Squires Tea Shop in Elmbridge

I have always had a good experience with Squires café’s. But yesterday was a massive exception and disappointment. I had a reservation for 3 people. Arrived to a half empty café – red flag. It then proceeded to go downhill starting with server and IT issues. Then we asked after the roast – no that is finished for the day (1pm!), smoothies, not doing those today, milkshakes – not enough milk, welsh rarebit, not available…. The next item saw us get up and leave. Apparently on speaking to an assistant, this has been happening far too frequently. Not only did they lose our meal custom, but also possible purchases in the main part of the store afterwards.

We live 70 miles away so we only visit once a month: we have always found the food rather good so I’m puzzled by some of the recent negative comments. We usually have a light lunch - the soup is invariably brilliant and the BLT or Welsh rarebit always tasty. Service can occasionally be a bit slow but mostly it’s good, friendly and efficient. Phone coverage (at least 02) is poor but WiFi is good.

Took ny mum here for lunch. She ordered scampi with peas & chips. Have no idea what took so long to produce, & when her plate finally arrived, the peas where like bullets. Staff are friendly enough. But we won’t return.

The sausage bap was the worst sausages I have ever eaten, cheap and nasty and tasteless, more like sawdust, Not sure if there was any meat in it unless they gave us a veggie sausage. Last time we will eat there.

Went to squires this morning 7/07/2024. Staff very good got a nice booth and high chair for our grand daughter, service slow as it was busy but they do know its breakfast time ? Got there 10.15 am waited 40 minuites should have been told how long wait would be considering we had a young baby? When the food turned up it was poor qaulity, eggs hard, sausage burnt, bacon like cardboard,beans dry, fried bread hard. Have been here before food was good then. Don't know whats happend will not be back. Should have sent it back but it would have been dinner time by then

Have used Squires for years Used to use Garsons on my way home from work Just feel things not up to scratch Plants so dry on last two visits

If you can recall the sort of food you’d get on a cross channel ferry in the 1970s this is pretty much it. Utterly dreadful, hugely overpriced, minuscule portions (not that you’d want more of this rubbish). I simply don’t understand why a business like squires, where the garden centre itself is really good, would want to put its name to this. You can see the cost cutting effort at every turn, from the plastic flowers on the tables (odd in a garden centre!) to the portion control eg the prawn salad consistibg of a couple of prawns and two cherry tomatoes served on a saucer. The whole thing is just pathetic and sad. I only gave an extra star because the waiting staff are all really nice and helpful. They deserve so much better.

Absolutely shocking. Took my mum and mother in law for lunch and, after being rushed to order ended up with scones that turned to crumbs once cut - u couldn't even put jam on as they needed to be eaten with a spoon!!! Coffee was served in take away cups with no explanation even though we were seated inside.Tables were completely covered with dirty plates yet I counted 4 staff and only 5 tables with customers. Won't be going back in a hurry

We call in every month when visiting Esher and always enjoy a light lunch. The coffee is pretty good and the soup is really excellent. Sandwiches are good and although we don’t often try the main courses they look good too. We always reserve a table online just in case it is busy and although service can be a shade slow at times we’ve found it friendly and efficient. Worth a visit for sure.

Sadly the quality of the food not as good as it was. They were very busy, and the bacon came out rock hard and cool. It had obviously been under the hot plate or in the oven too long. Left it on the plate and the waitress said that she would inform the chef. Complained later as they were rushed off their feet. Emailed the manager and had a chat and she said I should have told them which I did and that it was a one off experience, which it wasn't. Reality of it is that it is not as good as it was, and I and my friends will not be eating there again and we were regulars there at least 3 times a week.

We had the set menu Christmas lunch. 9 of us. The turkey roast was a generous serving and freshly cooked. The salmon was perfect. The desserts were delicious and attractively presented. The orange sorbet was amazing. Couldn’t fault it. Highly recommend.

