Mid Ulster Garden Centre. I had the chicken and broccoli bake with vegetables and potato wedges whilst my mother enjoyed the broccoli and cheese soup with homemade wheaten bread. We didn’t think we would have any room left but we managed to squeeze in a slice of their delicious carrot cake- it was to die for! The staff are always so welcoming and friendly, nothing is too much bother. Thanks so much for a lovely afternoon, we’ll be back soon! Time now for a browse around the gift shop and garden centre!From the Rooneys

Took our 2 grandchildren to the Christmas display and it was absolutely fantastic. Afterwards we dined in their cosy cafe with a variety of hot food. Their presentation of chicken nuggets to the grand children was unique. I would highly recommend this location both as a garden centre and a unique café

Absolutely beautiful food and setting. Very fresh and well presented. Staff were lovely.the florentines were amazing!!

Excellent service from Peter and his team with prompt, friendly and most importantly helpful advice. Very competitive prices and fast delivery - ordered online at 11pm Tuesday night and took delivery at 9am Thursday morning. All in all, would definitely recommend Mid Ulster Garden Centre for quality service and keen prices. They will definitely be our first point of contact for any future needs.

This garden centre stands out with a boutique and relaxed feel. It sells quality and original products . Their large plants and trees in particular are the type you can’t find in other garden centres. Nice cafe which is always busy especially at lunchtime. Mid range prices and good food. Staff are noteworthy for their friendliness. I often recommend it to friends . Keep it up

I had some friends coming over to stay and wanted to take them out for breakfast. I’d been recommended the garden centre by a few people and so thought I would give it a try.....I was not disappointed! We arrived about 11am and there was a fabulous selection on the counter plus a whole section on the menu dedicated to breakfast....spoilt for choice. We all decided on the full Irish breakfast and thoroughly enjoyed it. Portion size was just right, quality very good (much locally sourced) and the result 4 clean plates. I must also give a mention to the staff who were very friendly and more than helpful. Will definitely be back.

We had our garden furniture delivered today having ordered it just days ago, quick reliable service and it was set up ready to use. Thank you Mid Ulster garden centre

Family of 5 called in to go to the cafe on Thursday 18th April on the way to Belfast. We were served by a lady called Joanne. This review is solely down to this lady, I don’t normally write reviews. Excellent service, she chatted away to the kids, advised on breakfast choices, checked if there was anything else we needed. Well Done Mather’s Garden Centre on your brilliant staff.

I live near a garden centre but drive for miles to go to this one as it is so good. It has so many nice bits and pieces in the shop from clocks to even jewellery. Nice cafe too. Highly recommended.

We occasionally stop here to use the cafe and recharge enroute to Donegal . We especially enjoyed the Christmas displays where you can always find quirky / original / quality pieces. Has a magical feel. The displays always done to a high standard. Cafe very good too and has prompt , courteous and consistent service . Good for both novice and serious gardeners

I’m a frequent customer and the display this year is particularly impressive. Great coffee shop too with good buzz and quality staff.

Freshly made food and great coffee. This is a class place to relax. I especially like the cosy sofa areas and the friendly, knowledgeable staff. The free WiFi is brilliant, and at 70Mbps means catching up on high res videos is a breeze. Steve H

Stopped off at Mid Ulster Garden Centre whilst travelling to Derry. I always make a point of coming here when in the area. Friendly staff, cosy atmosphere and great food.

Called in with family and we had a lovely lunch finished off with coffee and tray bakes in the Coffee Shop. We also spent plenty of time looking around all the beautiful things in the shop and the plants outside. I would highly recommend a visit!

Called in here for lunch last week and really enjoyed my visit. The coffee shop is warm and inviting, food was great, staff were friendly and helpful. Took a stroll around the plants and gift shop afterwards, which was something of a feast for the senses, a winter wonderland!

Visited here with my husband to look for Christmas trees. So impressed with this place. Excellent displays of decorations, trees and Christmas lights. Staff were very friendly and helpful in directing you to what you wanted, or carrying out your purchases to the car if needed. Would recommend this centre for Christmas alone!

Had a fantastic lunch here twice in the past week. On both occasions the food was great. There was a choice of soups and a variety of both hot and cold dishes. The staff were friendly and efficient. I couldn't ask for anything more.

just stumbled upon this place driving through maghera what a hidden gem Christmas is in full swing the selection of artificial Christmas trees is unbelievable the way everything is displayed is fantastic the staff are so helpful and pleasant the coffee shop is brilliant the coffee was lovely the selection of hot/cold food which caters for all was beautiful the fresh made soup will definitely warm you up on a winters day outside all the plants are displayed in a fantastic way even thou it's winter and you would think plants is in a decline it's not in mid ulster garden centre the plants experts know what they are talking about really helpful I will returning as soon as possible I loved this garden centre

A must visit! Mid Ulster Cafe hosted a large group of us and I have to say the food was delicious! The service was equally great, with attention to detail for all our needs. Will definitely be returning.

