HMV is a chain entertainment store and as such, it lacks real character. Still, the Cheltenham…read morestore is pretty good. It carries a large range of DVDs, CDs, and games, and the staff are friendly. Prices compare well to other music shops in Cheltenham, however the staff are not as knowledgeable as other ones in town, and HMV's stock is much more expensive than on the internet - including their own website. Still, for convenience, it is pretty useful. Avoid going on busy Saturdays because the till queues get pretty long.

My experience from staff member Joanne was nothing but a racist attack on black people…read more I walked into this branch without my mask on, Joanne (5ft 2, glasses, slim with short dark greyish hair) was instantly full of attitude towards me as she rudely gestured for me to put my mask on. I continued with my shopping and went to wait in the queue, my phone rang and I answered pulling my mask down. Joanne charged at me with complete fury telling me to pull my mask up, after a heated exchange I looked around and noticed two white girls without masks, they were then served by Joanne with no questions about their face masks. Shoppers then began to approach me about this woman's behaviour towards me which then led her to shout at me from across the till in rage. This then led to another showdown between me and the racist Joanne which was held in front of a store filled with customers and I left feeling upset and hurt. I had two white friends go into this store after my ordeal, neither of them wearing masks and one so happened to be served by Joanne, nothing was mentioned about him not wearing a mask. Which leads me to know this; Joanne is a racist, she truly believes she is entitled and wanted to try and degrade me as a black woman. I have resided in Cheltenham for a number of years and never have I ever endured anything like I did that day. I would like to thank Wh Smith head office for taking my two letters of complaints seriously and having the issue addressed.

In Cheltenham, W H Smith is located in the busy High St, opposite Boots Pharmacy and a short walk…read morefrom a few banks (I am changing banks, so the proximity thereof is something of an important factor for my assessment of any street in any given town). Cheltenham's Smith stocks a fantastic range of magazines on what seems like all possible subjects, something I can mostly compare to Manchester's Arndale. The top floor has a marvelous selection of books and maps, as well as a post office. I still don't know what to think of these occasional merges of W H Smith and HRH Post Offces, but it seems to make sense...