Dobbies, Milton Keynes - JustGardenCentres review

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ALSO SEE OUR REVIEW OF THE CAFE AT DOBBIES IN MILTON KEYNES

REVIEW SUMMARY

FOR
Huge choice of plants
Five year hardy plant guarantee
Massive indoor sales area especially good for garden furniture.
Good layout and signs in the plants area

AVERAGE
Prices of plants and other goods

AGAINST
None

REVIEW RESULTS - DOBBIES IN MILTON KEYNES

This is one of the largest Dobbies garden centres in the UK with both inside and outside areas having a very spacious feel to them. Nothing is crammed in and it makes for a very pleasant shopping experience.

Dobbies have their own club card scheme with various benefits for their members. Details of the club and a comparison with the clubs of other garden centres can be found by clicking here. If you are thinking of visiting this garden centre to make a purchase it may well be worth taking a look at their discounts and rewards.

THE PLANTS AREA AT DOBBIES GARDEN CENTRE, MILTON KEYNES
Large is the word to describe this area! It's nicely paved all around with wide paths, no problems for wheelchair users. The general layout of the plants area has clearly been given a lot thought. Lots of island bays and few centre piece displays nicely break up this area. A significant part of the area is under cover, perhaps about a fifth.

With such a large display area clear signs are important and Dobbies have done a good job at this garden centre. Individual plant signs are also commendably informative. Shrubs are arranged in alphabetic order. They stock lots of ornamental trees although very few are older than a year or two.

There is an enormous selection of plants for sale as you would expect at a garden centre of this size. Rather than specialise in any particular types of plants they cover the full range very well. Plant quality is high with very few signs of weeds and healthy looking plants. All hardy plants are covered by an excellent five year guarantee.

Prices are about average with floribunda roses and clematis starting at £8.99, average type shrubs from £8.99, Miracle Gro £4.99 and their own brand of tomato feed at £3.97 per 1 litre. Most garden centres stock Yeoman garden tools but not so at Dobbies. Their own brand garden spades and forks start at £11.

To one end of the plants area there is a very comprehensive choice of pots, timber, sheds, garden buildings and greenhouses in all sizes. This definitely should be on your list if you are thinking of buying any garden buildings at all. They even have display of single and double garages complete with posh doors.

Kids have a small, free play area with climbing frames. There is a Roman Garden display at the far end showing how a small garden would be laid out in those times. The plants also have descriptions showing how they were associated with Roman times.

OUR VIDEO OF THE PLANTS AT DOBBIES IN MILTON KEYNES

INSIDE SALES AREA
The inside sales area at Dobbies in Milton Keynes is huge, almost like a shopping centre in its own right. We can't describe everything they sell, it would take to long but it includes cards, gifts, books, toys, kitchenware, clothes, shoes, they even have a section for mobility aids such as motorised buggies, easy to enter baths and specially designed chairs. The aquatics and pet centres (no live pets but there are lots of fish) sell an admirably large range of equipment, feeds and accessories.

One of our pet hates is piped music. Thankfully there is none of that outside but there definitely is inside.

One area where the space at this garden centre pays off is in the displays of indoor and general garden furniture. Everything from solid wood garden furniture to metal through to bamboo. It all looks good because they have the space to display it well. Even if you don't buy any of the garden furniture, at the least the displays will give you some ideas.

A special mention has to go to the Farm Shop section which stocks a large range of cheeses, speciality meats, jams, wines, beers even frozen food. We don't normally buy anything when conducting these reviews but we were tempted into buying some food for dinner - it looked so good. This Farm Shop is definitely worth a browse, very clean and attractively laid out. Near the shop is a large display of house plants.

Dobbies Milton Keynes have their own club card scheme (the Dobbies scheme) with various benefits for their members. Details of the club and a comparison with the clubs of other garden centres can be found by clicking here. If you are thinking of visiting this garden centre to make a purchase it may well be worth taking a look at their discounts and rewards.

CAFE
Click here to go to our review of the cafe.

DISABLED ACCESS
Absolutely top class all round. We can't fault this aspect of the garden centre at all. Wide paths free from obstructions and all on flat level surfaces. Wheelchairs are available for free at the entrance.

OTHER STUFF
Car park - The car park is huge and should cope with any parking needed. It is on a flat tarmac surface near to the entrance. There are disabled bays near to the door.
Pet Centre - Yes, large and comprehensively stocked although no live pets.
Water Features - Yes, a large choice of water features which are working and well displayed.
Aquatics - A large choice of fish and accessories.
Sheds and Greenhouses - Yes, much larger displays compared to most garden centres.
Toilets - Ladies gents, baby changing and disabled facilites. Clean and functional.

WEBSITE
The Dobbies Garden Centre at Milton Keynes website can be found here.

CONTACT DETAILS
Address
Dobbies Garden World Milton Keynes,
Belvedere Lane,
Watling Street,
Fenny Stratford,
Buckinghamshire MK17 9JH

Telephone
01908 364 890

REGULAR OPENING HOURS: DOBBIES MILTON KEYNES GARDEN CENTRE
	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	10.30am	4.30pm
EASTER OPENING TIMES Monday to 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 4.00pm Christmas Day - CLOSED Boxing Day - CLOSED New Year's Eve - 9.00am to 5.00pm New Year's Day - CLOSED BANK HOLIDAY MONDAY OPENING TIMES Includes May and August Bank Holiday: Open 9.00am, closes 7.00pm

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We hope you have enjoyed and benefited from this independent review of Dobbies Garden Centre near Milton Keynes. 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 then please contact us by going to our "contact us" page which can be found here.

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