Dobbies Garden Centres - Liverpool Avis 307

Have been coming here to Dobbies (Speke, Liverpool) for a few years now and have always enjoyed the free cakes for over 60's (Mon to Friday) but found out today the free cake offer has been withdrawn. Our Bill has now gone up by over £9.00. We also used to buy little items from the shop floor when passing through but afraid have today decided not to come here anymore.
A pity, but our Bill was just under £40.00 here and we can get a mains, cake and drink on our local Pub/Restaurants on their Set Menu's for less than £29.00.
Bye, bye Dobbies.

The place was very grim indeed!

Only came for a cup of tea with my husband, cup was filthy, teapot was filthy! I noticed this when I sat down and lifted the lid to stir the tea.

The place is always leaking, dripping, and in a bad way.

It’s never a great experience when visiting!

The shop floor looks greatly neglected, cleanliness an issue all around the shop.

With such a premium they charge for all the items, you would think that basic upkeep would be something they can accomplish, for the most part you can source what they sell cheaper online or in other local stores like home&bargain, you can have better tea/coffee in a Starbucks or Costa and better food in a cleaner place, even tobys is cleaner.

They have competition all around them, doing what they do better/ cleaner or cheaper so you would think running something that stood out would be a priority but the place has no USP.

Dreadful Grotto experience with our 4 year old grandson. Shabby and unorganised tour through tatty set ups with a £15 charge for a photo with Santa with no lights on his tree!!!

It will close soon in my opinion. Saw it had a Waitrose section so visited. Butchers gone. Food hall desolate. Empty cabinets, not one member of staff, dimmed lights. Looked dreadful. Garden furniture nice but it wouldn't be my first port of call for it. Aquarium section still there but a bit niche. Shame. We left and went to Aldi, better selection, cheaper and a better experience.

We popped into dobbies to have a quick cuppa and look at the bbq and pagoda. The woman who served us in the cafe has absolutely no manners. Probably the worst customer service I have experienced to date. When we asked how to order(after standing at the counter for an embarrassingly long time) she looked up at us and said well the tills here in a really sarcastic tone. When we took the cups back she inspected them as if I had committed a crime and then sarcastically said thank you as I returned to the table. She the stood and made us feel uncomfortable for the duration of our visit. Not sure if she was having a bad day but she clearly needs some support or training in working with the public. We watched her being rude to customer after customer

I Can't believe how Dobbies in Speke has gone down the pan. The lighting inside is heavily dimmed. I only saw 3 members of staff, one of whom was manning a till. The place is eerily quiet. The garden section looks like an apocalypse with the watering system leaking onto the pathways everywhere, many plants blown over, dying and soil in them bone dry. The dishevelled appearance made me wonder if it was ready to shut down and leave town. How can this have happened?

Ellie Mc who was serving behind the tills was so friendly and very helped! I also noticed she was going above and beyond carrying over trays and drinks for customers! She helped us too! Thank you- Recognition is needed A*

Big thank you to Frank who gave us great advice over an arbour. He helped us dismantle and pack into the car!

Excellent service by the staff in the store

Very poor outdoor cafe area. Furniture is dirty and in very poor condition. Bin overflowing with rubbish left on floor. Its not a very nice place to sit and eat. Been going downhill for a long time.

A good garden centre good quality plants

Always a great experience plants staff and food excellent

Plants are top quality and they have a guarantee staff are so helpful great garden centre

Visited the cafe and paid over £30 for fish and chips and reheated lasagne, tea and latte. The garlic bread was hard from being microwaved and the fish was mediocre at best.

Visited restaurant

I had the breakfast.
Sausages overcooked,toast flabby,hash were cool, only tomato.was hot
Staff very friendly and helpful.
Difficulty in finding trays

Whilst Dobbies liverpool is conveniently located for me to visit,which is great.and have remained a member for a long time,very often I consider that the Garden Centre pricing is not competitive with other Garden Centres, the restaurant equally is not good value,and therefore I only ue it for my free drinks entitlement.perhaps things may improve regards Mr B Davies.

Found an attractive plant for a space I want to fill.
Did a bit of shopping in Waitrose and had my free drink!
No parking problems

The staff were very helpful and friendly in the restaurant garden centre and in the food hall -it makes visiting a pleasurable experience

It was very cold in the cafe and whole store.