There are some plants at Willowpool garden centre but they definitely take back place to all the other garden items which are here. The quality of the plants is good and the prices average but the selection is very small for such a large garden centre.

Undeniably the plants are displayed in an amazingly attractive way but there's no getting away from it, the "garden centre" in the name is a bit misleading. But that's semantics, read on for what Willowpool does best.

Willowpool is a mixture of antiques, garden furniture, ornaments and reclaimed metal and stonework. If you are looking for a few unusual ideas for your garden or a centre piece then this is the place to visit. You will find statues here that you haven't dreamed of; reclaimed and restored arches which are stunning; benches and ornaments which will inspire your imagination. It's a fascinating afternoon out.

To the left a small reclaimed statue which appears to be a gargoyle.

Bizarrely on the right is an almost life size statue of a pirate?

On the left is one of the centre pieces of the outside sales area.
On the right is a an amazingly varied collection of knick-knacks.

On the left and right are a couple of the unusual garden statues. Who knows, one may inspire an idea for your garden.

A very interesting penny farthing pot planter on the left. To the right, who knows? It appears to be a set of mediaeval doors.

Restored old baths, ideal for large plant schemes.
On the right is another collection of knick-knacks displayed in a fair stall.

The building on the left houses an interesting art gallery. On the right is a spectacular display of topiary. A man driving a horse and carriage.

One of the more "eyecayching" features of the outside sales area is a collection of decorations collected from the famous Blackpool fair.

Each one is accompanied by a description detailing what the piece is and which artist created it. These pieces appear to be totally out of place.

Dotted around the outdoor area are various shops. One of those, shown on the left, is Stewart's Garden and Hardware. It stocks a very small range of garden accessories.

Other shops include a hot tub centre and a sales area for garden buildings and sheds. The apparently random selection only serves to add to the charm of this "garden centre".

The layout of the cafe is unique, at least for a garden centre cafe. There is a main cafe shop but a large outside area consists of a series of individually decorated small covered rooms. Each seats from four to around sixteen people. They really are very attractively designed, decorated and furnished.

To keep some of these outdoor rooms warm in the winter, some have large patio heaters which serve their purpose very well. I can't guarantee it, but the mesh surrounding them looked reasonably "kid-proof". All in all, the atmosphere created is superb and you have to visit the cafe to appreciate it.

The menu is extensive, much more so than the specials list on the left. It includes main meals, bagels, sandwiches, toasties, salads and much more. The prices range from �3 up to �10. A large cup of very tasty coffee will set you back �1.75.

Service is attentive and pleasant with more than enough staff to cope with the odd coach load or two who turn up for a meal and a walk round the garden centre.