Was delivered on the date requested and was off loaded and stacked neatly beside the house. Didn't realise the base coat would be patchy, having spoken with customer servicrs they assured us this... See more
Company replied
While we don't verify specific claims because reviewers' opinions are their own, we may label reviews as "Verified" when we can confirm a business interaction took place. Read more
To protect platform integrity, every review on our platform—verified or not—is screened by our 24/7 automated software. This technology is designed to identify and remove content that breaches our guidelines, including reviews that are not based on a genuine experience. We recognise we may not catch everything, and you can flag anything you think we may have missed. Read more
Review summary
Created with AI, based on recent reviews
What people talk about most
Reviews shaping this summary
The shed itself is great. Confusion over booking 'delivery date' (which apparently meant 'collection from Shire date') meant it was delivered a few days after I expected. Few bare patches of dipping... See more
Company replied
I could not log onto the online portal to book my delivery date. Phoned the office on two occasions both days their portal was also down. Third day tried and i got onto book date online. Stating 21st... See more
Company replied
I bought one of the Honeysuckle Corner Arbours and found it reasonably easy to assemble. However, I would make two suggestions- I found it impossible at step 12 of the assembly instructions to screw... See more
Company replied
Company details
- #185 of 188 best companies in Garden centre
Written by the company
Shire Garden Buildings is a proud, family-run business based in Cambridgeshire, with over 40 years of trading experience. Since 1981, we have been manufacturing high-quality garden buildings in the UK, building our reputation on craftsmanship, reliability, and exceptional service. Every product we sell is manufactured here in the UK, using high-quality Northern European timber. Originally transitioning from yacht production into garden building manufacturing, we drew on the extensive skills of our workforce to establish a strong foundation for growth. Over the decades, we have continued to expand, with knowledge and expertise passed down through generations. Today, our factories and warehouses span approximately 20 acres, supported by investment in state-of-the-art equipment including a planing mill, fully self-contained joinery production, undercover timber storage, and large warehouses capable of holding up to 20,000 buildings in stock. We employ over 150 dedicated team members who share our commitment to quality and customer satisfaction. Our extensive product range includes sheds, summer houses, greenhouses, playhouses, and much more, all crafted to the highest standards. From manufacture to delivery, we manage the process ourselves, dispatching orders using our own fleet to ensure reliability and care. Our exceptional after-sales team is always on hand to help with anything at all, providing the support and reassurance our customers value.
Contact info
Shire, Brigstock Road, Wisbech, PE13 3JJ, United Kingdom
- 01945 465295
- rob@shiregb.co.uk
- www.shiregb.com
Shire Frequently Asked Questions
3.2
Average
2k reviews
Asks customers to review
This company invites their customers to review, whether positive or negative
Replied to 100% of negative reviews
Typically replies within 1 month
How this company uses Trustpilot
See how their reviews and ratings are sourced, scored, and moderated.
Ordered on line delivery man very…
Ordered on line delivery man very helpful and on time,easy build. One door a little out.but a phone call and all sorted,I would have no problem in recommending them
20 June 2026
Reply from Shire Garden Buildings
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review.
We're delighted to hear that your delivery arrived on time and that our driver was helpful. It's also great to know that you found the building straightforward to assemble.
We're sorry there was a slight issue with one of the doors, but we're pleased our team were able to get this sorted quickly for you.
Thank you for your recommendation – it really is appreciated.
Great bar/shed
Delivered on time delivery driver was polite and professional all the time he was here easy to assemble and everything was listed perfectly took two people about two hours looks lovely
19 June 2026
Reply from Shire Garden Buildings
Thank you for your fantastic review.
We're delighted to hear your bar/shed was delivered on time and that our driver provided a professional service. It's also great to know the assembly process was straightforward, with all the parts clearly listed and the build completed so quickly.
Most importantly, we're pleased to hear you're happy with the finished result and that it's looking lovely. We hope you enjoy it for many years to come.
Bad customer service
Had an original delivery date 4th June, this was delayed to 22nd June due to production problems. Got text confirming delivery 22nd June between 4pm and 8pm. No delivery no call nothing, appalling service, the customer service who called to change my date to 22nd was rude and unsympathetic. Dont bother ordering from them unreliable
22 June 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Shire Garden Buildings
We're sorry to hear about your experience.
