Swish, Damn Swish - no, not a famous line from a swashbuckling James Bond rip off, this arcade is…read moreincredible. A whole Victorian street in the shopping heart of Leeds enclosed by a wonderfully modern glass covering. OK, so the shops are all designer, the ones everyone loves to look in, sometimes go in to have a look at just how much some people are prepared to pay for t-shirt....but boy the designers have designed a perfect place for designers to come sell their designer bits 'n bobs. little bubbling fountains, coffee and bagel huts for that quick pit stop and belly filler. I sat in here for about an hour, just sipping my cheap filter coffee and commoner's bacon and egg bagel getting a good view of how the other half live. I didn't mind, I was content, in such a place I find it hard to believe anyone could feel otherwise.

The Victoria Quarter is the Leeds hotspot for chic shopping. I'm sure it would object to being…read moredescribed as such but that's tough, cos it's be that's writing it so ner. In all seriousness, The Victoria Quarter is the opulent home to some of the more high end brands of the Leeds shopping arena, and with it comes certain prestige in being housed here. The little independent stores like the French Revolution and Rose & Co gain a little kudos in being located here, as that is the effect the Victoria Quarter has on a business here. It is really rather easy to get lost in the annals of the walkways, be it through gawping at all the lovely shopping enticements, or be it from the identical high vaulted ceilings and archways criss crossing across one another, identical fountains, and sympathetic shop signage so that it doesn't interfer with the original features and feel of the Victorian decor. Depending on which entrance you take you will find fountains tinkling delicately, or small tables with coffee service, or even a small but assuredly delicious pattisserie. Benches are also dotted around and if you take the time to perch, and knock your head back you'll see the bizarre yet beautiful glass decoration. A worthy attraction all on it's own.

Debenhams is one of the many department stores in such a small area of Leeds city centre on…read moreBriggate which includes the likes of House of Fraser and Harvey Nichols, this is a rather unique branch for Debenhams as it doesn't follow the original branding in all aspects of the store, with it being so close to the old part of Victoria Leeds and many stores from designer brands to department stores and even a Starbucks having a victorian name-sign, this was no different. I like how they had a direct lift from outside the store going out to the cafe, although it looked more like a service entrance - this was one of the easier ways in, saving time too especially if you just wanted a seat with food or a beverage. Pretty much your average Debenhams in terms of offerings, although the toilets could have been in a better position and more clearly labelled, staff again were average. It is over multiple floors, as I recall there are three or four floors with Click and Collect on the top floor, another idea I don't like as I believe Click and Collect should be quick, it feels like this way they're punishing online shoppers by making them go through the store, possibly hoping they buy more. Still a decent store by Debenhams standards in a good, central location, I also like how this store tries to be slightly unique compared to other stores, but still, it remains pretty much average - with some flaws such as the service not matching a traditional British department store, and the location of Click and Collect, and perhaps a lack of a food and technology section especially compared to other department stores nearby. Slightly generous three-star rating as this store is bold, unique and stands out and inside, pretty much average, albeit above average for Debenhams, who tend to have some pretty old and terrible stores across the UK.

So, I was on a seemingly never ending search for a bridesmaid dress. You've probably heard me…read moremoaning about it, and if not before, you have now as you're reading this. Yes, it seemed an impossible endeavour to seek out the perfect vintage style deep purple, slightly plum, bridesmaid dress. That was, until I found the concession within Debenhams, Debut. For starters, all the dresses on this concession were lovely. All in beautiful silks, tailored for the most part from the empire line which is always flattering, and they were in a variety of classic colours. They had deep red, turquoise, deep navy, ivory, forest green and my beloved purple! I immediately rummaged for the sleeveless maxi in my size. To my delight it was there! I took the dress, and a couple of others for good measure, to the fitting rooms and had a try. Fantastically, as I was browsing solo, the staff were incredibly helpful and gave me a ton of advice - including a hand with the zips! I explained the situation regarding my sister's wedding and they advised accordingly, not once pressuring me to purchase, but assuring me that the fit and look were perfect. Happy days! I was able to put the dress by so that I could come back and confirm with a friend later in the week, which I did, and so purchased the most lovely deep purple maxi silk bridesmaid dress you could ever find. Woo hoo! I shall go to the ball. I was really pleased with the service and the price, at £110, was a lot less than I had expected to have to fork out for such a lovely garment. So, if you're on a similar quest, my advice is try Debut. I'm going to glitz mine up with a home-made fascinator and such, so as to make it my own, but for the most part this dress will speak for itself.

