Dobbies Garden Centres - Leicester Avis 328

I agree with the other writer in regards to the maze which customers are forced to walk through before you eventually emerge and escape into the gardening section. I'm not interested in scented candles, china animals and other "detritus". I go to a garden centre to purchase plants, seeds and tools. I wanted a chrysanthemum or two for the garden. They only had ones in pots suitable for a patio. We came away empty handed having zigzag again around more "detritus" to get past the tills and the exit. One more thing, they've arranged the shrubs in a way that you can't see the plants at the back of the premises. I know you have planned this layout to encourage shoppers to buy, but it doesn't work with me. It just annoys me.

Psychological selling technique - they tediously force your round the boring maze and then force your round the boring maze and then force your round the boring maze and then force your round the boring maze and then force your round the boring maze and then force your round the boring maze and then force your round the boring maze and then force your round the boring maze and then force your round the boring maze and then force your round the boring maze and then force your round the boring maze and then force your round the boring maze and then force your round the boring maze and then force your round the boring maze and then force your round the boring maze and then force your round the boring maze and then force your round the boring maze and then well you guessed it

Extremely poor experience!

Dobbies Leicester (Rothley) is closing down.
They have up to 70% off on signage, but when you go inside the store, it’s marked as 50% off. This signage is very sporadic, so you are never quite sure.
We bought numerous items, one being a plastic tomato greenhouse. It was stacked with others with a price of £39.99. We got to the till and the jobsworth assistant, said it’s £35. No way was it £70 original price. I took him to the section and showed him, all the others had gone. There were numerous £39.99 signs, to backup my claim and no £70 signs to back up his theory. He couldn’t think outside the box. We checked on Amazon and as we knew this type of greenhouse has an asking price of £34/35. Other items came up at totally different prices on the till, not 50% off and not what you had seen on signage.
You could see people intently checking their receipts and lots of items that had been rejected, due to the pricing discrepancies.
In my opinion, Dobbies is an extremely poor Garden Centre. Poorly run and managed.
It was Wyevale previously and Rowena before that. Much better businesses with a much better selection of goods.
I think this all sums up the fact of why the store is closing!

Excellent range of products always get good advice on plants.Restaurant serves good choice of food as well

I must have gone to the wrong garden centre looking at the reviews here .
We went a fair distance as the website looked so inviting and interested .
We were very unimpressed with the huge barn of a shop , miserable inside , very disorganised, uninteresting goods for sale . Badly displayed .
Waitrose have a small shop within shop , wonder if the Waitrose bosses have seen it , I am sure they would not want their name associated .
Glanced in the cafe as we thought we would have tea and cake , but the place looked like a downmarket cafe, not a restaurant.
Didn’t really look at the actual garden centre part , so can’t comment .
Possibly the worst centre of its type we have visited , and we visit a lot .
Maybe senior management should get down there and have a look .
We will not be re visiting.

Great service from all staff.
Had to return items where I had lost the receipt and my Dobbies card- something I never do.
Head Office and the shop told me exactly what to bring into store and they were brilliant sorting it. Went to the Cafe where there was a long wait, but on reaching the till, nothing was too much trouble for the gentleman serving us and the food was excellent.
Love the place but today was such a pleasure to visit. Well done to all staff!

Welcomed into store by a member of staff, very tidy store, in rural location.

The garden centre is lovely but the restaurant could do with more staff. I ordered a ham and cheese panini and at time of writing I have been waiting 25 minutes. NOT GOOD ENOUGH DOBBIES excuses like it just takes time will not wash!!!!

Everything is really fine in all they do, both food & flowers etc all are excellent.

Excellent range of plants, good restaurant

Had Sunday lunch
Had to wait 35 minutes very disappointing .vegetables that hard could not cut them .

Friendly staff. Clean premises. Quality products.

Always welcoming, clean, lovely product's.
Restaurant good food and drink

I love going to Dobbies they are so helpful, they have such lovely plants and the meals are delicious mm!!

I had a vegetarian breakfast today with an americano coffee.
My friend had a breakfast too, both were put on the same order, but hers arrived before mine. I think 2 meals on the same ticket should be served together.
I was pleased that I was able to change the egg for a potato rosti as I don't eat eggs. The sausages were overcooked and hard and the baked beans were barely warm. The toast was nice and I got 2 butter pats which was a big positive. The coffee was very very strong and bitter, not nice to drink despite adding all the milk I was given.
Not an enjoyable eating experience at all 😒

I visited specifically to buy Orchid repotting compost but there wasn't any in stock which surprised me. Fortunately B&Q were able to oblige.

Staff were nice but no one was outside to ask.
We visited the cafe but there is nowhere to leave the trolley and someone took our plants.
Every table in the cafe needed to be wiped.

We wanted some Spring bedding plants to brighten the garden. Great choice and really healthy plants. Granddaughter took advantage of the play area. She loves Dobbies. She enjoys the garden and looks for ideas even at 6 she's hooked.

Visited garden center and cafe all staff very pleasant food good quality chips a but cold my fault i didn't complain

Allwats got plenty of stock in, All plants of good quality.
Staff very helpful.