We appreciate how frustrating this situation has been. We did make contact on 22nd May to advise that, due to production delays, your original delivery date of 4th June would need to be moved to 22nd June. Whilst we understand delays can happen from time to time, we appreciate this was disappointing news to receive.
We then unfortunately failed to complete the delivery on 22nd June as planned. Having investigated, the vehicle reached the maximum legal driving hours permitted and was unable to complete the remaining deliveries on the route. Whilst this was an unforeseen issue, we fully accept that you should have been kept updated rather than being left waiting for a delivery that did not arrive.
We are also sorry to hear that you felt the communication you received lacked empathy, as this is not the standard of service we aim to provide.
Thank you for taking the time to leave your feedback. We have shared your comments internally and will use them to improve our communication and delivery processes moving forward.
Elm Summerhouse
Delivery was very long but expected for the size of the shed, my husband put the shed up by him self, no help needed , we went for the Elm summerhouse / shed, he had most of the summerhouse up by one evening , I thought it would of taking him weeks. Door frames were more fiddly but all done within one weekend and painted and treated , now looks absolutely amazing.
10 June 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Shire Garden Buildings
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a lovely review.
We're delighted to hear you're pleased with your Elm Summerhouse and that the build went so smoothly. It sounds like your husband made fantastic progress getting it assembled so quickly! We appreciate the door frames can sometimes take a little extra patience, but it's great to hear everything was completed within the weekend.
We're sure all the hard work has paid off, and we're thrilled that it's now painted, treated and looking amazing. We hope you enjoy your new summerhouse for many years to come.
The finish / treatment was patchy
The finish / treatment was patchy, incorrect Cover strips were sent, it is disappointment and would not recommend SHIRE as not a very supportive company.
22 June 2026
Reply from Shire Garden Buildings
Hi David,
Thank you for taking the time to leave your review.
We're sorry to hear that you were disappointed with both the finish of the cover strips supplied and the service you received during your enquiry. We understand your concerns regarding the appearance of the timber treatment and the inconsistency in the cover strips provided with your order.
Our team reviewed the images supplied and offered guidance based on our assessment; however, we appreciate that this did not address your concerns to your satisfaction. We also recognise that our communication may have left you feeling unsupported, and for that we apologise.
Customer feedback is important to us, and your comments regarding product quality and our handling of the issue have been shared with the relevant departments for review.
Thank you again for bringing this matter to our attention.
The lead time on the adverising with B&…
The lead time on the adverising with B& Q was 6-9 days. The order went in and confirmation came immediately it was 6-9 days delivery. It was not until later that evening when the email came through to book the delivery slot it was confirmed mid Aug was the earliest delivery. So six weeks rather than 6 days. Very dissapointing and much time wasted.
22 June 2026
Reply from Shire Garden Buildings
We are sorry to hear about your disappointment regarding the delivery lead time communicated for your order.
We provide our retail partners with our current lead times and stock availability; however, the information displayed on third-party websites is managed by the retailer and may not always reflect the most up-to-date delivery schedule. Unfortunately, we do not have direct control over the delivery estimates shown on their product listings.
We appreciate how frustrating it must have been to place your order expecting delivery within 6–9 days, only to discover later that the earliest available delivery date was significantly further away.
Your comments have been noted and will be shared with the relevant teams as we continue to work with our retail partners to improve the accuracy of delivery information presented to customers.
Thank you for taking the time to leave your review.
The instructions were pointless
The instructions were pointless.
None of the materials were labeled.
Some of the materials were very out of shape.
Some simple tips and instructions would have been helpful.
20 June 2026
Reply from Shire Garden Buildings
Thank you for your review, Mark.
We're sorry to read your comments. Having reviewed our records, we can see that this order was placed on 15th June and subsequently cancelled on 16th June before delivery took place.
As a result, we're unable to identify which product or instructions your comments relate to. If this review relates to a different order, or if we've misunderstood, please contact our Customer Services team with further details and we'll be happy to investigate for you.
Reply from Shire Garden Buildings
Thank you for your review.
We're delighted to hear that you had a positive experience and that the assistance you received was excellent. We'll be sure to pass your kind comments on to the relevant team.
Thank you for choosing Shire, and we hope you enjoy your new building for many years to come.
Still didnt recieve the correct colour…
Still didnt recieve the correct colour finial as of 21st June.
