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Shire Garden Buildings Reviews 

2,317
TrustScore 3 out of 5

3.2

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Review summary

Created with AI, based on recent reviews

Evaluating 569 reviews, most reviewers were somewhat happy with their experience overall. Many customers appreciate the good quality of the products, noting solid timber, absence of warping, and excellent overall construction. Reviewers frequently highlight efficient delivery services, with items arriving on time and drivers often being helpful and polite. People also commend the customer service for being responsive and helpful in resolving issues like damaged or missing parts. However, some customers also noted significant dissatisfaction with delivery delays, with products arriving weeks or months late, often after multiple rescheduling. Many people reported receiving items with quality issues, such as warped wood, broken glass, missing fixings, or incorrect parts. Additionally, some reviewers experienced poor communication and unhelpful responses from customer service when trying to resolve these problems.

What people talk about most

Product

People report ambiguous experiences with product quality, with some reviewers praising the good quality... See more

Delivery service

Customers consistently note ambiguous experiences with delivery service, with many reporting significant... See more

Quality

Clients share ambiguous opinions on quality, with many reviewers expressing significant dissatisfaction due... See more

Customer service

Reviewers highlight ambiguous aspects of customer service, with many expressing significant dissatisfaction.... See more

Service

Reviewers mention ambiguous feedback about service, with some customers praising the promptness of callbacks... See more

Reviews shaping this summary

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

Was delivered on the date requested and was off loaded and stacked neatly beside the house. Didn't realise the base coat would be patchy, having spoken with customer servicrs they assured us this... See more

Company replied

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

The shed itself is great. Confusion over booking 'delivery date' (which apparently meant 'collection from Shire date') meant it was delivered a few days after I expected. Few bare patches of dipping... See more

Company replied

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

I could not log onto the online portal to book my delivery date. Phoned the office on two occasions both days their portal was also down. Third day tried and i got onto book date online. Stating 21st... See more

Company replied

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

I bought one of the Honeysuckle Corner Arbours and found it reasonably easy to assemble. However, I would make two suggestions- I found it impossible at step 12 of the assembly instructions to screw... See more

Company replied


Company details

  1. Garden Center

Written by the company

Shire Garden Buildings is a proud, family-run business based in Cambridgeshire, with over 40 years of trading experience. Since 1981, we have been manufacturing high-quality garden buildings in the UK, building our reputation on craftsmanship, reliability, and exceptional service. Every product we sell is manufactured here in the UK, using high-quality Northern European timber. Originally transitioning from yacht production into garden building manufacturing, we drew on the extensive skills of our workforce to establish a strong foundation for growth. Over the decades, we have continued to expand, with knowledge and expertise passed down through generations. Today, our factories and warehouses span approximately 20 acres, supported by investment in state-of-the-art equipment including a planing mill, fully self-contained joinery production, undercover timber storage, and large warehouses capable of holding up to 20,000 buildings in stock. We employ over 150 dedicated team members who share our commitment to quality and customer satisfaction. Our extensive product range includes sheds, summer houses, greenhouses, playhouses, and much more, all crafted to the highest standards. From manufacture to delivery, we manage the process ourselves, dispatching orders using our own fleet to ensure reliability and care. Our exceptional after-sales team is always on hand to help with anything at all, providing the support and reassurance our customers value.


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3.2

Average

TrustScore 3 out of 5

2K reviews

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Replied to 98% of negative reviews

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3.2

All reviews

(2,317)

581 reviews in the last 12 months

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Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Greenhouse nightmare

Avoid buying a greenhouse from this place, mine arrived finally after delays, its been nothing but a nightmare, a lot of the wood is warped, the screws are too long so they come out the other side, I've had to buy items myself just to get it to fit right, we get to the windows and again aren't built straight, wonky, windows won't slide in because of it, arrived with a damaged panel, no pre drilled holes not even one, even the little metal clips that are supposed to have holes in them to fit didn't have them, so left with a greenhouse that's just sat in my garden and we cannot build it.
I bought it because of the glowing reviews but I honestly fear they are fake, its such shoddy workmanship, nothing is straight everything is warped, wrong screws, no pre drilled holes ANYWHERE its such a nightmare, you need sooo many tools just to get it put up and then you have to buy extras to fit it together because they sent the wrong items, just avoid it, because im trying to explain and show their customer service just how bad this is and they do not care at all, im worried im going to be stuck with it and ive wasted soo much money, ill post pictures in my other reviews if you'd like to see just how bad it is.

