Wyevale Garden Centre in Northampton

Food was alright considering we had to wait about half an hour and we had to queue for another half an hour. Then all the food arrived at different times so none of us actually ate together. The outside bit allows dogs but they're not allowed in the actual restaurant and at this time of year it's way too cold to be sitting outside. There used to be an indoor dog seating section but since the Costa was removed, so was the seating area. Food is what your normally expect from a garden centre: good choice of jacket potatoes, paninis, soups, sandwiches etc. It was very busy though.

What a rip off, no price list posted for cold drinks and then charges £1.75 for a can of drink... I recommend you avoid.

Ordered 3 coffees and at the checkout was charged full price, when I asked why full price even though they are advertising eat out to help out I was told it was Dobbies policy who run this garden centre that the offer only ran to food not drink. Staff was very unhelpful and rude and just stared at me as though I was wrong to question them.

Popped in on Sunday for our first coffee out in 4 months. I have to say the restaurant was immaculate, all the staff had PPE and it was very clear on what the new procedures were very clear and easy to follow. The tables were all layed out with 2 metres between and I felt safe being there.

1. I visited today with my children and we met a friend. When it was Wyvale we never paid for the soft play. It’s been taken over by Dobbies. Today we were sitting next to the soft play after the children had been playing for twenty minutes and a woman approached me and asked if I had children in the soft play. When I confirmed that I did she said “Well, you NEED to go and pay”. She was very rude and had absolutely zero customer service skills. She went over to all of the people sitting at the tables near by ordering them to go and pay. I took a look around and there were no signs to say that the soft play was chargeable so this annoyed me because the woman’s tone of voice was like I’d done something wrong and she was reprimanding me! I’m usually an honest person but I went in with my youngest child with out paying as there was a long queue at the food till and my eldest was already in there so I didn’t want to leave him. There wasn’t anyone on the door of the soft play checking to see who had paid. When we were leaving the soft play the same woman came in and asked me again if I’d paid!! I said no and she told me again that I needed to go any pay. I asked how much and she said £3 and go pay for the wrist band at the till. I said would she take the money and she said acain, you pay at the till for the wristband. I think she knew I wasn’t going to pay so as I waked out she shouted it’s £2 and followed me back to my buggy and took the money. 2. I don’t know what they were collecting the soft play money for because it was dirty in there. The padded mats had black dirt patches and there was general dirt and bits and stuff and fluff in the cracks and crevices. 3. The baby changing and disabled toilet up on entering stunk so bad and someone had urinated all the seat and hadn’t flushed so I had to hover my toddler over the seat as I couldn’t let him near it. I had to flush the handle using loo roll as I couldn’t bear the thought of touching it. Absolutely disgustingly filthy toilet. 4. When we were sitting having our coffee next to the soft play we could smell an awful smell as they had stored dirty nappies in a cupboard nearby in the food section! Vile! 5. Dobbies have no contact details on their website as I wanted to make a constructive complaint to them. So I found this highly annoying and here I am writing this review as they clearly are not bothered about customer service and customer opinions if they don’t have basic contact information on their website! They do have a lovely selection of goods to browse and purchase and the fish section was nice to browse round with the children but I would certainly not recommend it for the soft play or to drink or eat there as it’s disgusting.

This is mainly a garden centre. It has a restaurant but since it became Dobbbies I have not used that. Look, they took over as Dobbies several months ago and it feels like they don't have a clue what to do with it. So much of it is devoid of anything. An entire area that could be and was useful landscaping is just an empty plot. The concession, which was always excellent of Maidenhead Aquatics is now just awful for no apparent reason. Flooding inside, generally messy. I'd not buy anything from them right now. The pond fish outside just had so many dead fish it was smelly. I have used the brand of store elsewhere and it was OK so I am just so shocked that they just don't seem to know where they're going with this one. I'll try again in a few months and see where they're at.

Come on middle management give some of your staff the credit they deserve,they all work very hard to keep the good name of Dobbies going

The Costa is still there but any physical mention of Costa itself has been removed which is very confusing. The food and drink is still the same though. The paninis and cakes were really good. The black forest hot chocolate is also amazing. The garden itself is good and has lots to offer. They also do regular promotions like 25% off if you spend a certain amount - annoying that The pet shop is exempt from this though, it's very pricey in there.