Myself, my mum and my sister came to the cafe on Sunday late afternoon. As we walked to the counter, before even saying hello, the lady with the long braids abruptly said “it’s table service only!” and that “there’s a big wait due to staff shortages!” We then said okay and asked roughly how long the wait would be and she rudely said “well I’m not going to tell you how long it’s however long it takes!”. We immediately left. No customer service skills whatsoever. Clearly a very miserable woman who needs to get a life. Feel sorry for the people that have to work with such an arrogant, stuck up, miserable person every day! She should get a job as a traffic warden - she definitely has the right personality for it.

There was a sign saying due to staff shortages the cafe will be slow at the entrance. The manageress was plain rude we ordered a takeaway drink and before even saying hello she told us there would be a wait. She also bossed around a young waiter shouting service at him. I was annoyed that I had to spend anything as her attitude was appalling. Manners costs nothing and explains entirely the staff shortages!

Very disappointed several of the brilliant staff have left . The service is very poor now we were there Sunday 25th June . The manageress needs to smile she does not look happy in her job. Bianca the other Manager is very pleasant at all times..We usually go most Sundays but not anymore . Angela Doyle

We have stopped going there for breakfast, something our family had done for years, because each time we have been for months, they say "we don't have eggs now"..... they need a new menu that does not lie to the public

Lovely lunch with a friend. We had a jacket potato with plenty of prawns and salad and an Orzo pasta salad with prawns, both good sized portions and really tasty. Fast service, friendly staff …..couldn’t ask for more! (Great to see calories on the menus too.)

Having been before, out with elderly mum as she wanted to have a look at plants so thought wd combine with lunch in cafe. 12.10, abt 3 tables used , but no availability as every other table reserved. Staff suggested we went shopping, and popped back, so 30 mins later, abt 5 tables full, rest all empty, but reserved. This surely isn't a profitable way to run a garden centre cafe??? And , honestly neither I or my husband would even attempt to get into the cafe again if thats the way its run. Its not like its a high end restaurant...surely, more efficient to have walk ins, and only book 50% of tables

I have been here a few times for lunches with friends, celebrate my birthday with a few friends (12) with hot drinks & diff yummy cakes (March 2022). Good choice lunch menu we had tuna sandwiches & smoothies. Staff lovely can't do enough for you. Thanks to Lily(who is off to Uni) Biancia who changed gluten free pasta kids menu to fish fingers as pasta stuck like glue..... needs to have boiling water poured on top onced cooked & little olive oil over it, but tom sauce needed some cheese on top too. We had burger, quiche mushroom & bacon very yummy X 2, hot/cold drinks, cakes were lovely too, toffee, coffee & walnut, but I had the bake well tart as it has least cals..... Don't forget to get your reward card stamped with your hot drinks as get a free 1 after 10 stamps. Thanks to all the staff sorry forgotten your names..... Garden centre lovely to walk around in/out door, fab gifts too. Plenty of free parking too.

I came here Saturday with my family, our waitress Jane was very helpful and friendly, the food was ok although very expensive. The thing that dampened our experience was the manager I believe her name is Rebecca, she was very rude, the staff was very busy and all I could hear and see is a bell ring and her shouting service. Shame to see as Jane was great. This isn’t my first trip here and This manager is always very rude to both staff and customers.

I live close to Squires Hersham so I’m always popping in with family and friends for lunch or tea and cake. It’s a lovely cafe with great staff who are always so kind, helpful and friendly. I love the food too (especially the gluten free lemon cake). Highly recommended.

Covid aware! Samantha S lovely lady, lovely nature. Ordered a breakfast six items. DELICIOUS. The food was brought to the table on a trolley. Napkins, cutlery, salt and pepper. How safe as reassuring. Such a treat from our last visit. Tables were cleaned as soon as customers left, Yes it was not busy but you were aware this place was looking after us. AND the loos have been upgraded. Lovely place to visit.

This used to be a lovely place for a coffee and sandwich. Visited with my mother yesterday, poor choice of snacks/light bites. Prices are expensive. Lacked atmosphere. We won't be returning. Just one positive - scones were very nice!

With only 5 staff on duty, all helped make our regular coffee/breakfast outing a relaxing and happy experience. Three friends attending for the first time and with 9 in total today, we were spread across two pre-booked tables, and a great time had by all. Thank you - see you next week!

