The Gardeners Retreat in West Dorset

Having moved into the area, our thoughts is to support a local business. The garden centre is great and we will continue to use for our gardening needs. Least the chap on there on our visit smiled and was friendly. The visit to the cafe unfortunately not so good. As previous messages left on trip advisor the lack of warmth from staff members in the cafe is non existence . Tea no extra hot water meant the taste of such strong tea was disgusting why not chew on the teabag only forget the water !! We have a lot of friends and family visitinf all year tound and we were thinking of booking the function room especially for Xmas festivities based on the atmosphere and the food which was over salted, just tepid. Won't be booking anything. I am in hospitality, restaurant, cafe, customer service is your business , there should be no let up no natter what your day is panning out personally, without customers you won't have a business, don't rest on your laurels.

Absolutely fantastic breakfast, no-one in this area to better it for good food or price. Will definitely be going there again and recommending it to all our friends, Fantastic service from a very dedicated team, Thankyou everyone.

Very good value lunches in well cared for dining room. Excellent roast lamb in redcurrant sauce was beautifully cooked and was very tender and tasty. A varied menu was available at all times.

Food Good but my goodness the staff are so miserable bordering being downright rude no smile no acknowledgement at all at the till or when delivery of food

Called in for breakfast this morning. Sat outside as weather lovely. Food hot. Staff Excellent service. Good value for money

We both had the carvery one Beef and one Pork both were very good and the service was quick Staff are polite and helpful and friendly Would definitely recommend it we will be going again.

Joined the queue for the cafe at 9:50 today (Good Friday) with the intention of ordering 2 x ‘happy hour’ breakfasts , which were available until 10:00. When i eventually got served at 10:00 I was told I couldn’t have the offer as the time had expired. This , despite me joining the queue for the till at 9:50 ! My wife and I have been regular patrons there for 10 years and could not believe the attitude that was taken by the assistant. Needless to say we won’t be returning. Extremely disappointed.

The staff were rude and unhelpful, the lattes were awful, we didn’t bother ordering food because of the negative attitude of staff members. Definitely won’t be visiting again.

Excellent menu and prices. Sunday lunch was great price and quality. Surroundings may not be 5* but everything else makes up for it. Well worth the visit

We come most weeks for Sunday lunch and once in the week for lunch and today I decided to add a pot of tea to my order. I asked for some extra hot water as I like my tea a lot weaker than my mum does. I was told that I couldn’t have extra water as ‘people have been taking advantage of our (the restaurants) generosity so I couldn’t have extra hot water’. I’m a loyal customer and was really upset that the accusing tone suggested I was trying to ‘rip them off’. The tea was really strong and not at all enjoyable. Is it worth loosing regular customers over being so petty about some hot water. Very disappointing.

This cafe is very handy and close by for locals or holiday makers we've been here many times for a meal and a good old chat,however the last few times on arrival we expected a more welcoming staff, but instead we had staff who were rude and unwilling not listening to what we wanted to order with a bad attitude! We ordered our food when it arrived the drinks where tepid and the breakfast was not what we ordered and virtually cold and greasy!!! We definitely would not recommend the place or returning!!

Great Sunday lunch had today at this garden centre which was very busy so it's best to book table in advance Thank for the Great roast dinner Thanks to all the staff for their great service .

What a lovely place to have something to eat. We went there with a group of friends for Sunday morning breakfast after my birthday party the night before. The place was full but we thankfully had booked. I was amazed at how quick we were served considering how busy they were. The food was delicious, and the service just as good. Well done to all the team. We'll be seeing you again. Andy n Debs x

Sunday lunch delicious and plentiful. Choice of beef, pork, chicken ,lamb and nut roast in 3 sizes to cater for all appetites. Not been since the revamp restaurant now bigger but lost none of its cosiness. Staff friendly service prompt. We will be back

Just had breakfast here with my partner. Everything was lovely. Breakfast delicious. Staff friendly and smiley. Would definitely return!

Great lunchtime specials and top notch Sunday lunches. We are a family of 4 adults visiting Weymouth and we appreciate good food at value for money prices. The gardener's retreat fits the bill 100%. Two chicken kormas for £12 for a lunchtime special was our first visit. chicken was plentiful and of a good quality. Mushroom omelettes with salad were also really tasty. Sunday lunch wise, the small size servings( there are a choice of S,M or L ) were enough for us - especially as we followed them up with spotted dick and sticky toffee pudding. All meals were excellent- great customer service and food arrived piping hot too. decent roast beef and nice to have a choice of roast lamb too. Highly recommended.

