Tag: Dobbies

Tuck into Santa’s Breakfast at Dobbies

Kick off the festivities at Dobbies’ Edinburgh store and tuck into a tasty breakfast with Santa and his elves at the ever-popular Santa’s Breakfast this winter. 

Families can enjoy a morning full of Christmas magic at Santa’s Breakfast, taking place in the Edinburgh store from 29 November to 24 December. Each child will get the chance to meet Santa and build their very own collectable soft toy to name, personalise, and take home to cherish for years to come. 

The event starts with a cooked breakfast in the Dobbies’ restaurant, with vegetarian and continental breakfast options also available. Then children will get to meet Santa to share their Christmas wishes, before getting the opportunity to take part in family-friendly games, festive activities, and the toy-making workshop with the help of Santa’s elves. 

Tickets are priced from £18- £20 per child, depending on the date, with adult tickets from £9. While the build-a-buddy activity is not suitable for children under three years old, a pre-made version of the toy will be provided for the younger children to decorate and take part in the festive fun.

Dobbies’ Events Programme Manager, Ayesha Nickson, is looking forward to welcoming families to Santa’s Breakfast at Dobbies’ Edinburgh store.

She said: “Our Santa’s Breakfast event is extremely popular with families looking for a magical morning that everyone can enjoy.

“With festive fun and games, and a special meet and greet with Santa and a hands-on build-a-buddy activity with his elves, this event is great fun for the kids and a perfect way to start the countdown to Christmas.”

Families are now encouraged to purchase their tickets for the Santa’s Breakfast event at Dobbies’ Edinburgh store before they sell out. For a limited time only, customers can get 10% off the price of Santa’s Breakfast tickets using the code SB10 when booking online at www.dobbies.com/events  

Tickets for all events and experiences are on sale now with an option to make a donation during your purchase to Dobbies’ National Charity Partner, Alzheimer’s Research UK. To learn more about the Christmas events and make a booking, visit dobbies.com/events

Dobbies’ Pet Shop opens to meet demand in Edinburgh

Dobbies Garden Centre in Edinburgh is extending its pet offering to cater for the growing number of animal lovers in the city. From October, the Dobbies store at Lasswade will be home to ‘The Pet Shop’ a new area dedicated entirely to Edinburgh’s pets. 

Dobbies has seen significant growth of its pet products with sales up 10% in 2025. As a result, they’ve introduced a bespoke pet shop and also increased capacity at its much-loved and yearly sell-out Santa Paws experience to help meet anticipated demand for dog-themed Christmas events.  

The Pet Shop will feature an expanded product offering with the introduction of capsule brands, with the likes of Joules, FatFace and Disney providing doggy clothing to keep them warm through winter, improved accessories and toys for all pets to offer a broader choice, as well as trusted puppy training, travel and health products. 

Dogs will also be able to enjoy a new gourmet Pointer pick n mix counter, The Barking Bakery with pooch-friendly cupcakes and Ruffingtons artisanal dog doughnuts and eclairs, as well an impressive range of dried dog food and fresh frozen products from brands like Barking Heads, Pooch & Mutt, Boost Pet and Orijen. 

Dogs are welcome to come in and see The Pet Store for themselves and then enjoy a treat in a dedicated area of the restaurant. Customers can also take part in Dobbies’ monthly social media competition, Dogs at Dobbies, by posting a picture and using the hashtag #dogsatdobbies to be in a chance of winning a gift voucher.

There is even a spot at The Pet Shop where dogs can paws for a selfie with a seasonal backdrop.

Dobbies’ General Manager at the Edinburgh store, Jenna Bavidge said: “Our love for dogs continues to grow and more than ever people are dedicating both time and money to pampering their pets.

“We’ve seen a noticeable shift in shopping habits at our Edinburgh store, and we’re thrilled to have expanded and developed our ranges to meet this rising demand.”

Customers can explore Dobbies’ pet range in-store or online at www.dobbies.com.

Dobbies: Weekend of celebrations to mark the start of the festive season





Christmas has come early as Dobbies Garden Centres kicks off the season in style at its Christmas Launch Weekend which takes place from Thursday 9 to Monday 13 October in its Edinburgh store.  

