St John's Garden Centre in North Devon

Lovely Garden centre but we couldn't take our 'well behaved' dog into the cafe. So no Lunch for us today as it was too windy and wet to sit outside. It will be Merry Harriers next time.

I've been twice recently, both early afternoon (13.15 and 14.00) and on both visits there were no cheese or plain scones left. When I asked if there might be any more later I was given a very abrupt "no". The staff here used to be really friendly and helpful. You say to raise concerns or give feedback during the visit, but to be honest I wouldn't want to if that's the response.

Visited for Birthday cream tea, to find one sad scone was left. As the special cream tea Perspex sign advertising these was on display we asked the young lady waiting to serve us, if there were any scones put aside for these teas. We were abruptly told no as they are too busy to bake any more and once they are gone they are gone. We mentioned this had happened last time we were there and her answer was: 'there are lots of cakes available so it's not like there isn't anything else'. Then obviously walked off muttering to a colleague something about us. I note that you say raise concerns at the time and they will be addressed. Basically if there are no scones, there are no scones so nothing could be done apart from take the sign down, maybe apologise instead of putting us in our place and take note that stock management is missing a trick as I would assume this is a popular afternoon treat for people. No worries as lots of other places to go.

I love visiting a garden centre and this one did not disappoint. It had a wide range of plants and everything you need. The farm shop was perfect for fresh eggs with a wide organic range of dairy and meat. I picked up some ice creams, pastries and cheese which were all reasonably priced and high quality.

No dogs in cafe, real shame as they are allowed in the garden centre but you can't stop for coffee with them. the cafe has several sections so one could be kept for people who don't appreciate our furry friends.

Always very good here, the breakfast is good aswell, the lasagne is the only meal I thought could have been better so far, would recommend, staff are pleasant quick and good food and drink

Been here a couple of times with family. Nice coffee. Cake didn’t seem the freshest but was still enjoyable. Comfortable, clean and pleasant environment.

I ordered the salmon and broccoli quiche and regretted it at first bite. It was the worst quiche I’ve ever eaten and was dreadful. The pastry was soggy and the salmon, which appeared to be layered on the top, was dried out and burnt in places. Very disappointing and I will not be returning!

When I meet my friend in Devon we always come here for food. The food here is delicious and a small sized portion is just enough for us, although it seems rather pricey for a small one. It is nice that water is freely available The garden centre part is the usual standard with plants, garden stuff, clothes and gifts, but there's plenty to look at and while away a rainy afternoon

We visit this garden centre 2 to 3 times a week. It hasagood menu, reasonably priced and usually produces the best fruit scones in the South West. Lately, we have noticed a change in attitude of some of the staff members, and the scones are regularly under baked. There must a aultan shortage as well. Because my fruit scone today had approx 5 sultanas in it. It was more like a plain scone and it was well underbaked. Change of staff perhaps. We sincerely hope that this is rectified soon.

Garden Centre great but Sunday carvery mediocre For some time we had thought about trying this carvery, wouldn’t use it again. Roast potatoes where greasy, no mash, and really thin runny gravy. The only saving grace was the polite staff and beef that was melt in the mouth But that’s not enough to tempt us back

We went to St. Johns for an afternoon high tea. We were greeted with smiles, Sharon & the staff made us feel very welcome. The high tea was simply superb. Well presented & a good selection of sandwiches, cakes & scones. This was worth the five stars for a relaxed & enjoyable afternoon. Thank you all.

Our family recently had lunch at St. JOHNS . We have been here on many occasions and have been very satisfied. However on this occasion my elderly mother had cause to complain that part of her cooked lunch was cold. She asked if it could be reheated. The waitress response to my Mum was quite stern. She took her lunch away. After 20 minutes she had not received her lunch. By this time tge rest of us had almost finished our meal. Again my mother politely asked where her lunch was. She was told they were making her a fresh one. Approximately 10 minutes later another waitress brought out her lunch and banged the plate down in front of her and not very courteously in fact said rudely," Be careful the plate is very hot. There was no apology for the cold food! A very disappointing Luncheon experience for an Elderly lady. Come on St. JOHNS, your staff's manners need to be improved.

