At 4.30pm on Saturday 22 January, we drove by Shackletons and decided to bob into the Pavilion coffee shop and restaurant, part of Shackleton's garden centre. The garden centre and coffee house was open until 5.30pm according to the opening hours displayed on the door but staff clearly wanted to get out early and didn't appreciate us making this that bit more difficult.
When we walked in, they looked at us as though we'd just arrived by Boeing and ordered a five course meal but were visibly relieved yet still a little disgruntled when we ordered hot chocolates. Just a few minutes after, a cheesed off looking blonde woman brought over our chocolate which I have to say, was gorgeous; served in a large mug with a generous dusting of chocolate and a complimentary, bizarre tasting biscuit.
However, it was difficult to enjoy when she immediately turned on the vacuum cleaner and started vacuuming round our feet, making conversation almost impossible. At the same time, another happy staff member wiped tables around us and started moving and scraping tables and chairs. They could not have made us feel any more unwelcome if they had stood beside the table repeatedly asking, Are you finished yet? Have you finished? Come on hurry up. We're closing
We were finished by just after 5.00pm and even before we'd manage to get our coats on, staff started wiping our table and rearranging the chairs. The coffee house entrance leads back into the main entrance of the garden centre and three staff members eyed us and were visibly annoyed when I decided to nip to the loo before we left and one muttered that they'd just been cleaned so mind the wet floor.
The toilet floor was wet however, nothing else in there looked like it had been cleaned for days. The soap dispenser was actually dusty, as were the waste and sanitary bins and the towel dispenser.
When I came out of the loos and we exited the main building, staff started locking up and switching off before we'd even made it to the car park and it was still only 5.15pm.
For those who aren't familiar with Shackletons, it is an incredibly overpriced and have-yourself-on home and garden centre. The prices there are extortionate and extend to the Pavilion coffee shop and restaurant so it's no surprise I'm not remotely impressed with the way staff treat customers with contempt.
Next time we're fancying a hot chocolate, it'll be ASDA cafe. At least £1 cheaper and served by staff who will at least pretend they're pleased to see you. read more