This has to be the worst garden tea shop I have ever had the misfortune to go to. Staff - rude. One of the managers shouted at a colleague in front of us. Orders - over an app only which crashes out due to poor signal Guest wifi - password needed and not supplied When you tell them you can't order using app as it says site unavailable, I was told I must have entered something incorrectly. I was then told someone would take my order- 15 minutes later they remembered. In the meantime, a waiter helped me and told me yes they were having problems with it, but it's not their fault? whose is it? Order took 20 minutes to get to us. Was left waiting on counter to get cold for 10. They remade it and got both orders wrong. How can you get two teas and two scones wrong? They managed it. Tea was weak. Scones were good but an expensive outing for one so unpleasant. I won't be back ... rude, unpleasant, not apologetic, dreadful attitudes. Avoid at all costs. Rather go to Wisley - a much more pleasant experience.

Just had excellent fish and chips for lunch. Great value offer at £10 for main meal and drink. Staff were brilliant and very caring with us and other customers. Special thanks to Jane!

Went for Sunday breakfast. Very well organised under COVID conditions. Booking was easy. Everything is fine. The main issue is that as you order online and pay online they only have 3G available and the Wi-fi is also not so good. This took some effort to get our order over.

Women can multi task, it seems not here.Have never been disappointed, attentive and charming staff.Food really pretty good too.Arrived just after 12 pm. not busy, Good timing.Chose a booth and ordered the food / coffee which I took back to the table.]#IT was full of dirty cups, plates with a half finished breakfast, sugar papers, spillage.a nasty mess.A member of staff came and took three plates away.Left the rest.I MYSELF went and got a tray and placed it all on it.The same member of staff was taking two plates of food to the table adjacent to ours.I turned and asked politely could she take this tray with her..Multi tasking she was heading back to the counters anyway,NO SHE SAID, I am serving.Not wishing to eat with a table full of dirty crockery/cutlery I took it myself.How disappointing, the manner was rather surly too.Please try to be more cheerful, after all it is Christmas.The staff on the tills in the centre are always fantastic, training required perhaps in the tea rooms.

Although we had visited other Squires Garden Centres this was our first visit to Hersham. We only used the restaurant for lunch so cannot comment on the garden centre as a whole. Good menu choice & reasonably priced, good sized portions - well ours were! Pleasant counter service & acceptable wait time so all in all well pleased. Would visit again.

I booked the afternoon tea for 5 people over the phone. I did inform them at the time that there would be one vegetarian. The morning of the date, I rang to cancel one of the people who was unable to attend. That was fine. When we arrived, I was informed that I would have to pay for the cancelled person as they had to buy the food in from outside and order it in advance. At no time had I been told that cancellations would be charged- although I was informed it did state this online! However, I had not booked online!. When the food arrived, the vegetarian sandwiches were mixed in with the meat sandwiches. When this was pointed out, the staff grudgingly agreed to prepare fresh vegetarian sandwiches and put on separate plate. The food was very nice once this was all sorted out and the teapots were refilled on request. Paying for the meal proved a problem as we were all paying separately, some with cards, some with cash. This was not possible as they did not have the facility to do this as the bill was a complete bill! The manageress was not particularly helpful or welcoming - and we came away feeling very disappointed with the experience.

Stopped off for our breakfast before trekking home. I particularly like the local sausage, very meaty. The seating areas are light and area and well decorated and the staff are very polite. Will certainly visit again.

Often eat here and always impressed. A little wait this time??? Something to do with the 'computers' Lovely ciabatta brie / avocado. Chicken / bacon. Always clean tables. Excellent service.

In my opinion overpriced for what it is. Mind you £7 a head for coffee and a slice of cake seems to be the norm these days. It seems to be busy most of the time. Nice outside and covered conservatory space for better weather. Clean and tidy with a mixture of tables and booths. Very pleasant staff.

I have in the past left this restaurant a negative review but today I popped in for lunch and had the special. Smoked haddock fillet on a bed of mashed potatoes, peas and a poached egg. Absolutley delicious.

