Appleyard Flowers Review: Luxury Blooms or Overpriced Bouquets?

In today's digital age, online flower delivery services have become increasingly popular for celebrating special occasions or simply brightening someone's day. Among the many options available in the UK, Appleyard Flowers positions itself as a luxury flower delivery service that offers premium, hand-tied bouquets. But are they truly worth the premium price tag? This comprehensive Appleyard Flowers review will help you decide if this service deserves your business.

What is Appleyard Flowers?

Appleyard Flowers is a UK-based online florist that specializes in luxury hand-tied bouquets and gifts. Founded in 2011, the company has built a reputation for high-quality flowers, elegant arrangements, and reliable delivery services. They offer a wide range of products including fresh flowers, plants, hampers, and various gifts for all occasions.

The company prides itself on sourcing flowers directly from trusted growers and carefully hand-tying each bouquet. Appleyard Flowers claims to focus on ensuring the freshness and longevity of their arrangements, offering a 7-day freshness guarantee on most of their products.

Product Range and Quality

Flower Selection

Appleyard Flowers offers an extensive range of floral arrangements for various occasions, seasons, and preferences. Their collection includes:

• Seasonal bouquets featuring the freshest in-season blooms
• Luxury hand-tied arrangements with premium flowers like roses, lilies, and orchids
• Letterbox flowers that fit through standard mailboxes
• Long-lasting dried flower arrangements
• Potted plants including orchids, succulents, and seasonal favorites
• Specialized collections for birthdays, anniversaries, sympathy, and other occasions

The company regularly updates its collection to reflect seasonal availability and trends, ensuring a fresh selection throughout the year. They also offer limited edition bouquets for major holidays like Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, and Christmas.

Quality of Flowers

The quality of Appleyard's flowers is generally considered excellent, with many customers praising the freshness and longevity of their bouquets. The company sources directly from trusted growers, many of whom are located in the Netherlands and Kenya, regions known for high-quality flower production.

Each bouquet is hand-tied by professional florists, ensuring a carefully crafted arrangement that exceeds typical supermarket offerings. Flowers typically arrive in bud form, allowing recipients to enjoy the full blooming process and extending the overall lifespan of the arrangement.

A typical Appleyard luxury arrangement featuring roses and seasonal blooms

Packaging and Presentation

Appleyard Flowers places significant emphasis on presentation. Their standard packaging includes:

• Careful wrapping with tissue paper and decorative materials
• A water-filled container to maintain freshness during transit
• Outer packaging designed to protect the flowers from damage
• A personalized gift message card (if requested)
• Optional extras like vases, chocolates, or wine

The presentation is notably luxurious, making their bouquets suitable for gifting without additional wrapping. Many customers specifically mention the "wow factor" of opening an Appleyard delivery, suggesting the company succeeds in creating a premium unboxing experience.

Pricing and Value

Appleyard Flowers positions itself in the premium segment of the online flower delivery market, with prices reflecting this positioning. Their bouquets start at around £24.99 for smaller letterbox arrangements and can exceed £150 for their most luxurious offerings.

Compared to supermarket flowers or more budget-oriented online florists, Appleyard is significantly more expensive. However, when compared to other luxury florists or high-end flower shops, their pricing is competitive.

Is the Premium Price Justified?

Whether Appleyard Flowers offers good value for money depends largely on what you're looking for:

• Quality of blooms: The flowers are consistently fresh and of high quality, often lasting longer than cheaper alternatives.
• Arrangement design: Their bouquets are professionally designed and hand-tied, offering more sophisticated arrangements than mass-produced options.
• Presentation: The luxury packaging and overall presentation add significant value for gift-giving occasions.
• Customer service: Their responsive customer service and freshness guarantee provide peace of mind that justifies some premium.

For everyday flowers for yourself, the premium price might be hard to justify. However, for special occasions or important gifts, many customers find the additional cost worthwhile for the quality, presentation, and reliability.

Delivery Experience

Delivery Options

Appleyard Flowers offers several delivery options throughout the UK:

• Standard Delivery: Usually within 1-3 working days
• Next Day Delivery: Available for orders placed before a specified cut-off time (typically early afternoon)
• Same Day Delivery: Available in select London postcodes for orders placed before noon
• Specified Day Delivery: Allows customers to choose a specific delivery date in advance

Delivery charges vary by service level and delivery location, typically ranging from £5.99 to £9.99. Free delivery promotions are occasionally offered, especially for higher-value orders or during promotional periods.

Reliability and Timeliness

Based on customer reviews and feedback, Appleyard Flowers generally has a good track record for on-time delivery. Most customers report receiving their orders on the specified day, though exact delivery times can vary depending on the courier's schedule.

During peak periods like Valentine's Day and Mother's Day, there are more reports of delayed deliveries, which is not uncommon in the flower delivery industry. The company typically communicates well about potential delays during these periods.

