While I was not an initial fan, this place has steadily grown on me to be honest... it is what it is, but that's actually an odd mix of a smaller mall with the glitz of the nicer parts of the Westfield at Shepherd's Bush... the place itself just has a feel of quality about it, which despite the small(ish) shops I've come to appreciate... especially outside of the busy working hours. I say "smaller mall", but that's a bit misleading as despite the size of the shops, which are generally on the small side, the mall itself crosses the tube station and goes out in a few different directions and even levels in some places... it's definitely larger than first impressions from any entrance would lead you to believe.
There's nothing here that's going to blow your mind or worth coming just here for, but if you're in the area you can probably get pretty much anything you need... from Boots, Waitrose and Robert Dyas,, to HMV and Curry's, to Next , Zara, and Ted Baker, all the usual suspects are present and accounted for. The eateries run a similar line, with no overwhelming standouts but plenty to choose from if you're in a pinch. You've got your Itsu, Wasabi, Nandos, Wagamama, Byron, Krispy Kreme, and Starbucks, among many others. (Come to think of it, there is a salt beef place that I've always wanted to try and secretly hope would be a treasure, but sadly it closes earlier than I tend to make my rounds here.) You've also got a few newsagents (at least one with Collect+), a flower shop, and even a semi-attached post-office so you really can get just about anything you need done here unless you're after a truly budget style shop... there are no £ shops or generic clothing shops here, etc., the cheapest places are still your high street chains at best.
So, despite being near invisible from the outside in the concrete sprawl that is Canary Wharf, it may be worth dropping in here if you're in the area and haven't given it a shot or looking for a weekend alternative to the nearby Stratford Westfield... it just may end up growing on you as well in the end. read more