Maidenhead Aquatics Lisburn

"Visited Maidenhead Aquatics today to return an item that I had recently purchased and was broken when I got it home and unpacked it. I travelled from Banbridge and the only saving grace in this awful establishment was Rose the marvellous assistant. However, she had simply been abandoned by her manager: She had no authorities to use most of the computerised till functions and she worked tirelessly on my behalf to overcome the sheer incompetence of her absent manager. I learnt that the only manager in Northern Ireland had taken the day off and there was no one of any seniority in the Belfast store either. Rosie tried so many options including numerous phone calls to a manager who just ignored her. I certainly must advise against ever using this company but strongly recommend that anyone who is looking to recruit an amazing, talented and simply magnificent young lady who knows the business inside out; get in touch with Rosie now. She was a diamond in the midst of complete mountains of poo. Give this establishment a miss but try hard to support Rosie because her management and company certainly don’t and seemingly have no concept of her outstanding abilities."

"I visited Maidenhead Aquatics today and was very disappointed. There were quite a few dead fish lying in tanks that hadn't been removed which was concerning. The fish I came to buy looked good so I went ahead with the purchase. The assistant came to get the fish for us and the way they were handled was shocking to me. They were scooped up all at once in a large net along with a large amount of sand and dumped into a bag with the sand on top of them and very little water. The plastic bag was not placed inside a paper bag which is normal practice to reduce stress. By the time we had made the 20 minute drive home, I noticed one of the fish was suffering from shock, lying on it's side and finding it difficult to move. Whether the fish dies or not, I will not be back to this place. I would've expected more from such a reputable shop. Edit: the fish did die. It seemed to have internal damage from when the sales assistant squashed it against the glass with the net while lifting it out of the tank. Pictures of the sand in the bag and the damage to the fish attached."

"I went in to Maidenhead Aquatics Dobbies Lisburn to get some equipment and plants for a wildlife pond. Mistake. The assistant was extremely unfriendly and unhelpful, he just did not want to know. There was no-one in the shop and it wasn't busy. I went to Grosvenor Tropicals where they could not have been nicer."

"Excellent store. Clean and tidy, tanks all well looked after. Very healthy livestock as well as a wide range. Store is compact but well laid out, the staff are very knowledgeable and helpful. I called in at closing time but he insisted on putting lights on and allowed me 10 mins to browse. I am very happy with the specimens I bought, all survived in good health. I will definitely be back."

"I had a fish tank disaster/emergency. Had just scaped an old 120 litre 2nd hand tank and the next day it leaked. I contacted Holly out of working hours and she stayed with me every step of the way. Had a brand new tank set up and rescaped in no time. Hard to beat the personal touch and to see someone who truly cares about about their trade."