Dobbies launches its Christmas shop on Thursday 9 October, with a special evening event from 5pm-7pm giving customers at the Edinburgh store the chance to get a head start on their shopping as the garden centre unveils its highly anticipated festive trends, with something to suit every budget and every style.

From indoor and outdoor lighting, trees, beautiful baubles and homewares, to houseplants, great value gifts for everyone on your list, you can experience Christmas in every sense at Dobbies. 

Special offers launch on the evening of Thursday 9 October, and will then be available in-store across the event weekend. If customers sign up to attend the evening event at dobbies.com, they will receive a £5 off £25 and £10 off £50 voucher to use on Thursday 9 October at the Edinburgh store, alongside the chance of winning £1,000 worth of Christmas items for a shopping spree in store.

The offers include 30% off Christmas decorations, including pack baubles and 30% off 5-7ft Oslo trees, buy one get one half price on Amaryllis Christmas Star bulbs and 20% off cushions, throws and rugs, alongside 20% off ARRAN Sense of Scotland home and body products, perfect for adorning the home for the festive season or gifting. 

Local community groups and schools have been invited to perform on the evening of Thursday 9 October, to help bring the Christmas spirit to life, and customers can also enjoy product tastings from the foodhall and in-store Bakery to Go, where available. 

The Edinburgh store will be hosting a pop up experience with IND!E on the launch evening of Thursday 9 October, giving customers the chance to shop artisanal products from the local area. J Dobie Photography and Seilich will be in the Edinburgh store.

Customers at the Edinburgh store can also support Dobbies’ National Charity Partner, Alzheimer’s Research UK throughout the weekend with fundraising activities, including raffles and donation buckets.

If customers would like to further their support Alzheimer’s Research UK, Dobbies has a limited-edition Sensory Garden 15 bulbs collection which contains a selection of colourful and fragrant bulbs, designed to create a captivating sensory garden, priced at £15.

Five pounds from each pack sold will be donated to the charity. The Edinburgh store will have demonstration stations on Thursday night at 5pm and 6:15pm where customers can learn about this new charity bulb, get tips on how to plant them and take care of them from bulb to bloom.

Throughout the weekend, customers can enjoy the new seasonal menu for autumn and winter in the Edinburgh restaurant, which will be open until 6.30pm on Thursday 9 October. With hearty dishes, classic light lunches and scrumptious specials, sweet drinks and warming hot drinks, there is plenty to enjoy across the Christmas Launch Weekend. 

Dobbies’ Events Programme Manager, Ayesha Nickson, said: “Christmas is such a special part of the Dobbies’ calendar, and we pride ourselves in creating a magical experience for everyone who visits.

“Christmas Launch Weekend marks the official launch of the season in our Edinburgh store and is a fantastic opportunity to get a head start and stock up on some savings, whilst soaking up the atmosphere and getting into the festive spirit.”

The Christmas Launch Weekend kicks off on Thursday 9 October, from 5-7pm, with free tickets available to book at www.dobbies.com 

The launch weekend continues until Monday 13 October, at all stores, during normal trading hours.

Dobbies spellbinding line-up of Autumnal events at Edinburgh

Activities for kids, families … and dogs!

This October and November, Dobbies Garden Centres is inviting customers along to its enchanting autumn events at the Edinburgh store, helping kick-start the season.

There’s something for everyone, with events for dogs, kids and families:

Pup-kin Patch

The Pup-kin Patch at Dobbies will be a fun outing for dogs where they can dig into treats, toys, and tail wagging fun. With activities from picking their own autumn themed toys, to enjoying a puppuccino from the restaurant, furry friends are bound to have a paw-esome outing. The event will also have a free digital photo opportunity for dogs to pose in front of an autumnal backdrop at the Edinburgh store, for a beautiful pet ‘paw-trait’.

Tickets to the event will also include special offers in the pet department, one free hot drink and puppuccino with the purchase of any cake from the restaurant, and £5 off £25 spend in store. Dobbies’ Pup-kin Patch will be taking place on Saturday 25, Sunday 26, Friday 31 October, and Saturday 1 November, tickets are £12.50 per dog. Dates vary for each store so please check the website when booking. 

