Stockton Garden Centre

Arrived at store Sunday looking for a BBQ, was taken through all the different options by James, he helped dismantle part of it as was the last one in stock (display model) and even helped load into my car. Top class customer service from James. Thanks again.

Rude elder lady, too busy eyeing up the male clientele. Disappointed with the Tea, tasted cheap and was cold. Seating area comfortable. Scone was hard and the member of staff said cant warm it or change it. Was much better when it was peter barrats and the young lady Fiona worked there, that was true customer service

Now taken over by Dobbies and not quite as nice. Very noisy (hard floors etc) and busy with Dobbies card holders claiming their free drink. Motorway prices for coffee and cake. Very dirty dust waiting to fall off the ceiling beams which not been cleaned. Glass panel beside rear exit to plant centre cracked so not safety glass despite being floor length. Disappointing.

I feel I have to leave this review for this reason only.My family and I attended Dobbies today and decided to get some refreshments in the cafe.It wasn't until I sat down and looked at my receipt that I had seen that a can of 330ml Fanta Zero had in fact just cost me £1.95.How they can justify this is beyond me.God knows how much a glass of tap water will cost.Just for reference, 8 cans is only £3 at Tesco.

I had to wait in a queue for over 10 minutes just to lay for a can of Diet Coke, service is very slow. A little disappointed when my disabled friend in a mobility scooter asked a member of staff could she possibly pick up her tray which had fallen to the floor she replied that she would do it later even though she was headed, empty handed to the kitchen. Lots of tables laden with dirty crockery, the staff need further training.

Really unimpressed with Dobbies garden centre restaurant this afternoon. Stupidly overpriced £1.95 for a can of coke) and every empty table in the conservatory where the soft play is needed clearing. It looked like it had been that way for some time as there was multiple plates and trays piled up on a few of the tables. I remember this cafe used to have a place where you could put your tray back onto a trolley meaning they didn’t pile up on tables.

Earlier this week, we went to the cafe for lunch. Upon arriving, we noticed that there was no staff member at the entrance managing the crowd and there was no social distancing in the line for food. The tray on top of the stack by the entrance was dirty. Eventually, a staff member instructed us to find a table before ordering our food and then put up a barrier at the entrance. We decided to leave at that point. We used to be regular customers before the pandemic, but this experience has deterred us from wanting to return.

This garden centre is now owned by Dobbies. We had our usual free coffee for being gardening club plus member, then decided to stay for lunch. We sat tucked away from other diner, being mindful of COVID 19 restrictions. The lunches were very good. We had lamb moussaka and lasagne, both with chips and garlic bread. Neither of us managed the whole meal, which was very tasty. The cafe was quite busy with people having coffee and cake or meals. The garden centre now resembles a department store with the large array of kitchen implements and other items, not connected to gardening, for sale.

Visited today for breakfast with a couple of friends it's called Dobbies now but were unimpressed with the offerings The food and coffee was mediocre, the staff in the cafe were miserable and then to top it off I looked up behind the cafe counter and it was amazingly dirty with dust bunnies hanging down above the food. Suffice to say we will not return! We turn to the shop excited to look at all the lovely Christmas paraphanalia but disappointment again. Could not believe this once wonderful place is now not worthy of another visit ever. Only good bit was the guy on the till at the front of the shop Now he knows how to give customer service friendly and jolly well done to him for being the b...