Woodlands Bistro & Venue in County Durham

Very expensive for a garden centre cafe

Delicious food and drinks. The service is good. Plenty of gluten-free options. Generous portions.

Really disappointed to write this as it’s a great venue that I go to regularly but the waiting staff are really poorly managed and do not get the basics right. We often sit for 25 minutes waiting to have our order taken it could be empty or it could be busy and we don’t get acknowledged. The staff instead prioritise things like leisurely sorting out cutlery and clearing tables. 3 things the Woodlands could do to improve customer experience drastically 1. Acknowledge customers when they arrive and let them know if they should order at the table or go to the bar (it’s hit and miss and I end up going to the bar when I get frustrated by being ignored) 2. Promptly take orders or address the table and let them know you will be right with them (I want to know who is going to be looking after me instead of trying to make awkward eye contact with one of the staff running around) 3. Check back - I cannot understand why management would not make this a mandatory and routine part of service. Check that the table is happy a couple of minutes after the food is delivered, it’s an opportunity to correct anything before customers are left with a bad taste in their mouth and do not return. Also sort the WiFi out please it’s 2024! Customer experience is everything!!

We’ve eaten here a few times, evening, lunchtime and breakfast. I can’t fault the food and service, but what spoils it for me is the choice of music played when you’re having breakfast. Listening to rock and pop music at breakfast time doesn’t do it for me. There’s a time and place for this but not at breakfast time. Just my opinion.

Great day out for my son's birthday. Morning at Holmside Park and as their food wasn't up to scratch we decided to venture nearby. Lovely place and haven't heard of woodlands before. Food was lovely and could tell was homemade. Great options would come again.

Great place for breakfast. Eggs Benedict absolutely fab.

Had an amazing afternoon tea today , sandwiches, jacket potatoes , Scones and cakes absolutely gorgeous would definately recommend

Wondered why it wasn't very busy on a Saturday at lunchtime and now I know. Food not good. Chips disgusting and when I asked for the chef to be informed I was told 'they would watch it'.

A hidden gem. Lovely quality food

Absolutely brilliant venue for our Wedding Party on Saturday. The staff, food and service were all first class. The staff worked so hard, the buffet received so many compliments from the guests “best wedding buffet I’ve ever had” “nicest potatoes skins ever ” “amazing fish platter”. The venue was perfect for us, I can’t recommend it highly enough. Thank you to you all for making our wedding party perfect 😍

Myself, my husband and my mother in law booked for afternoon tea on Saturday 9th March. While I've been here a few times I've never had afternoon tea and was looking forward to it as I know how high the food quality is. Well I was not disappointed! Asked for drinks and sandwich choices (you are allowed two) immediately and they came out in good time, we did have a little wait for the food but the sandwiches were being freshly made so understandable. When the food arrived it was to see that the sandwiches came on a big serving plate, they were individual buns and not the standard finger sandwiches which was a lovely surprise; we were also served half a filled jacket potato each and they were absolutely delicious. The sandwiches were egg and cress and prawn mayonnaise, freshly made and so tasty. We also had a cheese and chive scone each with butter, these were still warm and were outstanding! There was also a currant scone served with clotted cream and strawberry jam, while I'm not a fan of these I'm told they were lovely. I did ask at the time of booking to have a plain sweet scone instead of the fruit ones but just assumed they'd forgotten but no! They too turned up and were amazing. The cakes were a rich chocolate cake, lemon drizzle and carrot cake, also amazing. Cannot fault the service we received and the food was beyond anything I've had before. They were very busy but the quality and quantity of everything was outstanding. I'll be recommending to everyone and can't wait to come back for another one!

Had a lovely afternoon tea today for mothers day. Did wait half hour for food but place was full, but not a big deal. Food was lovely and worth the money. Lovely china cups but when i asked for a teaspoon as non on table got given wooden disposible ones. Didnt really go with the china cups. But overall would recoommend.

Gorgeous Sunday roast dinner with Yorkshire pud and veg , nice dessert

Great place to visit. Foods worth the price. Great atmosphere. Get yourself down.

Only 4 miles from where I live- why have I never been here before?? It's fabulous 👌 huge, tasty afternoon tea enjoyed by the 4 of us. We only ate half as there were various sarnies, 1/2 cheese Jacket potato, cheese scone, fruit scone jam and cream and 3 cakes 🐷🐷 with endless tea and coffee for £17.95. Boxes are available for everything you don't eat. Staffwere wonderful. Big cafe with conservatory area and outside seating- which we didn't try in Feb but will later! Plenty of parking with plants and gift shop

We come quite regularly and all the staff are so nice and welcoming. Food is always lovely!