Little Scare-lings – Witches, Wizards and Wicked Treats 

This Halloween, children and families can get ready to take part in some scarily fun activities and afternoon tea at the Edinburgh store Little Scare-lings event. There will be three tiers of savoury sandwiches and sweet treats for the children and spook-tacular tea and cake offers or afternoon tea add ons for adults.

Little ones will get to take part in slime and magic potion making to embrace their inner witches and wizards, alongside other magical activities and games. Dobbies is encouraging attendees to dress up in their spookiest costume as a prize will be awarded during a costume contest. 

The Little Scare-lings – Witches, Wizards and Wicked Treats is taking place on Saturday 18, Sunday 19, Saturday 25, Sunday 26, Friday 31 October, and Saturday 1 November, tickets are £15 per children and from £7.50 for adults. Dates vary for each store so please check the website when booking.

Dobbies’ Events Programme Manager, Ayesha Nickson, is looking forward to welcoming customers, from families, dogs and planting enthusiasts, to Dobbies’ Edinburgh store this autumn. She said: “It’s fantastic to have such a variety of events on offer and there really is something for everyone to enjoy, with fun for all ages. 

“Our Little Scare-lings event is a firm favourite for families, with plenty of action-packed activities, and the Pup-kin Patch is back by popular demand, this year in more stores after it was such a hit last year. We can’t wait to celebrate autumn and Halloween with our customers this spooky season.”

Tickets to all autumn events at Dobbies’ Edinburgh store are now available to book at www.dobbies.com/events.

For more information on Dobbies’ events, visit www.dobbies.com/events

Dobbies’ Edinburgh store unveils spellbinding lineup of autumn events

Activities for kids, adults, and dogs

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This October and November, Dobbies Garden Centres is inviting customers along to its trio of enchanting autumn events at the Edinburgh store, helping kick-start the season. There’s something for everyone, with events for dogs, kids and families, and a brand-new autumn planting and afternoon tea experience.

Pup-kin Patch

The Pup-kin Patch at Dobbies will be a fun outing for dogs where they can dig into treats, toys, and tail wagging fun. With activities from picking their own autumn themed toys, to enjoying a puppuccino from the restaurant, furry friends are bound to have a paw-esome outing. The event will also have a free digital photo opportunity for dogs to pose in front of an autumnal backdrop at the Edinburgh store, for a beautiful pet ‘paw-trait’.

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Tickets to the event will also include special offers in the pet department, one free hot drink and puppuccino with the purchase of any cake from the restaurant, and £5 off £25 spend in store. Dobbies’ Pup-kin Patch will be taking place on Saturday 25, Sunday 26, Friday 31 October, and Saturday 1 November, tickets are £12.50 per dog. Dates vary for each store so please check the website when booking. 

Little Scare-lings – Witches, Wizards and Wicked Treats 

This Halloween, children and families can get ready to take part in some scarily fun activities and afternoon tea at the Edinburgh store Little Scare-lings event. There will be three tiers of savoury sandwiches and sweet treats for the children and spook-tacular tea and cake offers or afternoon tea add ons for adults.

Little ones will get to take part in slime and magic potion making to embrace their inner witches and wizards, alongside other magical activities and games. Dobbies is encouraging attendees to dress up in their spookiest costume as a prize will be awarded during a costume contest. 

The Little Scare-lings – Witches, Wizards and Wicked Treats is taking place on Saturday 18, Sunday 19, Saturday 25, Sunday 26, Friday 31 October, and Saturday 1 November, tickets are £15 per children and from £7.50 for adults. Dates vary for each store so please check the website when booking.

Planting and Afternoon Tea – Autumn Harvest Terrarium Workshop

Guests can enjoy a relaxing afternoon tea and autumn themed planting experience this October at Dobbies’ Edinburgh store. Dobbies’ Green Team will show attendees how to make their own seasonal terrariums with mini autumn decorations to take home and care for, starting with a demonstration, followed by a Q&A session and the chance to get hands-on and give it a go.

The experience will be followed by a three-tiered Traditional Afternoon Tea in the restaurant, including sweet and savoury treats, and unlimited tea and coffee refills. 

The Planting and Afternoon Tea – Autumn Harvest Terrarium Workshop will take place on the 11, 17, and 18 of October. Tickets are £45, and prosecco or a Luxury Afternoon Tea is available as an optional upgrade at an additional cost. Dates vary for each store so please check the website when booking.