I keep being told that presure treated wood is green....but why wasnt the rest of the arbour green....that wood is presure treated and it is a lovely golden brown colour!
21 June 2026
Reply from Shire Garden Buildings
Thank you for your review, Richard.
We are sorry for the delay and frustration caused in getting the replacement finial to you. We can see from our records that this has been raised with us on a number of occasions, and we appreciate your patience whilst we worked to resolve it.
To clarify, the green finial supplied is the correct component for a pressure-treated building. Pressure-treated timber naturally has a green tint due to the preservative treatment process and, like the rest of the building, is intended to be treated or painted after installation. It will also weather naturally over time.
That said, we appreciate that your main concern was not just the colour but also the fact that the original finial was missing and the replacement did not arrive as expected. We apologise for the inconvenience caused by the delays and have since re-raised the replacement to be sent via DHL.
Thank you for bringing this to our attention, and we hope your Corner Arbour is now providing many years of enjoyment.
Quality control discrepancies
The summerhouse arrived when it was expected but soon became apparent that the quality was pretty poor! A nail gun had been used to fix boards to frame and a lot missed the mark so not fixing the boards and sticking out. Fortunately these were mainly on the flooring and so would be hidden. The window catches were so badly aligned that they wouldn’t close and also parts were missing and so wouldn’t close anyway! They were also very poor quality. One of the back wall panels was distorted by about 4cm which made it difficult to fit in place. The roofing felt was so thin it ripped very easily, luckily we were able to turn it round and is hidden under the overlap. And lastly one pane of glass was missing plus 2 roof supports. Quality control needs to be tightened up. People are spending good money on this product and do not expect to see these faults. I spoke to customer services on two occasions, firstly to a gentleman who was very off hand and abrupt. He asked for photos which I sent but no response. Admittedly I miss spelled the email address to start with but when re sent a lady called very quickly and was very apologetic and keen to rectify the missing parts and window catches.
There is a saying ‘ Built on a Friday’ which I think this summer house was!
13 June 2026
Reply from Shire Garden Buildings
Thank you for taking the time to leave such detailed feedback.
We are sorry to hear that aspects of your summerhouse did not meet your expectations. Having reviewed our correspondence, we can see that you contacted us regarding the window catches and workmanship concerns, and we appreciate you providing photographs to help us investigate. Replacement window catches were arranged, and we were keen to resolve the issues as quickly as possible once the correct information had been received.
We fully accept that missing catches, alignment issues and missing components are frustrating, and we apologise for the inconvenience this caused. Your comments regarding the nail fixings, wall panel alignment and roofing felt have also been shared with the relevant teams for review, as we agree that quality standards are important and customer feedback helps us improve.
We are, however, pleased to hear that our customer service team was able to assist once the issue reached us and that the missing parts and catches were being addressed promptly.
Thank you again for your honest feedback. We hope that now the replacement parts have been supplied, you are able to enjoy your summerhouse for many years to come.
My summer house has not yet arrived
20 June 2026
Reply from Shire Garden Buildings
Thank you for your review, Karol.
I can see that on 16th June your order was booked in for delivery on 23rd June, which is tomorrow.
If, following your review, you no longer wish to receive the building, please contact our Customer Services team as soon as possible and we can look into cancelling the order before the delivery takes place.
Overall, a good experience, happy customer…
Good communication in relation to the delivery date. Delivery driver very polite and helpful throught delivery. Slightly disapointed in the company sending just 1 x delivery driver as this was a bit much for one person to safely dispatch my order from the vehicle without potential damage. This was assisted by myself and one other of which was more acceptable. Glad I was available to facilitate delivery. Happy with the quality of the timber however some of the finishes particularly the window latch positions were slightly out with splits made in the wood sills due to screws and fitting etc. One of the windows also slightly damaged however repairable. One half of the roof required straitening out as this was banana shape therefor would not fit / join in the middle. Again manged to rectify. Could have done with more roof joists as the roof did sag considerably when applying the roof felt. Uprights where applied to take the weight during fitting. I found the customer servie very smooth and easy after purchase and despite some quality issues with my summer house, overall was a good experience.
14 June 2026
Reply from Shire Garden Buildings
Thank you for taking the time to leave such a detailed review.
We're delighted to hear that you found the communication around delivery clear, our driver polite and helpful, and that our customer service team made the process smooth and straightforward.