3 July 2026
Unprompted review
Shire Garden Buildings logo

Reply from Shire Garden Buildings

Hi Liana,

We're sorry to read that you're unhappy with your greenhouse.

Throughout our correspondence, we reviewed the photographs you provided, requested further images where we needed additional information to accurately assess the issues, and explained our technical findings. We also confirmed that we were happy to replace the damaged panel you initially reported and, when you advised you no longer wished to continue with the installation, we offered the option of returning the greenhouse for a full refund through your retailer.

As the greenhouse was purchased from Norfolk Sheds, your contract of sale is with them. We've therefore asked that you contact your retailer so they can arrange the return and refund with us.

We're sorry that you remain dissatisfied and will, of course, work with Norfolk Sheds to ensure the return is dealt with as quickly as possible.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Excellent delivery

Excellent delivery, friendly staff, great customer service.

5 July 2026
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Reply from Shire Garden Buildings

Hi,

Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear that you had such a positive experience with us.

It's great to know that our delivery team made a positive impression and that you found our customer service friendly and helpful. We work hard to provide the best possible service from start to finish, so your kind words really do mean a lot.

Thank you for choosing us, and we hope to welcome you back again in the future!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

Good quality buildings

Good quality buildings. Excellent designs. However on the two buildings I have had, there has been one piece missing and the wrong beading pack for the windows. The delivery time for the second building was long and then changed at the last minute.
Despite the above, the quality of both the buildings and the delivery itself, is high.

3 July 2026
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Reply from Shire Garden Buildings

Hi,

Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a thoughtful review. We're delighted to hear that you're pleased with the quality and design of both of your buildings, and that the deliveries themselves met your expectations.

We're very sorry to hear about the missing part, the incorrect window beading pack, and the changes to your second delivery date. We completely understand how frustrating that must have been, especially after waiting for your order, and it's certainly not the experience we aim to provide.

We really appreciate your patience and your balanced feedback. Comments like yours help us identify where we need to improve, while it's wonderful to know that the quality of our buildings has still left a positive impression.

Thank you again for choosing us, and we hope you enjoy your buildings for many years to come.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Had to

Had to. Cancel the order as not ready on time

3 July 2026
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Reply from Shire Garden Buildings

Thank you for your feedback. We're sorry to hear you had to cancel your order because it wasn't going to be ready in time. We understand how disappointing that must have been, especially if you were working to a specific deadline. We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused and appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. Your comments have been noted and will be used to help us improve our service going forward.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Shire summerhouse

Was not informed at order stage that the Summerhouse would be incomplete. Damaged on arrival. Still waiting for missing parts, nearly 2 months later. Quality of building very poor for the money. There is NO complaints department, what company doesn't have a complaints department? Customer service is dismissive. Letter written to head office not replied to.
Need I go on, still waiting for something to be done. Would NOT recommend Shire.

6 July 2026
Shire Garden Buildings logo

Reply from Shire Garden Buildings

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We're genuinely sorry to hear about your experience and understand your frustration. Receiving a damaged component on delivery, followed by missing parts and delays in receiving them, is not the standard of service we aim to provide.

We appreciate that this was made even more disappointing by the lack of communication around the stock shortage before your order was delivered. While we did arrange a replacement for the damaged floor promptly and dispatched the finials once they became available, we recognise that the overall experience fell well short of your expectations.

We're also sorry to hear your concerns left you feeling unsupported. Customer feedback is taken seriously, and we're disappointed that we've given you the impression otherwise. Your comments regarding the product quality, communication, and complaints handling have been noted and will be shared with the relevant teams for review.

Thank you again for your feedback, and we sincerely apologise for the disappointment and inconvenience caused.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

Shire shed - Well it was brought on a pallet and put…

Well it was brought on a pallet and put on our driveway I guess that was ok for a couple of days. The shed itself is ok but some parts of it the slats are apart and not falling in line with the others. Also one side of the shed is a completely different colour than the rest of the shed. Just as well we are going to paint it.