Dobbies’ Events Programme Manager, Ayesha Nickson, is looking forward to welcoming customers, from families, dogs and planting enthusiasts, to Dobbies’ Edinburgh store this autumn. She said: “It’s fantastic to have such a variety of events on offer and there really is something for everyone to enjoy, with fun for all ages. 

“Tickets are selling fast for our planting and afternoon tea event, as it’s the perfect afternoon out for couples and friends who love to be creative. Our Little Scare-lings event is a firm favourite for families, with plenty of action-packed activities, and the Pup-kin Patch is back by popular demand, this year in more stores after it was such a hit last year. We can’t wait to celebrate autumn and Halloween with our customers this spooky season.”

Tickets to all autumn events at Dobbies’ Edinburgh store are now available to book at www.dobbies.com/events.

For more information on Dobbies’ events, visit www.dobbies.com/events

Dobbies’ store announces community winners for 2025 gardening campaign

BLACKHALL PRIMARY SCHOOL TO RECEIVE SUPPORT FOR THEIR GREEN SPACE FROM DOBBIES GARDEN CENTRES

Dobbies Garden Centres has announced the local charities and community organisations set to benefit from its support this year, helping them to create, enhance, or revitalise their indoor and outdoor green spaces — including schools, nurseries, care homes, allotments and community gardens. 

Blackhall Primary School has been selected by the Edinburgh store to receive donations and support as part of Dobbies Community Gardens.

The school has outdoor learning classes during the week and would love to start growing their own fruit and vegetables from scratch.

Dobbies’ support will give the school the guidance, tools and seeds needed to bring this grow your own project to life. 

Over 600 groups applied to Dobbies Community Gardens when it opened in March. Each Dobbies’ store selected a local project to support from the nominations that were made. 

The winning school will now receive a one-on-one session with Dobbies’ Green Team at the Edinburgh store to kick-start the activity.

The team will support Blackhall Primary School throughout their project with products, tools and plants, along with volunteer hours to help bring the green space to life and keep it thriving.

Jenna Bavidge Dobbies’ Edinburgh store General Manager, said: “We are really pleased to have had so many community groups in Edinburgh reach out looking for support with their green spaces.

“We’re committed to supporting the local communities around our Edinburgh store, and the mix of winners showcases the many ways people and communities can benefit from garden living.

“Congratulations to Blackhall Primary School who have been successful in receiving our support this year. We’re looking forward to supporting this school and are excited to see their space flourish.”

To find out more about Dobbies Community Gardens and see this year’s winners, visit www.dobbies.com/community-gardens. 

Dinosaur Day at Dobbies’ store 

Unearth Prehistoric Plants at Dobbies Garden Centres’ FREE Little Seedlings Club 

This August, children attending Dobbies Little Seedlings Club at the Edinburgh store will get the chance to travel back hundreds of millions of years to learn about prehistoric plants and talk about their favourite dinosaurs. 

The monthly free-to-attend Little Seedlings Club is taking place on Sunday 3 August for children aged 4-10 at stores across the UK, where they can get involved in hands-on activities and come together to learn about a variety of different topics in a friendly group setting. 

At the Little Seedlings Club in August, attendees will start by learning about dinosaurs from different time periods before covering plants that have been around as long as their favourite dinos and can still be found in our gardens today. Attendees at the Edinburgh store will also take part in games and make their own fossil to take home.

Dobbies’ Events Programme Manager, Ayesha Nickson, is excited to welcome families along to this time-travelling event at the Edinburgh store. She said: “Our Prehistoric Plants workshop is a very exciting opportunity for children to show and share their love for dinosaurs while learning more about plants.

“The activities that the children can take part in are a great way to discover and explore the world of prehistoric plants, and the crafts allow the fun to carry on at home. 

“Dobbies is a great place for families to come together, whether it’s to experience our free Little Seedlings Club, have fun in the soft play, or enjoy a lovely treat in the restaurant where children can eat for £1.”   

