This department store reminds me of just what quintessential department stores should be. Ornate,…read moreold, on a main street, looking pretty as can be, even more enticing at Christmas. And that's just what Broads and Booths is. Plus it holds great nostalgia for me, a pair of my friends used to busk outside it when I was working as a chambermaid at Squire's. We'd spend the morning making moolah and count our cash in hand earnings to spend at Aqua in the afternoon after lunch. Ah, those weekends. The irresponsibility of youth. Part of the Beales group, Broads has survived for eons in its convenient location and sells everything you could need, from fashion accessories for men and women to clothes, soft furnishings to gifts, fine fragrances and cosmetics, there's a cookshop and a bed and bathshop and a restaurant and café for when your legs refuse to carry you any longer. You can even order all your lovely things online too. It's kind of like the Southport equivalent of Harrods or Lewis's, obviously on a much smaller and simpler scale but that's how much it's shaped the Southport landscape. Definitely worth a browse.

This is actually called Bealls now but Je refuse to write a Bealls review. Broadbents and…read moreBoothroyds has so much more panache. I remember as a little girl being amazed at all the luxury items and then being herded off to Woolys. Upscale, the old staircases are still intact but alas alack a little too crowded for me. The spell is broken.

The store on the whole is very good with one major downfall…read more The restaurant/café smells quite awful when you first walk in. Me and my friend went there for a coffee 2 days ago and the smell was horrific. The only thing I can say it smells like is hot melted goats cheese. The coffee is nice.

This store is large, well stocked, conveniently located and well maintained. The staff are always…read morehelpful and it's easy to find your way around. They stock a wide range of products, from clothing and make-up to toys and homeware. The cafe is good, too. Look out for their Blue Cross Sales!

Debenhams Browns of Chester is the only Debenhams store to retain its' original branding, Browns of…read moreChester. It has been owned by Debenhams since 1976, yet the store is fairly old being founded in 1780, while it doesn't seem to compare to the older department stores in London, it still is a fairly nice branch, you can enter the store through street-level or through the Grosvenor Shopping Centre. The store is pretty old and you can tell that through shopping inside, they have random sets of steps and ramps all over, so it isn't just one straight/flat level, so do be careful where you're walking to avoid tripping. They had a huge clearance sale on my visit, due to Debenhams' facing difficulties and having to close many of their stores, including this one, I still found many of their prices to be high even after the discount, I found the promotional offers to be inconsistent and it was hard to tell what item costs what as each part of the store/product range would have a different % off. The store did seem a little messy, but it did have some good products overall and it is nice to see they haven't ignored the history, it's a shame to see this store earmarked for closure as although it isn't perfect, it is and remains a nice addition to the town centre. 3*

This is a large department store where you can find really gorgeous bags, shoes, make up and…read moreperfume on the first floor and loads and loads of clothes on the second floor. This place really is fantastic for womens clothes - like debenhams it has all the usual brands such as Jane Norman and Oasis, and it has a great underwear section with huge variety of pretty knickers. It also has a wedding section with loads of higher quality dresses. Of course these come with a higher price tag that the high street stuff that can be found there but this is where I would come to look for something to wear for a special occasion.

'Outlet Shopping Village' just outside Fleetwood. Shops include Mountain Warehouse, Thornton's,…read moreCadbury, M & S Outlet, Denby, Antler, Gap, Past Times, Paper Mill and many more. Several of the shops are meant to be discounted and some do seem to have sale prices a lot of the time but I wouldn't really describe it as chock full of bargains by any means. There's a food court which overlooks a pretty marina with its assortment of yachts and boats. A MacDonalds on the outskirts and a Costa Coffee within the village itself add to the eating and drinking possibilities. I'd describe it as a nice place to visit for a morning or afternoon out if you're in the area but you may be disappointed if you travel many miles to shop here as it doesn't compare to serious shopping venues such as the Trafford Centre and in all honesty I don't think it would make any claim to.

I agree with the previous review: it's a really good place to visit but if you're comparing it to…read moreMcArthur Glen or any of the larger outlets you'll be a bit disappointed. It's got the essential M&S and Next Clearance though, so I was happy enough! The play area is a massive bonus for those of us with men and kids: one place to dump them both for a couple of hours of shopping in peace! It's not the best in the world but it is perfectly adequate and if it's somewhere you don't visit often then there would be plenty to keep the kids amused. I liked the fact that at the end there's a sort-of marina, so you can watch the boats (ok, I only did it for about 2 minutes then got bored and went to buy chocolate in Thorntons instead, but I liked the idea of it). Definitely worth a visit if you're having a good old British holiday in Blackpool and want a bit of civilized retail therapy.

