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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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2k reviews
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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
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.
The material of the shed were poor the…
The material of the shed were poor the window was cracked.
Communication is extremely poor
9 June 2026
Reply from Shire Garden Buildings
We're sorry to hear that Ton-yr-Ywen Primary School was disappointed with the Dutch Barn supplied and the experience received.
Following the concerns raised, our team requested and reviewed a number of photographs so that we could investigate the issues reported. We also acknowledged the reported cracked glazing pane and missing pad bolt and advised on 5th June that we were happy to arrange replacement components.
As we have not received a response since our last communication, we would please ask that you reply to our message sent on 5th June, or contact our Customer Support team directly, if you would still like us to arrange the replacement parts.
We appreciate your feedback and remain happy to assist in resolving the outstanding issues.
It a good quality shed quick delivery…
It a good quality shed quick delivery and pretty straightforward to put up
7 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 pleased with the quality of your shed and that it was delivered quickly. It's also great to know that you found the assembly straightforward.
We hope you enjoy your new shed for many years to come.
The Alora Summerhouse
The Alora Summerhouse is perfect for my crafting room, but I had to replace the floor, as it started to brake as soon as I was installing it. The amount of water that comes on will make everything damp. I have completely seated around all the Windows inside and out. I’m in the process of buying wood sealant for all the joints and the slates that don’t meet. I know I didn’t paint the 3 coats of sealant when I bought it, but I thought that would be a job later down the line. I’m quite disappointed and all the extra cost to make it usable space is costing half th3 price of the shed
4 June 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Shire Garden Buildings
Thank you for taking the time to leave your review.
We're genuinely sorry to hear how disappointed you've been with your experience. We can appreciate how frustrating it must be to invest in a summerhouse that you were excited to use as a special crafting space for you and your daughter, only to then face additional work and expense to get it ready for use.
We're pleased to hear that the building itself went together well, but we're sorry that concerns around water ingress and the additional costs you've incurred have taken away from the enjoyment of your new summerhouse.
As discussed through our correspondence, our timber buildings are supplied with a factory-applied basecoat treatment to protect them during storage and transit. To provide full weather protection, the building requires treatment internally and externally with a suitable weatherproof timber treatment shortly after assembly and before prolonged exposure to the elements. This is an important part of maintaining a timber building and helps to protect the natural timber from moisture ingress.
We completely understand that this may not have been what you expected and appreciate why you feel disappointed, particularly after already spending additional money on flooring and sealants. Timber is a natural material and features such as knots, grain variation and minor gaps can occur, but we appreciate that your focus is simply on creating a dry, comfortable space that you can enjoy.
Whilst we are unable to offer compensation on this occasion, we do genuinely hope that once the recommended treatment and sealing have been completed, you and your daughter are able to enjoy the crafting room you originally envisioned.
Good looking product for the price
Good looking product for the price. Reasonable service from Shire. Delivery date was changed twice without any hassle. Also a replacement glass was necessary and that was also (eventually) delivered promptly. The summer house was reasonably asy to assemble and most of the instructions were easy to follow in context. Only niggles were that we were missing 4 small battens (which I was able to get quickly from my own sources), and the initial order for a replacement pane of glass delivered the wrong size (even thosu the order form was stated for the correct size). This was rectified quickly and without any quibbles. Despite the minor issues with deliveries, the staff were very friendly and helpful.
31 May 2026
Reply from Shire Garden Buildings
Thank you for taking the time to leave your review.
We're delighted to hear that you're pleased with your summer house and felt it offered good value for money. It's also great to know that our team was able to assist with the delivery changes and replacement glass requirements.
We do apologise for the issues you experienced with the missing battens and the initial incorrect glass pane. While we're pleased these were resolved, we appreciate your patience and understanding throughout the process.
Thank you again for your kind comments about our staff. We hope you enjoy your summer house for many years to come.
Great experience
Great experience, very nice people to deal with and super efficient staff. Quality product installed perfectly.
10 May 2026
Reply from Shire Garden Buildings
Thank you for your lovely review.
We're so pleased to hear everything went smoothly from start to finish. It's great to know that our team made a positive impression and that you're happy with the quality of your building and the installation.
Feedback like this means a lot to us, and we'll be sure to share your comments with the team.
Thank you for choosing Shire, and we hope you enjoy your new building for many years to come.
I was happy with the size of the summer…
I was happy with the size of the summer house, and the price I suppose was a tad high, however upon assembly some pieces were warped ie the door frame, and fascia edgings, when I sent a email with attached photos, the response was not what I expected. It felt like my concerns were brushed under the carpet. Some years previously where I purchased a shed, the window frame was warped upon my request a replacement frame was sent with a apology that shed cost me £389 .