As part of a large 60th birthday celebration, I came to the coffee shop at Mid Ulster GC. I have to say the food and servce was fantastic. There were 29 of us over 4 big tables. Everything was fresh and tasty and the range of food was brilliant. I have eaten there before and although we had a big group there was no decrease in standard of faire. Well done all involved. Like Arnie says... I'll be back!

Our go to coffee shop with a great range of homemade food, ambience and helpful staff with the added benefit of the garden centre/shop that stock a quality range of lovely items. Also in my opinion has one of the best Christmas shops around, easy to access and has good parking facilities. Highly recommended and well worth a visit if passing through or great meet up spot with friends and family.

Called in here for a bit of lunch with my girlfriend last week. This place is a hidden gem! The chefs weekly special of crispy chicken was amazing. And all the desserts looked deadly. I had the apple pie with custard it was just brilliant. Will definitely be going back.

Absolutely love a wee trip to the garden centre, especially to the coffee shop where the food is top notch, never had a bad feed out of it, also, the staff are amazing. All the girls in there are so helpful and friendly. Honestly could rant on about this place but you have to go check it out for yourself place is waow!! Big shout out to the amazing chefs Caoimhe and Cathy, foods amazing girls keep the good work up

Called today for something to eat....couldn't see the menu board outside the door until we actually left!

We had a quick lunch here on our way across country on Sunday. We wanted something light and the homemade ham, pepper & pineapple quiche fitted the bill perfectly – it was quite delicious. The Garden Centre itself is also lovely and worth a visit.

Went with my friend for coffee as so many people do . It’s so nice to relax and enjoy the beautiful surroundings if the weather permits you can enjoy your lunch in the beautiful open outside area surrounded by beautiful trees . You have to visit to enjoy next time your in maghera call in you def won’t be disappointed. Large garden area full of plants and shrubs . Large shop with beautiful gifts and all sorts of garden furniture it’s fabulous I love it xx

We stopped here for lunch as it was recommended , food was good and service friendly, we had to wait a while on a burger but it was good when it arrived.

Popped in for some lunch as we had been here before. We shared a good bowl of chili beef and potato wedges with garlic bread for £6.99. The board behind the counter gave some information, but only directed us towards the hot plate to see what was on offer. There were a few prices for other things, but none for the hot food. A little more information would go a long way!

Lovely place to meet friends for coffee or lunch. Great food and lovely ambience - so hard to leave.

This gem is just minutes off the main Belfast-Derry road and makes a great stopping place for coffee, snacks or a light lunch. The decor is lovely, offering screened 'living room' spaces with couches and lamps, or window tables with leafy views. Prices are reasonable and the staff always pleasant and welcoming. There's a good range of eats with soup choices, paninis and rolls, lunchtime specials and cakes and pastries.

We called into the Mid Ulster for a spot of breakfast, it wasn’t too busy at the time so plenty of seating choice, I ordered the eggs benidict while the OH had a traditional Ulster fry, having never tried eggs benidict before I have to say it was absolutely delicious and the Ulster fry went down a treat with the OH, we also had tea and scones which I must say were the nicest scones we have had, so fresh and beautifully light, there was a great array of choice from cooked food to sandwiches, and delicious looking sweet treats, everywhere was very clean, as soon as a table was vacated the staff cleared away the dishes, all staff including those in the garden centre were very pleasant, a lovely place to go for a bite to eat. We will be back soon

Nice garden centre with very good coffee shop restaurant Excellent toasties in a relaxing spot Good for breakfast or a afternoon outing.

I came with my mom to shop for some summer plants; we didn't know much about gardening but a friendly staff member provided us plenty of help. He asked us questions to determine whether the plant is suitable for our area and gave us additional suggestions. We ended up taking home a few more pots and learning much along the way. Thank you for the recommendation and gardening tips and your can-do attitude! We then went to the coffee shop for afternoon tea. Coffee and scone outdoors amidst beautiful plants - what a nice way to conclude a shopping trip.

A very well stocked, well maintained garden centre with a wide range of plants. Plenty of parking and very friendly staff.

Two friends from back home have come for a visit and we had lunch at the garden centre. As always the food didn't disappoint, and in addition to the main dish we ordered a cheesecake and a raspberry ruffle. They were freshly prepared and served in generous portions; we were so full we had to "walk it off" at the shop. My friends were amazed at the range of stylish products on sale. As far as lifestyle shopping and leisurely dining go, Mid Ulster definitely is a hidden gem around the local area!

I have been many times in a garden centers all around Northern Ireland, but this is one of the beautiful that I’ve seen. Today I’ve got an amazing Pancakes: one with strawberries and chocolate and other one with blueberries. You have to try it! 😎

Usually love coming here for lunch but having recently visited with family made me quite dissapointed. We ordered 2 wraps which got mixed up when they were presented to us. So each plate had half of one filling of wrap and half with another filling of wrap. One had cheese and mango and one didn't, this was a simple mistake which could have been avoided if more care was given when plating the food. The coffee also tasted a bit watery but none the less the rest was ok.

The mid ulster Garden Centre never fails to deliver!