We popped in to St John's to have a look at their flowers and displays. We had spent so long looking around, as it was lunch time we decided to take a pit stop and have some lunch. It was a much bigger restaurant than I imagined and so much seating. Being a Sunday there was a carvery on which seemed to be more than popular! As we were only looking for a light lunch, we decided on a panini each. Well, light lunch is not on the cards in St John's it seems. The paninis were amazing. So we'll prepared and yummy but also served with the tastiest side salad I have ever had and some chips. We had looked at the delicious cakes, but after gorging ourselves on a fully loaded hot chocolate and the paninis fit for a king, we just had to say no. We were too stuffed to carry on with our shopping do will to return again and sample some more of their menu & try again!

This cafe is light and airy with plenty of seating. The weather was not the best but there was also seating outside. We had a sandwich and a jacket potato, served quickly and tasted delicious. The service and staff were friendly and efficient and the prices very reasonable. We had a lovely time then wandered round the garden centre too. A great find on our holiday

It’s at great place to visit. Food is good and loads of tables. Also the place is very clean. However, there are no sauces included which is disappointing.

I took a friend for lunch today as the sandwiches are normally lovely. I was so disappointed nothing like it used to be Appreciate the cost of produce going up but instead of having a sandwich packed with good quality gammon ham it was barely a slice of paper thin ham with fat on. Served with a token bit of lettuce & small home made veg crisps made from veg peelings which were soft The relish is delish but again portion massively reduced - previously served with I nice side salad a good handful of crisps & nice portion of relish with the gammon ham of course! To be honest I’d rather pay a bit more for what used to be served & loved! So sorry to write this but thought you should know

Lovely and clean and tidy . Not too busy and service quick. This was at 1pm and a Tuesday. You can get free cold water here. So beef cottage pie with fresh veg and gravy and a Brie bacon and cranberry panini & side salad all delicious. Toilets clean but dryers need updating only 1 working and the other one very slow. Happily recommended

Spent a couple of hours here & thoroughly enjoyed our visit. It was a nice garden centre with many items to buy as gifts as well as plants which looked fresh & well looked after.

Popped in here for an early lunch and both had the turkey and ham pie - absolutely fabulous - in fact too much to eat it all. Came quickly and delicious

Stopped here for an impromptu lunch. We had panini with chips and it was very good. The waiting staff were friendly and efficient.

We called here to visit the restaurant and once again were not disappointed. I told my husband to only choose a small pie, but he wanted a full sized one and struggled to eat it! I had my favourite small beef pie and it was...

Well dog are welcome but the sign on the entrance says guide dogs only . Need to change this. The dogs are not allowed in the cafe area though. Lovely garden centre well equipped with everything you could think of. Gorgeous childrens area too. Went...

returned to St Johns ,had CHEDDAR ploughman's (which I have enjoyed many times before) but this time the cheese was of a lower standard , the pickled onion was so hard I could not cut it (one of our party went to the kitchen to...

We had a lovely visit to the garden centre and restaurant. The garden centre stocks a nice selection of products and they are presented well instore. We ate at the restaurant and both meals were delicious and presented well.

Looked forward for months to the cafe reopening and to enjoying the usual lovely Sunday breakfast. Unfortunately things have changed, and not for the better post lockdown. The prices have increased by around 20% which is to be expected to a certain degree. However the...

My other half and I came here for a bite to eat. We didn't fancy a big meal so went for a sandwich, a British staple 'Bacon &Egg' It worries me how a place could mess this up. What we had were two pieces of...

Decent garden centre with just about everything for a fair price. Camping shop was fairly well stocked & a last minute lifesaver. All in all - highly recommended...;-)

Well it was a wet afternoon but we sat inside and really enjoyed firstly the garden centre itself but then had a exmoor beef cottage pie with fresh peas and carrots little extra gravy Highly recommended place to visit and the cafe was perfect Lovely...