7 June 2026
Reply from Shire Garden Buildings
Thank you for taking the time to leave your review.
We're pleased to hear that you were happy with the size of the summerhouse, however we're sorry to hear that you felt your concerns were not addressed in the way you expected.
We do appreciate that discovering some timber distortion during assembly can be disappointing, particularly when you've taken the time to contact us and provide photographs. Timber is a natural material and some movement can occur, especially prior to treatment and as it adjusts to its environment. From the images provided, our team were satisfied that the door frame would still operate correctly and that the fascia boards would settle once treated, which is why replacement parts were not offered at that stage.
That said, we certainly never intend for customers to feel that their concerns have been dismissed, and we're sorry if our response came across that way.
We appreciate your feedback and will take your comments on board as we continue to improve our customer service experience.
Two failed deliveries and two days…
Two failed deliveries and two days holiday lost sitting around waiting for it.
Shed arrived with white patches all over it!No mail or screws.
No window glass beading.
When it did arrive not at the arranged time the truck driver asked us did we have a fork lift to take it off the truck!
Customer Service was infective.We spent £788.00 and wish we never ordered of them!
6 June 2026
Reply from Shire Garden Buildings
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review.
We are sorry to hear that your experience did not meet your expectations.
Having reviewed your order, we can see that your building was booked for delivery on 25th May. Unfortunately, due to a vehicle issue, the delivery was delayed by one day and was successfully delivered on 26th May. We fully appreciate the frustration this would have caused and apologise for the inconvenience. However, we are unable to see evidence of two failed delivery attempts, as our records show the building was delivered on the first delivery run following the delay.
Following your contact with our customer service team regarding the missing beading and fixings, replacement beading was arranged and dispatched promptly, with the tracking confirming delivery on 4th June.
We also understand your concerns regarding the appearance of the timber. Your summerhouse is supplied with a dip-treated base coat, which is designed to provide temporary protection during storage and transit until the building receives its full preservative treatment after assembly. As a result, some variation in colour and coverage can be visible prior to treatment, which is a normal characteristic of the dipping process.
We are sorry that we fell short of the experience you were expecting and appreciate you bringing your concerns to our attention.
The supply and delivery were just perfect
The supply and were just perfect. I bought the 16ft x6ft pent shed from you. But the quality off the timber you have used is not that good to be honest the the timber that as been used for the panels is as thin or thinner than a match stick very disappointed with the quality.
I have not got it put together as of yet and some of the boards have started to twist!
I am going to have to strengthen it before I can start to build it.
I have given you 2 stars for the quality of timber used for the panels
5 June 2026
Reply from Shire Garden Buildings
Hi Joe,
Thank you for taking the time to leave your feedback.
We're really pleased to hear that you were happy with both the ordering process and delivery service. However, we're sorry to learn that your first impression of the timber quality has left you disappointed.
Timber is a natural material and, particularly before assembly, some movement such as slight twisting can occur as it adjusts to temperature and moisture levels. Once the building is assembled, secured and treated, the structure gains its strength from all components working together as designed.
That said, we certainly wouldn't expect you to be concerned about the quality of your building. If there are any specific boards that you feel are excessively twisted or damaged, please contact our customer service team with some photographs and we'll be happy to review them for you.
Thank you again for your comments. We appreciate your feedback and hope you're able to enjoy your new shed once assembled.
Bad for business
I placed my order picked delivery date got email confirming delivery then the day before delivery I got an email saying the kids play shed I ordered could not be delivered for nearly 2 months to which I found to be a joke and I will not be doing any future business or recommend to anyone I know....
5 June 2026
Reply from Shire Garden Buildings
Hi Mark,
Thank you for taking the time to leave your review.
We're very sorry for the disappointment caused by the change to your delivery date. We completely understand your frustration, particularly after selecting a delivery date and receiving confirmation, only to then be advised of a significant delay.
As the manufacturer, we provide our current lead times to our retail partners and rely on them to update their websites and delivery information accordingly. Unfortunately, Wickes' ordering system is not integrated directly with ours, which means delivery dates selected at the point of order are not always based on our live production schedules.
We appreciate that this doesn't change the inconvenience caused, and we're sorry that your experience fell short of expectations. Your feedback is important and will be shared with the relevant teams as we continue working with our retail partners to improve the ordering and delivery process.
