Dobbies Garden Centres - Woodbridge Avis 329

Visited the cafe on 1/5/2026. I was really disappointed with the food. I had a fish bun and salad, more batter than fish and the salad had large chunks of what looked like cabbage not really edible.I was unable to eat a large part of this unappetizing meal.I noticed a lot of salad left on plates. This really spoilt my visit.

Restaurant using paper cups for drinks - not nice at all as could only taste the cup and not the tea which used to be lovely served in a pot and a china cup.

our food was cold because it sat on the counter for 10 minutes before anyone bothered to bring it to the table it was the same all the time we were there instead of chatting do the job your paid for...

I would like to say Eve was so polite and helpful and is a credit to the company.

Had a heritage afternoon tea in Woodbridge restaurant very good service and new staff member on only his 3rd day he’ll be a bonus to you all . Well done all .Two weeks later had another one but festive and savory very disappointing re savory very disappointing. Think we’d think twice next year .Staff were good and offered more sandwiches and scones. Not a sausage roll in sight. Description needs to be clearer and consistent with what they offer.

Appealing service from Dobbies, I expected so much better.

I had the option of buying an expensive rattan dining table from here or another firm, which my friend had ordered from the week before. I needed my furniture in 7 days time and the salesperson assured me that it would be there on the 15th August (I ordered on the 8th).

I had a funeral on the 16th and needed the table and chairs for the elderly people that were coming to mine and as I am disabled and on my own, I had arranged for someone to come and put it together.

I then received an email to say that it would be delivered on 20th August. I contacted Customer Services who said they would look into it, I heard no more.

So a friend travelled to mine a 300 mile round trip so they could set it up on 20th. That morning i received an email to say it would now be delivered on the 27th, not only did my friend travel 300 mile round trip, but they had taken the day off total waste of time and money.

I then received a call last minute to say they could deliver tomorrow on 23rd, this i could not do, However they have still said they will be delivering. I complained to customer service who just said we will look into and then replied you have been offered delivery tomorrow. Needless to say I will be cancelling the order and not shop here in future.

Awful service from a rude member of staff at their Woodbridge branch.
Manners cost nothing and the lady who served me was rude and ignorant.
Avoid this branch if like me you expect to be treated with a bit of repect as a customer.

On Saturday 26th October 2024, I spent a lovely afternoon with my granddaughter, 2 1/2yrs @ Dobbies, WB. 1st soft play, which she loves, a little wander around the garden centre then a Halloween party.
It was excellent 5*, great food, paint a pumpkin & some party games, Amalia, our hostess was excellent 5* so good with the children & entertained them so well.
Definitely going again next year. Highly recommended 5*
Now have breakfast with Santa to look forward to 🎅🏻

I got given a voucher for a traditional tea at Woodbridge Dobbies. What a fantastic experience. The food was lovely and plenty of it and the young lady who looked after us was chatty and cheerful. Would definitely recommend.

Found cafe looking very tired. Chairs stained. Tables sticky and grubby. It’s such a shame could be a great cafe. I went to use the baby change at 10.20 and the nappy bin was overflowing, surly opening at 9 and toilets checked regularly this should not have been like this. Please put some work into the potentially ideal cafe/restaurant.

Sadly no Bloomin Amazing which is still on the Dobbies website. But a lovely wander around. Some amazing foxgloves being put out.

We always enjoy visiting Dobbies. We can easily find what we need. We often eat in the restaurant too. The staff are helpful and attentive.

We were able to purchase the plants we wanted

The bedding plants offering was good but there were hardly any vegetable plants so I couldn’t get cucumbers or courgettes

At checkout we were asked if we wanted a 30 day trial of their annual membership which we were clearly told that we would have 30 days to cancel at £15 per year.

We've been attempting to cancel this membership for over a week but Dobbies make sure it's a VERY difficult process.

We called the Manager at Woodbridge, where our card was swiped and were informed that they don't deal with the cards and we would need to call HQ.

The HQ phone number isn't manned and does not answer and emails even fail when you use the online link to unsubscribe to the membership!

As others have posted we have now been charged £15 a day early and we've attempted to call them twice this morning and both times they just put the phone down!

Unprofessional and very shady behaviour and a retail chain that we will now be avoiding going forward

I’ve just visited your garden centre near Woodbridge and was very impressed by the politeness of 2 young men who dealt with me at the checkout, as well as the lady who helped me with my e-gift card. A trolley was obtained for me and the compost was lifted into my car … nothing was too much trouble. I would have stayed for a coffee but the queue was a bit too long… admittedly it was lunchtime.

Bought excellent plants and spent over £100 .
Hence a star.
We were invited at checkout to receive a discount and agreed to pay £15 a month to receive Dobbie benefits.We were assued over and over that it was free for a month and then we could cancel without sanction.We cancelled in good time, but lo and behold £15 was taken from our card on April 2nd.Hence no more stars.We complained immediately to Dobbies and await a response.
Glad to receive feedback from Dobbies. Seems to have been some misunderstanding- ours about membership fee , and lack of clarity about process for cancellation. Will tel. Customer service as advised.

Your revised menu has a lot to be desired.
Is it all about cost cutting to you and not thinking about customer needs?
When since is a side salad made up of cucumber and tomato only? Do not like tomatoes! Not keen on coleslaw.
Scampi no longer on the menu, why?

Myself & husband took our Mothers out to say thank you for an afternoon tea at Dobbies in Woodbridge... Well what a Calamity .. we clearly stated on the order NO shellfish or Nuts as of allergies and not to prepare near our order to avoid cross contamination clearly this wasn't read and they dished up a plate of prawn vol au vents and plates of nut topped desserts .
The two mothers however who eat prawns tucked in but when my father tried to eat one the waitress took it off him and said he wasn't allowed to eat it and he would have to eat a egg one instead which she mistakenly didn't prepare instead of prawn ?? I hope that prawn ones didn't end up on someone else's order and went in the bin .. nether the less my father was denied . Next was a caramel shot added to a coffee which the waitress told my mother she would have to pay for ...

She then came back and said no she didn't as they dished up shellfish & nuts by mistake. Pretty big mistake these days .

Honestly it was like faulty towers service .
We were so shocked by how ridiculous and appalling it all was and the pettyness of the prawn vol en vent and the caramel shot the lack of care reading specific dietary requirements in allergies on orders . And the fact the service seemed more concerned by the exact quantity of what a afternoon tea should entail ... Rather than the fact what she did dish up could of landed one of us in hospital apologise and not argue quantities but just provide customer service with the order requested and paid we would of been ok .. we still all laugh at how ridiculously bad it was that day . But on a serious note if someone states a Food allergy on a reservation and order the kitchen staff need to be more trained and aware ...
Also the response bof any mistake should be customer focused NOT argumentative on quantities of food and payments of syrup shots in coffees absolutely ridiculous .

I

Keeping the shop clean and very tidy. Friendly staff