This is a popular spot for local people and we have been a few times before. Standard food at reasonable prices. However I was very disappointed on the last visit. My wife’s tuna sandwich was fine. However, I ordered a veggie breakfast in an effort to be a bit healthier. I asked if it was possible to swap out a hash brown for anything else. Another bit of toast would have been fine, however I was promptly told that this was not possible, I would be charged the normal price and would have to pay for anything extra. Not good customer service at all I’m afraid. I explained I felt it wasn’t very fair or accommodating to be told ‘This has been our policy for a while now’. When it arrived EVERYTHING was deep fried so no healthier and rather oily tbh. I won’t be rushing back and wouldn’t recommend the place as a result.

This was our first visit ( certainly won't be our last ) This was a family meet-up, one from Denver USA, us from Trowbridge & other family from Bournemouth Six of us so we booked, just as well as today they said was their busiest Tuesday this year I am not surprised, excellent menu including specials, which sold-out very quickly They are well known for their extensive breakfast menu ( not surprised as the prices they charge ) All in all a very enjoyable extended lunchtime with all of us having different items at very acceptable prices ! Well done to their very busy & chatty staff Would certainly recommend here

I was visiting my mother for my birthday and she wanted to take me for a breakfast/lunch. I went to the till to order two lots of food and two drinks. The woman behind the till embarrassed me by stating "if you can just stop babbling I might be able to take your order" this was said in front of other customers, luckily I don't suffer from a speech impediment or social anxiety but even so was pretty humiliating. I got back to the table where my mum asked why I was red, I told her what happened and the lady on the next table said she had been treated rudely as well. When the food came out, he was only very slightly more polite! I ordered a cheese panini....I don't have particularly high standards but a microwaved uncooked bread with plastic cheese was beyond edible. So in summary, rude staff and truly terrible food.

My family were visiting from West Sussex and we met up with friends for breakfast. The breakfasts were very nice and we stayed for an extra drink afterwards. On enquiring if we could have ice with a bottled water we were told, “we’re a cafe not a pub!” In fact it was reiterated when I hadn’t heard the first time. How very rude when a simple no would have sufficed. My Granddaughter has worked in a garden centre cafe and she said she wouldn’t dream of speaking to someone like that. She is 18 and the server was old enough to know better. The cappuccino was quite weak but apart from that the rest of the staff were very obliging.

From the start staff were polite, friendly and efficient, we only had to wait for 10 mins for our food it was hot and very scrumpy didn't know what to eat first. They even do fried bread! All round fantastic meal

We got a cheese sandwich for my kid. It was tiny even for a kid's meal. One bit of cheap white bread lazily slapped together with some margarine and grated cheese. We tried to jazz it up a bit with some ketchup, but this is...

The meal was absolutely lovely…we all loved our lunch. Couldn’t fault any of our meals. I was disappointed with the customer service though. On arrival there was nobody available to direct us to our reserved table so as I saw only one table for 8;...

Lovely large breakfast. The bacon was lovely and cooked really well. Eggs had runny yolks and hash browns were delicious. Sausages weren't great and tomato sauce provided was very cheap and sweet tasting. The lattes were delicious, coffee was the perfect strength. Will definitely be...

Have just been two days on the trot for Christmas lunch, wonderful meal and staff were very helpful, we also have enjoyed their breakfast and Sunday Roast in the past

Went for Lunch today and my Partner could not have anything but a piece of G/F carrot cake No Sanwich options available because they dont have Gluten Free bread or Rolls could of had Soup but without any bread or roll offered a breakfast but...

Starting to visit here more and more as it really is the best breakfast around. Happy to swap and change items on your breakfast. Food always comes quick, hot and really tasty. Really cute separate inside dog friendly area.

The food was hot when served and can’t fault the food throughly enjoyed and one satisfied customer it’s idea for looking at the lovely laid out flowers and well worth trying it out I’m sure you will not be disappointed

Stopped for breakfast-1 veggie, 1 full English. Brilliant. Service was quick, staff pleasant and my veggie brekkie was the best ever. So nice to see a breakfast that is not swimming in fat, everything nicely cooked and tasted good quality. We will be back!

Been having sunday lunches here for some time. Food consistently good. Friendly staff always like a "well oiled machine". Dad is in a wheelchair, this has never been a problem. They seem to have a policy of constantly improving the premises. Dog friendly. (I sometimes...

