We have always enjoyed spending a couple of hours browsing at Gates, and their new extension is even better, more spacious and well laid out, with a wonderful selection of goods and gifts. But please could the restaurant keep their English Breakfast on until 12 o'clock on a Sunday, for those of us who don't get up so early.
Took our Grand daughter to visit Santa which she really enjoyed , good value for money , good choice of presents, for all age ranges, following the visit we went to eat in the restaurant, all looks very new, very comfortable , good quality, good food. ,served in good time even though they were very busy.
We have been visiting since it was only a small family owned business and one has to say each development has been in keeping with the bigger plan. Well set out, good staff and now a real quality place to have lunch and meet your friends. The only downside is the hillside parking and for the old and disabled the sloping car parks are treacherous especially when wet. Even with a well laden trolley it can run away with you, and after all you do come to buy.
Visited this garden centre twice in the same week mainly to try out the new restaurant and I must say it is a delight to enjoy lunch in, plenty of variety on the menu and ample servings.This place would put many a posh hotel to shame, its that good.After lunch pay a visit to the new gents toilet, ladys please check first, the urinals are beautiful!!!!This place is a delight to visit and must be put on your shoet list when visiting the area.Plenty of choice for vegetarians by the way.
Two friend and I met at gate for lunch. I have been going to this garden centre for 20+ years and it has gone from strength to strength over that time. The new restaurant is very impressive and the food is equal to that. My two friends had fish and chips and I had the homemade cottage pie. We all agreed the food was excellent and the price was exceptionally reasonable. Service was also great and it wasn't a quiet day. Gates are second to none for their Christmas display, you can even visit Santa! Come the warmer months you can find everything from garden furniture to wellies. It is well worth a visit and allow yourself plenty of time, there is so much to see. The countryside is pretty impressive as well.
Visited twice pre-Christmas & post Chistmas 2014 with my 3 daughters. First visit staff forgot order & table number 3 times. Second visit on 28th showed restaurant shut at 4pm, yet tried to get a sandwich at 3:20 and was turned down. Staff forgot hot choc order too.Been Gates many times over the years, but think restaurant has gone backwards.
Great shopping, play area for the kids, and an amazing Pet fish shop.Cafe can be hit and miss, but often has great cakes.In the run up to christmas it is always worth a visit.
We went two Sundays in succession just before Christmas. Shopping is brilliant here, something for the whole family, had littlest ones that visited Santa and must say best grotto for miles brilliant present from Santa! We had lunch which was well worth the wait in the busy period, homemade burger highly recommmended. Overall all extremely enjoyable experience, definately a place to visit reguarly. :)
Gates has been recently renovated and extended and looks great now. The restaurant is huge and looks really cosy, the food is quite pricey however. We went for lunch this week and I ordered the Cottage Pie, huge mistake, it's awful, tasteless, bland and dry, thank heavens for the pot of gravy they give you, it was served with a small portion of microwaved veg, avoid it! My hubby had Gammon, Egg and chips which was much better. I don't think we would eat lunch there again, maybe just pop in for tea and cake! I like Gates best at Christmas time as their displays are fabulous.
Had lunch here with a big party this weekend. The restaurant is fairly new, has an amazing view and the food was pretty good too. Standard English stuff and all done in good volume with a nice atmosphere. Delivery of the food was a little slow but overall very good for a family lunch.