Peter Jones is somewhat of a staple gift provider/home wares kind of shop. It's been one that I've…read morevisited a few times, certainly the brand itself has received a few visits from myself and my Mum over the years. I think the thing is though, as I've gotten older I've come into my own in terms of my shopping choices and expectations. What I mean by this is that I want more than big brands, as they offer less and less personal, individual items. I could go into any Peter Jones and find something very Peter Jones to give someone, and I'm certain they could hazard a guess that it was a Peter Jones number. Still, that's not to say there is nothing inside of worth. Oddly, at the time of looking, their front window was covered with handbags and jewellery. Perhaps I don't go often enough, but it was really bizarre to me - I didn't understand where all the little ceramic dogs had gone! It seemed they were having some kind of a handbag and jewellery bonanza which made it look like a completely different store. Still, there were some really lovely bags on show, from the sweet embroidered little 'pouch' style bags, to the more sturdy leather style ones. These were accompanied by some really chunky jewellery, some really nice purple and jade hue beaded ribbon necklaces, which I thought looked pretty nice. At any rate, jewellery, handbags or little ceramic animals - Peter Jones is always there for a last minute gift in a crisis. And they do have some really nice ornamental items inside too. They just lack that je ne sais quoi that I am so often searching for.

This store is simply filled with useful things. I imagine, since I'm such a magpie for shiny…read morethings, that this place could be the equivalent for those DIY kind of guys. (And girls, if that's more your thing!) I remember countless times nipping into Wilkos with my boyfriend for something like, shampoo say, and having to drag him away from all the tools and plugs and so on in some bizarre role reversal. This would be a similar kind of place I imagine, and so I'm rather glad I found it without his company! Generally speaking, they sell hardware, houseware, garden equipment, ironmongery and gifts. This essentially means that anything practical, rustic, perfunct and such lies within. Need a new washing bin? Done. Need a new shower head? Done. Need a new lawnmower? Done. Need a new iron? Done. Need a new set of dinner plates? Done. Need a new ... ad infinitum ... Done. You get the idea, right? They have almost anything housey that you could need.

Quality goods, and nearly on our doorstep(steeton) ,very helpful and well mannered staff, ken…read moretaylor.