Howdens - Cheltenham Omdömen 

The overall experience with Howdens has been good. But there are a few niggles that could have been avoided, and which leave a somewhat sour taste in the mouth.

It’s a shame really as we invested a lot of time, effort and of course money to get Howdens’ most expensive kitchen perfect, but we didn’t quite make it…

Kitchen itself looks great, and feels like good quality.

There are three areas we feel let down:

1. Poor measurement of room.

The wall length measured by Howdens was an over estimate. The result was two cupboards proposed, one 500mm and one 600mm, so not symmetrical. In reality the space wasn’t big enough so our fitter had to cut into the wall to make it fit. Had it been measured correctly, we would have had 2 500mm cupboards (symmetrical) and an end panel. It looks ok as is, but could have been better if more attention to detail.

Secondly, the dishwasher placement didn’t allow for the range cooker - the handles of which which stick out into the room. This is a basic design error. It meant that we couldn’t open the dishwasher door. A larger offset should have been built into the corner post. Again, a rookie error.

Luckily we had another 600mm unit (bin) we could swap with the dishwasher but it involved a lot of extra work as the bin unit and dishwasher had been installed including drainage. This left us with something we hadn’t originally planned. Not the end of the world, but again a lack of attention to detail.

The third is the most irritating, and clients should be made aware of this explicitly before ordering (senior management please take note!)

The Elmbridge kitchen comes with a different plinth (the kick board at the base of the units) this is basically a skirting board. It looks good, but the ergonomics are terrible, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it leads to many a bad back over the years. It is fixed to the front of the units, so it sticks out by 1inch.

You might think this isn’t an issue, but we used the kitchen before the plinths were installed (waiting for the floor to be laid), and got used to being able to put feet under the units. Normal plinths are around an inch or more back from the cabinet front.

So when you have a plinth which instead of being 1” back is 1” forward, you need to stand 2” further back from everything. So what? You might think?

Well, you are now 50mm further back from the counter, from the sink, from the tap, from the cupboards. All of which assume you will be 2” further forwards. Get into a car and sit 2” further back than you should, it’s going to annoy you before too long.

I find myself bumping my toes up against the plinth and wishing it wasn’t there. Washing up is not pleasurable at the best of times, but this just makes it really irritating, you have to stand side on to get close to the dishes and tap.

Had I been warned about this before ordering, if the visualisation showed the plinths (my wife actually prefers the simpler design) we wouldn’t have gone for it.

So will this kitchen just end up giving me a bad back as I over-reach for things because there’s a physical barrier in the way? Hopefully not, but I wouldn’t be surprised.

How did this design pass an ergonomics test Howdens? It’s complete form over function. A kitchen is a workplace first and foremost. This plinth should be pulled from the catalogue.

I’m actually considering ordering a basic plinth from Howdens and getting our kitchen fitter back to change the plinths over, even though it will cost another chunk of cash to rectify, if it’s even possible.

Otherwise it just feels like something that will continue to annoy me over the years.

When you spend this much on a kitchen, shouldn’t it be right? You’d like to think so.

Overall then Howdens gets a 6/10. Let down by poor attention to detail, a poor kitchen visualiser, and a design which favours form over function.

They’ve been very good with after sales support, but in this case how can you ask for rectification caused by poor design and poor communication? It’s a tough one.

If you’re thinking about an Elmbridge kitchen, stick to the basic plinths, and double check the measurements yourself. You have been warned!

Fantastic perfect service. Great quality kitchen, all quick and efficient.

Top quality products, awesome deals, always in stock at low prices, what more can you ask!

Always a good experience,friendly staff,good prices & a coffee to go with it all

visited local Howdens unsure if cabinets, worktops and flooring I was interested in looked good together. They were brilliant got it all out and put it on floor together for me to see. Then chopped and changed it until it all looked good and worked. Thank you.

Excellent product, excellent service

I’ve used this branch for as long as they’ve been open. Ok, so the staff has changed quite a lot over the years, and after getting to build a relationship with the team, and then there gone, is frustrating none the least, but they all seem to be replaced with staff as attentive and approachable as the ones before. Crazy, but true. The office crew and front of house are amazing and the warehouse team are cheeky but brilliant. Wouldn’t go any where else, but they do send me, there, sometimes, when they haven’t got what I want! Lol!!

Account opened easily with rapid contact from local store. Impressed with service so far.

Always a great service in battle down Cheltenham howdens and great prices

Howdens are great for customer service and quality

As per normal, expert help and advice.

Purchased from Howdens Cheltenham - Clint was super helpful, we received regular updates and nothing was too much trouble. Kitchen arrived as planned, units were pre built which helped speed up the fitting process. Worktop then arrived the day before fitting and looks absolutely perfect! Thanks Clint we are so happy with our kitchen 😀

Good customer service in the shop and good communication through to delivery.

Pricing is inconsistent. Given one price charged another

5 star review for Clinton cheltenham battledown howdens

Clinton put in loads of effort to get doors and fittings for me for next day delivery. Lovely person to deal with, great with advice, a total credit to Howdens