Visited the Woodlands yesterday for our daughters 12th birthday meal. There were 14 of us in total for Sunday dinner and a gluten free fish/chips. The food was very tasty. But what made the afternoon so nice was the staff. The ladies were so friendly and polite. All the family commented on that. Customer service is a big deal for me. So was very happy that we received top quality. The only downfall with the restaurant is that it closed at 4pm. But again the staff didn't rush us. Look forward to our next meal. Xxx

Food is always good never had a bad meal 5🌟 only thing that I dislike is waiting staff with long hair should have it tied back instead of it going all over when they bend over to give you your food very unhygienic

Amazing place with amazing food. Service was on point, probably one of the best and affordable place in the region to eat.

Yesterday was my first visit and I was not disappointed. The place is deceptively large and despite arriving around 12:30, we got a table with no problems. There were four of us in our party and I opted for the hot beef sandwich which came with side salad and a generous portion of gravy. I also opted for a portion of chips to share - delicious! The other members of my group loved their food too. Service from our waitress was friendly, efficient and could not be faulted. The only negative was that it was quite noisy but that is hardly the fault of the restaurant or staff. We'll be back!

Was not as impressed as previous visits! Corned beef pie mostly potato 😔 very small portion of mushy peas & meal overall was not piping hot ... feel it was over priced for what you got. Couple menu's needed wiped clean! Plus .... polite, friendly service.

Not had a chicken supreme like this one .. no sauce laced with rosemary and so tough to eat .. not impressed with instant mash and roast potatoes !! Hopefully they have more choices for gluten free too .. the list of foods requested to comment on were not available !!

We absolutely love this place. The food is outstanding, the service is always excellent and the venue is very comfortable. It's only a short drive from home and we visit regularly. Highly recommended.

Great out of the way bistro great food ... Best chicken burger I've had ... definitely recommend it ... definitely will go back .

Visited with my daughter and family for afternoon tea. So much food and such high quality at a very reasonable price. Advised of quiet times for my daughter who doesn’t like noise and staff were very accommodating. We will definitely be back. Thank you

Delicious (and huge) afternoon tea.

Lovely menu, great food and service. Highly recommended

First time visit fantastic food

First time visiting today... just had a coffee and cheese scone - both delicious. Staff were first class. Had a quite mooch around the gift shop too. Will be definitely be back - what a gem 🙂

Arrived after recommendation from Google to find it closed

Lovely place club sandwich is to die for.

Absolutely brilliant night, Fantastic entertainment, and wonderful atmosphere

Fantastic food and friendly staff, my 1st visit but will definitely not my last 😊

Mother in law's favourite place, someone's got to take her.

Lovely little gem was invited here from friends and the food is beautiful, friendly staff you couldn't ask for more

We enjoyed delicious fish&chips as well as a sunday roast at the bistro after taking a quick stroll around the garden centre. It was a great afternoon out and I'd recommend it to everyone! Staff was attentive and very polite. There's a lovely woodland walk around the bistro which was great after the meal.

Lovely food, nice atmosphere. Will go again

Lovely food in a lovely setting.

Abba tribute night was fabulous, can't wait to see then in December. A mix up with food but a brilliant night overall

There do nice meals in restaurants and nice tea rooms friendly staff 🔥

Excellent night for Tina Turner. Great food . Reasonable priced drinks . Great staff .

Lovely meal last night and Tina Turner tribute act very good. Brilliant atmosphere.

What a hidden gem 1st time we have been place is immaculate, food so good staff excellent if you don't know its there find it and try won't be disappointed.

Great place, lovely family who own and run the venue, great food and drinks menu, in all a lovely experience!

Went here for lunch on Thurs 12th May. After being shown to a table none of the waiting staff bothered to come to the table to take our order for drinks or food. Customers who arrived much later than us were served but after half an hour of waiting for service we left feeling very dissappointed. ( and hungry) Will not go again.

Called in today for coffee, excellent place lovely helpful staff, great garden centre, we will be back,

Lovely food and great atmosphere! Great banter with staff too. Had a fab time

Gorgeous place, fabulous food and great staff,would highly recommend a visit 😊

Amazing venue highly recommended for the big occasion .... and for a visit to enjoy the garden centre lovely food and country walks

Excellent well appointed recently refurbished venue. Great menu with high quality food served by attentive friendly staff. I was envious of plates being delivered to other tables! Layout covid safe. Well worth a visit.

very nice and sociable place 2 hav food and drink

Great place to eat. Beautiful wedding venue.great staff

Lovely dinner on Sunday good staff