Sue Scrivener
Fantastic place, the miniature railway. Decorated for Halloween and very good value for money.
Lunch in the restaurant. Food well presented. The children's activity lunch is good value. There's a bit of a wait for cooked food. Try the honey glazed ham and Cheese Sandwich, the filling is generous. As for all the cakes you'd be spoilt for choice
Gabrielle Mir
Fantastic experience with Poplar Nurseries! They flawlessly catered our event for 34 people, providing delicious and well-prepared food that offered incredible value for money. The entire process was highly efficient, and the presentation was superb. We're definitely ordering from them again!
Tony Byrne
Great garden centre, plenty of parking, lots of choice, easy access and fab restaurant, huge portions though, very good service & great meal, had a miniature railway if you have children (not sure if it was running) overall a lovely visit.
C Smith
The Nursery that has everything from garden plants and equipment to a gourmet food and beverage shop. But yesterday was special; a bbq course out in the sunshine. We had free beer and soft b drinks and top quality Pecanha beef and organic pork chops. Wonderful! Chef Tarrant and his team are the real deal!
Andi 51
Lovely friendly centre. Has a lovely and well stocked farm shop. I was impressed by the selection of gluten free items stocked here. Well worth a visit
Mark P
Lovely garden centre that offers everything you could possibly need. Nice newly added food shop which offers tasty cakes and most cooking treats you could ask for, although it doesn’t offer a butchers counter. The Garden Centre itself has a huge range and a specialist Weber section currently offering free five minute courses to get you going if you’re new to outdoor cooking. Mini railway for the children and all the plants and gardening tools you could as for. Well worth a visit. Plenty of parking available too.
Michael Brooke
One of the better garden nursery around : excellent restaurant : large garden accessory area with everything required: large outdoor space with plants bushes pots etc
This year's Christmas display large and colourful : Another fantastic Christmas display this year ( 2023 )
And then the food hall some good things to be had
Airi T
My husband and I took my daughter to Breakfast with Santa event on Christmas Eve. My daughter loved the whole experience from the beginning to the end and so did we. I thought the little Christmas tree to take home was a lovely idea. The breakfast on its own was generous portion that my husband and I couldn't finish. My daughter loved the gift from Santa and enjoyed talking to friendly elves. We will come back again next year.
Helen Waring
An ever expanding enterprise with gift shop, food hall, gift shop and even a kitchen design centre alongside the garden centre. Lovely range of gifts and garden related items. There is a plethora of commanding signs which feels a little bit like you’re in school but the café offers a simple range of breakfast and lunch items with some daily specials but all plated up beautifully with salads and sides.
Mangesh Gole
Very well stocked garden supplies shop. They have plants, seeds, tools, decorations, etc. Good amount of parking. The cafe on site also offers a good range of snacks and meals. There is a toy train to keep the young kids engaged.
Shaz Reed
Wonderful place. We went yesterday and had lunch in the restaurant which now has a separate vegan menu � It was superb. Lovely staff and a garden centre to rival Perrywoods!!!!
Rhiannon Sian Hughes-Hodgetts
This place is amazing my grandchildren absolutely loved the grotto and train and Santa was really lovely one of the best I have been to will definitely recommend and come back thank you.
Gina Stubbings
Had a wonderful few hours here with my friend and her son. He loved the railway and we loved the farm shop. The food in the restaurant was fabulous especially the gluten free coffee cake. We will definitely return.
Miranda Welton
They really know how to attract in the public, this is so much more than a place to buy plants. The eatery is fabulous with real fires in the winter, and special events on throughout the year. The menu is excellent, plus has specials each day as well. Outside there are plants - lots of them, plus an area for children to play, in the warmer weather a little train for people to enjoy going around on, (at a charge - but you can buy a book of tickets), there are fish, lovely areas to wander, other business outside such as the Lawnmower repairs and hairdressers and crafts. Indoors they have a brilliant shop, lots of goodies and a great array of cards and gifts - for everyone. Lots of gardening bits too! Of course. Everything for the garden, indoor and out, and the birds, even things for the kitchen. There is also a great farm shop, with local produce and foods to buy with meal deals etc. Christmas is a wow time - should not be missed at all with Santa's Grotto. There is loads of parking available. Its a great place. There is much more than I have mentioned such as furniture, BBQ's and so on. Only down side is getting out, if you need to go back to Colchester, there is usually a constant stream of traffic both ways, so it can take a while to turn right.
Toni Copp
We had breakfast with Santa on 21st December and it was a truly magical way to get Christmas started. It was so well organised, food was delicious, staff were so friendly and really added to the experience. The children loved Santa and their presents. The cookies, story time and singing were great added extras that we weren't expecting. We have been to similar things at other places but none were quite as well run or special as Poplar. We can't wait to book again and would now if we could! Our 6 year old says she gives it 100 out of 100! #DineWithSanta
Tina Townsend
Finally got round to visiting the cafe today but was quite disappointed. My husband and I ordered a lasagna. The food was plentiful but I’ve never had to crunch my way through pasta before! It was tasty but very over cooked....or reheated multiple times.
We also shared a bowl of chips....the bowl had clearly been used for broccoli before the chips as there were still bits of it in the bottom of the bowl.
If I bother to come back it’s not something I would order again.
Update: the manager has contacted me and offered us a voucher to cover two meals.....great customer service...... Thanks we will be back and hopefully we will have a better experience
Adrian Bond
Father’s Day, popped to Popular Nursery to spend a couple of hours while our son was at rehearsals. With over an hour to go went for a tea/coffee. Cafe VV busy: 20 mins for drink/cake, 1hr for hot food. That’s okay, plenty of time.
45 minutes later, still no tea/coffee, had to leave to pick up our son for 1pm.
Steve Wallis
This was our first visit.Unbelievable choice and reasonable prices.Good time to go now as they have many half price garden pots and bulbs.Staff very friendly and helpful and a nice tea room also....and if you like Christmas,a huge choice there,too.I shall return!
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Bell Lawes
Had the afternoon tea, was delicious and lots of it! Definitely worth the money. Staff were lovely too and very accommodating to my needs with two babies.
Angela Stearn
Yesterday was only the second time I have been here; and I loved it even more than the first time. So beautiful to just wander around the outside and enjoy all the quirky objects along the railway route (sadly the train was not running yesterday); had two fabulous snacks, one before shopping and one after, rather than one main lunch. Did not find any of the 6 plants on my list, but got one very similar. Was a tad confused with the plant area because they are not in alphabetical order and I had to ask staff for assistance (which I have to say was readily and amicably given by everyone on site, not just the plant area). I also spent in the produce shop and the gift shop, buying for myself. Was slightly tempted to start buying for Christmas because I saw so many wonderful items! I will be back.
Carol Ingold
Afternoon tea was amazing.
All the other food I saw being served looked lovely.
Had such a variety on the menu.
Lovely & clean plenty of space & very friendly staff.
Will definitely be going back!
Paula Robinson
Shop and nursery was fine, lots of choice, the quiche was very rubbery and no butter with new potatoes so meal was awful
Heather Rankin
First visit, looks great, only really popped in for some lunch, only complaint was the jacket potatoes, had a strange tang to them and were under cooked as hard, apart from that the service and food lovely
Julie Munson
Went for coffee and cake with my dad and the coffee was cold and the cake was dry so won't be having cake again
Verity Mawdsley
Sad to hear about the treatment of a young breastfeeding mum today in your cafe. By law women are allowed to breastfeed anywhere and your lack of support by telling her there was "nowhere she could feed" is abysmal. I recommend your staff are properly trained in how to deal with such situations in the future so other mothers are not caused such upset.
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