Haskins Garden Centre - East Dorset

Over the years that I have been visiting here, this place is more like a restaurant with a Garden Centre attached, than a Garden Centre with a restaurant. The breakfast they serve is not particularly cheap, but it is usually good. The cafe operates on a self-service basis but the tables are cleared away afterwards by the staff. My usual choice is the 8-item breakfast which certainly gives you a good start to your day. You can choose from any 8 items plus toast which doesn't count towards the 8 items). The breakfast food is freshest at 9am and we try to arrive just after that so that the 9am queue has dispersed but the items are still good. Some variations are served on a call-order basis using a remote buzzer system which alerts you when your breakfast is ready for collection at the counter. Recently spring 2024) the restaurant area has undergone a significant refresh with new flooring, window accessories and fabrics in some areas.

The new cafe refurb is a definite improvement however, it seems incredibly badly planned from a logistics point of view. Waiters/waitresses are now only clearing one table then walking away with one tray to the far side of the cafe leaving people waiting with hot food for clean tables to sit at. You either need more staff or more than one drop off point for waiters as it’s hardly efficient time management at present.

Visit this coffee shop a lot. Feel that now Nicky has joined the team the restaurant area has improved. She is such a breath of fresh air. Takes time to chat to customers and nothing seems to be too much of a problem. Very enthusiastic in her work and she looks part of the team. Thank you once again Nicky a pleasure to meet you.

Considering this shop is supposed to be dog friendly the service is not very good. At the tills our lovely golden retriever was next to me and as I was paying she put her head on the checkout area and the lady jumped back her whole body, arms in the air, way over the top. She then didn’t say a word the whole time of serving us. Another older male member of staff literally looked at our dog then gave me the evils. As for the cafe area, I made an honest mistake thinking dogs were allowed in the cafe, we were sat at the back by the back door out the way. Two members of staff were smiling and one even came over to say hello, then a female which must have been a manager came over and told us to leave, which is fine, but at least be friendly about it. Didn’t finish our coffee and left. I won’t be returning to Haskins.

A sour taste in the mouth. Got 2 main meals and 2 teas. We decided to treat ourselves to cake afterwards, £9.90, so not cheap. Went to the till to pay and ask for more water for our tea. Was refused. Told by the cashier they have been told not to do it any more. Asked to speak to a manager, a young man who was evidently barista of the week, who said the same, so I asked to speak to a proper manager who can make decisions, to which I was told there was no one available, even though he didn't check. We ate our cake and walked out, not buying the Christmas goodies from them, the main reason for our journey. Beware, every other cafe and garden centre does this across the country. Yet, this store can't.