We drove a long way (via diversions) to get to St John's Garden Centre just after Christmas, and were quite disappointed with it. The food was no better than average, and expensive. The staff were not unfriendly, but looked a bit weary and careworn. the...

Me and family come here for lunch a lot. Quick service. Good range on the menu. Food is normally out 15 to 20 mins after order. Normally able to find a big table but does get really busy at weekend 12pm. No complaints from me....

When I am on holiday in Devon I usually meet my friend from Braunton here. Its a lovely restaurant and they offer a smaller plate for a child or person with a smaller appetite which is just enough for me. I usually have the cottage...

Lovely coffee and a very moist and tasty danish pastry delicious. One of the nicest pastries I have had in a long time. Would definitely recommend it. The staff are freindly and the place is relaxed and consistently welcoming.

Visited here today with my mum, decided to have some lunch. Restaurant is huge with lots of seating including an area outside, clean with quick and friendly staff. My mum ordered the panini and I had a sandwich with extra chips, the portions were massive,...

I'm only reviewing the coffee we popped in for. They have a proper Italian style coffee machine behind the counter for show which they don't use & instead use some automated machine. The coffee was absolutely dreadful. I took both of ours back up &...

We have been visiting this Garden Centre for many years and have never once been disappointed by the food or service. There is everything for the avid gardener and always a lovely selection of seasonal plants. They have also taken on the Garden Centre at Ashford, just outside Barnstaple on the Braunton side. Both are certainly worth a visit.

Visited today and had a great lunch big portions great value for money great staff very polite. Food came out hot as were the plates

Visited on a Sunday for lunch. This was fantastic. Excellent portion sizes and well laid out restaurant. Very clean and tidy. Served quickly and food prepared to order and brought to the table. Very pleased with visit.

Always a joy coming to St John's garden centre, especially at Christmas time! The food is lovely and so delighted that they offer a vegan menu (including cakes) I've sample most of the menu and non of it has disappointed. The price points in the café are very fair and the food is always a nice portion size. The garden centre offers some nice brands and is always beautifully displayed, it's great for kids to with the jungle centre path and at Christmas all the displays are stunning.

I took my elderly parents for lunch here on our holiday in the area. Friendly service and great food. Immaculate toilets. A great find. We will visit again next time we are in the area.

This is a lovely Garden Centre, it is packed with unusual items. The Plants all look very healthy, plenty of choice and the prices are competitive. It is truly a place where you could go and spend a few hours just browsing around. There is a large Restaurant/Cafe which has a great outside space. Lots of Homemade Cakes on offer and it is wheelchair friendly. There were Gluten Free Cakes. A great place to go and buy presents for Birthdays and Christmas. There is also an organic shop next door which had lots of interesting offerings. It is so refreshing to go to a family garden centre, so much better than the chain ones!

Had lunch here today - plenty of choice on the menu, food was well cooked and portions very generous. Staff helpful and customer-friendly! Ready to help and nothing any trouble for them, also have a lot of patience. Outdoor and indoors seating and very child friendly. The garden centre is full of plants and there is a 'jungle' of tropical plants and wild beasts to look round before or after eating - something for everyone.

Very good gift selection, great choice of indoor and outdoor plants, trees etc...great value restaurant especially a cooked breakfast, delicious and fantastic value.....clean toilets, friendly staff, very popular place to visit and a loyalty card. Regular events happening....great to have this in Barnstaple.....

Plants were in excellent condition and well looked after at reasonable prices. Good range, well set out and very friendly staff. Will return when in the area again.

By far the best selection of healthy plants we have seen in the area.Have baught verious plants which are all doing well. Would definatly recommend.

Great staff, really helpful! Amazing vegan options, great for dairy free and gluten free too! Loved it!

Plenty of choice and good portion size and good value. Fresh salads and good choice of children's meals. A busy and sociable garden centre with a large open plan restaurant with friendly staff with helpful service.

