Cardwell Garden Centre Reviews Summary

Facilities & Services

Pros:

• "Parking, customer toilets, disabled access and the staff were superb."
• "Fabulous garden centre very relaxing place with so much on sale and a lovely restaurant for a full meal or snacks right on Clyde coast just outside Gourock."
• "Great garden centre. Also has lots of unrelated stuff for sale like candles ornaments toys etc."
• "The whole garden centre is worth a visit at any time of the year with a great choice of plants and garden accessories."
• "Excellent place for a family day out with a close access to a beach and walks."
• "This vast garden centre has just about anything you could want from such a retailer."
• "Free car parking is available and all areas are wheel chair friendly, restaurant tables are well spaced out."

Cons:

• "The garden centre area itself appeared unstaffed so nobody to offer any advice."
• "The inside staff were not the friendliest and there is a serious attention to detail issue."
• "Only annoying thing was right at end when leaving the attitude of the woman serving us was awful."
• "Rather disappointing that most outdoor plants are missing and a lot of the outside small retail units are closed."
• "Place as a whole is looking old and tired."
• "The place was a shambles for a garden centre there were weeds everywhere and shelves half empty."
• "Feels like this place is in need of a massive refurb many places and buildings are old, water damaged and barely holding together."

Food & Dining Experience

Pros:

• "Also has a large family friendly restaurant."
• "The café was excellent, it can seat 300."
• "Stopped by for a quick cuppa and a scone and ended up tempted by the delicious cakes on offer."
• "The cafe restaurant served lovely food and the cakes were delicious."
• "Steak and sausage pie was magnificent served with roast potatoes and baked beans."
• "The food in the cafeteria is very good and they serve a good choice of gluten free."
• "Restaurant is good standard as always, reasonable prices and hefty portions."

Cons:

• "However, it was so cold whilst walking round browsing we decided to leave as the cold was affecting my underlying health conditions."
• "The only downside is the coffee is never as hot as I think it should be."
• "The Cafe serves lackluster food, disappointing atmosphere."
• "Lovely garden centre, lots of good quality plants and plenty of shopping but my goodness the food in the tea room was dreadful."
• "Some items hideously expensive produce especially within the cafe - £7 for a plate of mediocre salad isn't my idea of reasonable pricing."
• "Food was expensive and the toasties we ordered were at very best look warm."
• "The restaurant food was very cold and the roundabouts were also very expensive."

Staff & Customer Service

Pros:

• "Cardwell garden centre is a lovely place to visit, It has lots of character & attentive staff."
• "Yesterday and today we visited your lovely garden centre where we were served to a very high standard by Cheryl in the indoor plant section, she was very knowledgeable and really helpful."
• "Staff friendly and helpful everything thing you would require for your garden plus other ornaments and gifts ideas are in this centre."
• "The staff are helpful and friendly."
• "Staff very friendly and efficient."
• "Very helpful and friendly staff in all departments."
• "All the staff we came in contact with were courteous and knowledgeable, not only about the stock but also the local area."

Cons:

• "Checking out with plants with my elderly disabled mother pushing her wheelchair. Staff disappointing no staff asking can we help take that to car? Do you need any assistance?"
• "Totally spoilt by very miserable little man in restaurant who was very blunt about our dog."
• "The member of staff who served us was....well I've had more smiles from undertaker staff."
• "Service in tearoom was not good and range of stock in the centre in general is just not what it used to be."
• "Very disappointing visit! After queueing for a bit we got our food but there was only two people serving and by the time we waited for 3 meals and waited to pay the food was cold."
• "Arrived at the same time as a minibus and the staff in the cafe could not cope."
• "Was served by a young lady who patently did not want to be there and slopped food on the plate."

Value & Pricing

Pros:

• "All at reasonable prices."
• "Great choice of plants and accessories at outstanding prices."
• "One of the best garden centres I've seen. So many areas & prices are alright 👍."
• "Can be a little expensive for some things but you can pick up gifts or more unusual items."
• "Love Cardwell garden centre excellent variety of plants at reasonable prices."
• "Always good to visit, loads to see and buy, from the garden to retail and restaurant."
• "A good place to explore on a day out with a good range of different products to interest most visitors."

Cons:

• "I do think it's so expensive... but I really like to visit here."
• "Only issue with Cardwell Gardens as a whole is that it can be quite pricey."
• "Stuff quite expensive."
• "Food is still very overpriced and they still don't have any wifi or mobile phone coverage."
• "Some plants are a little overpriced."
• "The price of the food has seriously increased along with it."
• "Inside still massively over priced products."

Atmosphere & Cleanliness

Pros:

• "Nice relaxing place to go on a sunny day or just a chilly day for a walk by the beach."
• "Lovely surroundings for a peaceful lunch or coffee."
• "WOW WOW WOW!!! Did not expect the Fabulous Christmas Experience we had on Sunday."
• "This place is amazing for a day out. Has everything including the best restaurant. spotless clean."
• "Love this place for the setting. A small stream runs at the front entrance with a small bridge."
• "A hidden gem of Gourock which has been around for years."
• "This is a beautiful garden centre with excellent food situated right across the road from beautiful Lunderston Bay."

Cons:

• "Place has gone dramatically downhill since last visit."
• "As I had my dog with me, I had tea on the Patio. Unfortunately, it was not a pleasant experience. The Patio was absolutely, filthy as were the chairs."
• "Visiting and tbh not been in Scotland since b4 covid. This place is a shadow of its former self."
• "Disappointing, restaurant and toilets dirty."
• "Have been visiting Cardwell Garden Centre for nearly 30 years... today was the worst experience ever... there was no atmosphere... it was freezing... there was no theme to the displays and the piped music was like funeral music."
• "The Christmas winter wonderland is now set up, and not only does it look like the winter season but it felt like it as well, the temperature in some parts of the centre was freezing."
• "Overall this place looks a bit dated."