Brilliant food and value for money!!!! The venue is very nice and clean with Very polite, professional and friendly staff. I Would definitely recommend and looking forward to returning again soon. 👍

The organisation, the service, and the quality of the food was excellent and we have had nothing but praise from all who attended. One even said it was one of the best chillies he has had

Superb tasty hot food, staff very kind and considerate nothing to much trouble, We had a Sunday Dinner for 6 to celebrate a 90th Birthday. We had a marvellous time thanks to all concerned at The restaurant.

Popped in for lunch with my Mum, i had a tuna mayo baguette and my Mum had the homemade tomato soup. Lovely food, excellent quality and good value for money. We were then very naughty and had the chocolate sundaes. They were totally gorgeous. We...

We stopped here for breakfast. The prices were very reasonable happy hour breakfast between 9am and 10am £2.95, the portions were good and the service was quick and friendly. Would highly recommend.

After a couple of recommendations we thought we’d give it a go and sadly won’t be back. Although cheap, portion size was poor, it wasn’t tasty and then we had to wait 25 mins for pudding (a slice of cake), I could have helped myself as they were already cut and on display, not sure what the delay was.

My wife and I have caught the gardening bug and went to the gardening centre for some materials. We took one look at the menu and found a table. Friendly service and only a twenty minute wait for dinner to arrive and it was well worth the relatively short wait, a massive plate of delicious well cooked food. My title for this review was because food we have had at other gardening centres left a lot to be desired but, not I hasten to add, at this place. Give it a try, you won’t be disappointed. But call to make a reservation.

Great garden centre, nice breakfast, ruined by cheap cold sausages,please just upgrade them. Ps website needs prices update.

We came upon this garden centre and restaurant quite unexpectedly due to putting incorrect details into the satnav when going to another centre. From the outside it is quite unprepossessing and you may give it a miss but we were tired and hungry. It was quite obvious from the full restaurant that it was popular for its sunday lunches. We were served by a very pleasant staff member who miraculously found an available table (paying attention to me be in a mobility chair) and took our order for a variety of sandwiches and drinks. She was very apologetic that we would have a 10 minute wait. The food arrived within that 10 minutes and was quite obviously freshly made. We all had something different and it was all exceptional. We learnt that they are usually very busy but a table may be reserved.Once refreshed we made a visit to the garden centre and were extremely pleased to note the very reasonable prices and did in fact make a purchase of pot and plant. We shall most definitely visit again when in the area.

We, as a couple and as family have visited here on many occasions for lunch and always found the food good, hot and very good value.Staff have always been helpful and patient even when they’re very busy.Generally always go for the chicken roast option when visiting on a Sunday, opted for the small chicken with large vegetable option -which was a very good sized portion.Would have been five stars but restaurant is dog friendly, I know this is a good thing for most, but personally (being registered severely sight impaired) find dogs lying on floors are nothing more than a tripping hazard, don’t really consider mans best friend very hygienic either.Good selection of meals and deserts (no trifle on this visit though ) , premises kept clean and tidy, and UNLIKE bigger establishments tables are cleared and cleaned quickly.Good setting with outside seating available.

The cafe itself is located within the Garden center. It offers a wide variety of options on the menu and it reasonably priced! The cafe is very clean and even though it was busy, we recieved quick service and a semi warm welcome. Shame its not advertised more around town but we shall definitely be returning x

We hadn't been back for breakfast for a while but were not disappointed. The standard breakfast was more than enough although the "full monty" is a tempting challenge if you have a big appetite. All the food here is excellently cooked. Service is great too.

I revisited this cafe when holidaying in Weymouth and was sadly disappointed. This visit I was served by a sour faces woman who would not change anything about the meal (unlike my first visit) and was unfriendly in the way she explained this. We therefore decided just to stay for a coffee which the woman automatically supersized without being asked (which I thought was illegal) and when I showed her the normal price of a coffee in the menu she got shirty and just poured it into a smaller cup and shoved it at me.Not worth the money to be treated so badly.

Went here for lunch with friends. Had the beef burger which was very tasty. Fast friendly service. Reasonable size menu all at reasonable prices.

Lovely clean cafe inside and outside seating areas the breakfast was good but why oh why do they spoil it by using cheap sausages very low on meat content spoil an otherwise excellent experience because everything else was spot on.

Went here for brunch,lovely staff behind the serving counter,very speedy service,I normally rate cafes on their coffee,this place has really nice coffee,great prices,clean seating area,outside sitting available.