This place is like Cracker Barrel in the USA, where you can dine, sit inside or outside and also shop for gifts and other things. The staff are very friendly but it's not a "sit down order from the menu place you order from a fixed menu, then get your order brought to your table and it's self seating but I have seen reserved tables. Food is generally delivered quite quickly to your table and is of a good standard but on a couple of occasions I found my vegetables a little on the chewy side.There's an excellent selection of sweets, and of course tea coffee. Prices I would say are on the high side but you generally get good value for money, and next month February, they are offering a but one get one half price promotion on afternoon teas.

Went for breakfast, lady serving at the till was superb and very helpful. However the breakfast was cold and coffee cool and what we really needed on a cold day was something hot.

Lovely local cafe, but would be even better with a vegan option for breakfast and lunch and at least one vegan cake.

I’m a regular visitor to the Squires Cafe but was very disappointed with the Welsh Rarebit today, one small slice of toast with very little topping (poor value for money) - in the past you’d get two slices.

The food is always spot on at Squires in Hersham and the cafe is bright with plenty of seating in the conservatory and outside as well as inside. A lovely place to enjoy a drink or a meal whilst visiting the garden centre.

We have just had the "Sunday Roast" at Hersham Squires and are dismayed at the uninspiring, poorly presented, tiny portion we were presented with. The roast potatoes (of which there were three tiny child sized bites) needed another 30 mins in the oven to brown as they were pale and more likened to a boiled potatoe. There was the smallest Yorkshire I have ever been served with a roast ever. Some colourless brocolli and cauliflower florets which were rock hard. An utterly tasteless gravy....no offer of any mustards etc. The chicken breast was tiny but tasted ok. Really is a sham of a roast dinner. Please dont bother ordering a roast here. I would liken it to a school dinner, only that a school dinner would still know to add colour to a plate to make it artful and would be less than a third of the price. The management need to sort this offering out or duly take it off the menu. Terrible value and skilless cooking.

While the fish and chips and chicken pot pie were good, I had to hunt for the fish in the fish cakes ( more potato and breading ) Service was good. Decent prices

We arrived for breakfast at 10am on a Tuesday, I thought not bad value for money having six items from the selection, nicely cooked and hot,and the whole place was nice & clean.The staff worked hard and gave good service, but there is a bit of a wait and the place was not mega busy. I will return as the famous General said.

Came here for a coffee and a cake. nice friendly staff. prices are normal. plenty of seating area. Nice to come here for a rest and a coffee and squires has so much to offer.

The changes to the Cafe make it much more comfortable to meet with friends for a tea or coffee and spend time. This is before seeing what Squires shopping has to offer which is always very good.

Breakfast at Squires has gone way downhill since the refit. Portion size is now appalling. Both the sausage and the bacon rasher are less than half the size you would expect elsewhere. And the fried egg was so small I seriously doubted whether it could have been from a hen! Even the fried bread was miniaturised - where do they get this stuff! All served on a very small cold plate. The food was very quickly cold. All in all, this was very, VERY disappointing - a huge turnaround from the breakfast that I so much used to enjoy there. Very sad.

My lunch was £6 which was 4 tiny fish fingers on cheap bread. My son's kids meal was bigger. The manager didn't care and just walked off. The fish fingers were also overcooked! Very disappointed!

Nice food reasonable prices for a nice little cafe was clean and welcoming could go far I'd be back in the future

Came here to buy our Xmas tree. Stopped to have coffee and cake. I wish we didnt but kids were so looking forward to it. Ver under staffed the people working there were very polite but if i had been them i would have gone home exhausted. They need at least 5 more people to work. Tables were overflowing with dirty plates etc. Ques to order, waiting time for food an hour. Surley employee more staff people will come back. So many people complaing.. i hope the staff are on double pay as they are working for 2 people.. please employ more staff as your cafe could be such a gold mine.. im surprised your staff stay.

