Dobbies Garden World

rhihowe

01 Feb 2014

More than a garden centre

3.5

3.5

Date of visit: December 2013

I am a carer or friend of a disabled person. I have experience of challenges around: moving around

Overall Rating

Good

Maybe not the first place you would consider for a day out but this modern "garden centre" provides an indoor space to do a bit of shopping, eat nice food and look at animals with the children. We have visited using a wheelchair and elbow crutches and the main site has easy access for both. The main reason we go is to entertain the children by looking at the fish and chickens they have. There is a slide/ climbing frame outside on rubber matting. The outdoor plant sales area is flat and staff are usually helpful with advice on choosing plants and sometimes pushing trolleys!

Disabled Access In and Around

Good

The main garden centre is great for wheelchair access but some of the smaller shops in the complex (e.g. Laura Ashley)can get a bit choked up with stock making it tricky to negotiate around aisles. The indoor Dobbies sales floor is well spaced out but can get busy with shoppers at weekends. The staff in the cafeteria style restaurant are very helpful with carrying trays if you need help and there is a new waitress service coffee shop in the atrium.

Parking & Transport

Excellent

Plenty of free disabled parking spaces.

Accessible Toilets

Excellent

Modern building with modern toilets

Staff

Excellent

Usually very helpful and have helped me load plants into my car. The restaurant staff are ace.

Additional Information

Great fried breakfast and delicious looking cakes. They have various special events throughout the year and gardening talks and a gardening club for children. This was one of the first places we visited after my husband became wheelchair-bound and it was good to go somewhere flat that we didn't have to worry about parking/toilets/food!