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Shire Garden Buildings Reviews 

2,316
TrustScore 3 out of 5

3.2

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Review summary

Created with AI, based on recent reviews

Evaluating 569 reviews, most reviewers were somewhat happy with their experience overall. Many customers appreciate the good quality of the products, noting solid timber, absence of warping, and excellent overall construction. Reviewers frequently highlight efficient delivery services, with items arriving on time and drivers often being helpful and polite. People also commend the customer service for being responsive and helpful in resolving issues like damaged or missing parts. However, some customers also noted significant dissatisfaction with delivery delays, with products arriving weeks or months late, often after multiple rescheduling. Many people reported receiving items with quality issues, such as warped wood, broken glass, missing fixings, or incorrect parts. Additionally, some reviewers experienced poor communication and unhelpful responses from customer service when trying to resolve these problems.

What people talk about most

Product

People report ambiguous experiences with product quality, with some reviewers praising the good quality... See more

Delivery service

Customers consistently note ambiguous experiences with delivery service, with many reporting significant... See more

Quality

Clients share ambiguous opinions on quality, with many reviewers expressing significant dissatisfaction due... See more

Customer service

Reviewers highlight ambiguous aspects of customer service, with many expressing significant dissatisfaction.... See more

Service

Reviewers mention ambiguous feedback about service, with some customers praising the promptness of callbacks... See more

Reviews shaping this summary

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

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

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

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

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

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

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

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

  1. #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.


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3.2

Average

TrustScore 3 out of 5

2k reviews

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3.2

All reviews

(2,316)

571 reviews in the last 12 months

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Rated 5 out of 5 stars

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
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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.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

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
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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.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

The delivery was fine and all parts…

The delivery was fine and all parts were there. It got fitted by a builder until he got to the roof. It didn’t fit the joint with the joints too large for the roof. I had a roofer to look at it and he said the same. I can send you photos if needed .

5 June 2026
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Reply from Shire Garden Buildings

Thank you for your review.

I'm sorry to hear that you've experienced an issue with the roof during assembly, particularly after delivery went smoothly and all parts were present. This is certainly unusual and not something we would expect to occur.

If you would be able to send us some photographs showing the roof sections and where the joints do not fit correctly, we would be more than happy to investigate this for you and work towards a resolution as quickly as possible.

Please contact our customer service team with the images and your order details, and we will be happy to assist further.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

poor delivery service

delivery greatly exceeded expectation and was later changed to be over 2 months away without me agreeing to the date.

16 June 2026
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Reply from Shire Garden Buildings

Hi Ollie,

Thank you for taking the time to leave your feedback. We are sorry to hear that you were disappointed with the delivery timeframe and understand how frustrating it can be when an expected delivery date changes.

After reviewing your correspondence with our support team, we can see that you contacted us to request a cancellation due to the revised delivery date. As your order was placed through the retailer, any cancellation and refund requests need to be processed directly by them. Our team therefore advised you to contact the retailer, who could submit the cancellation request and arrange a full refund once approved.

We appreciate that delivery delays are disappointing, and we apologise for any inconvenience caused. Your feedback is important to us and will be shared internally as we continue working to improve our customer experience.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Please don't let drivers cut corners…

Please don't let drivers cut corners then tell lady on bike to F... off when lady on bike was on her side of road will not recommend any one to buy your items as drivers are so rude16

16 June 2026
Unprompted review
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Reply from Shire Garden Buildings

Hi,

We are sorry to read your comments. We take reports regarding driver conduct very seriously. Unfortunately, we have been unable to identify the incident from the information provided, but we would be happy to investigate further if you can provide additional details, such as the date, time, and location.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

My new shed

The delivery was handled well and they left it where I asked them to. It was fairly easy to build although we couldn't fit the lower bolt because there was a nail in the way.

13 June 2026
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Reply from Shire Garden Buildings

Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. We're pleased to hear that the delivery went smoothly and that the team were able to leave your shed exactly where you requested.

It's great to know that the assembly process was fairly straightforward. We do apologise for the issue with the lower bolt and the nail getting in the way, and we appreciate you bringing this to our attention as it helps us improve both our products and instructions.

