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Original poster

Any good/bad reviews or opinions about Cooke & Lewis kitchens from B&Q??

43 replies

Imps7 · 27/03/2011 12:48

Hello!

OH and I are going to be re-doing our kitchen in the near future. We don't want to get something that will only last about 5 minutes so we hadn't anticipated getting Homebase or B&Q standard stuff following bad experiences in the past with Homebase kitchen stuff and B&Q bathroom stuff.

However, I've seen units from the B&Q Cooke and Lewis range which I LOVE - they are exactly what I am looking for. They are about twice the price of the standard B&Q kitchens and I'm very sceptical about whether or not they are actually better quality and will last longer, or if they are just more expensive.

Has anyone had either good or bad experiences with Cooke and Lewis? Would you recommend it to friends or tell them to run a mile and don't look back??

Many thanks!

OP posts:

scaryteacher · 31/03/2011 11:33

'I am surprised at people thinking Magnet is so much better than B&Q - looking at the units in our local showroom they don't seem very substantial or good quality. Certainly not markedly different from B&Q.'

I did the rounds when having a new kitchen in 99, so quality may have changed, but Magnet then were the most solid and robust units I could get for what I was prepared to pay, and as I said, have lasted until now, so that's 12 years and the house has been rented out since 2006. I would use them again.

maryjane71 · 31/03/2011 21:40

That looks just like the one I've chosen Imps, except mine is series 3 but it is supposed to clean itself [can't wait to see THAT emoticon]

scary, I agree re: Magnet. We bought our B&Q one in 1998 btw. How much did your Magnet kitchen cost you back then? If you don't mind me asking!

AMM3 · 03/06/2011 12:35

Hi, am also thinking about a B&Q C and L kitchen and have the drawings, the quote etc but it has come up to more than I was expecting or can really afford. But on reading messages, I am wondering about discounts - they are already saying that there is a 20% off discount on doors and drawers but should I be trying to get a better discount? The price quoted (including the discount) is around £8.5K - worth pushing for a bigger discount? Any advice or previous experiences welcome please!! How much of a discount is it worth trying to get?

THANKS

RH31 · 15/07/2011 11:32

Hi we're currently looking at comparing a similar kitchen in B&Q's Cooke and Lewis range, Homebase and Wickes. Once I told each designer/salesman that I was comparing quotes the price has reduced by over half regardless of what offers they said they were doing. Homebase even started throwing in a tap for free. Although I am getting a bit giddy watching them undercut each other they all insist that their product is of a better quality. I was hoping for an objective opinion on which out of these three were of better quality.

Alison4444 · 23/09/2015 17:50

We had a Cooke and Lewis kitchen put in 2 years ago. It's fantastic! Cannot fault any of it. It looks incredible.

Debsy49 · 09/12/2015 14:43

Ok - well here goes......be careful regarding measuring. We had a C & L agent out to measure. As the kitchen is going in we have found that his measurements are totally inaccurate meaning my hob has to be offset from the cooker hood. There are also pieces missing, even though we checked everything, and one part of the caressing doesn't fit another. Careless careless careless. Why can't these people check.
So if you go for it be prepared for much head scratching and a good deal of disappointment.

OnePlanOnHouzz · 09/12/2015 15:50

Debsry that unacceptable complain and insist they rectify it !!!

Needmoresleep · 09/12/2015 16:05

It's important to have a good experienced designer. I realised pretty quickly that I would not be abe to work with the first woman I met, so left the Magnet shop and went back a couple of days later when I spoke to a guy who had been designing kitchens for 20 odd years and had lots of practical knowledge. His measurements were impeccable, important as I had a huge worktop/breakfast bar.

Most of the money went on that and a good floor, so I could get away with cheap plain cream units. He effectively told me that it is a very price competitive industry. I guess you need to work out where an individual firm are cutting costs.

Jonny17 · 25/10/2016 22:52

Got a surveyor from bq Falkirk and then went the Edinburgh for a full range of kitchens - good choice, once I had made my choice (cook&lewis) I went back to Falkirk and sent over plans with surveyor. They were changed, changed change but eventually settled on final choice, I had nothing but pleasant, helpful advice all along the way. Units were delivered on time and fitters arrived at correct time and date - no problems - Cuppa am, lunch - worked hard and were finished in 4 days. Could say without any reservations I had no problems but I bought and had them fit but u get 5 years warranty on fitting and 10 years on units. For me it was well worth it and I would have ne hesitation in recommending bq.

jogar5150 · 14/01/2017 16:35

Having previously worked for B&Q I can give some inside info....their IT kitchens are very poor quality but very cheap and their C&L kitchens are a decent build quality but fairly expensive. What let's them down however is their complete inability to deliver a complete kitchen or bathroom or resolve issues quickly which often leads to litigation as previously mentioned. Personally I wouldn't buy from them because of the delivery problems and after care issues.