We do appreciate your comments regarding the delivery and the quality issues you encountered. We're sorry to hear that some components required adjustment during assembly, particularly the window fittings, damaged window, roof section and additional support needed during installation. Whilst we're pleased you were able to rectify these issues, we understand that this can be frustrating and is not the standard we aim for.
Your feedback is incredibly valuable and will be passed on to the relevant teams for review. It's particularly pleasing to hear that despite these issues, you were happy with the timber quality and that your overall experience remained a positive one.
Thank you again for your balanced and constructive feedback, and we hope you enjoy your summerhouse for many years to come.
Arrived safely
Arrived safely, delivery driver was polite and put the pieces down the drive. The structure that we ordered was not as we wanted it but we made it fit to our requirements. A couple of the pieces had flaws in them but we have managed to hide them .
8 May 2026
Reply from Shire Garden Buildings
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review.
We're pleased to hear that your order arrived safely and that the delivery driver was polite and helpful when delivering your building.
We're sorry to hear that the structure wasn't quite as you had originally envisaged and that a couple of components had some imperfections. Whilst we're glad you were able to adapt the building to suit your requirements, this isn't the experience we aim to provide.
We do appreciate your feedback, as it helps us continue to improve both our products and service. We hope you enjoy your building for many years to come.
Hampton Corner Summerhouse
Great value for the money. Prompt delivery with a very fair delivery charge. Good customer care and plenty of advise if required. Replaced a door free of charge due to it being twisted.
16 June 2026
Reply from Shire Garden Buildings
Thank you so much for your lovely review.
We're delighted to hear that you're pleased with your Hampton Corner Summerhouse and felt it offered great value for money. It's also wonderful to know that you were happy with both the delivery service and the support provided by our customer care team.
We're sorry there was an issue with the original door, but we're pleased we were able to get this resolved for you quickly with a replacement.
Thank you again for taking the time to share your experience. We hope you enjoy your summerhouse for many years to come.
Great item but poor delivery communication
Product is great but communication for delivery day/time should be improved. I contacted to ensure the day I was taking off work was correct and was assured this was correct but it didnt arrive. I was then informed it was a two day delivery because of my location. If this had been confirmed during my first email then I wouldnt have wasted time off work. I was also told the delivery driver had been asked to phone me 30mins before delivery but this didnt happen so I didnt get the opportunity to inspect all items were delivered and free from damage. Luckily they were and I'm happy with the quality for the cost.
15 June 2026
Reply from Shire Garden Buildings
Thank you for taking the time to leave your review.
We're delighted to hear that you're happy with the quality of your building and feel it offers good value for money.
That said, we're sorry that the delivery communication did not meet your expectations. We completely understand how frustrating it must have been to take time off work based on the information provided, only to later discover that your delivery was operating on a two-day route due to your location. We also appreciate that, had this been communicated earlier, it would have helped you plan accordingly.
We're equally sorry that the requested pre-delivery call from the driver did not take place. Whilst we're pleased to hear that everything arrived safely and without damage, we appreciate the reassurance that an advance call can provide.
Your feedback regarding communication has been noted and will be shared with the relevant teams as we continue to improve our delivery experience.
Thank you again for your order, and we hope you enjoy your new building for many years to come.
Do not buy from this company
I will start by saying that I take no pleasure in leaving a negative review. I leave this review to prevent other customers from coming to grief with this company like myself. After spending £900+ and waiting more than six weeks I received a call to say the delivery of my greenhouse would not be made as previously agreed. When I did receive it, some of the glass did not fit into the frame due to what Shires called a ‘manufacturing error’ of the structure itself. Due to their delay in sorting the issue out, I had to pay out an additional £25 to purchase glass locally that would actually fit the aperture. I gave Shires the opportunity to apologise and to take some action to rectify their mistake but they remain totally disinterested and will not even pay a token amount to reimburse me or even issue an apology. Elbec similarly have offered me nothing. I am currently 64 years old and a cancer patient and don’t have the energy to pursue the matter any further via other channels. I told them that, but guess what? Correct. They didn’t really care about that either. Shame on you Shires. Shame on you Elbec. But everyone else beware of these people. Spend your money elsewhere. You will be happier and safer.
15 June 2026
Reply from Shire Garden Buildings
Thank you for your review, David.