All I can say is that everyone at this store are very friendly and helpful great variety of goods for the home and garden and the coffee shop is brilliant and the sandwiches are fantastic keep up the good work

This place is very good for food,coffee,service,any thing of your coffee is cold or your food do not sit in your chair go to the counter andask for a new drink or food the staff are more than willing to help and exchange. The staff are always at hand to help very friendly

Popped in for a coffee and a light lunch with my Mum after browsing for Xmas presents. Friendly staff, quick and efficient service and a yummy lunch! Thanks Dobbies!

This is the first time I’ve been since Dobbies took it over and I wish I hadn’t bothered. Came in for a cooked breakfast (which used to be a decent offering) but unfortunately it didn’t live up to previous visits. The staff were like zombies operating an incomprehensible system to order food..and then drinks..all paid for at the same till but separately!!? Then we come to the food...most of it...all of it looked like it had been cooked with a hairdryer! The bacon, eggs and sausage were inedible and the beans toast and hash brown were cold. The only thing worth having was the coffee, which I had to wait 20 minutes for because of the ridiculous serving system!

Very good food excellent staff gone up hill fast staff always very quick to help both the food in the restaurant and coffee shop good I would give them 4.1,/2 stars

I agree with some of the recent reviews of this establishment since it was sold to Dobbies. Gone down the pan. Looks like a sale is always on. Grubby cutlery in the cafe. I shall think twice of going there again.

Since Dobbies took over this once enjoyable experience is now more like a low rate garage sale with the stuff that Wyvale couldn't sell still everywhere and as for the Costa, if you are a loyal card holder, don't bother. The snotty individual said they are now a proud to serve so don't give points. Shame she was not proud of the Costa reputation for customer service.

I recently visited here with my mum, son & niece for a treat after school as they have a play area. The service was terrible! We were made to wait whilst 4 members of staff were talking - even though we had been acknowledged. We asked if there were any scones as there were tags but none out to which the lady replied “nope”. We ordered our hot drinks, 2 women were serving us and both were extremely rude for no reason like we were an annoyance :( our bill came to £37 with food, drinks & play area price. The staff had no manners whatsoever, no please, no thankyou. I asked for a glass with my drink and I was told “ get it at the end” (where I then saw was a self serve type table with glasses) We were really disappointed with our experience. And then to top it off half the children in the play area didn’t even have wrist bands which means staff don’t monitor if everyone is paying so it felt unfair that we had had to pay. Such a shame it lets the garden centre down.

Went to garden centre first time since dobbies took over .the coffee shop that used to be costas well , I wondered why it was so easy to get a table as normally you can’t now I know why .the staff were more interested in speaking amongst there selves even when serving ,I have been a front of house manager for over 30 years and I have to say I was appalled by the service ,the sandwiches you are selling have no date ,ingredients ,allergies labels at all .i sat listening to a few people walking by ,they was not coming in as there was no staff behind the counter ,the customers already sitting were trying to say it’s because you have only just took over but to be perfectly honest that’s no excuse ,

Ok are first time since it’s changed to Dobbies Some good offers and the plants are of a good quality

Large garden centre including Costa as well as garden centre restaurant. Plant area well stocked. Let's shop also included. Typical wyvale but is good.

I visit here once a week without issue. However I it was a completely different experience yesterday (bank holiday Monday). I was in a long queue and had a meal deal in my hand from the fridge at the entrance to costa. When I finally got to the till i wasn't charged the meal deal price i queried this with the member of Costa staff who said in a very snappy rude manner that the deal finished at 2pm it was now 2:15pm, i looked at my watch it was 2.04pm. I said it's 2:04pm and i've been in the queue for the last 10 minutes. She said 'well the deal finishes at 2pm so you won't be getting it will you!'i couldn't believe the way i was spoken to 'fair enough if i can't have the deal price I would just expect a response like 'I understand you were in the queue but unfortunately i can't honour the meal deal price after 2pm, im sorry' but the attitude on staff member was shocking, very hostile i really didn't expect it from a Costa. I put the food back and ordered a vanilla latte which they said they would bring to the table. The Vanilla Latte eventually arrived at the table with a different but equally rude member of costa staff who felt the need to say 'can you let us know where your sitting next time its taken me ages to find you, you know!' this was enough to prompt me to recall to her the terrible experience i had just had at the counter with the other member of staff. Her response was not apologetic she said well we can't give you the meal deal price after 2pm even if you were in the queue otherwise everyone in the queue will want it as well where will it end. She failed to appreciate the way it was handled was rude and terrible experience for a customer to be spoken to jn that way or tgat she too was also handling the situation terribly. Anyway off she went and i take a sip of my vanilla latte but oh no they have forgotten to put the vanilla shot in, back to the counter i go! Seriously don't bother going here i used to be a weekly custoner i will not be going back again after this experience.