To find out more and book a space on the Little Seedlings workshop at Dobbies’ Edinburgh store, visit www.dobbies.com 

Great value summer holiday activities at Dobbies’ Edinburgh store

  • FREE Little Seedlings Holiday Club
  • Kids Eat for £1
  • Soft play, bookings start from £2 for members and £2.50 for non-members
  • Great deals on outdoor toys

This summer, gather the whole family and head to Dobbies’ Edinburgh store for a day of fun-filled activities that will keep costs down.

Little Seedlings Holiday Club is back by popular demand to entertain children over the school break with a sensory workshop, and families can enjoy low prices on the soft play experience and Kids Eat for £1.

Families can also get 20% off all outdoor toys and play equipment on top of existing promotions for a limited time at the Edinburgh store, giving the kids plenty to keep busy with right through summer. From hippo sandpits, flower pools and toddler swings, to slides, activity towers and trampolines, there is something for all ages. Deals include

  • Plum 10ft fun springsafe trampoline, now £95.99 (was £149.99)
  • Set of 2 flower pool, now £7.99 (was £19.99)
  • Hedstrom folding toddler swing, now £35.99 (was £54.99)
  • Hedstrom wavy pool, now £71.99 (was £99.99)

Little Seedlings Holiday Club

Dobbies’ Little Seedlings Holiday Club returns to the Edinburgh store this summer with an exciting workshop, Summer Scents. This session takes place on various days across July and August, and is perfect for children aged 4-10 years old. 

Attendees will become scent explorers and learn all about the sweet smells of summer in gardens, homes and parks. Children will discover how and why flowers have scents, the happy herbs with the most fragrance, and the long history of perfume making, before getting the chance to mix their own petal perfume to take home. 

It’s a hands-on workshop that celebrates beautiful summer scents and is perfect for keeping the little ones busy over the school holidays. 

Dates vary, visit www.dobbies.com/events for more information. 

Kids Eat for £1

Dobbies offers Kids Eat For £1, allowing children under the age of 16 to enjoy their food for less with every traditional adult breakfast and main course meal at lunch. Children can pick from the kids’ breakfasts, lunch menu or pick ‘n’ mix meal, including a drink.  

Restaurants are open Monday-Sunday from 9am, location times may vary and customers are advised to visit dobbies.com to check the restaurant opening hours for the Edinburgh store.

Soft play 

Families are invited to come and join in the fun at Dobbies’ Little Seedlings soft play at the Edinburgh store, where children of all ages, from babies and toddlers to young kids, can let off some steam and play in a safe environment. 

The soft play area is in Dobbies’ restaurant, where families can enjoy tasty meals and snacks, plus kids eat for £1 with every adult main meal.

Pre-booking is recommended to avoid disappointment, but there may be walk-in spaces available on the day, prices and age ranges vary for each store, starting at £2 for members and at £2.50 for non-members. 

For more information on the Little Seedlings Holiday Club at Dobbies’ Edinburgh store and activities for families this summer, visit www.dobbies.com/events.

Dobbies’ fundraising walk raises over £4k for Alzheimer’s Research UK

This month 30 colleagues from Dobbies Central Support Office, based in Lasswade, completed a 25-mile fundraising walk to raise money for its national charity partner, Alzheimer’s Research UK, raising £4,150 and counting, from generous supporters.

The participants walked the almost marathon distance from Dobbies’ Edinburgh store, through Dalkeith Country Park to the mouth of the River Esk at Musselburgh, then joined the John Muir Way along the coast to North Berwick. They began the walk at 7:30am and completed it by 5pm, taking in plenty of places with historical interest and beautiful views.

Dobbies launched its partnership with the UK’s leading dementia research charity in March 2025 as part of its 160-year celebrations.

The partnership grew from gardening being a positive activity for brain health, which in turn can help reduce the risk of dementia. As part of this, Dobbies is supporting the charity’s Think Brain Health campaign to inspire people to keep their brains healthy through garden living.

Dementia is the UK’s biggest killer[1] and right now, almost one million people in the UK are living with it, putting precious memories and lives at risk. As well as increasing awareness of dementia, this partnership is raising vital funds for a cure through colleague and customer activity.

Laura Adamson, Head of PR, Communications and Events at Dobbies, who

took part in the walk, is feeling proud of what the team has achieved.

Laura said:“Our team has come together to do something really special to raise money for a meaningful cause and partnership that is close to so many of our colleagues and customers.

