CHOOSE GARDEN CENTRES BY COUNTY BELOW
PLANTS AREA: Large, well stocked with healthy plants. Easy to navigate and find plants, just lacks any real character.
See lower down this article for a more comprehensive review of the Dobbies Cirencester plants area.
Plants Area Rating:
INTERIOR SALES AREA: This will keep most visitors happy, it's expansive with lots to browse. It is beginning to look a bit tired now.
See lower down this article for a more comprehensive review of the Dobbies Cirencester interior sales area.
Interior Sales Area Rating:
CAFE: A large cafe area with decent food. But the seats are a health hazard - seriously, take something clean to place on the seating before sitting down.
See lower down this article for a more comprehensive review of the Dobbies Cirencester cafe.
Cafe Rating:
VALUE FOR MONEY:
Entrance to Dobbies Cirencester
Garden Centre
OPENING HOURS DOBBIES CIRENCESTER GARDEN CENTRE |
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Open | Close | |
Monday | 9.00am | 6.00pm |
Tuesday | 9.00am | 6.00pm |
Wednesday | 9.00am | 6.00pm |
Thursday | 9.00am | 6.00pm |
Friday | 9.00am | 6.00pm |
Saturday | 9.00am | 6.00pm |
Sunday | 10.00am | 4.30pm |
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Brockworth Garden Centre
Dobbies
Gloucester Garden Centre (previously Blooms)
Fairview Gardener
Lechlade Garden Centre
SIZE: A large cafe with an expansive seating area.
FOOD TYPE: Garden centre type of food with everything from coffees to main meals.
FOOD QUALITY: Food quality is slightly above average with the portions being a reasonable size. We had cakes and coffees which tasted good.
Cakes from Dobbies Cirencester
More cakes from Dobbies Cirencester!
DECOR: The cafe has a relatively modern look to it but it all looks rather tired and worn out. The spectacular failure in this cafe is the unhygienic and stained chairs. They really are quite unsuitable for a cafe and are badly stained. You have two choices, either don't look at them before you sit down or take something to cover them before you sit down. Truly appalling.
An average example of the very dirty chairs at Dobbies Cirencester.
OUTDOOR SEATING: When we visited in early April it was a bit chilly and the outside seating area was closed off. However, as the picture below shows, it looked to be a very pleasant area to have a meal or a coffee on a warmer day.
Outdoor seating at the Dobbies Cirencester cafe
SERVICE: It took us 18 minutes to queue up and take away our coffees and cakes to the table. This branch of Dobbies has two distinct queues, one for cakes and tea / coffee, the other for more substantial meals. A good system compared to some other cafes where there is only one queue. The service was good given the lack of staff.
VALUE FOR MONEY: At the time of our visit example prices were:
Considering the quality of food, the decor and the service we have rated this cafe value for money as average. The major let down for this cafe was the unhygienic seating.
SIZE OF PLANTS AREA: The plants area was larger than most other garden centres.
PLANT SELECTION: A very comprehensive choice of plants, shrubs, trees etc. The plants all looked to be in very good condition and you have the assurance that Dobbies guarantee all their hardy plants for your lifetime.
LAYOUT: As you exit the interior sales area you enter into a covered plants area which houses the tender plants. Exit that area into the exterior plants area.
The whole of that area is uncovered which is not good if it's raining. The area is flat and on solid ground with wide paths very easily managed by wheelchair users. It's a very practical layout but devoid of any charm or interest other than the plants.
Even though the area is large, the excellent signage makes it easy to locate plant groups.
VALUE FOR MONEY: Prices are slightly above average for plants, however the large choice of plants made up for this to some degree.
SIZE: One of the larger garden centres in the UK, the interior is rather like a mini shopping mall. Lots of different areas, each with their own specialty - gifts, cards, food hall, garden furniture, barbecues etc.
Houseplants at Dobbies Cirencester
The non-Dobbies shopping includes a sizeable Lakeland, Maidenhead Aquatics and The Greenhouse People.
LAYOUT: The layout is entirely on flat surfaces with alternative gradual slopes to stairs. Paths are wide and obstruction free.
VALUE FOR MONEY: Aside from the concessions, Dobbies sell a huge variety of products and in general these products were priced either slightly higher than average or average.
ACCESS: Excellent access in the interior areas with some areas accessible by gently sloping paths. Outside in the plants area, all the paths are solid (either tarmac or concrete) and easily navigated by wheelchair users. Toilets are available exclusively for the disabled and wheelchairs are freely available at the entrance to the garden centre.
The car park area is on solid ground with gentle ramps for wheelchair users.
FACILITIES: The car park appears to be large enough to cope with demand even at peak times. It is flat and on a hard surface.
Toilets are clean and well kept.
ADDRESS:
Dobbies Cirencester Garden Centre
Siddington
Cirencester
GL7 6EU
OWNER:
Dobbies Garden Centre, owned by Midlothian Capital and Hattington Capital Holding Company.
TELEPHONE NUMBER:
01285 884300
EMAIL:
Use their contact web page
here
WEBSITE:
Dobbies Cirencester webiste can be found
here
28 June 2022 | Comment From: Liz | |
Shop good, restaurant average, plant area lacking inspiration. Bit cheeky having to pay for 'membership'. Better garden centre at Burford and cheaper at Nailsworth (free membership at latter). |