The cafe is pleasantly laid out, clean and modern with a choice of three seating areas under cover and an outdoor seating area. There was the main seating area, a conservatory area and a coffee lounge. All were reasonably pleasant with the best being the coffee lounge. Its attractive layout was remarked upon by two separate customers in the short time we were there. The outdoor area was closed at the time of our visit.

At the time of our visit there were no queues. The prices were about average for a modern garden centre cafe with main meals in the range �7 to �8. There were also lots of snack meals including baked potatoes, a well-stocked salad bar, coffees and teas.
The food quality was about average for garden centre food with nothing to mark it out as particularly good or bad. Service was prompt, efficient and pleasant.

There was a reasonable range of healthy looking houseplants for sale. This is good to see because many garden centres stock a very poor range with some stocking no houseplants at all.

The display was unappealing but functional.

The indoor sales area was typical of a modern format garden centre. Lots of gifts, cards, outdoor furniture and barbecues.

It was laid out with wide paths. Interestingly, if you compare the indoor and outdoor sales areas, it is clear that much more thought has gone into the indoor sales area.

Dobbies own aquatics centre was a medium sized one stocking cold water and tropical fish. See the unusual guarantee on the left. As well as fish the shop stocked a good range of feeds and aquatics accessories.