Came here two days ago with my husband and his elderly mum at 11.15am. First of all thank you for the lovely comfy seats,and huge improvement including how nicely it's decorated. BUT the wait in the queue to be served was terrible. Only two staff on duty on a Saturday morning is not good enough especially as one of them was dealing with a complaint for approximately 10 minutes. Also the cakes were more like puds (fruit tarts, cream based gateaux etc) Where are the Danish pastries that go so well with a coffee mid-morning?! Please bring in the Danish , apple turnovers,carrot cake etc and another member or two of staff. Thanks

Popped in for a quick lunchtime bite. Only one person serving. Big queue and very long wait. Woman was grumpy, I wonder why!

A great place to lunch and shop. Toasted sandwich was served speedily by friendly smiling waitperson. Food nicely presented and very tasty. The new fit out is spacious and relaxing. Reasonably priced with meal and drinks deals. We will go again.

Lunch with a friend in much improved cafe. Good choice of food, coffee, cakes and conservatory a bonus. Sensible prices too. Definitely be back.

Reasonably good cup of coffee but expensive and good very experience

Buena taza de café, pero el servicio es todavía lilly un poco lento. Aún asentarse tras la extensión y parecen cortos de personal. Popular como siempre.

The refit is lovely and has a nice atmosphere. Staff were helpful and food was good. Prices were reasonable too.

Love popping in for a walk around for inspiration on gardening then a scone and tea . Friendly service and very afffordable

Waited at servery while staff chatted away ignoring us. Ordered one tea, one scone and one coffee and a glass of water Asked for a basic one shot coffee, was given a coffee so black I used all the milk and it still needed the same again, and tasted bitter. Went back and asked for a cappuccino, what did I get? I presume it was a latte, as it certainly was not a cappuccino. Couldn't be bothered to go back again, they (the tall lady that served us) obviously doesn't know how to make coffee. Someone at Squires, please train her. Scone was a bit hard as well! The tap water was the best bit for me! Won't be going back.

So many unhappy customers today. This has always been a great place to stop off at for a coffee or lunch. Newly reopened on Monday, having been extended. They won't be needing the additional space! No one knew what they were doing, how to operate anything or even what the items were.Just awful. No better at the new one on Holloway Hill in Chertsey either. With so much choice in the area they will need to train their staff better and get some new ones.

Almost over-generous portions. Not much taste though which is s shame. I had a sausage onion panini which was gigantic and I couldn't eat it all. Never heard of before! Maybe I made a wrong choice. My wife had a much more modest salmon salad which she enjoyed.

I had orginally intended to go for breakfast but I was delayed (why not do an all day breakfast?). So by the time I arrived I decided to go for the roastt lamb which was £10.95. To be fair it wasn't long in coming but when it did I got 4 thick sliced pieces of lamb which mostly fat and gristle. After taking the time to cut out some of the lean bits of meat it wasn't a bad flavour but a bit tough. The meat was accompanied by a pile of roast potatoes which were obviously not home made (probably Aunt Bessie or something similar), some reaonsably tasty green beans and a mountain of carrots. All of this was put on a ridiculous narrow rectangular plate which threatened to overflow evertime I was sawing away at the meat. I'm sure they do nice coffee and such but this wasn't good.

Fifty shades of grey....and that was just the indigenous local clientelle's hair. Sadly, too late for the 9 item brunch breakfast. Why stop serving it at 11:30am?Clean with comfortable seating. Cream teas and coffees. Friendly staff and a welcome respite from the adjacent foliage and Evergreens. The Autumn nip is in the air....soon to strip the foliage bare....Jack Frost and Winter will soon arrive...Best seek the sun and take a dive?Fidelscastrol.