We hope you're enjoying your new shed and thank you again for choosing us.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars
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Reply from Shire Garden Buildings

Hi Denise,

Thank you so much for your kind review. We're delighted to hear that you found both our service efficient and our product very good. Providing a smooth experience and high-quality products is always our goal, so it's wonderful to know we met your expectations.

We really appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback and look forward to serving you again in the future.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Do not buy from Shire

Avoid this company. I ordered via Wickes but was then handled by Shire. 5 weeks lead time for a garden building only to be cancelled on day of delivery and rearranged for the following week due to driver shortage. The following weeks delivery was then cancelled on the day and I was informed they now had no stock. The delivery was pushed out for another 4 weeks. No call back, no ability to speak to anyone in their management team. They are a terrible example of customer service.

15 June 2026
Unprompted review
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Reply from Shire Garden Buildings

We are sorry to hear that you were disappointed with your experience.

Having reviewed the order history, the original delivery date of 5th June was unfortunately cancelled due to driver availability issues. We appreciate this was frustrating and apologise for the inconvenience caused. The order was then rebooked for 10th June at the earliest available opportunity, however due to an unforeseen operational issue affecting the order, we were unable to proceed with the delivery as planned and a new delivery date of 25th June was subsequently arranged.

We fully appreciate that two failed delivery dates are disappointing and understand the frustration this caused. Whilst we did make contact to advise of each change and issued updated delivery confirmations throughout the process, we recognise that this did not meet the level of service either you or we would expect.

We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused and thank you for taking the time to share your feedback, which has been passed to the relevant teams for review.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/10

10/10
Great value, great quality, great customer service

14 June 2026
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Reply from Shire Garden Buildings

Thank you for your fantastic 10/10 review!

We're delighted to hear that you were pleased with the value, quality, and customer service you received. Your feedback means a lot to the team, and we're grateful that you took the time to share your experience.

We hope you enjoy your building for many years to come.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Great service

Great service, delivered on time,love my summerhouse

15 June 2026
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Reply from Shire Garden Buildings

Thank you for your review. We're pleased to hear your summerhouse arrived on time and that you're happy with your purchase.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

Third time is a charm? No. Not really.

This playhouse took 3 attempts to be delivered, so around a month from point of ordering via the 3rd party. 1st time it simply wasn't dispatched as per booking, the second time the driver called me from 160 miles away saying he won't deliver, as warehouse had changed my postcode, but attempt number three went ahead fine.

The delivery driver (Andrew R) that did successfully arrive was great, got everything off quickly and stacked it neatly despite a torrential downpour.

3 window panels were missing from the off, so customer services sent some by courier arriving 4 days later.

During the build, other parts were found to be missing, but rather than wait another week I made these parts using the measurements on the instructions.

Several panels were covered in staples and plastic debris, I pulled around 30 out during construction, and a few nails had to be pulled as they weren't straight and poking out at angles. I wasnt expecting this poor level of quality or lack of attention to detail for the price paid.

Once repaired and built, the structure is solid, and the kids are happy. Mainly as they didn't have to deal with Shire several times just to get a working play house delivered.

Because of this apparent lack of care and numerous issues, I am not likely to use Shire again, nor recommend to friends.

14 June 2026
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Reply from Shire Garden Buildings

Hi Richard,

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback.

We're pleased to hear that the playhouse is now built, the structure is solid, and most importantly that the children are enjoying it.

That said, we're very sorry that your overall experience fell below expectations. We appreciate how frustrating the delivery issues must have been, particularly after multiple delivery attempts before the order successfully arrived. We're also sorry that parts were missing from the original delivery and that additional components were identified during assembly.

We're glad our team was able to arrange replacement window panels promptly and that Andrew provided a positive delivery experience when the building was finally delivered.

Your comments regarding the missing parts, as well as the staples, debris and fixings you encountered during assembly, have been shared with the relevant teams for review. This is not the standard we aim to provide, and we understand why these issues left you disappointed.

Thank you again for your honest feedback. Whilst we're sorry we didn't provide the experience you expected, we appreciate you bringing these issues to our attention and giving us the opportunity to investigate them.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Very helpful company

Very helpful company. Good communication. Good product.