I'd never heard of Dunnes before and so I didn't really know what to expect as I perambulated…read morethrough their large front doors. The first thing to catch my eye was the amazingly cheap bed linen on offer. They were selling some really quite duvet covers for next to nothing! I checked the feel of the fabric on the display cover and it was lovely and soft too so I was really quite impressed. On further investigation of the store I came to realise that Dunnes is something of a 'do-it-all' kind of shop - they had clothes, shoes, accessories, decorative items, house items and more on show in this really quite large shop. It's a little bit of a mix between Wilkos and Primark I guess, with the fashion and homeware items all rolled into one building. Whilst I was loving the cheap prices, I purchased myself a delightfully cheap sewing kit for £3 with a great deal inside, the quality is certainly not of the highest standard. For example, the safety pins inside bend very easily and the unpicker is pretty much good for nothing but accidentally stabbing myself. Unpick it does not. Jab me in the thumb as I try it most certainly does. As well as that the clothes on display, in spite of the temptingly cheap prices, were simply not nice enough to buy. Primark at least is bang on trend, even if their items will only last as long as their latest range - 3 months if you are lucky! I think I'd definitely browse again, certainly for some cheap bits when I move house, but it won't be the first place I think to come. The service I received was reasonably friendly but quite lack lustre. That being said, in a shop like this I'd rather not have someone going for the hard sell as they simply wouldn't get it. It's a fair old browse but not necessarily worth a special visit.

Dunnes is the Irish equivalent of M&S, to all intents and purposes. It's perhaps not quite as good…read morequality, but it's really handy as I live within a couple of minutes' walk from here. There's a particular clothing line they stock, Savida, which is pricier than the ordinary 'Dunnes' stuff, but is really good quality. They sell a lot of nice business dress and jackets. There's also a trendier, funkier line on offer, of which I own a few t-shirts and pairs of jeans, and I can't for the life of me remember what it's called - I'll have to check and update. The underwear is good enough quality and cheap too - got a few bras from here that have lasted and still look nice, and their homeware section is pretty much the same as Primark's but it's a bit more expensive. As it's next door to Morrison's, I find myself drawn in for a mooch about every time I do a big food shop, much to my detriment, as I always end up buying something Worth a trip.

Hoopers on James Street is the largest department store in Harrogate town centre, it is located…read moreover five floors in a fairly old building. The layout of the store did seem a little strange, which could be down to the building its-self, you have to pass through the Cafe, and then a set of doors after going out of the lift on the Basement, to get into the Menswear section, despite having five floors, each individual floor was not overly large, with the top floor being just "customer services", but the store was a reasonable size overall. I did notice some of the clothing sections to be a little laid out like a jumble sale, they did have some good items at reasonable prices though, so not a wasted trip by any means. The Ground Floor was nicely laid out, and perhaps the most welcoming and premium area of the store, showcasing a range of fragrances and beauty products. The opening hours are pretty draconian, so plan ahead, they are open between 10 am and 5 pm Monday to Saturday and do not open on Sundays. I probably wouldn't return, but a nice addition to the shopping scene in Harrogate's town centre. 3*

Fantastic store, lots of choice and some brilliant makeup counters- New Laura Mercier!!…read more Some great clothing finds- French Connection and Ted Baker are definately worth a look

What a house of wonder! Chase really isn't kidding when he says it sells everything, it really does…read moresell pretty much everything you might need for your home. From cleaning products, kitchen items, DIY bits and bobs, cheap snacks, cards and so much more - they've got it covered. If you're a keen shopper/browser it's a veritable treasure chest to explore. My particular favourite is the upstairs section. Here's where the items get slightly less bargainous and become a little higher end... They've beds, lamps and all other kinds of home furnishings in a range of styles. Faux-antique right through to the more modern sleek look. I bought an awesome 'telephone box' lamp for my room at home, which is so kitsch and delightful and only set me back £15. (I can imagine it costing a ton more in a vintage shop!) My Mum was particularly overjoyed with a red painted vase that she picked up as well, of which they had many different shades! So, there's plenty to get excited about, and not too pricey as well. However, all that glitters is not gold. I did come away having purchased a few oil reed scent dispensers (the pots of oils with the wooden reeds) and they simply don't work at all. They were only a pound each, but I can see why they were so cheap as they give off no scent at all! Even so, I'm pleased as punch with my lamp so that more than makes up for it!

I was first introduced to QLM by my new wife (I change them quite often, not really if you're…read morereading this love) just after we set up home together. It was the first time I'd been in a shop which I cannot categorize by what it sells, IT SELLS EVERYTHING !! From bleach to crisps, rugs to xbox games, they have almost everything under one roof. The only thing I can say lets it down is a lack of electrical goods like TV's but if you're looking for a pack of brass tacks and a birthday card for auntie Mabel this is a good place to start........ and if you're feeling tired you can nip upstairs and pretend you're testing a bed out :)

Dreadful company. Zero Customer Service…read more They sent me a £150 garden storage box that was so badly damaged it is unusable. I asked for a return - they refused because of their 28 day policy - I told them I don't want a return, I want a refund under the Sale Of Goods Act because the item was faulty. They refused and ended the webchat. There is no phone number to speak to them - the number on Google just rings and rings and no-one answers - rang weekday at 1pm - phone rang solidly for 10 minutes without answer. Do Not Use. They actually deserve minus 5 stars.

