Alton Garden Centre Avis 

The new owners have absolutely ruined this garden centre, the main entrance use to be the statement piece, especially at Christmas. Now it’s awful everything bunched together things are hidden, I won’t be coming here again I think summer-fields is now the better garden centre and as I walked round all I heard was people complain at the changes. Such a shame

Going to Alton’s used to be a joy, sadly the new owners display the dead hand of corporateness to invent a word, everything has been tinkered with seemingly with little point, this was the best garden centre in the country by far, why change it?, for example I took my 96 yr old mother there recently, she likes the Edinburgh woollen mill which handily was just inside the entrance which itself was next to the disabled parking, that’s now the exit so you have to walk all the way round the shop through the plant section to get to it, result she’s tired out and the shop tellingly was empty of people , I spoke to staff who had that look on their face that tells you all you need to know about their employer. Alton’s was its staff, they were joyful, now half of them have gone . ( voluntary redundancy apparently which tells you all you need to know) If you want to buy plants you have to take them all the way through the shop to the till, whereas before you paid outside. Doesn’t make sense. Having got your plants if you then want to shop inside you’re hampered by having plants and compost with you, unless you divide the trip into two trips , why?. As a result I didn’t bother with plants, The cafe is now overpriced , for two cakes and two hot chocolates it’s getting on for twenty pounds, that’s hotel prices. I can’t imagine what Derek the genius behind Alton’s would make of it now. Will I be going back?, in a word no, there are now better alternatives, I couldn’t have said that once…

Just had lunch in the cafe at alto. Garden centre first Lesley on the till needs some customer service training we waited 40 mins for our food when it arrived I had order the ploughman lunch half the content was missing had to send it back my granddaughter lunch was.very disappointing the mash was stone cold and very bland husband had bacon and Brie which was very disappointing. We won’t be returning

Visited today, very disappointed in the whole centre and the new restaurant (which did look lovely) the poor girls in the restaurant were understaffed, we had to wait 45 mins for our breakfast!!
blame very poor management, as the girls get all the flack from customers and not even their fault.
Hardly any gifts anymore and what was there was very over priced
Had a member of staff shout out that we were going to the wrong entrance, when actually we were getting a plant trolley which were by the exit !??

After being a good customer of this garden centre for nearly twenty years ,and have spent thousands of pounds over those years,I doubt very much if I will return again.The centre sells a lot less products,gifts,and have massively concentrated on the restaurant,it is enormous.A party of four of us arrived at about midday to have something to eat and drink.There were about seventy other people there,none eating.We were told that nobody could order food for fifteen minutes.We asked a manager of the restaurant why this was,well he was so abrupt and miserable and told us he had staff shortages.This has been open now for about two weeks...We walked out and went to summerhill nursery,where the staff ,service,and food was excellent. Vote with your feet .

I went there today has we had scene the newly refurbished restaurant and convinced family members it was worth a try. The quality of the food is so poor , when ordering was advised they were only doing hot drinks and sandwiches then changed mind and took the order from the menu. I’m a coffee drinker and that was poor quality. I advised the staff behind the counter that there management should go and see their competition in the area as at least five garden centres serving quality food. Lack of staff is no excuse you or open or closed.

Gone downhill, it use to be a pleasure to shop, it's not disabled friendly, got to checkout no one serving & when she did come it was as though she was doing you a favour, in the garden centre they were helpful & pleasant, won't be rushing back there in a hurry.

I have to say having visited Alton’s for over 30 years and while understanding times change you have ripped the heart and soul out of the business. We visited the site to purchase a plant on Friday 3rd July while also looking forward to a coffee and one of Alton’s exceptional cakes.
We were greeted at the entrance with a man with a tommie gun digging concrete up, which was ridicules in opening times, asking public to walk past a couple of feet away, your contractor was fine with ear defenders on but your poor clients ears including mine were ringing and mine persisted for most of the day. The plant purchase went ok so some bonus. Then the treat of coffee and cake, coffee ok but gone are the local sourced cakes to be replaced by what only can be described as poor quality over priced rubbish. Bring back the Belgian Buns and exceptional cheesecakes along with the vast selection that we have always enjoyed. Again we understand change but change for the better not poor quality expensive rubbish.

Haven’t visited in a few months and was so disappointed.
I felt that it had basically gone down hill.
Things just didn’t seem so well displayed and the plants were rather poor.
Then I was offered a British Garden card at the checkout.
It wasn’t until I arrived home and looked into it that I realised Alton’s had been sold.
That was it 🤔 Shame.
Hopefully they get it back to what it was.
This happened to Riverside garden centre near Rochford that is now Cherry Orchard and it’s awful.