Good service, excellent value and food is good. It is also nice to have the shop to look round as well

friendly staff at hersham squires, lovely to have a quick cuppa and cake or sandwiches, meals look rather good also, there are often special offers on breakfast or tea time, or dinners

I've probably been to Squires Garden Centre Cafe over 100 times. They do breakfasts and lunches and afternoon teas. It is excellent for a quick bite to eat or just a tea and coffee with friends and/or family. The staff are so very friendly and helpful. Their breakfasts are excellent value and a wonderful brunch to fill up some hungry children at the weekends. Lunches are good with a fair range that can be served quickly. This is not a city restaurant but a high end village garden centre cafe. It is very clean. It is a gem known to mainly the older generations and gardeners of Weybridge, Walton and Hersham. It does feel like a little secret at times known to a privileged few but at others it can be very popular. The afternoon teas and Christmas dinners are a treat. The staff are accommodating if something is not right with your meal, and that has happened rarely. Great value place. The whole family can eat out for less that £30 and be absolutely full. This is a treasured cafe with the local community. TripAdvisor asks 'Is this one of the best meals you've ever had in a restaurant?' I answered 'Yes' because one day after an operation I was feeling tired and a down in the dumps. I came into the cafe for breakfast and the chef made for me the most wonderful eggs on toast. It's a small thing I know but he made the toast into the shape of a butterfly, made it so light, and the eggs were just right. It tasted wonderful. A little miracle.

The staff were extremely friendly. It was busy and had a nice atmosphere. The afternoon tea (pot of tea, scone, cream and jam) were very good value. It has the added benefit of having a lovely garden/gift shop to wander around afterwards.

Easy to order food, fast service, friendly and helpful staff in a lovely clean café with a pretty outdoor seating area .I would go more often if it was nearer. Well done

This is a really good coffee shop.it is within the garden centre but has a light airy feeling and it's clean and tidy. The thing that I think is particularly good is the efficient way it is run, there are enough staff to manage the very busy work load (a rarity these days!) the menu is varied and exciting and the quality equally high standard. There are always good offers on. Really worth a visit.

Went for lunch. Clean and tidy, sufficient tables & chairs. Helpful staff. Food generous portions and very tasty. Only problem was the full menu wasn't on the counter. We ordered snacks form the wall chart unaware there is a full menu on the tables. That does need rectifying. Lunch was adequate so didn't need cake or desserts!

Very good cappuccino! Lovely sandwiches with generous fillings! Service was good, staff are friendly & helpful. Very clean and comfortable.

Went here a couple of times for breakfast when visiting friends in the area. They had been given vouchers when eating there on previous occasions, which gave us a percentage off the bill. Enjoyable full English breakfast, make your choice of what things you would like it to include, free tea or coffee. Pleasant surroundings, lovely garden centre and very large shop to wander round. Recommended.

We went for Lunch here as we were visiting nearby and its a lovely clean and airy café at the back of a Garden Centre. I ordered spinach and red pepper quiche with Salad and had to send it back twice and in the end ordered a Panini. They order the quiches in Fresh and freeze and when ordered they microwave it instead of warming in the oven which ruins it. The Manager was very apologetic and offered me a refund and a free coffee next time. Don't let this put you off all was well in the end and I would visit again if in the area. They also do a good range of coffees cakes and a good selection for Children.

Generally, this garden centre's restaurant has good service and food but not so today. I ordered a brie and ham panini which came with a side salad, cost £5.65. The food came after a short wait and it wasn't difficult to see why it didn't take too long. One slice of slighlty melted brie and two small slices of thin ham in a squashed panini does not add up to £5.65. The restaurant was not busy as I arrived there at 1.45pm, so after the midday rush.I was extremely disappointed and will probably leave Squires off my list for a while.Good thing I had some Polos in my bag to munch on.

Nice clean and airy café. The food is very fresh and the sausage rolls and scones are delicious. There are seats outside as well.

When you have spent all your money on the garden this is a good place for a hot snack, breakfast , or a cream tea , the scones and cream are delicious washed down with a good cup of tea !

Nice place to stop for a quick coffee or cup of tea whilst shopping in the garden centre. Squires also have coffee shops at Walton on Thames and W.Horsley. Cobham Squires coffee shop needs to take a lesson from these other restaurants which are excellent.

I visit this cafe a lot as its the best one in the area, friendly staff with a good choice of freshly made food including homemade soup, sandwiches made to order (none of this pre packed stuff) jacket potatoes and a great choice of cakes. Always very clean and tidy. It's very popular locally and can see why. Seating area outside on a nice day, a very pleasant place for lunch or afternoon tea.