Garden Centres - favourite ones? quirky ones?

That's novel Jess!

We have one like that not too far from us. http://www.homeleighonline.co.uk/ although I couldn't honestly say if they sold pregnancy tests, they seem to have everything else. It's become almost an outing destination, lots of coach parties seem to have a stop off there.

Mr P goes there to buy his tropical fish food (and the odd fish when budget allows) I always pop in to say hello to the macaw and have a browse round the home section. The display they put on at Christmas with moving polar bears, reindeer etc is wonderful, they also have a member of staff hidden away with a microphone, who chats to the children as they are going down the stairs into the Christmas department. The looks on some of their little faces is priceless!

Although the actual plant section seems to be a bit smaller than it used to be, I must say the staff are very knowledgeable, and some of them specialise in particular types of plants.

Ooops, forgot to convert!

www.homeleighonline.co.uk/

Bridgemere Garden World just west of Newcastle under Lyme. Its on the Cheshire, Staffs, Shropshire borders! Just inside Cheshire I think. Before it got taken over by Wyevale when the original owner sold it for millions.

It was a most excellent place for plants. IMO Wyevale have pushed it more to general retail with clothes shops. Fancy expensive plant pots and significantly less space for their plant nursery functions.
The previous levels of choice have been curtailed. It is still the best place around though.

Simpsons between Fordham and Newmarket is still the best place near us for plants. It started as a small nursery specialising in trees and cottage garden plants but has got bigger and bigger and bigger over the years. I'm glad about the addition of a cafe and toilets though as I could spend hours there.

Just down the road at Burwell there's a lady who sells 'unusual plants' from her front garden. They're not cheap but good healthy stock from which to propogate many many more.

We're spoilt for choice for garden centres round here. There are loads of them.

There is one that we go to near Exeter when visiting son. It's called St Bridgets and they do lovely homecooked lunches and puddings for a very reasonable price.

And I like Suffolk garden centres. They all seem to have lovely roaring woodburners.

In the autumn, at one of these emporiums that call themselves a 'Garden Centre', I asked where their garlic bulbs were (to grow). The 'assistant' informed my the don't sell any bulbs

The assistant informed me they don't sell any bulbs (fat fingers)

Omg somehow pregnancy tests don't seem right at garden centre?

We do have lovley one in frinton pricey but good quality plants any problems they will refund /replaceif plant does nt thrive.

Very knowledgable staff too. Does have huge cafe area lots profit to be made in guess on hot drinks light lunches etc.

DH and I used to have at least one day in the summer going to Bridgemere. We'd make a day of it by going to a craft centre first, a pub for lunch and then on to the garden centre. Last year was the first time we had visited since it was taken over and we were so disappointed in the changes that I doubt if we'll bother going again..... I don't expect to see a Lakeland or Edinburgh Woolen Mill in a garden centre! In future I'll stay closer to home - Gordale Garden Centre on The Wirral is lovely.

Our nearest is family run and has been for many years. It has expanded and now has gift, wonderful cards, books [special offers I can't resist], a craft concession which holds workshops regularly [must go!], clothes, artwork, and a very nice cafe. It runs days out and oh yes, sells plants, bird food and the like. At weekends it has a greengrocer concession outside. It's not large but with careful organisation manages to keep a lovely atmosphere. We often go there for a Sunday lunch.

There is a 'farm shop' (well it was once) near Exeter jingl that is a wonderful destination for lunch if you're visiting Exeter. My daughter is such a regular that she thinks their profits are going to go into freefall when she leaves the area. Check out Darts Farm near Topsham.

Darts Farm is fab!

I think I know the one you mean granny-a but I'm hopeless at directions so can't say where it is. Son swears by Darts Farm. I think our Christmas presents came mostly from there. I find it a bit big and crowded though. Just me that.

Stunning farm shop at Essington - Definitely worth a 5 minute detour if you are on the M6 or the M6 Toll road. Great roast dinners, wonderful pick your own fruit (all those different raspberry varieties) freshly made bread pudding. Sigh. The even sell plants in the early summer. No gifts, cleaning products or pregnancy tests though.

www.essingtonfarm.co.uk

Just when was it that garden centres became so fattening?!

We have one near Camberley which has a cafe run by Italians. They have recently installed a proper pizza oven and you can get a decent coffee and real gelato!
The shop is the only place locally where I can buy Brianna's Poppyseed Salad Dressing, which I am totally addicted to (Sometimes I even buy plants!)

I'd love to find that one, Deedaa, when I'm visiting my family in Sandhurst. I don't think it's one that they know about.

Bents Garden Centre near Glazebury in Cheshire WA35NT.
Prepare to spend several hours here including a waist expanding visit to the cafe. Not cheap but a real treat. Their Christmas displays were fabulous but it did get very overcrowded at the weekends. Lots of indoor areas to explore as well, great range of foodstuffs, kitchen supplies, decorations and knick-knacks for all rooms of the house. I can feel a visit coming on very soon.

Is that Longacres Deeda?

Jinglebellsfrocks. I often go to St Bridgets when visiting my sister in Exeter.

Yes, I'd rate Bents as the best round here, too, Rosiebee. Their Christmas displays are always amazing and you could always get a good lunch there.

Around here, apart from all the Woevales, we have Blooms of Bressingham which is big, and sort of managed by Woevales but more lightly than many. However there is also Thetford garden Centre, a very large and good independent, and loads and loads of small independents in the area. One summer we made a list and visited five or six a weekend, it was wonderful. Yes, fattening!

We stopped off at a strange one though on the way back from Lincolnshire, sort of entwined with a giant new Tesco, called Dobbie's I think, it reminded me of the house elf in Harry Potter. I thought it was dreadful, it was massive but there was scarcely a plant in sight. Their restaurant however was very good.

I reccommend Millets Farm Garden centre, [Oxfordshire] which also houses a Frosts. There are lots of places to eat there, 2 different cafes and a restaurant, a lovely shop, animals to visit for the young ones, pigs, sheep ducks etc. Loads of picnic and running around places, sandpits .The Frosts has a really good gifts section, sells hens as well! The plant section is marvellous such a variety of good well cared for plants.Also a good variety of water features to buy, stone bits and pieces for the garden.
I think all garden centres have improved incredibly over the last 10 years.
When we lived in North Devon we used to visit St. Johns garden centre in Barnstaple, not as large as some but sold some lovely things, and very good quality.We are still using garden furniture bought from there, years later.They say garden centres are the number one destination for Sunday shopping, beating Tesco and the church!

anno are your family 'on camp' at Sandhurst ? DD's family were there till SIL was made redundant November '12.

DH and I love our local Dobbies Garden Centre. He has a club card which entitles him to various discounts plus a free hot drink from their lovely restaurant once a month. They have a tropical fish section which DGS loves. They sell toys and some lovely fancy goods. There is also a small outdoor play area.
DH often go there just for an afternoon out.