GOOGLE MAP: Click here for a Google map showing the location of the Hillier Garden Centre in Banbury.

One of the big advantages of the Hillier Banbury Garden Centre is that it's in the centre of the town and near public transport.

This is a new garden centre, bought in 2009, and it still looks modern and fresh. Space is limited as you would expect in a town centre.

The plants are in good condition and all the major varieties are available for sale. Paths are not as wide as in some larger garden centres but they are wide enough for wheelchair access. The plants area is kept neat and tidy and although the design is plain it's pleasant enough.

We were disappointed when we re-visited this garden centre in very early April 2015 to find that they did not stock any onion sets. When we asked for the reason we were told that they had run out of stock one month earlier and were unable to source any more onion sets.

A quick trip to the Banbury Homebase store a mile down the road yielded a choice of onion sets still for sale. Not very reassuring for a garden centre such as Hilliers!

Inside Hillier stock a good range of garden feeds, pesticides, composts, tools and everything the average gardener would want. Prices were in general slightly above average but this again is to be expected because of the central location. The staff are particularly friendly and approachable.

This garden centre has its own small cafe which serves coffees, teas, cakes and a range of snacks. They do not serve main meals. If a coffee and cake or a snack meal (sandwiches, panini etc.) is what you want then the food and drinks won't disappoint. The decor is drab and very uninspiring with cheap plastic tables and chairs. Prices are average for a garden centre cafe. There is a children's menu.

The cafe was awarded the top five star rating for Food Hygiene by Cherwell District Council in January 2014. Click here for the full Scores on the Doors review.

CAFE AT HILLIER BANBURY OPENING TIMES

The opening times of cafes at garden centres, almost always, don't match those of the main garden centre and the cafe at Hillier's in Banbury are no exception. The following opening times apply:

Breakfast: 9.00 to 11.30 (except Sunday opening at 10.00)
Lunches: 12.00 to 3.00
Monday to Saturday everything else: 9.00 to 4.30
Sunday everything else: 10.00 to 4.00

Having given the above information we have consistently found with garden centres that the availability of the full menu for breakfasts and lunches does significantly tail off towards the end of the time slots.