My wife and I visited the garden centre several times during our visit to Barnstaple for shopping, lunch/carvery and a walk around its 'jungle'. The centre offers good value for money, a wide selection of goods and fun activities for children.

visited the jungle land and was horrified to see dead animals lying around, we saw a dead sparrow and some dead shrews. It smelt and looked dirty and there are far too many fish in the pond, horrible place.

We were staying at the premier Inn and decided we'd have a look what was near by and found here got a very good range of products got a bit of everything the cafe looks very nice in there also and looking at the menu outside of the cafe it all sounded good and the food we saw looked very good! So coudnt say what the food was like, do wish wed had a bite to eat there rather than the discusting subway we had from nearby which made us feel quite bad, prices looked to be reasonable as well definitely worth a look if near by there toilets clean

We have been a couple of times for lunch and a bit of shopping. Both times we found just what we needed and had a pleasant lunch. The staff are friendly and helpful and the stock extensive and interesting. There is a 'jungle safari' which entertains the kids and, when we were there, a Santa's Grotto. Highly recommended.

Took four family members to St John's GC , Barnstaple for lunch yesterday. The Beef Pie was so delicious and the chips were cooked to perfection. Thoroughly recommend this restaurant for value for money. We reserved a table which meant we had a table cloth and it was laid in readiness for us. One of many trips I've made there recently. Can't wait to go again...

Simply this garden centre is our best of all we visit, by being very consistent on every time we frequent it at whatever time of the year.

Called into this restaurant last Sunday as we have been twice before and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. As two vegans, finding somewhere to eat and drink in Barnstaple is tricky. However, we were delighted to discover recently that St John's not only could cater but offered several dessert options! On previous visits we found the staff delightful, friendly and considerate. Undoubtedly they had been told to throw themselves into the Christmas spirit and this they did with great gusto and relish. Being a visitor it was quite simply a joy to be around.

We use this garden centre restaurant quite regularly.

Juts a bit expensive for what is just a garden centre.

Went here to have a look around and pick up some stuff good parking outside we decided to stop for a coffee both were hot and tasted great the staff were friendly i found the coffee a little dearer than i would like. It was a nice place to sit have a chat and a rest.

Great christmas display friendly and helpful staff even telephoned us to let us know new Xmas trees were in.

The garden centre is well-stocked with a wide range of in-door and out-door plants. There are seeds, fertilisers, bug and weed killers in profusion. Garden tools, power tools and hose-pipes with many different nozzles! The staff are friendly and well-informed. And the cafe is a vital refuelling centre!

If you want to have a gluten free sandwich at this establishment you wont get it as the only meal option is jacket potato and cake. I had to have a full salad with ham and coleslaw which although extremely nice, was not really what I wanted. Most establishments today have a loaf of bread in the freezer for instances like this as we gluten free people accept that we have to wait until it thaws before a sandwich can be made,

Visited here for lunch. A very good menu on show, a great choice of hot and cold food,drinks and very nice desserts.considering it's a garden centre the food is low price. Highly recommended

Go here regularly and the coffee and food is always lovely.Friendly staff.Always clean and tidy.Would recommend to anyone to call in.Added bonus of getting things for your garden too with staff always on hand to help with any questions or advice

Called in for some lunch whilst visiting the garden centre. It is a huge restaurant and the food which we had was very good. Would definitely like to try a Sunday carvery there. Well worth a visit as they have such a good selection of food choices.

Lunch today was at this garden centres restaurant. I never expect too much of these places but today was a revelation. I chose the baked hake from the day's specials and it was excellent. A bed of baby potatoes boiled then sautéed with generous chunks of bacon and black pudding, a layer of wilted spinach then the hake, cooked perfectly and topped off with a creamy parsley sauce. Thirty quid in any high end eatery, yours today for less than a tenner.

Plants for all tastes. Excellent showroom which requires a lot of browsing time and a restaurant to tempt every palate at reasonable prices. Plus the artificial jungle with all manner of creatures!

