Dobbies Garden Centres - Preston Avis 369

Phoned to enquire about a product. "Press 3 to speak to someone in store" but after 14 minutes noone had bothered to answer the phone!

Never wasting time on this lot again.

Just brilliant

Generally unkempt in the outdoor area. We visited in the afternoon and the wind had been strong the night before. Lots of plants still knocked over and some damaged. A couple of staff about but nobody was attending to it. Also many plants unpriced. Those that were priced were overpriced. Indoor area tidy, with a nice selection.

My mother took me there to eat out, we were both most dissatisfied.

We chose a dirty table as it was the only vacant one near the windows. My mother ordered a soup and I ordered a toastie. It was a Tuesday around 1 p.m. and the place was about half full.

The food took a long time to arrive, in spite of it being presumably easy to prepare. The people next to us vacated their table, and it was cleaned, we were left unattended. When our food did arrive I had to ask the server to clean the table. Meanwhile my mother (87) and I were left balancing the food in our hands whilst the server went off to find a cleaner.

With the exception of one young lady who appeared at around 1:30 p.m. the servers and cleaners in general seemed lackadaisical at best.

I found myself astonished on visiting Dobbies, Preston store today to be threatened with arrest and escorted out of the store as a result of failing to have my dog on a lead. I was guilty and aware that the store requires dogs to be on lead.

The transgression was observed by a young assistant who called out to me to comply. I called back confirming that I would put my dog on her lead and began reaching around my waist for the lead to do so. At this point I was startled at being confronted by the same young assistant now bearing such an expression of anger that he either could not or chose not to conceal. I believe he was telling me that he had caught me once before. This, it seemed, had triggered his anger and polite in word but aggressive in manner he said I must leave the store.

I did not refuse, but was shocked and, given the circumstances, there was an inevitable exchange of words. Unhappy with my protest, the assistant told me that he would escort me to the exit. Whether or not he had the authority to demand I leave, I chose not to question, as I had no wish to stay. Given his manner, however, I refused to allow him to hurry me to the exit, and made my way there in a slow but steady way. This, it seemed, infuriated him and he made to call the police twice. I am confident that would have been a call ill-received by an overstretched police officer.

Arriving at the checkouts and exit I asked the assistants there if I might have the name of my assailant, as I had a complaint. Although standing a little behind me I caught his furtive gesturing to them that they should not reply. And indeed they didn’t. He seemed fearful of identification, but did , at my insistence, say Peter.

My wife and I have been regular customers at the store for several years, and have always found the staff, by many of whom we are recognised, to be pleasant and helpful. It is saddening that our relationship should end in this way. Perhaps Peter has some anger management issues. They should be addressed. Dobbies’ current financial woes do not allow for the loss of loyal customers through indisputably ill judged actions by employees with personal issues.

I was in the Preston store today very negative attitude in the restaurant I was so disappointed I phoned the head office while I was in the store and I have to say the lady from the complaints department who handled my query was excellent she deserves 5 stars if I hadn’t phoned head office Dobbies one of your restaurant staff would not have cared if I had got my birthday voucher or not most unhelpful the lady from your head office was excellent that is obviously why she is in head office but unfortunately some of your staff in Preston need lessons in manners and communication and customer service even your website is not working correctly I have no choice but to it July but in actual fact it is today 04/09/2024

I found what I wanted, a pair of straight leg navy trousers, tried them, liked them so bought them

Great cafe with very friendly helpful staff.Quality plants.Excellent shop

Very helpful staff. Good assortment of products

HELPFUL STAFF, A GOOD CUP OF CHOCOLATE - PITY THAT YOU HAVE TO TRAIL TO FIND A TABLE NUMBER, TRAIL BACK TO THE CASH DESK, TRAIL BACK TO THE TABLE. I'M ALDREADY EXHAUSTED - I CAME IN FOR A SIT DOWN AND RELAX.

Went in to Preston this afternoon to a very long queue, they opened a till and a guy just passed everyone and jumped to the front when I complained to the cashier I got told she wasn’t serving me and called the manager to my surprise he was just as bad saying he’s not here to police the “public” I actually thought I was a customer, Dobbies policy is if you’re wrong you’re right and those doing it right and wait patiently then tough as Dobbbies don’t give a damn, very very poor if I could give no stars I would

What an awful experience. Do NOT eat in the ‘restaurant’ it’s horrible. The shops tired and you should see the view from the coffee shop of a huge wall with rusty water marks. It’s suffering from ‘being part of a chain’ . It’ll close soon without doubt.

Very good meal in the restaurant. Friendly and helpful staff . The garden centre was well stocked with healthy plants

Lovely cup of tea and slice of cake ( coffee and walnut ). Then bought a couple of plants.

Helpful staff at checkout.

Helpful staff. Very good food in restaurant. Pleasant atmosphere.

We visited Preston Dobbies. There is not very much that is interesting at the Centre but maybe its because the weather is still not good. Love the little food hall upstairs but would like more products in the fridges. The food is quite expensive and so would be nice to see less expensive ranges. The bread is really nice and fresh. Shoe shop has some lovely shoes and reasonably priced. The restaurant and coffee shop is to be avoided. No atmosphere and to be honest looks scruffy. Very little choice of food available and this was at 2:30pm just some cakes. Looked like they were packing everything up and had just left out some caked on the edge of the counter so you need to go there early. Staff are very helpful but the Centre need more variety and less expensive to tempt people to spend

Plants , gardening products and equipment are all of a high standard.

Took my 4yo to see santa tonight as i have done the past 3 years although i have always had a lovely experience, this year was amazing from the elf that greeted us to the walk through, bird feeder making, the elf that waited with us and santa himself, it was wonderful they interacted with her and were so brilliant, she dis not stop talking and at no point did we feel we were rushed! The chap who did the photos was lovely and the gift she got was also brilliant! We have some lovely photos and memories to keep with us! Thank you so much to all involved in the set up and all involved in the delivery from start to finish!