Shopping Guide: Your Insider's Perspective

Why You Should Visit

• Retail Therapy Galore: You'll find an 'Aladdin's cave' of shopping opportunities. The location offers a wide variety of products, from plants and homeware to BBQs, board games, fresh produce, frozen meals, deli items, fish, sheds, and clothing.
• Gift Shopping Destination: It's a top choice for gifts, especially for return journeys as a frequent visitor. At Christmas, there's even a Santa's Grotto.
• Dining Delights: The restaurant offers a variety of options. You can enjoy lunch, potentially including a "seniors special" for £12. Afternoon tea is also available, and it's been praised for its quality and reasonable pricing. One review mentioned a birthday tea with a reasonable price of £20 for two adults and £15 for two children.
• Family-Friendly Experiences: There is a Father Christmas experience, known for its authenticity and excellent setting. It is dog-friendly.
• Aquatic Attractions: The aquatics section is notable. Shoppers can expect to find tropical fish, and even Axolotls.
• Well-Maintained Facilities: You'll find large restaurant areas that are generally clean and tidy. Parking is ample with spacious bays, making it easy to find a spot near the entrance.
• Plant Enthusiast Heaven: If you're into gardening, you'll be happy with the selection of plants, including perennials.

Why You Might Consider Alternatives

• Inconsistent Food Quality: Be aware that lunch quality can be hit or miss. Some reviewers were impressed with the food and found it "super good", including their chicken and leek pie, and steak pie with a free cake. However, others found the sandwiches bland and poorly constructed. There have been reports of stale bread and dry ingredients in other items like wraps and kids' meal deals, which might make you consider alternatives.
• Potential for Service Issues: You could experience slow staff and wait times, especially in the cafe. There have also been reports of less-than-helpful floor staff, particularly with click and collect orders, although this was successfully resolved by a manager's intervention. Customer service experiences can vary. One reviewer had a negative encounter with a staff member, which impacted their overall experience.
• Pricing Considerations: The brands sold tend to be higher-priced items. Some reviewers felt that the prices were inflated, particularly for food items, and suggested lower prices would boost sales.
• Click and Collect Reliability Concerns: Although a positive resolution was achieved, be mindful that click and collect orders might not be immediately available, as stated on the website.
• Table Cleanliness: You might find tables in the cafe are not promptly cleaned and wiped down, leading to a messy environment.
• Staff Availability: There are issues with staff shortages in the cafe causing long wait times and uncleared tables.
• Potential for Inconvenience with Staff Interactions: Be aware that some staff interactions, such as an interaction with Maria as detailed in a review, could be unpleasant.
• Lack of Air Conditioning: Could get hot.