FrozeninSummer · 15/01/2017 04:43

Sounds like my experience jogar. Had a kitchen fitted by B&Q, had no problems with the kitchen itself. The fit however was a nightmare - items not turning up, trying to charge us for things they said were unforeseen when we had paid for the survey (surely that's their opportunity to check these things out) and by their own admission, some of the stuff was not unforeseen but they had failed to charge for it properly (not our problem once we've committed to the price) and my absolute fave - telling us they couldn't deliver a service as part of the job. Fair enough, except we had been sold this service and paid for it 2 months earlier as part of the sales process and it was confirmed in the paperwork.

All made worse by some of the worst customer service I have experienced, no ownership - the store blaming Homefit, Homefit blaming the store (I couldn't care less whose fault it was and just wanted it sorting) and massively overcharging us for this service. Some of the unforeseen costs we would have paid had they not been so bloody cheeky and blatant. Very upsetting, the subcontactors wouldn't continue until they knew we had agreed to pay for this work - i rung Homefit preparing myself to be met with a figure of a couple of hundred in mind, but they wanted 20% of the actual fit. Announced by the advisor as if it was a fiver. Managed to negotiate it down but left a very sour taste - I don't think it was up to me to have to fight for not being ripped off when at this point we had already paid them a very significant figure.

Never again. Such a shame because the end result of the kitchen was good. Massively let themselves down. Next time I would still buy their products but hell would freeze over before I paid them to fit our kitchen again. I spent so much time on the phone to them not to mention had a lot of stress I would have found it easier to source people myself.

SocksRock · 15/01/2017 07:04

We have a C&L kitchen. Looks great, been in about 4 years and we are really pleased with it. We went for the earthstone worktops as well, and similarly really pleased.

The only thing that we weren't happy about is the pull out larder mechanism. It broke at 1am the other night (stupid plastic clips that are in no way robust enough) and dumped food everywhere. Just spent the weekend removing it and putting shelves in!

ChishandFips33 · 15/01/2017 07:24

B&q in previous house - small kitchen, standard units fitted ourselves. Lasted well

That was once we'd sorted out all the missing bits and wrong items sent!! Local store staff were lovely (they deserve a medal having to deal with the constant cockups)
The people at the other end of things - not so much)

We went IKEA for the next one!

cassie2and2 · 06/02/2017 17:13

We had a part B &Q kitchen (fitted fridge sinks waste disposal and cupboards) fitted June 2016, the fitter was terrific but rather expensive,
a £1000 for a day and halfs work, we paid B&Q this amount, don't know how much fitter received. One design problem, the end panels are not cut
away at the base to give the normal recessed run at the base, hence the sticking out part of the panels are getting knocked the edging strip is chipping and one piece has even come away . B&Q have sent some replacement end panels but no fitter as yet, to be cont................

user1469117700 · 06/02/2017 18:53

cassie
regardless of kitchen suplier panels are never cut and also oversized by a few cm for the fitter to cut to suit the room and floor ans walls and floors are neot always level.
Also the notch required for the plinth run is to be cut by the fitter. If the fitter didnt do that then could have not been on the plan or........

scott26b · 08/03/2017 00:42

Got B&Q designer black high gloss wardrobes 4 years ago £2313. The entire laminate has come away from the linen cupboard door. We are now told that B&Q can't replace the door (no longer sell them)nor get it fixed. They have offered us a £74 refund which was the cost of the door. What good is That? We have a run of wardrobes with one door missing.
Apparently Cooke&Lewis is a brand name, items are shipped in from all over the world. Therefore there is no factory for repairs or replacement. There are similar complaints on the C&L website.

scott26b · 08/03/2017 00:44

Slacky22 · 08/05/2026 14:39

I had my C&L kitchen fitted about 18 years ago yes 18 I know the designs have changed but mine is still in very good order and I have never had a reason to fault it
otherwise It would have been replaced
I would still look at C&L IF I was going to replace my kitchen

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