3 July 2026
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Reply from Shire Garden Buildings

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We're pleased to hear you're happy with the shed overall, but we're sorry to learn that some of the timber slats weren't aligned properly and that one side was a different colour to the rest. We understand how disappointing that must have been, especially when you were expecting a consistent finish. Timber is a natural product, so some variation can occur, but it certainly shouldn't detract from the overall appearance. We appreciate your comments and will share them with our supplier to help improve quality. Thank you again for your review, and we hope you enjoy your shed once it's painted.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

While the product is very good the…

While the product is very good the delivery service was terrible ! Date moved 3 times - and an 8-12 delivery spot arrived at 6-20 am . !!

5 July 2026
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Reply from Shire Garden Buildings

Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. We're really pleased to hear you're happy with the product, but we're sorry that the delivery experience let you down. We understand how frustrating it is to have the delivery date changed multiple times and then receive your order well outside the expected delivery window. That's not the level of service we aim to provide, and we appreciate you bringing it to our attention. Your feedback is valuable, and we'll be sure to share it with our delivery team as we continue working to improve the experience for our customers.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Good product with great service

Good product with great service. Very efficient.

6 July 2026
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Reply from Shire Garden Buildings

Thanks so much for your kind words! We're delighted to hear you're happy with both the product and the service. It's great to know everything went smoothly and efficiently. We really appreciate you taking the time to leave a review, and we hope to welcome you back again soon!

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Poor quality product, excuse-laden customer service

I purchased a shed from Shire via B&Q just over 2 years ago, it was treated inside and out as recommended, now a shed should reasonably last at least 10-15 years with the correct treatment, etc, yet after only 2 years my shed has started to split in numerous places, some splits so bad I can fit my whole hand through them, and one of the roofing timbers actually split, nearly causing the roof to cave. Shire's answer? Was to first refute I had treated the shed internally, something they could apparently tell from pictures, and they then went on to say that it seems perfectly reasonable that a shed that's only 2 years old should split like that, and that "timber can naturally split through a knot", when I questioned them about the fact that if this was a prevelant risk, why was the timber used as a roofing support, their answer, "sometimes these slip through our quality check" and yet they had no interest whatsoever in trying to assist with dealing with the matter. I have now referred this to B&Q escalations and trading standards

5 July 2026
Shire Garden Buildings logo

Reply from Shire Garden Buildings

Hi Callum,

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We're sorry to hear that you are disappointed with both your building and your experience with our customer service.

We appreciate your clarification that the building was treated internally as well as externally, and we apologise that our initial assessment based on the photographs led to an incorrect assumption. We subsequently acknowledged this once you provided further information.

Following our review of the images and the details provided, our assessment remains that the issues shown are consistent with the natural characteristics and movement of timber over time rather than a manufacturing defect. We appreciate that you disagree with this conclusion and understand your frustration, particularly given your concerns regarding the roof bearer.

As the matter has now been referred to B&Q, we will work with them directly should they require any further technical information or assessment. We are sorry that we have been unable to reach the outcome you were hoping for and appreciate you taking the time to share your experience.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

I’m giving 1 star solely because of the…

I’m giving 1 star solely because of the delivery service.

I ordered the Holkham Greenhouse in May 2026. By the end of June, I still hadn’t received any information about when it would be delivered. After waiting for over a month without any updates, I decided to cancel my order.

The customer service team was polite, helpful, and accommodating whenever I contacted them. Unfortunately, they were unable to explain why my order had been delayed or provide an estimated delivery date.

Overall, I’m very disappointed with the delivery experience. While the customer service was good, the lack of communication and the excessive delay made the experience frustrating.

4 July 2026
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Reply from Shire Garden Buildings

Hi Lorinda,

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We're very sorry that your order was delayed and that you were not kept informed of its progress.

We appreciate your kind comments about our customer service team, and we're pleased they were able to assist you as much as possible. However, we fully understand that this did not make up for the lack of delivery updates or the uncertainty surrounding your order.

We sincerely apologise for the frustration and disappointment this caused, particularly as you ultimately felt you had no option but to cancel your order. Your feedback has been noted and will be used to help improve our communication throughout the order and delivery process.

We hope we have the opportunity to provide you with a much better experience in the future.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

One of the doors is warped and response from customer services is poor

One of the doors is completely warped and I can’t get a response out of your customer services team since I pushed back after their first response despite sending photographs.

The quality of most of the summer house is good but there’s 3 or 4 quality issues I can rectify (but should t have to) and the door which needs replaced.