We're sorry to hear you were disappointed with your experience.
Having reviewed the correspondence, whilst we appreciate the difficulty you encountered when fitting one of the gable panes, our investigation was ongoing at the time and no manufacturing fault was formally confirmed. The supplied glass matched the specification for the Holkham greenhouse, and further measurements were being requested to establish the root cause of the issue.
We understand that due to the weather conditions you chose to source alternative glazing locally in order to complete the installation. As this was arranged independently before our investigation had concluded, we were unfortunately unable to authorise reimbursement.
We appreciate that this was frustrating and apologise for the delay whilst we sought clarification from our production team. Customer feedback is taken seriously and we are sorry that, on this occasion, we did not meet your expectations.
Would have been 5 stars but some of the…
Would have been 5 stars but some of the door fittings should be better.
15 June 2026
Reply from Shire Garden Buildings
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review and share a photo of your completed building.
We have to say, the finished result looks fantastic and it's clear you've put a great deal of care into both the installation and the surrounding landscaping. The additional ironmongery and finishing touches really complement the building and create a beautiful garden space.
We're delighted to hear that your experience was almost a 5-star one. We do appreciate your comments regarding the door fittings and will ensure this feedback is passed to our product team for consideration.
Thank you again for choosing Shire Garden Buildings, and we hope you enjoy your new garden room for many years to come.
Its a mixed bag
The price was good, our first delivery was rescheduled, our second delivery was late. The timber quality was sub standard, the customer service has been mediocre especially exasperated by it being 2 companies im left chasing up a window that came very bent beyond use so our summer house / log cabin is still not finished almost a month beyond the original delivery date. Although the almost finished product does look good!
16 June 2026
Reply from Shire Garden Buildings
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review.
We are pleased to hear that you are happy with the appearance of the finished building, however we are sorry that your overall experience has been affected by both delivery delays and the issues you encountered during assembly.
Having reviewed your case, we can see that we have been actively investigating the concerns raised and have agreed to supply a replacement window to resolve the outstanding issue. We appreciate that this has taken longer than either of us would have liked and apologise for the frustration caused whilst we gathered the information required and arranged the replacement parts.
We also acknowledge your comments regarding the delivery experience and the quality of some components supplied. Customer feedback is important to us and helps us identify areas where we can improve.
We appreciate your patience whilst we complete the resolution of the remaining issue and hope that you are able to enjoy the building for many years to come once finished.
Driver rang to let me know he was on…
Driver rang to let me know he was on way ,arrived within the hour like he said
16 June 2026
Reply from Shire Garden Buildings
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review.
We're delighted to hear that the driver kept you updated and arrived within the timeframe advised. We understand how important good communication is on delivery day, so it's great to know this helped make the experience a positive one.
Thank you for choosing Shire Garden Buildings and we hope you enjoy your new purchase.
Do not order from this company
After ordering a playhouse in April to be delivered by beginning of June, the company let us down “due to unforeseeable circumstances “
I’ll tell my grandchildren that when they come this weekend - I’m sure they’ll understand…..
You are disgraceful in the way you treat customers and hope Wickes realise the damage to their reputation and find a better company to do business with - just what you deserve.
5 June 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Shire Garden Buildings
We are sorry to read your review and fully appreciate how disappointing this must be, particularly when the playhouse was intended for your grandchildren.
Having reviewed the order, it was placed at the beginning of May with an expected delivery date in early June. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen operational circumstances, we were unable to fulfil the original delivery date and we sincerely apologise for the inconvenience and frustration this has caused.
We understand that when a delivery is delayed it impacts plans that have been made around it, and we appreciate that this is not the experience you expected when ordering through Wickes.
Whilst delays are never our intention, we do take feedback such as yours seriously and will continue working to improve our service. We apologise again for the disappointment caused and hope your order reaches you as soon as possible.
The Trustpilot Experience
Anyone can write a Trustpilot review. People who write reviews have ownership to edit or delete them at any time, and they’ll be displayed as long as an account is active.
We use dedicated people and clever technology to safeguard our platform. Find out how we combat fake reviews.
Learn about Trustpilot’s review process.
Here are 8 tips for writing great reviews.
Verification can help ensure real people are writing the reviews you read on Trustpilot.
Offering incentives for reviews or asking for them selectively can bias the TrustScore, which goes against our guidelines.