14 June 2026
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Reply from Shire Garden Buildings

Hi,

Thank you for your kind review.

It's great to hear that you found the team helpful and that communication throughout your order was clear and straightforward. We're also delighted that you're happy with your product.

We really appreciate your feedback and thank you for choosing Shire.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Shockingly bad service

Ordered a garden greenhouse with shed in April, still not delivered, no communication until I chased them, appalling service, shocking how many excuses- now mid June and still not delivered!
Do not use them

14 June 2026
Unprompted review
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Reply from Shire Garden Buildings

We're very sorry to read of your experience.

We understand how frustrating it is when an order does not arrive within the expected timeframe, particularly when you feel you have had to chase for updates. We appreciate that delays and uncertainty can be incredibly disappointing.

We would like the opportunity to investigate this further. Please contact our customer service team with your order details if you have not already done so, and we will review the status of your order and the communication provided.

We apologise for the frustration caused and thank you for bringing your concerns to our attention.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

Good product, disappointing response to a finishing issue

Review:

I purchased a Shire Caboose Playhouse through Wickes for over £700. Overall, the playhouse itself is good quality and looks great once assembled and treated.

My disappointment arose from what I felt was a finishing detail. One side of the playhouse was supplied with an angled timber trim above the wheels which gave the building a much more finished appearance. The opposite side was not.

After contacting Shire, they confirmed the timber was supposedly a transport piece rather than part of the playhouse. Whilst I appreciate they investigated the matter with their factory, drawings team and stock team, I was disappointed by the outcome.

The timber supplied was cut to length, angled at the ends and fitted the playhouse perfectly. It transformed the appearance of one side of the building and, in my opinion, made it look much closer to the product photographs. Despite identifying exactly what the piece was, Shire advised they could not supply a matching piece and instead suggested sourcing timber locally and making one myself.

The playhouse is good quality overall, but for a product at this price point I felt this was a missed opportunity to provide a simple goodwill solution and ensure the finished appearance matched customer expectations.

14 June 2026
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Reply from Shire Garden Buildings

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback.

We're pleased to hear that you're happy with the overall quality of your Caboose Playhouse, although we're sorry to learn that the outcome of your enquiry regarding the timber trim left you disappointed.

We completely understand your point of view. Given that the timber was supplied with the building, is cut to fit so neatly, and creates a more finished appearance when installed, we appreciate why you believed it formed part of the playhouse itself and why you hoped a matching piece could be provided.

Our team carried out a thorough investigation with our factory, drawings department and stock team to understand exactly what the timber was and whether a matching piece could be supplied. Unfortunately, it was confirmed that the timber in question is a transport support rather than a manufactured component of the playhouse, meaning it is not held as a stocked spare part that we can provide separately.

Whilst we appreciate this was not the resolution you were hoping for, your feedback has been shared internally as it highlights how the appearance of these transport supports can understandably influence expectations of the finished product.

Thank you again for your patience and for the constructive manner in which you raised your concerns. We genuinely appreciate your feedback and hope you enjoy your playhouse for many years to come.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

Happy with purchase

The delivery was fantastic, it was great to see the location of the driver. The delivery was 2 hours over the window of delivery I was given, but as I could track location. I was able to pop out as new he wouldn't be there within slot.

I purchased the gazebo summerhouse. The instructions are really clear and everything packaged really well. The only issue is that the windows didn't fit, so had to trim off some off the frame. If you've not got the suitable equipment to do this, its ok, but could would be difficult if you didn't. Apart from that, really happy .

13 June 2026
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Reply from Shire Garden Buildings

It's great to hear you're happy with your new gazebo summerhouse and that the delivery tracking made things a little easier. Although the vehicle arrived later than expected, it's good to know you were able to keep an eye on its progress and weren't left waiting around unnecessarily.

We're also pleased that the instructions were easy to follow and that everything arrived well packaged.

Thank you for mentioning the issue you encountered with the windows. Whilst we're glad you were able to resolve it, we appreciate that not everyone will have the tools or confidence to make adjustments during assembly. We'll make sure your feedback is passed on to the team for consideration.