We visited St. John's nursery with our 12-year old coeliac daughter and were pleasantly surprised at the choice of gluten-free options available for her. There were several choices on the main menu - not just the usual ham and chips as well as 3 different cakes. The fish and chips were excellent with a crisp gluten-free batter and well-cooked chips. Good portion sizes and quick service added to our positive dining experience.

...... providing a garden centre and café, There are a great deal of plants available and the staff are very knowledgeable or know another staff member who is more knowledgeable than them!

I visited garden centre last Saturday and decided to visit cafe for coffee and cake. Huge mistake. Coffee ok, service ok however the chocolate cake was tasteless, dry and the worst cake I have ever purchased. Supposedly homemade the cook needs to revisit the cook book. I did email the garden centre directly but no one has had the courtesy to respond hence my official review here on trip advisor. Poor customer service all round

Visiting the garden centre we decided to have lunch. Very clean restaurant area and good helpful staff. Food excellent and at a good price. Recommended

I visit this restaurant regularly with my 93 year old mum-in-law. We both really enjoy ourselves here..Mums favourite is the cream tea, the scones are large and home made served with plenty of good quality jam and lots of clotted cream. Tea is loose leaf and and full of flavour. Mum also likes to take home a slice of one of the delicious home made cakesI have tried various meals, all have been most enjoyable, especially the soup which is delicious and even the bread rolls are home made.The staff are friendly and helpful, they always carry the tray to our table for me which allows me to easily push mum in her wheelchair.. This is a lovely venue for lunch or afternoon tea, we always feel happy to have visited.

We ordered Paninis with a portion of chips. There was so much neither of us could finish it. Lovely food though, obviously on the pricey side but you'd expect that at a garden centre.

Had a carvery here .very expensive. The food was like a birds eye frozen dinner.tasteless very small portion. Drinks a rip off.

Wander through the brilliant garden centre, with all the Christmas decorations out plus the wonderland that is jungle Land! Then an wonderful meal in the restaurant. Coffees, cakes, snacks, meals....wide selection all reasonable priced and served very quickly by friendly chatty staff. Plenty of room and children are catered for. It is our first choice every time! Thank you St Johns and all the staff.

Largely expensive for what is provided and in comparison to other places, however offer a standard breakfast.

Reasonably priced food, big portions and friendly service. The food isn't very inspired but is done well and there's a good selection of cakes however I was disappointed with the coffee. Great service which makes up for any shortfalls.

Never fails to amaze how helpful and friendly the staff are. We particularly love the restaurant and there is never any doubt where we go to for lunch when in town. Good work!!!

Excellent cream tea with plenty of everything. Made especially good as they provided me with wheat free scones. Delightful staff complimented the whole visit.

A very nice garden centre with a large selection of plants plus many franchise stalls as well as their own. A pleasant cafe and a exploratory area for children. Good service with a smile.

Very friendly place nice lunch quite expensive the free walk round the kids jungle was nice with a guided quiz it's a massive place close to the premier inn

Food basic but very good. Good value for money. A place toe at after visiting the lovely garden centre.

Brilliant fruit scones with delicious jam and very decadent clotted cream. Lots of tea and coffee washed the meal down...wow! Sat in the conservatory and enjoyed the sunshine.

The St Johns Garden Centre is a large area with a lot of parking. There are also associated shops on the site. The restaurant area is large and spacious. It is also child friendly with high chairs available. There is a large menu with many meals featuring local produce and of course a West Country theme. The food is freshly prepared and served to the table. Hot food is hot. The portions are of a very good size. For young children there is an small exhibit by the restaurant where they can walk in Jungleland. On Sundays there is also a carvery operating. A great place for a meal in a relaxed atmosphere.

Popped in for a quick lunch with my mum on our break, we both had ham sandwiches, the ham was really thick and so good!! It was well presented with a nice side salad, I've eaten here a few times now and never been disappointed!