We stayed at Littlesea caravan site and only spotted the garden centre and Cafe as we were queuing to get passed a park car . The Cafe is to the rear of the garden centre on the right hand side ,we studied the menu and went for a cheese and tomato sandwich and a bean jacket potato with a scone as well .The meals were ok except for the scone it was very dry and crumbled when cut .The prices were quite cheap its a pity the scone ruined my score it would have 4 ,well worth a visit other wise .

My wife & I were told about this wonderful garden centre & were surprised to see it had quite a large restaurant called the Gardeners Retreat.We called back the next day to sample their “happy hour” breakfast served between 9am & 10 am Monday to Saturday & 10am to 11am on Sunday.What a bargain.A full English for £2 -95 ,served piping hot with a choice of fried bread or toast,delicious.I would highly recommend this restaurant & the garden centre

Not sure what to expect on arrival as this isn’t your usual garden centre location being in the middle of a built up area, but what a find! The restaurant served us a mixed meat platter and jacket potatoes all of which were platefuls and enjoyed by all. The quality of food was excellent, the service quick and friendly. I can happily recommend this restaurant to everyone.

Called in for Breakfast. Wasn't disappointed. Had their early breakfast happy hour. Bacon,Sausage,Egg (cooked to perfection) Mushrooms,Beans, ,Hash Brown, and Toast all for £2.95. Will be back The staff were lovely especially Sian what a lovely girl you have.

Good food served quickly. Some members of staff could be happier whilst taking order and serving it mind you

This has to be our favourite place to come for Brunch, the staff are great the place is always bright and clean and their range of breakfasts is excellent and the food is always wonderfully presented and fantastic value for money. We always love coming here and recommend anyone in the area to try them out.

excellent varied menu, we visit several times a week Sundays always full up the staff do the very best to for all. A very well worthwhile visit.

The people are very friendly and attentive, and the breakfast was very reasonable, the tables are not crowded together so you can enjoy and relax

Cafe is nice and clean, staff are very friendly. I am a very fussy eater but they were quite happy to change things around and cook exactly how I wanted. Definitely worth a visit

Called in for Breakfast on the off chance. Wasn't disappointed. Had their early special. Bacon,Sausage,Egg (cooked to perfection) Mushrooms,Beans,Grilled Tomato,Black Pudding ,Hash Brown, Tea and Toast all for well under a Fiver. Will be back.

We have been here a number of times and it is truly a wonderful little cafe. Very much a locals cafe with great food and service. The food is homestyle and excellent quality. Value for money and the staff wonderful! Will revisit!

We occasionally pop in for breakfast, the service is good, the restaurant is always clean, food is of a decent quality and is excellent value for money. Lunchtime menu looks very tempting too but have not tried it as yet.

We were out for a potter in the garden centre and drawn in by the two meals for £10 sign at the restaurant. Not expecting much to be on offer we ventured in, and were delighted with what we found. An eclectic menu, friendly staff and amazing prices (for Weymouth). We (my wife and I), both had deep fried tempura king prawns with sweet chilli dip and chips. Outstanding quality! Even more so for the price. Will definitely return.

Had Sunday lunch here. We sat outside in a covered area that was pleasant sitting in the sun. Limited, and rather dull menu with only 1 vegetarian option. All 4 of us had a roast dinner. The food was of a reasonable quality and there was plenty of it. The service was extremely slow. We queued for 25 minutes to place our order but the food came quickly after being ordered. There did not seem to be enough staff on duty. Those that were on duty were working very hard during a busy lunchtime period. Clearly a popular place for Sunday roasts. Busy.

Staying at the near by caravan park and off ten pop in for the happy hour breakfast sets you up for the day

It is fair to say that, up till now, my favorite place for a good breakfast has been Wetherspoons. It is still 'up there' with my affection. However, acting on the recommendations of my partner's colleagues - and needing some gardening supplies - we ventured forth. Being only a few minutes by car from our address we soon found ourselves in a little gem of a garden centre. Our first port of call was The Gardener's Retreat, a smallish cafe within. We had missed the breakfast 'special' but no matter, the menu held several breakfastian delights. I chose The Full Monty - two of everything and shot drink - and my Lady selected the Gardener's Brunch. While waiting for the friendly staff to administer the aforementioned repast, I browsed the rest of the menu. A goodly choice lunches, with various breaded products, and a few hot meals, would cater for most palettes. A Sunday roast is also available for a very reasonable price. With a cheery word or two from our hostess we were delivered of our breakfasts - hot and freshly prepared!