Thanks again for taking the time to share your experience. We hope you get lots of enjoyment from your summerhouse.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Terrible experience

Terrible experience. My delivery arrived with 7 missing components. After reporting it, there was no telephone communication or explanation from the company. A second delivery was arranged, but 2 parts were still missing. Completely unacceptable service and very disappointing overall.

13 June 2026
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Reply from Shire Garden Buildings

Hi Leanne,

We're very sorry to read about your experience.

We completely understand your frustration. Receiving a delivery with multiple missing components is disappointing enough, but we appreciate that the lack of communication afterwards only added to that frustration, particularly when the item was intended as a special gift for your daughter.

Having reviewed your case, we can see that replacement parts were arranged; however, we acknowledge that this did not resolve the issue fully and that further components were still found to be missing. We appreciate how disappointing this must have been after already waiting for a resolution.

This is not the level of service we aim to provide, and we sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused. Your feedback has been shared with the relevant teams as we continue to review both the missing parts issue and the communication surrounding your order.

Thank you for taking the time to bring this to our attention.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Roof part of the item was damaged…

Roof part of the item was damaged unable to use it. Spoke to customer service they are looking into it. 2 weeks later still no replacement. Not happy at all with service from this company.

2 June 2026
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Reply from Shire Garden Buildings

Hi,

We're sorry to hear about your experience.

We appreciate how frustrating it must be to receive a damaged component, particularly when it prevents you from using your shed as intended. We also understand your disappointment at still awaiting a resolution after reporting the issue.

Having reviewed your case, we can see that the damage was reported to us and was being investigated internally. However, we recognise that the time taken to provide a replacement or update has not met your expectations, and for this we sincerely apologise.

We would encourage you to respond to our most recent correspondence if you have not already done so, and we will ensure the matter is reviewed as a priority.

Thank you for bringing this to our attention, and again, please accept our apologies for the inconvenience caused.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Overall crap don't bother wasting money!

Absolutely shocking communication is crap! They sent shed and it was broken due to delivery driver slamming it down, then had to wait a week for replacement parts, only for them to bring the wrong parts...

Refused refund when asked them to take it away, quality is shite, rained once and wood buckled!

13 June 2026
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Reply from Shire Garden Buildings

Hi Tiffany,

We're sorry to read about your experience and appreciate your frustration.

From our records, we can see that you contacted us regarding damaged panels and advised that you would prefer a refund rather than replacement parts. As your order was purchased through Wilko, we advised that any refund request would need to be discussed with the retailer, as they are the supplier of your purchase contract.

We understand that receiving damaged components is disappointing, and we're sorry this affected your experience. We also appreciate your comments regarding the replacement parts and communication throughout the process.

In relation to the timber, our buildings are supplied with a water-based dip treatment for protection during storage and transit. As advised within the product information and assembly instructions, further treatment should be applied as soon as possible after assembly and then maintained regularly to protect the timber from the effects of weather exposure.

We're sorry that your experience did not meet expectations and thank you for taking the time to leave your feedback.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

The Playhouse I ordered for my…

The Playhouse I ordered for my Grandchildren is amazing and they will have years of fun playing in it .
Although the delivery date was changed a couple of times and caused me concern I was kept updated all the way and totally appreciated this.
Well done guys 👏👏👏

12 June 2026
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Reply from Shire Garden Buildings

Hi,

Thank you for such a lovely review.

We're delighted to hear that you're pleased with the playhouse and, most importantly, that your grandchildren will be able to enjoy it for years to come. There's nothing better than knowing our products are helping to create happy memories.

We appreciate your understanding regarding the delivery date changes and are pleased that the updates from our team helped keep you informed throughout.

Thank you again for your kind words and support – we hope the playhouse sees plenty of adventures ahead!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Just taken delivery 2 days after the…

Just taken delivery 2 days after the order - amazing.

Can't errect yet until i have knocked down the old shed, and modified the base.

9 June 2026
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Reply from Shire Garden Buildings

Thank you for taking the time to leave a review.

We're really pleased to hear your order arrived so quickly and that the delivery exceeded your expectations.

It sounds like you've got a busy few days ahead getting the old shed down and the base prepared! We hope the installation goes smoothly when you're ready to put it up.

Thanks again for choosing Shire, and we hope you're delighted with the building once it's all assembled.

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