Added after response from Shire. - you didn’t offer guidance. You offered a physically impossible solution without defacing the door. How can you pull the door straight by adding catches to the inside when I’m outside?

4 July 2026
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Reply from Shire Garden Buildings

Hi Mark,

Thank you for taking the time to leave your review. We're sorry to hear that your experience has fallen short of your expectations, particularly regarding communication and the door you have raised concerns about.

We appreciate that this has been frustrating, and we apologise if you felt your concerns were not addressed as promptly or clearly as they should have been. While we have provided guidance based on our assessment and the terms of the product warranty, we understand that this was not the outcome you were hoping for.

We value all customer feedback as it helps us improve both our products and our service. If there is anything further we can assist you with within the scope of our support, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Exceptional quality

Exceptional quality, easy to follow instructions.
Delivered on the day by a very helpful and knowledgeable driver.

24 April 2026
Shire Garden Buildings logo

Reply from Shire Garden Buildings

Thank you so much for your wonderful review!

We're delighted to hear that you were impressed with the quality of your order and found the instructions easy to follow. It's also fantastic to know your delivery arrived as expected and that our driver made such a positive impression with their helpfulness and knowledge.

We really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience, and we hope you enjoy your purchase for many years to come!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

When I had problems sending pictures of…

When I had problems sending pictures of area they quickly got back to me and sorted the problem

3 July 2026
Shire Garden Buildings logo

Reply from Shire Garden Buildings

Thank you so much for your kind review.

We're really pleased to hear that our team was able to resolve the issue with sending your photos quickly and make the process as straightforward as possible. We understand how frustrating technical issues can be, so we're glad we could help get everything sorted without delay.

Thank you for choosing us, and we truly appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. If you ever need any further assistance, we're always here to help.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

Wobbly walls

The walls of the summerhouse wobble a lot. The timber for the external walls are just a cm or so thick. Plus the delivery was pushed back by a few weeks. Not sure how long it will last structurally.
Shire Elm 10 ft x 17 ft Log Cabin

14 May 2026
Unprompted review
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Reply from Shire Garden Buildings

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We're sorry to hear that you were disappointed with your experience, particularly regarding the delivery delay and your concerns about the cabin's stability.

The Elm is a 19mm interlocking log cabin, and during assembly it's quite normal for the walls to feel less rigid until the roof, floor and all structural components have been fully fitted and secured. Once correctly assembled on a firm, level base, the completed building is designed to provide a strong and durable structure.
We do apologise for the delay to your delivery, as we understand how frustrating this can be when you're looking forward to your new garden building.

If you're still concerned about how your cabin has settled or its structural integrity, we'd really like the opportunity to help. Please contact our customer service team with some photos of the building, and we'll be happy to review the installation and offer any advice or assistance needed.

We appreciate your feedback and hope we can help restore your confidence in your cabin.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

All went well

All went well, delivery on time and all parts in order.
One concern was that one board was damaged, but not enough to complain.

28 June 2026
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Reply from Shire Garden Buildings

Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review. We're delighted to hear that your order arrived on time and that everything was complete.

We're sorry to hear that one of the boards arrived with some damage, even if it wasn't significant enough to affect your project. We always aim for every item to arrive in perfect condition, so we'll take your feedback on board as we continue to improve our packaging and handling.

We really appreciate your comments and hope to have the opportunity to serve you again in the future.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Damaged Front to Play Shed.

Damaged Front to Play Shed.
When the play shed was delivered there was a few issues with the front panel:-
1) Damage where top of doorway had been cut out: it looked like they had used a chainsaw - I contacted Customer Service (with photos) but they said it isn't a manufacturing fault and I could lightly sand the area to solve - not sure how that would help as there is missing timber from the sawing.
2) Bent over nail on front - Customer Service said that I could carefully remove the nail.
3) Nail sticking out at top preventing roof being flush - Customer Service again said I could carefully remove the nail.
"Shires" refused to replace the front panel, I wonder what Quality Control they have to allow this to even leave the factory.
I don't think it is asking too much, when you spend a lot of money to purchase the play shed, that it is in good condition.
Paul (Suffolk)

18 June 2026
Shire Garden Buildings logo

Reply from Shire Garden Buildings

Thank you for taking the time to leave your review. We're sorry to hear that you remain disappointed with the condition of your playhouse front panel.