Appalling communication and could definitely do better
I was delighted with the service deirect from Chestnut Mill who I ordered my greenhouse through and was quoted 15-21 days delivery. It all went downhill after that... I received a zendesk communication from Shire GB saying that the delivery would then be nearly a month later, and when I questioned whether they had stated the right month,(and chased twice) was told it was due to a delay in production and an apology. I then never heard anything else until I followed up the day after the date I was told it was being despatched and was told it was being despatched that day. (no proactive communication). I received a call from the logistics company 2 days later (pallex group), agreed a delivery date and was told I would receive notification the day before if it was going to be morning or afternoon and then a call with a 2 hr slot. All I received was an email at 0936 saying delivery was going to be between 0930 and 1051 as the truck literally drove up my road. The greenhouse itself is nice - a few missed parts of paint on the wood and clearly sprayed over the binding tape but we can manage that. Overall disappointing communication and could definitely do better. The whole communication (or lack of) didn't fill me with confidence in the quality of the product.
26 April 2026
Reply from Shire Garden Buildings
Hi Carey,
Thank you for taking the time to leave such detailed feedback.
Firstly, we're sorry that your experience did not meet the standards you expected. We completely understand your frustration, particularly regarding the communication around your order.
When you contacted us after receiving the initial shipment date, we should have provided clearer information sooner regarding the production delay. While we did advise on 22nd April that there had been an unexpected delay in production and subsequently confirmed on 1st June that the greenhouse was shipping that day, we appreciate that there were long periods without any proactive updates from us, which understandably left you chasing for information.
We're also sorry to hear that the delivery communication from the courier did not match what had been promised. Once an order leaves our factory, the delivery scheduling and notifications are managed directly by the carrier, but we appreciate that this still forms part of your overall experience and can be frustrating when expectations are not met.
That said, we're pleased to hear that you are happy with the greenhouse itself. We have also noted your comments regarding the finish and will share your feedback with both our production and logistics teams as part of our ongoing review process.
Thank you again for your honest feedback. Whilst we're disappointed that we fell short on communication, we appreciate you recognising the quality of the greenhouse and giving us the opportunity to improve.
Reply from Shire Garden Buildings
Hi,
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review.
We're pleased to hear that you're happy with the product, but we're sorry to learn that the delivery service did not meet your expectations. We understand how important the delivery experience is and appreciate you bringing this to our attention.
Your feedback will be shared with the relevant team as we continually work with our delivery partners to improve the service we provide.
Thank you again for your comments and for choosing Shire.
Fantastic work my replacement door
Fantastic work my replacement door. Only fault I have which isn’t this time around when I bought the house few years back the door broke thru the fact the lock was rubbish swung open 4 days after buying we managed to repair it and shire said it’s cause I didn’t treat the wood. Untrue the doors hit the roof if swung open. This is clearly a bad design fault. Now we have added extra locks. But service when it came to replacing it all together few years later everyone was so easy to talk to delivery driver was also lovely and fast delivery
5 June 2026
Reply from Shire Garden Buildings
Thank you for taking the time to leave such a lovely review.
We're really pleased to hear that you were happy with the replacement door and that our team made the process as straightforward as possible. It's also wonderful to hear that the delivery was quick and that the driver was friendly and helpful.
We appreciate you sharing your thoughts regarding the original door issue. While we're sorry to hear that you experienced problems in the past, we're glad we were able to help get a replacement sorted for you and provide a positive experience this time around.
Thank you again for your kind words and for your continued support. We hope you enjoy your summerhouse for many years to come. 😊
Reply from Shire Garden Buildings
Thank you for your 5-star review. We're delighted to hear that you found the service professional and that the delivery driver was so amenable and helpful. We always appreciate customers taking the time to share their experience, and your comments will be passed on to the team. We hope you enjoy your new garden building for many years to come. Thanks again for choosing Shire. 😊
Hardest thing to ever build
Where do I start.. 10 x 13 shire emneth. The delivery came on a flat bed all loose and 1 man (thank god my husband was home) and two kids. Took 1 hour to unload with the 4 of them. No instructions so had to chase them up (wasn't the best instructions) but got there in the end.
After watching you tube vids I thought "yeah easy we can do this" how wrong was I. This is the hardest thing we have ever done, don't underestimate it. The logs/boards were really hard/stiff to knock into place you really have to put all your strength into it. Most were bent/warped so we needed more then 3 people most of the time to hold them straight even having to use clamps alot of the time.
Was the same with the floor boards and roof. Some were damaged but I couldn't wait for replacements so we made do and amended what we needed to.
Took us 3 weekends with 4 people to get fully up.