Condition Upon Arrival

The majority of customers report that flowers arrive in excellent condition. The packaging is designed to protect blooms during transit, and the water containers help maintain freshness. Occasionally, there are reports of damaged flowers, but Appleyard's customer service team is generally responsive to such issues under their freshness guarantee.

Customer Service Experience

Appleyard Flowers' customer service is frequently highlighted as a strength in customer reviews. Their customer service team can be contacted via phone, email, or live chat on their website during business hours.

Response to Issues

When problems occur (such as damaged flowers, late deliveries, or incorrect orders), most customers report that Appleyard is quick to resolve issues. Common resolutions include:

• Replacement bouquets for damaged or unsatisfactory flowers
• Refunds for late deliveries or other service failures
• Discount codes for future purchases to compensate for inconvenience

Their 7-day freshness guarantee is generally honored without hassle, requiring only photos of the affected bouquet as evidence.

Pros and Cons

Pros of Appleyard Flowers

• High-quality, fresh flowers that typically last longer than average
• Beautiful, professionally designed arrangements
• Elegant, gift-ready packaging that creates a luxury experience
• Wide selection of bouquets for different occasions and preferences
• Reliable delivery service with various options including next-day delivery
• Responsive customer service with a fair freshness guarantee
• Ability to add complementary gifts like chocolates, wine, or vases

Cons of Appleyard Flowers

• Higher price point compared to supermarket flowers or budget online florists
• Delivery charges can be significant, especially for premium delivery options
• Some customers report bouquets looking smaller than expected or different from website images
• Occasional reliability issues during peak holiday periods
• Limited same-day delivery availability (London only)

Appleyard Flowers vs. Competitors

To provide context, here's how Appleyard Flowers compares to some of its main competitors in the UK online flower delivery market:

Appleyard vs. Bloom & Wild

Bloom & Wild pioneered the letterbox flower concept in the UK and offers a comparable premium service. Key differences include:

• Specialization: Bloom & Wild is known for their letterbox flowers, while Appleyard excels in traditional hand-tied bouquets
• Pricing: Bloom & Wild is typically slightly less expensive for comparable arrangements
• Delivery: Both offer similar delivery options, though Bloom & Wild's letterbox service requires no recipient to be present
• Variety: Appleyard offers a wider range of traditional flower arrangements and gift hampers

Appleyard vs. Interflora

Interflora operates through a network of local florists rather than a centralized model:

• Business Model: Interflora orders are fulfilled by local florists, while Appleyard creates and ships all bouquets from their own facilities
• Coverage: Interflora offers wider international delivery through their florist network
• Consistency: Appleyard typically offers more consistent quality and presentation due to centralized operations
• Pricing: Both are in the premium price range, with Interflora sometimes being more expensive

Appleyard vs. Supermarket Flowers

The most significant difference is in quality, presentation, and convenience:

• Quality: Appleyard flowers typically last longer and include more premium varieties than supermarket options
• Presentation: Appleyard offers professional arrangement and luxury packaging that supermarkets can't match
• Convenience: Appleyard delivers directly to the recipient with personalization options
• Price: Supermarket flowers are significantly less expensive, often 50-75% cheaper than comparable Appleyard bouquets

Who Should Use Appleyard Flowers?

Based on this review, Appleyard Flowers is best suited for:

• Gift-givers looking for a premium, impressive floral gift for special occasions
• Customers who value quality and presentation over finding the lowest price
• Those sending flowers to mark significant events like anniversaries, sympathy occasions, or major celebrations
• Corporate clients seeking impressive floral arrangements for business settings or client gifts

Appleyard may not be the best choice for:

• Budget-conscious shoppers looking for the most economical flower option
• Those buying flowers regularly for everyday home decoration (unless budget is not a concern)
• Customers needing guaranteed same-day delivery outside of London

Conclusion: Is Appleyard Flowers Worth It?

Appleyard Flowers delivers on its promise of luxury flower arrangements with high-quality blooms, beautiful presentation, and reliable service. Their bouquets consistently impress recipients and last longer than many alternatives, justifying some premium over budget options.

Whether they're worth the price depends on your priorities and the occasion. For special events and meaningful gifts where making an impression matters, Appleyard Flowers provides excellent value despite the higher cost. Their attention to detail, freshness guarantee, and responsive customer service add significant value beyond the flowers themselves.

If you're simply looking for everyday flowers for yourself or working with a tight budget, more affordable alternatives might serve you better. However, if you can stretch your budget—or take advantage of promotional offers—Appleyard Flowers delivers a premium experience that regularly delights customers and creates memorable moments for recipients.

For those willing to pay for quality, presentation, and reliability, Appleyard Flowers is absolutely worth considering as your online florist of choice. Just remember to order in advance when possible, especially during peak holiday periods, to ensure the best selection and on-time delivery.