I live in London but was visiting my friend in Maghera and went to this place for lunch. Overheard the lady in front of the queue raving about the quiche so I ordered a slice of the vegetarian (sundried tomato) one. It was fresh and served piping hot, just what I needed on this cold November day! It was reasonably priced; though if they can add a few bits of veggies to decorate the dish a bit more it would have been perfect. I also like the ambience of the place: chilled-out and relaxing, a big contrast to the hectic London I am used to! :-)

Beautiful place. Displays are always amazing (I would get down now to see the Christmas’s stuff!!!) the cafe is amazing!!! Lovely coffee and great atmosphere xxx

Overpriced and the service was really poor. I was asked how many cups I wanted with 3 coffees and 1 tea (?), no help to carry coffees and teas to table even though 35 weeks pregnant, had to repeat order several times to different staff, had to ask for table to be cleaned, ordered soup which never came, when asked about it they had none of preferred soup left, charged £8.50 for a soup & sandwich combo and £4.50 for a plain ham sandwich which is very overpriced, lots of staff eating lunch in the restaurant at very busy time while customers wait.

The food was below par to say the least! saw a young girl chef blow her nose in front of food! horrible staff and horrible owners!

Garden Centre: great range of good quality plants and well informed staff. If they can't answer your question they will go and find another member who can!

Lovely to visit so relaxing in the garden centre and the staff are so helpful and while you're there you must call in the restaurant and have lunch or just a snack it is beautiful.

giving one point is the kindest i can do, will never eat here again i ordered a sandwich with 3 filings and she made me wait until get got pen and paper i should have seen that as a sign when it came the 3 filing the "sauce " didn't even get a blob of sauce and the worse every time you lift it to eat it fell apart its beyond me how you can mess up a sandwich

Kids got 3 chicken chunks each used to get 6/7 both complained both still hungry and not happy so we not happy either!

Called in today for a lunchtime catch up with family. We chose here because it was handy and I hadn't eaten here before. It is a popular coffee haunt for many and today I needed something more filling. None of the hot food was vegetarian and the cold food was also lacking in choice. I asked for a plate of potato wedges and salad with coffee. The wedges were like scraps and the salad was unimaginative (think lettuce and a dollop of coleslaw). I was shocked the small portion of overcooked wedges were £2.50 coupled with salad at £1. It was a very second class lunch compared to the meat options. On a positive note, the coffee was lovely.

This had always been my favourite garden centre over the decades. It had evolved organically with gradual changes to the use of the space. As garden centres became gift shops it still stocked a good variety of plants while creating space for a pleasant range of giftware that was not tat. The food offerings in the cafe have varied over the years but had been reasonably good. My food requirements changed radically with coeliac disease and a visit here a few years back proved fruitful with lots of options, especially tray bakes, although keeping the gluten free food separate and risk free from cross contamination was not a strong point. This changed for the worse in recent years and in the end all that was left was a golf ball of coconut covered in chocolate. Not worth driving 25 miles for so we stopped visiting totally. My wife suggested going there last week. I was reluctant but brought something of my own to eat just in case the dreaded golf ball was still there. It was but things were looking much better. There was an absolutely divine large gluten free peanut cookie, the last one fortunately and in is own jar with separate tongs! Great! We hung around the shop for a while and thought that the Christmas display was outstanding. Very well structured, good artistic design too. It was near lunch time and my wife suggested having soup as it was gluten free. Now it was something special, a brilliant, perfectly seasoned mushroom soup to die for. They even had gluten free bread. What a comeback! The cafe staff there on the day were also well motivated, very friendly and super fast at making the quality coffee. We also bought goods in the shop area and had a look at the plants. After a gap caused by poor provision for special dietary needs things are improving and what we ate was excellent. I was happy to eat really good gluten free food and my wife was happy because I was. She loved the soup and adored my peanut cookie. Please keep a good stock of these as I really don't want to even consider the bounty balls. Most coeliacs dread coconut offerings. Please keep improving the gluten free provision. Where we coeliacs can eat those with us must eat too so you attract more than just us to visit, eat and spend. There are more and more of us out there and we are loyal to those who serve us well.

Mid Ulster Garden centre needs to start improving. Same old food. Always a very cold place to eat. Spend a bit of money on heat and new menu

Have been here a few times recently and have enjoyed the food on all occasions. As others have stated it has obviously changed hands but I personally think it is a great spot to stop on a long journey for me to the north west. They have a varied selection and pricing is in and around most other places of this calibre. I have not hesitated to recommend it to others.

Visited yesterday for the first time in ages. The selection wasn't huge, but it was tasty and filling. Decor in the cafe is quirky, and I suppose it works to advertise items for sale in the shop and garden centre. Prices were mid-range and fairly reasonable for the portion sizes (two drinks and two lunches came to just under £18).

This is a nice place to meet for coffee or lunch. Food however is average and not always a great variety. Portions are small but staff are friendly

Have always loved Mid-Ulster Garden Centre but restaurant has new look, new staff and a new menu. Menu is more limited, more expensive and less tasty. Staff are less friendly. A very disappointing experience in a place that had been a regular haunt to meet friends and enjoy good good.

Visited this Coffee shop in Maghera Garden Centre.

I used to frequent this coffee shop often in the past but it has been taken over by other people and I don't think it's as good as it was before.