“The team has quite literally gone the extra mile to show their support for Alzheimer’s Research UK, raising vital funds to support research to find a cure for dementia.

“We would like to say a massive thank you to all our supporters who have been so generous in their donations and we are looking forward to our next fundraiser, Alzheimer’s Research UK’s Walk For A Cure, which takes place on Sunday 20 July at Holyrood Park.”

Paul Glazier, Head of Corporate Partnerships at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said:
“From all of us at Alzheimer’s Research UK, a huge congratulations to the Dobbies Central Support Office team for going the distance to raise funds for dementia research. Walking a combined 750 miles is no mean feat.

“It’s team spirit and efforts like this that highlight why we’re proud to have Dobbies standing with us.

If nothing changes, one in two of us will be directly affected by dementia – either by caring for someone with the condition, developing it ourselves, or both. Alzheimer’s Research UK exists to change this, we exist for a cure, and with the support of everyone at Dobbies, we won’t stop until we end the heartbreak it causes.”

For more information on the fundraiser and how to donate, visit Dobbies CSO Fundraising Walk.

To sign up to Alzheimer Research UK’s Walk for a Cure, visit Alzheimer’s Research UK : Walk for a Cure Home

For more information about the partnership with Dobbies Garden Centres and Alzheimer’s Research UK, visit | Dobbies Garden Centres.

[1] * Incorporates new Northern Ireland mortality data (released 21 November 2024). Figure calculated using the leading cause of death grouping developed by the World Health Organisation and adopted by the reporting bodies in each of the four nations. Data sources from Office for National Statistics (England and Wales), National Records of Scotland and the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency.

Deaths registered in England and Wales – Office for National Statistics

Registrar General Annual Report 2023 Cause of Death | Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency

Stats and sources can also be found here (included in the boilerplate):

Prevalence and incidence – Dementia Statistics Hub

Seasonal flavours at Dobbies’ Edinburgh store

Brand new summer menu for customers to enjoy

Dobbies Garden Centres has launched its brand-new summer menu, bringing a variety of seasonal flavours and delicious dishes to customers at its Edinburgh store. 

The special summer dishes lean into what’s in season and have been designed to offer new and light options for customers, while complementing some of Dobbies’ popular main course options for those looking for a hearty meal.  

Lighter lunches include Cheddar cheese and tomato quiche and Goat’s cheese and red onion puff pastry tart, both served with a dressed side salad and slaw, and the chicken ham and leek pie, a hearty favourite, served with seasonal vegetables and a rich gravy. 

Restaurants also have seasonal sweet treats with customers in Edinburgh able to enjoy a tasty new white chocolate and raspberry roulade, a meringue filled with cream, raspberry sauce and white chocolate pieces; a raspberry tart topped with fresh raspberries in a butter crust pastry; or a baked mixed fruit cheesecake with grapes, blueberries, raspberries and kiwi. 

Dobbies’ banana iced chocolate summer drink is back by popular demand for those who like all things sweet and there is an iced salted caramel latte for those who love their coffee. Refreshing iced lemonade coolers are also available as part of the summer menu, with mango, cherry and strawberry to choose from. 

The Heritage Afternoon Tea is also available as part of the summer menu and has been carefully curated in honour of celebrating Dobbies’ 160th birthday. It offers three tiers of sweet and savoury delights, including Dobbies’ famous scones, plus unlimited tea and coffee refills.

The Edinburgh store also has a fantastic line up of events in the coming weeks, including the Fairy Garden Tea Party on 28 and 29 June which includes a delicious children’s afternoon tea. 

Dave Worthington, Head of Food Development at Dobbies said: “Our brand-new summer menu is bursting with flavour, offering customers in Edinburgh the chance to enjoy an array of seasonal dishes using produce that’s in season. 

“The Cheddar cheese and tomato quiche and the goat’s cheese and red onion puff pastry tart are two of our lighter lunches that we’re anticipating being popular.

“We also have brought back our banana iced chocolate milkshake due to popular demand, and hope that the variety in our indulgent drink range has something for everyone, whether it’s a sweet drink or a refreshing fruit cooler.” 

For more information about the new summer menu available and events at Dobbies’ Edinburgh store, visit www.dobbies.com.