Now it's up I'm happy with it but was really hard work.
If you can afford more get a better one if not get someone else to build it or do it yourself and be very patient
16 May 2026
Reply from Shire Garden Buildings
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience.
We're pleased to hear that now your Emneth cabin is complete, you're happy with the finished result. However, we're sorry to hear that the assembly process proved more challenging than expected and that there were some damaged components and missing instructions initially.
Log cabins are substantial structures and can be a demanding build, particularly on larger sizes, so we appreciate the time and effort that you, your family and friends put into completing the project. Timber is a natural material and some movement can occur during storage and transit, but we understand this can make assembly more difficult.
We also appreciate your feedback regarding the delivery and instructions, as comments like these help us identify areas where we can improve.
Thank you again for your honest review, and we hope you enjoy your cabin for many years to come.
Reply from Shire Garden Buildings
Thank you for your review.
We're sorry that you feel disappointed with your experience. I can see that your Hobby Playhouse is actually out for delivery today, and we hope it arrives safely and meets your expectations.
We understand that the wait has been longer than anticipated, and we appreciate your patience while your order has been progressing through production and delivery.
Should you have any questions once your order arrives, our customer service team will be happy to assist.
Good product with good customer service
Delivery date was different to the date given when ordered .arrived with some bit missing and some glass smashed .although getting through to customer service was easy and got replacement parts within a couple of days .good quality product
Great customer service
Check all parts are there on delivery
8 June 2026
Reply from Shire Garden Buildings
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review.
We're pleased to hear that you're happy with the quality of your building and that our customer service team was able to assist you quickly when the missing parts and damaged glass were reported.
We apologise for the delivery date differing from the original estimate and for the issues on arrival. While damage in transit is unfortunately rare, we're glad the replacement parts were with you within a few days and that the matter was resolved promptly.
Thank you for your feedback and recommendation. We hope you enjoy your garden building for many years to come.
Shire responded to us wanting a new…
Shire responded to us wanting a new panel delivered as a result of some tree surgeons causing a log to go through the roof of our much loved summerhouse. The lady was super empathetic and helpful and sorted it for us. There was only the roof felt missing from the delivery which was sorted out and delivered within the week.
27 May 2026
Reply from Shire Garden Buildings
Thank you for your lovely review.
We're sorry to hear about the damage caused to your summerhouse, but we're delighted that our team was able to help get everything sorted for you. It's great to hear that the replacement panel was arranged smoothly and that the missing roof felt was quickly resolved and delivered within the week.
We'll be sure to pass your kind comments on to the team member who assisted you – feedback like this really means a lot.
We hope your summerhouse is now back to its best and that you continue to enjoy it for many years to come.
Absolutly great service
Absolutly great service, Playhouse great quality .We had a blip on ordering & delivery dates. ( mislead from screwfix) but shire pulled out all the stops to get it deivered for my grandaughters 4th birthday & it did not dissapoint.Great quality & looks stunning What a great service. Thankyou all at shire ! From myself my daughter & grandaughter .
28 May 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Shire Garden Buildings
Thank you so much for your lovely review.
We're delighted that we were able to get the playhouse to you in time for your granddaughter's 4th birthday. We understand there was some confusion around the ordering and delivery dates, so it's great to hear that our team was able to help and ensure everything arrived when it was needed.
It's wonderful to know you're pleased with the quality and appearance of the playhouse, and we hope your granddaughter enjoys many happy hours playing in it.
Thank you again for your kind words from all of us at Shire – they really do mean a lot.
DO NOT waste your money!
If I could give zero, I would! Ordered a shed and arrived late, both after the date initially given by Robert dyas and then arrived about 6pm despite been told 8am-2pm! Nothing fitted, the floor was too small, doors too wide and roof too wide! My partner had had to improvise and no resolution despite sending photos! Absolute terrible!!!
8 June 2026
Reply from Shire Garden Buildings
We're sorry to read your review and appreciate your frustration.
In relation to the delivery date, we provide our retailers with our current lead times, however it is the retailer's responsibility to ensure these are correctly displayed at the point of sale. We also apologise that the delivery arrived later in the day than expected.
With regard to the issues reported, we have not refused assistance. We requested additional photographs and measurements of the floor, roof and window concerns so that our technical team could properly assess whether there was a manufacturing issue and determine the most appropriate resolution. As modifications had already been made to the building before we were able to inspect it, we unfortunately required further information to understand exactly what had occurred.
We remain willing to review any additional photographs or measurements you can provide and will be happy to investigate the matter further.
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