Following your initial contact, we reviewed the photographs you provided, and at your request the matter was escalated to management for a further assessment. After carefully reviewing all of the images, we concluded that the areas around the doorway were the result of the normal machining process on a natural timber product, rather than a manufacturing defect requiring a replacement panel.

We appreciate that the appearance did not meet your expectations. However, as explained in our correspondence, light sanding and timber treatment are standard preparation steps for untreated timber buildings and are recommended within the assembly instructions. The protruding and bent nails were also acknowledged, and we advised that these could be easily repositioned during assembly. While these should ideally have been corrected before dispatch, they do not affect the structural integrity or performance of the playhouse.

We understand that this was not the outcome you were hoping for, but after both our customer service team and management independently reviewed your concerns, we remained satisfied that the panel was fit for purpose and did not warrant replacement.

We appreciate your feedback, as it helps us continue to review our manufacturing and quality control processes.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

No star!

No star!! This company sells on B & Q marketplace. Purchased a kids playhouse with a delivery of 5 to 9 working days however product arrived 6 weeks after purchase. Reached out to company who basically blamed me. Product itself is fine and no complaints. Missold delivery times. Will avoid this company if purchasing again. Not a good service.

Reply 01/07/26 - you didnt contact me i contacted you. I was offered to cancel the order however the refund would take upto 7 days so reordering elsewhere wasn't really an option because I had to wait those 7 days before I could reorder. As I said in my original message the contractor blames the customer when things go wrong.

30 June 2026
Unprompted review
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Reply from Shire Garden Buildings

Hi,

Thank you for taking the time to leave your feedback. We're sorry to hear that you were disappointed with your experience.

We'd like to clarify that when we contacted you regarding the delay, we offered you the option to cancel your order and receive a full refund. You chose to wait for the item, and we kept the order active based on your decision.

We completely understand that the delivery took much longer than originally expected, and we appreciate your patience. While we're pleased to hear that you're happy with the playhouse itself, we regret that the extended lead time affected your overall experience.

Your feedback is important to us, and we will continue working with our marketplace partners to improve delivery communication and customer experience.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

The shed was badly made wood…

The shed was badly made wood splintering actual holes going right through from knots in wood . Gaps where wood didn’t match up . First storm we had it leaked everywhere . I sent pictures and put in a formal complaint but they were not helpful at all . I’m now having to pay a builder £300!3xtra to put eight defects will never purchase from here again

27 June 2026
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Reply from Shire Garden Buildings

We're sorry to hear that you were disappointed with your shed.

After receiving your initial photos, we contacted you to request additional images showing the full length of the affected panels from both the inside and outside of the building. This was needed so we could fully assess the issues you had reported. We also explained that the raised grain visible in the timber can be lightly sanded before treatment, and that any knot holes can be filled with a suitable wood filler, as timber is a natural material and knots can occasionally loosen during transport, storage, or assembly.

Unfortunately, we did not receive the additional photographs requested, which meant we were unable to complete our assessment or determine whether any replacement parts were required.

We appreciate your feedback and are sorry that you were left feeling dissatisfied. Had we received the requested information, we would have been happy to continue investigating the concerns and work towards an appropriate resolution.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

The shed itself is great

The shed itself is great. Confusion over booking 'delivery date' (which apparently meant 'collection from Shire date') meant it was delivered a few days after I expected. Few bare patches of dipping treatment but Shire quickly provided some treatment to remedy that. Pane of glass was broken in transit but again Shire were quick to send a replacement pane.

26 June 2026
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Reply from Shire Garden Buildings

Hi Wendy,

Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review.

We're really pleased to hear that you're happy with the shed itself, and we appreciate your understanding regarding the delivery confusion. We're sorry that the wording around the booking process caused some misunderstanding and that there were a few issues with the timber treatment and the broken pane of glass.

I'm glad our team was able to resolve these issues quickly by sending out the treatment and replacement glass. We always aim to put things right as promptly as possible.

Thank you again for your feedback—it helps us improve both our products and our service. If there's anything else we can help you with, please don't hesitate to get in touch. We're always happy to help.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant service

26 June 2026
Shire Garden Buildings logo

Reply from Shire Garden Buildings

Thank you so much for your wonderful review!
We really appreciate your kind words and are delighted to hear you had a brilliant experience with our service.
Your feedback means a lot to our team, and we look forward to serving you again in the future.

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