Cranborne Garden Centre

Called in with my mother last week, very impressed with the shop and plant area. Some plants needed a bit of deadheading but overall it looked lovely. Had a lovely slice of chocolate fudge cake in the cafe that was just what I needed! Overall a lovely place.

We'd read about the major revamp and visited last Saturday. What a disappointment ! Ostensibly, it hosts a Farmers Market on the last Saturday in the month - not sure that five stalls and Boutique in a Bus constitutes a Farmers Market! We queued for fifteen minutes in the cafe for a cup of thin and watery coffee; the two staff on duty seemed unable to cope. The plants were in need of tlc; many pots had fallen over and the general appearance was lacklustre and unloved. Pushing a trolley over the gravelled areas between the stands was difficult. The gravel didn't quite reach the level of the hard standing and proved to be a trip hazard and, unfortunately, I went headlong. A passing waitress asked me if I needed a plaster and then wandered off. The customers sitting outside the cafe helped me up and supported me whilst I regained my equilibrium. No staff came to assist. Bruised and battered, I left. There was absolutely nothing to tempt us to return and little evidence of a revamp.