Light and airy space with lots of food options. Great soft play for kids also. Reasonable value for money. Could be improved with more recycling facilities and If plastic straws could be replaced with paper ones and less drinks in plastic bottles.

I went for lunch in the garden centre restaurant with my grandson yesterday. Although the food was well overpriced ,it was delicious. I had Lasagna ,my grandson had Macoroni Cheese and my daughter had a bowl of soup. We also had 2 cups of tea and a small bottle of juice. The bill was just a few pence short of £30 ,but it was all freshly cooked and piping hot .

Great staff . Great latte . Very helpful . Great fish & chips . Anna was very kind helping with my tray . As my child was upset ! 😢😢😢

Usually when I come here I have a pleasant enough time however, on the last couple of ocassions there has been one young girl making the coffees on the machine who has made the visit very uncomfortable while you are waiting for your drink at the end of the counter, she is noticeably rude to the people working with her, I nearly wanted to say something but felt it was not worth it however, the next day I came back and she was the same, seems very unprofessional...I was also not impressed with the jewellry and tattoes, surely they are against hygeine rules?

Popped in as up visiting the Famalam.

We regularly come here for breakfast and always enjoy it.

I have found myself here several times in late afternoon. They apparently don’t close until 5.30pm but will start DRAGGING chairs around to clean from 4.30pm onwards. So you have absolutely no chance of a social coffee with a friend because you cannot hear yourself talk for the noise of the chairs being dragged about. It they close at 5.30pm then this is when they should clean. I have never felt so uncomfortable having coffee. It’s a really big hint to get rid of you.

Thankyou to wyvale donation to northampton for a hanging basket for the garden outside of the Talbot butler ward.

Decided for coffees and scones whilst shopping in the garden centre..

We had coffees and other drinks here. Used the garden centres own cafe as Costa queues were too,long. One member had the breakfast sandwich which was not very enspiring. The rest of us did not choose their food as it was, we thought too expensive. So waited to eat back at home.

Great food very pleasant staff loved the new ploughmans sharing platter obviously freshly prepared...scones were amazing.

Great place to buy plants and other items for the garden or just to get ideas. Lots of nick nacks, pet items and clothing, as well. Nice coffee shop with area for dogs. Friendly staff.

I popped in for lunch with my husband. I ordered a cheese and onion chutney toastie but was given a cheese and branston pickle toastie. I wasn't happy and should have complained at the time. I also thought that just under £6 for a cheese and pickle sandwich was a trifle excessive as it wasn't anything special.

I haven’t been for a while and won’t rush back. £5.55 for two slices of dry bread, a slice of processed cheese and one slice of tomato, is not good value Historically, they served fresh bread - today was appalling

Great range of shops to brows around, and a great little cafe or restaurant depending on what you want. Staff always pleasant and helpful

Took a grandson to the play area - good facilities but does not appear to be any supervision. Some older kids are left to their own devices with no parental supervision at all; a bullying environment for younger kids. Cafe is very expensive.

The driest fruit scone i have ever had to pay £2.15 for, and one thin rasher of microwaved bacon in a Bap for £3.00 looked very lost, but at least the Bap was fresh. Last time I will be dropping in there. A great pity having just moved in to the area.

Had a Coronation Chicken sandwich on brown bread (was on the stale side) - £4.00. £1.75 for a bottle of water. Heuchera plants - £9.90. £7.90 elsewhere.

Called in to get some packets of seeds in their sale which were great value - just 50p a pack. Decided to have a quick look at the plants and was amazed at the poor quality of many of them especially given how expensive they are compared with other places. Many were drooping and clearly hadn't been watered properly and others were being soaked in large trays of water - not a great way of caring for plants. I decided to give them a miss as I was unsure how healthy the others were given how they may have been cared for over time. As with all Wyevale garden centres, they have just become huge stores selling so much different stuff with plants almost now an afterthought. I would rather spend my money at local nurseries who know how to care for their stock.

This garden centre has a decent range of products and plants but is expensive. There are two cafes here and various clothing and shoe outlets.