House of Fraser is a brand I've visited many times recently, mainly at my local Manchester store…read morelocated on Deansgate, that store basically is everything that this branch in Leeds is not, large and spacious, with the Manchester branch spanning across 6 floors and having more room across those floors for an enjoyable shopping experience, meanwhile this branch just feels rather unwelcoming and cramped. Unlike many branches of House of Fraser (HOF), this store doesn't really have much of an impressive feel to it, which is a shame. The selection of fragrances here seemed good, prices seemed competitive but there didn't seem to be any offers on, I did like how they had all the bottles in one area so you could spray them yourself, without different stands such as one for Armani and one for Hugo Boss, which in a way was okay as it made it easier to view a slightly limited selection of fragrances they had in store, however an issue was the mixing of male and female as there was about two female perfumes in the male fragrance section, luckily I spoke French and was able to read the bottle before disaster struck! The staff here seemed okay, they didn't seem too friendly, they seemed slightly helpful, perhaps average at best, yet slightly impersonal. I really didn't like this store mainly down to it feeling small and cramped compared to other stores, yet still this is a nice brand for a city like Leeds to have, and there is reasoning for this place not to warrant a single one-star rating, so I feel House of Fraser in Leeds deserves a slightly generous two-star rating.

Large Debenhams store in Meadowhall. Offers a great range of clothing, gifts, luggage, fragrance,…read morekitchen wear, ornaments and make up. One of the make up stands is MAC, which is very popular. Staff are friendly and helpful.

This Debenhams used to stock a very good range of clothes, but their buyers seem to have let their…read morestandards slip and it has been ages since I found anything I really like in this shop. There seems to be a constant sale on at the moment where you can pick up some bargains for work wear but shoes and hand bags remain quite expensive. There's only limited choice in the home department and their stock policy doesn't seem completely effective when trying to check with the staff if something is in stock or not. Still, the staff are always helpful and chatty.

I have to say, although having only been the once, I was instantly a fan of this fabulous shop…read more Along every wall you'll spot home made trinkets, specially crafted delights, and lovingly crafted goodies that appeal to a wide range of tastes. It's a pure treasure trove of locally crafted art work, paintings, crochet, knitting, jewellery, decorative pieces, hand bags, furniture and more. Each section has its own personality, and the shop shines as a haven of talent, made up of the various creative items displayed within. I realise this perhaps speaks to those who enjoy pretty things a little more than those who don't, but I'd whole heartedly recommend anyone wander in and take a good long browes - be it for gift shopping, inspiration, or simply to marvel at what can be created by our local talent. What's more, Fabrication hold regular classes, including sewing lessons, crochet and more. I've intended upon taking a class for some time, but haven't found the time, although I've heard some very good reports from folks I know who've partaken. Essentially, I've wanted to learn how to sew for a while, since it's one of the many talents my mother has that I didn't take advantage of whilst at home, and would love to see if I can continue the trend. I won't make a promise here in writing, but watch this space. I may be a dressmaker yet! The real lesson here? Visit this place now. Visit, get your creativity flowing, and support the local scene!

What great shop. Selling goods from local artists. I bought several cards from the hilarious…read moreRubbish Seaside section as well as a few Leeds Brudenell Social Club cards by Richard Heald. The Brudenell is one of the best music venues I have ever been to. Nice way to commemorate my love of it by framing these cards. Staff were very friendly as well. A must visit each time I am in Leeds.

Love this place .. good place to go at the weekend some shops have great prices... service varies…read moredepending on which store but most of them are good .. such a wide selection of stuff that you can buy ... also .. not too many old people

We don't have such large shopping centres in Switzerland. It's cleaner than any town centre I've…read moreever seen in England with a wide variety of stores. My favourites: A Thornton's, a gigantic Sainsbury's (with every kind of Gü pudding and a huge assortment of chips), several cupcake and cookie stands and a stand selling every conceivable mobile phone case and cover, even one for my Xperia Z! There are also two very large gift / card shops that will probably sell the most obscure card you just couldn't find anywhere else. Try not to go in a mixed gender group, since there's not much for the men to do other than sit around in the café in the middle of the ground floor while the women wander around aimlessly for several hours. Lots and lots of parking, clean facilities.