As I was meeting my friend she asked if we could meet here. Not being from the area I usually park in Tesco and walk across but I decided I would try and find the proper car park. I would not have found it without my sat nav but I think I would find it again now. The cafe is spacious and clean. I had a ploughman's lunch which was enormous but didnt realise you could order a small main meal, which is intended for a child, or i would have done that. Staff are friendly, service great. i just wish I'd had time to look round the store afterwards

Walked around the large shop and garden centre, decided to have lunch. Had roast from the carvery section.

St Johns is a good garden centre with a fine selection of plants and trees, it also has an interesting shop. The café is of a very good standard and the children love mystic garden

Went for a breakfast with friends and was pleasently surprised staff were helpful and attentive food came quickly and it was good value for money

Arrived here to have breakfast a group of us,only to be told had to wait outside of restaurant as didn't open for 10mins,bearing in mind its winter and kids with us,where is the harm of getting a table to wait? On getting in the restaurant it was freezing in there,where was the heating?! The breakfast wasn't worth it at all not impressive,poor quality and price over the top,extra bacon £1 a rasher day light robbery! Wouldn't eat there again!

My wife and I got here quite often for a quick lunch during our 1hr lunch break! It's quick and tasty and not too badly price!

Always good especially on Sundays for carvery . Good selection of meat and good variety of vegetables .

We had two cream teas; which included one scone, jam, cream and a small pot of tea for one. The setting is very pleasant (we sat in the rear conservatory). Staff are friendly and helpful. Portion size of jam and cream were good and nicely presented in little glass pots. Scone was a little small though warm and fluffy and very tasty. Jam tasted a little cheap. Overall a positive experience and I would definitely recommend.

Very good food at a reasonable price. Good ambience and good selection on the menu. Not cramped and light and airy.

Excellent service served by friendly staff lovely and clean even when busy didn't have to wait long for our meal reasonably priced good value for your money definitely recommend to friends and family

Went to St Johns to see Father Christmas with our daughters , we all enjoyed Father Christmas and it was good value, we then decided to have lunch in the cafeteria we all had jacket potatoes with various fillings, my wife and I had the chilli bean , no taste of chilli just overwhelmed by the taste of tomato, over all the food was a poor quality and over priced for self service, I informed a member of staff that I had paid twice for my coffee which she agreed , she took my receipt and said she would rectify it , that's the last I saw of her. Father Christmas good value , the cafeteria poor and expensive

Used to come here every week, for several years. Half the Jungle Land has disappeared and the restaurant has got pricey. It all seems like one big department store instead of the specialist nursery and peaceful place it once was when one could spend a quiet and pleasant time relaxing and choosing plants. It has got hectic.

I use this place as a lunchtime meeting venue it is a pleasent venue and the food is average so it ticks boxes

Went out for an afternoon with the girlfriend and it was lovely.The atmosphere of the store was lovely and well presented. Clearly a lot of work goes into organizing the entire Centre to be appealing and atmospheric. All products are locally sourced or at least hand crafted.The cafe itself is great. One of the best ice been too. All the food is freshly made and locally sourced, and for about 20 pounds we got two huge meals, two huge slices of freshly made cakes and a cream tea. Can't argue with that at all, especially since the food itself is fresh and cooked brilliantly.Staff are helpful and kind, often really involved with their work and seem to enjoy their work to boot.All in all, great afternoon out. Surprising how nice it was considering its a garden centre, but I'm definitely not looking down my nose at this place. Great stuff.

Service was great, food was very reasonably priced, apparently locally sourced and much more than i was expecting! Great job. The work that has gone into the main store preparing for Christmas was incredible, very festive and a pleasure to visit. Will be returning soon, Thanks

If you are looking for a delicious, sensibly priced meal, whether you visit the garden centre or not, then try this place. Don't expect luxurious surrounds, this is canteen style eating. But it's clean, the service is good and the staff friendly. The shepherds pie is extremely good. Try it.

It is in Barnstaple I go there every week nice food you can buy all you want for garden and pets and there is very nice things there other than what I have mentioned,plus thay have a jungle area for kids to see you can spend a lot of time there staff very good and helpful