FOR
Good quality plants.
Design layout is engaging and well thought out.
Mainly good cafe.
Most prices are on the low side.
Good non-gardening shopping centre
AVERAGE
None
AGAINST
Indoor carpets badly need replacing
OUR VIEWS ON NOTCUTTS GARDEN CENTRE, SOLIHULL
Notcutts in Solihull is situated on a shopping precinct which
includes a very large Tesco and a McDonalds. So, combine the weekly
grocery shop with a visit to a garden centre on the same site - excellent!
THE PLANTS AT NOTCUTTS GARDEN CENTRE, SOLIHULL
This is a very attractive display area for the plants, lots of
thought and effort has clearly gone into the design. The area is
part covered, providing protection for the more vulnerable plants.
Most of the paths are solid paving with just a few being reasonably
firm gravel. The paths are wide with few slopes.
The design includes lots of small display areas of various sizes and
shapes, these are further improved by the odd large display and
arches. One particularly attractive area is the shrub section. This
is arranged in circular fashion with a large imposing statue in the
middle. This all gives the impression of an area that is engaging
and well looked after.
Signs to the various areas and plant groups are excellent enabling
easy and quick navigation. Extra attention to detail is demonstrated
by not only only having a section for plants preferring shade but
also a section for plants preferring semi-shade, a division we have
not seed in other garden centres.
GBC Buildings have a large outlet here with a huge selection of
sheds, conservatories and greenhouses of all types and size. These
are well displayed. In the same area there are lots of pots, stoneware
and fencing materials.
OUR VIDEO OF NOTCUTTS GARDEN CENTRE IN SOLIHULL
INTERIOR SALES AREA
This is a large, spacious sales area which stocks a large variety of
goods, gardening and non-gardening. All the normal garden tools,
chemicals, feeds and accessories are sold and the choice is good. As
well as those, Notcutts have a large clothes shop, shoe shop,
barbecues, kids toys, gifts, greeting cards, art gallery, sweet shop etc.
The carpets throughout this area were badly stained with rainwater
leaks in many areas and in general looked very marked, tatty and in
need of immediate replacement.
Garden furniture (and household furniture) is featured strongly and
the large sales area allows them to be displayed well. We
particularly liked their selection of wooden garden seats and tables
which represent good value.
Maidenhead Aquatics have a reasonably large shop in Notcutts and
they stock everything aquatic including a large choice of fish and
pond plants. Pets are not forgotten, lots of feeds and accessories
plus lots of live small pets including baby chicks. If houseplants
are on your shopping list then you will find plenty of them at
Notcutts in Solihull all in good condition, well laid out and at
good prices. Edinburgh Woollen Mill and Cotton Traders both have
outlets at this garden centre.
PRICES
Prices of plants are average at this garden centre, prices
for other gardening goods are more variable. For example, their
cheapest multi-purpose compost was �5.99 for 50 litres or three bags
for �13, Miracle Gro (1kg) is �5.99, 1 litre Tomorite is �4.99,
common shrubs start at �5.99, roses at �8.99 and clematis start at �9.99.
THE CAFE AT NOTCUTTS SOLIHULL
The cafe tables and chairs are a mixture of wood and plastic, rather
plain looking overall. The general decor is also plain however the
large windows to one side give the cafe a very airy and spacious appearance.
The choice of food is good with three or four different main meals
in the rather pricey range of �9 to �10, baguettes and rolls costing �4 or so, they also do
other snack meals, coffees and teas. The cakes look and taste
delicious. Service was fine and there was minimal queuing.
The main cooked meals are not on display although there is a large
serving counter which looks into the main kitchen. We were taken back by the large
portion sizes of the main meals, enormous would be a good way to
describe them! They come in their own dishes straight from the
kitchen (and they are very hot).
Food quality is variable. The snack type food (baguettes, sandwiches
etc) was good as were their teas, coffees and cakes. The quality of
the main meal, aside from the large portions, was good. Our
shepherds pie was deep filled and the potato and cheese topping was
well cooked. However, the accompanying vegetables were tired looking
and clearly had been prepared a long time previously. The carrots
were overcooked and the peas lacked any flavour, the roast potatoes
looked good but the inside was mushy.
Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council gave Notcutts of Solihull a
Food Hygiene Rating of three stars out of five stars on 5th January
2012 (click here).
DISABLED FACILITIES
The entire garden centre is very wheelchair friendly and easy to
access. Wheelchairs are available at the door.
CAR PARK
The car park is shared with the nearby shops and it's large flat and
more than big enough to cope with the demand.
CONTACT DETAILS AND DIRECTIONS
Address
Notcutts Garden Centre,
Stratford Road,
Shirley,
Solihull,
West Midlands B90 4EN
Good Friday - 9.00am to 6.00pm
Easter Saturday - 9.00am to 6.00pm
Easter Sunday - CLOSED
Easter Monday - 9.00am to 6.00pm
CHRISTMAS OPENING TIMES
Christmas Eve - 9.00am to 5.00pm
Christmas Day - CLOSED
Boxing Day - CLOSED
New Year's Eve - 9.00am to 5.00pm New Year's Day - 10.30am to 4.30pm
BANK HOLIDAY MONDAY OPENING TIMES
Includes May and August Bank Holiday: Open 9.00am, closes 6.00pm
CHRISTMAS AT NOTCUTTS SOLIHULL
Christmas is celebrated in full at Notcutts Solihull with a large
area of the garden centre given over to seasonal gifts, decorations
and displays. Both adults and kids will love to browse around taking
in the impressive displays.
The choice is large and most families will not be disappointed if they are
visiting for a bit of fun and to do some Christmas shopping. The seasonal area
has a high roof and this is draped in hanging Christmas lights making it all
feel very cosy and attractive.
Father Christmas makes his first appearance in mid November
(November 16th in 2014) and he stays until Christmas Eve. In
November Santa can see kids on Saturday and Sunday, and in early
December onwards he can be visited any day of the week. You need to
book tickets online to be sure of a place, this facility gets
fully booked up at many times. The cost is �9.50 per child (up to 2
additional adults are free) and for that price you get to see Santa
in his winter wonderland with a present for the child.
Other events for the kids include breakfast or tea with Santa for
�11.00 per child (two accompanying adults free).
Online booking for this is essential.
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CENTRE?
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We hope you have enjoyed and benefited from this independent review of
Notcutts Solihull
Garden Centre. Remember that it is our opinion and may be the result of one visit
only. If you are the owner of this garden centre and want to discuss this review with us
then please contact us by going to our "contact us" page which can be found
here.