I went in yesterday to buy bedding plants and I asked for help. Susan came to help. She was so helpful and full of knowledge. She didn’t rush off either but stayed until I was happy. Then Charlie helped me load the car. It was a very pleasant experience. Thank you.

I bought a Weber bbq that I found later was faulty. I went back to Alton garden centre for replacement or repair but was told they had changed ownership and would not accept responsibility.

When I visited the restaurant last autumn coffee was under £3 (£2.83 from memory) with a complimentary biscuit but today it was £3.79 and no biscuit. The whole layout of the centre has changed - and not for the better. Only one exit for inside and the outside plant centre. This means no circular route and messy plants are put on the same checkout surface as clothing or delicate purchases. A return visit is unlikely.

Really disappointed with the restaurant since changing hands, almost all food comes with chips, yet they are out for chips, only option available was roast potatoes, which don’t really go with anything. The whole place has gone down hill since changing hands it feels like it’s just about money and not customer satisfaction, I guess will be using View Garden centre from now on as they appreciate customers matter. And to add a loyalty scheme for meals where most meals don’t count what a joke. Just mugging customers off.

A long time customer of Alton Garden Centre. Appreciate that this is a transitional period and had no idea until today that it had changed ownership. Initial impression is not a positive one !

We always went to Alton for advice on whatever we needed. Sadly the whole place has been changed around meaning dragging trollies back through the whole shop. Why on earth is that a good idea? It was so laid out well before and made sense to pay at the bottom of the slope with outdoor plants and grab soil etc. The queue inside was at least 40 people deep. Really disappointing to see so little staff around, even the BBQ section had no staff. People were looking at BBQs worth hundreds if not a £1000 plus. Surely the new owners should have knowledgeable staff on hand. Restaurant staff again unhelpful, group of 5 of us ordered 2 sausage rolls I asked for them to be warmed up and brought out with other meals was told that’s not possible. Ordered a breakfast muffin and a separate order of egg bacon and beans, it all turned up after 30 minutes on the same plate!! I also ordered scrambled egg and salmon that turned up after 40 minutes and me having to chase. The new owners need to have a think as I can’t see anywhere one good review. I hope this is just teething issues but it was an already amazing garden centre with no issues, just sad to see it getting pulled apart when nothing was wrong previously.

Decided to visit the newly sold Alton. The changes have been huge, the entrance now takes you through the plants first which was good however signs to pay for plants so as not to take huge trolleys through the inside were so bad we ended up taking 2 with us which was not ideal. Not enough staff to help. We decided to also have some lunch (8 of us.) Queue was alot so no change there. Still a cafe but now with a nice looking menu with restaurant prices .Not enough staff to serve ,make drinks take money..It was 11.20am change over to serve lunch was 11.30am so we thought put the order in for 8 around £180 all in but was told change over was not until 11.30 so come back later !! We left and won't be back , we had lunch in Rayleigh costing £188 for the 8 of us so a huge loss for Altons. If Lunch is 11.30 then the food wont come out until around 12pm so that isn't 11.30am. There were no breakfasts coming out at the time ,people were only buying drinks and cakes. So ,if the company wishes to charge Restaurant prices then they need to have waitress service and staff who care and not huge queues .Customers will not pay top money for cafe food and service. Not a nice experience ,I know all take overs have teething problems however if you make such huge mistakes early on people will not return ,there are many wonderful Nurseries in this area so there is no need.

Went go the garden centre today hoping that it hasn't changed too much since the takeover, unfortunately its not what it was before. Nearly empty, have switched entrance and exit, lots of staff wandering around not knowing what they're doing.
Went into the cafe for tea and cake....they have changed cakes, not good, brand new menu which is expensive and not what we were after in a garden centre. Why change things that aren't broken.
So disappointed 😞

Ordered a flapjack in the cafe, it was vile. Overly sweetened too much sugar n syrup when you take a bite you get a mouthful of syrup. Couldn't eat it took rest home n threw out for the birds

Long standing customer going back to when my parents used to take me. I bought Christmas outdoor lights this time last year knowing they should be good quality and last plus the huge display they have meant I’d find what I wanted for a new house. I spent £50 on their Lumineo lights just plugged them in after being carefully stored indoors and nothing! I won’t get a refund now so they’ll be off to the tip & need replacing. Just warning others. Lights should last a few years not just one Xmas!

The store is lovely, plenty of plants ,trees which has been looked after with care, how ever the staff at the cafe were rude to the point I was ignored when attempting to order a meal, when the two ladies saw me after I asked for a coffee and snack the tray was slammed down on the counter in front of me, also after a lovely coffee went and bought some plants, this that I regret also came across a very rude staff who did not acknowledge me standing at the till and just took my money, with out even saying thank you. It's a shame .