Shopping Guide: Mortonhall Garden Centre

Morton Hall Garden Centre: A Shopper's Guide

Why You Should Visit

  • Variety of Products: You'll find a nice range of plants, gardening accessories, gifts, stationery, Christmas decor, candles, and diffusers. There's also an organic shop next door offering a variety of local produce and unique snacks.
  • Well-Maintained Garden Centre: The garden centre is well laid out and well-stocked. Plants are in excellent condition and clearly well-cared for. It's a great place to find inspiration for your garden or home planting.
  • Delightful Cafe: The cafe, sometimes freshly renovated, offers delicious food, including scones and coffee. You can also enjoy a cherry bakewell luxury hot chocolate. The service is generally excellent.
  • Friendly Staff (Mostly): Shoppers can expect friendly and welcoming staff, particularly the younger staff on the tills. They are always willing to help.
  • Family-Friendly Atmosphere: This is a nice little place to take kids, as it offers a fun experience.
  • Additional Attractions: There's the bonus of seeing two Highland cows nearby. You can also enjoy a huge interactive Christmas display.
  • Convenient Amenities: Free and ample parking is available.
  • Sustainability: The option to take your items in a cardboard box, which makes it better for recycling than bags, is offered.

Why You Might Consider Alternatives

  • Price Concerns: Be aware that some items can be overpriced, although others are reasonably priced. Plants can be sourced elsewhere for less.
  • Inconsistent Customer Service: A dismissive and snappy staff member was encountered in one experience, which degraded the shopping experience.
  • Cafe Issues:
    • The dining area cleanliness may be a concern; food debris was observed on the floor. Tables are not always sanitized.
    • There have been issues with food quality, like overcooked eggs and lukewarm meals.
    • The cafe can be slow at opening time.
    • The ordering process may seem a bit of a "faff."
    • It's advisable to ask if clotted cream is available before ordering, since the cafe may not have any.
  • Farm Shop Price Concerns: The prices are on the steep side.
  • Limited Counter Service: Sometimes only one counter is open, which can lead to long queues.