Dobbies Garden Centres - Derby Reviews 506

We are so disappointed in Dobbies cafe at Findern Derbyshire. Every time we use it, we have had to queue sometimes over half an hour to get served. Today, because there were only 5 people in the queue before us, we thought we would get served quicker, but it still took over twenty minutes before I got served. Dobbies should take a leaf out of the book of Little Eaton garden centre. They seat you first and then someone comes to take your order. So no matter how long one waits, which incidentally, isn't long, at least you are sitting down and not standing in a queue for half an hour or more.

Garden centre is good, but there were some plants on display that were well and truly past their best. I thought that any staff member seeing those should have taken them away.
The serving process in the cafe is very slow. Had it not been for the drinks vouchers we would have walked away. Cleanliness in the cafe leaves a lot to be desired with detritus under the tables and chairs.

I enjoy shopping at your store, although my spouse doesn't always share the same sentiment :)

Just went for a coffee with my wife to Findern garden centre and it was very busy but well done to the staff there for doing a good job

Had a pleasant visit to Dobbies garden centre at Finder, Derby. The gentlemen serving in the cafe were delightful, friendly and helpful. The food was delivered quite quickly and was delicious. We had a wander round the plant section and got some useful ideas for our small garden.
Not so keen on the foodhall though. As a regular Sainsbury's customer I know I can get better value by going direct to the supermarket.

Bought a beautiful large indoor cactus which had been potted up in a beautiful pot , cost me £100 only to find when I got home the pot was an outdoor pot with drainage so I needed a saucer for the pot , went back in thinking I had just not picked it up but was told I would have to buy the saucer ffs why put it in a pot charge £100 then let it ruin someone’s furniture when water runs through the bottom , come on dobbies you’re over priced as it is , another disappointing visit !!

Return visit to spend a Voucher after being misinformed first visit. Thanks to Joan in Customer Services for clarifying the issues and pointing us on our way.
Excellent homeware section and bought a rose and other plants

I bought two lovely big houseplants which I went to look for as I know they always have a good choice. I wasn’t disappointed.

Very helpful and friendly staff, thank you

Really helpful and knowledgeable staff. Plants are well looked after. There is so much to look at or buy including Cotton Traders.

Cafe food at Derby store is very good. However often big queue to order & long wait before bringing the order out. Today I was told up to half an hour wait but it was actually 1 hour before we got our toasted sandwiches. That’s on top of queuing for 25 minutes to put the order in.

What an awful place. Soft play?? It is filthy, unsupervised, unchecked, a mere half (and that is being generous), pay, the rest just throw their children in so they can sit and chat with their friends and check their phone. There have been no repairs, updates or replacements for years. Awful. However, today Findern surpassed itself. I went today, not only to take on the war zone of soft play but to get soil to repot my indoor plants - could not find soil or staff, eventually asked at the tills, guess what? They don't have any and no idea when they will. Still selling lots of houseplants that need the soil though - you could not make it up!

UPDATE
Just had an email telling me that if I do not supply further info my review may be removed............
Well Dobbies, at the risk of repeating myself, check with the till Staff on the day in question as I did speak to them, their response was to ask if I would like to join your scheme so I could suffer more. I also emailed directly to Derby and, to be fair, they responded quickly but the upshot is that I am not holding my breath on the soft play being repaired, replaced or even cleaned. Go look at the ball pond particularly. The damaged ones that are thrown under the slide, outnumber the ones that are intact. Nothing has changed. Parents need to supervise, not see the soft play and subsequently the few of us that do supervise, as childcare whilst they sit chatting with their friends or on their phones, yes, I am talking to you parents but Dobbies need to ensure this happens. Better notices put up and check the place, even once an hour. Check wristbands and supervision.

Whatever you see at Dobbies is excellent. Beautifully presented I hope to be back next week.

Lack of gluten free cake in the restaurant apart from a pre package bar when there at numerous plates of fresh cake all of which are not gluten free and are all made with gluten in them there was no gluten free in the chilled area either so l was unable to use my anniversary coupon could this be rectified soon

The staff are friendly. The food is ok but overpriced for what it is. The queue for food ordering is unbelievably slow, this is not an incidental finding, it has happened every single time I’ve been here. Only really come here because my kids want to see the fish! Soft play is ok, again overpriced.

Went to the restaurant. Helpful and friendly staff and good service.

Helpful staff nice atmosphere . Reasonable prices

Excellent service very polite and courteous. Afternoon tea was lovely too