Millgate Shopping Centre may no longer be Bury's main/flagship shopping centre, but giving credit…read morewhere credit is due, they have still carried on despite the new The Rock development and tried their best to still grow and improve, which is rather good for a small town, considering there3 is a lack of empty units around the mall, which is good to see. Brands here include Boots, Costa, CeX, EE, HMV, Waterstones, WHSmith and all of the UK's main mobile phone operators, and Bury Market is right outside. Parking is generally quite cheap, at a couple of pounds, it still could be better value for money right now and as of January 2021, the car park is closed until further notice but there are satisfactory public transport links nearby including via bus and Metrolink, the latter is, of course, quicker from Manchester compared to the 135 which takes twice as long. The staff around the mall seemed friendly and happy to help. 3* - Great for the people of Bury, not really worth a trip out for, but still a decent shopping centre for a small town, supported by The Rock nearby.

Mill Gate is in a good location, being in the middle of the market complex, it is generally busy,…read morehardly any premises up for rent, though not of the Trafford Centre size, the variety of shops is quite good, plus various pop ups, and one can access the indoor market without going outside in bad weather, which is useful, certainly a better set up than Bolton or Blackburn, since Bury parking is much better than Blackburn!

I like this branch of John Lewis which is located at the Trafford Centre with plenty of parking,…read moremaking it super easy to pull up and head straight in. It's also very neat and tidy which is pretty important to me as I hate it when a shop is in total disarray (think the hellhole that is Primark) as it just makes the whole shopping experience more stressful than it should be. I've always found the staff to be approachable and friendly and will happily dispense advice on the best toaster or coffee machine for your buck, if you so desire. John Lewis is definitely one of the more premium department stores (not quite Harvey Nics but definitely not Debenhams) so the products and prices obviously mirror this but if you are after gifts or items that are of a higher quality then it's a brilliant option. Another major plus point for John Lewis is that if you sign up for their loyalty card online they send you vouchers for free coffee and cake every month - this sweetens the shopping experience no end!

This is just for the Cafe, Not for the Shop…read more We ordered a couple of coffees and come cake while browsing through John Lewis. I'm gonna keep this short as there isn't a lot to say really. The Cafe is drab and so is the food. I don't know why it's so busy. The staff eren't very friendly either, I can think of 10 places much better only a few minutes walk away. No second chances on this one i'm afraid.

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

Barrow is very proud of its Debenhams - we don't have many shops, but this is a good one! A huge…read moredepartment store covering 2 big floors, with a car park on the roof so you don't have to carry your shopping too far! It has everything from womenswear, kids, menswear, cosmetics, accessories, sportswear, lingerie, home items, gifts, wedding listthe list goes on! It has also brought Warehouse, Faith and Jane Norman clothes and shoes to Barrow in the form of concessions within the store, which is great as we didn't have those stores before. It has a cafe on the first floor so you can take a well-earned break from your shopping trip for a cup of tea - they do a fantastic breakfast for £3.50 (until 11.30am) and a lunchtime menu as well. It has full disabled access with lifts and escalators as well as the stairs, and is always clean and brightly lit. The staff will annoy you by asking if you want to open a Debenhams account card even if you're only spending £1 - but it is actually one of the better account cards out there, as they send you offers throughout the year and have special cardholders days. If you can't be bothered traipsing round lots of shops and want to get everyone's Christmas presents in one place this year, Debenhams will have something for everyone!

A popular store, perhaps due to the ease of parking. Selling clothes, toys, perfumes etc. Nice…read morelittle cafe on the second floor with a fairly reasonable selection of food at good prices. Staff are always happy to help, particularly when dealing with disabled customers. Several times we have been in and had to ask for specially served food for someone who cannot eat the majority of restaurant food and they have never refused, and never complained about having to do something different. The store has two floors which can be reached either by escalator or lift

House of Fraser is one of Manchester's oldest and most iconic department stores, it was founded in…read more1836 and the huge, impressive building on the heart of Deansgate is still going strong to its' day, despite being part of the House of Fraser group since the 1950s, and having its' current name since 2005, I like how they've stayed true to the roots and history of the store, by having its old name "Kendal, Milne and Co", still being clearly visible at the store's entrances, or Kendalls as it was known to locals. At Christmas, the decorations help light up and add to all of Deansgate, bringing a festive feel which even a Scrouge like myself can appreciate (but come on, just not in November - that's too early!) The facilities inside the store are good, for me with the fragrances, and high-end brands, as well as multiple lifts in the lobby, this feels like one of the Big American department stores, which I've only ever seen before in NYC, and London. The store isn't as good as it used to be, with some facilities/businesses located inside here closed, including a whole floor. With The Restaurant at House of Fraser gone, all that remains is a San Carlo Cichetti, which strangely is located directly opposite their main location in the city on King Street West. 4* - Pretty cool department store, it is sad to see the store deteriorating up until the inevitable closure which has been talked about for the past couple of years. This is currently one of the few branches remaining with many HOF stores closing down.

There's a touch of 1970s sitcom Are You Being Served? about House of Fraser. It's not just the fact…read moreit's the oldest and grandest department store in the city, it's the slow elevators, the confusing floor layouts and the fact you have to buy your clothes from the area you picked them up rather than any till. Trust me, I've tried and failed on different occasions! The thing that really makes me feel I'm wandering around Grace Brothers department store however, is the staff. They're not quite as camp or witty as Captain Peacock, Mrs Slocombe or Mr Humphries but there's definitely an element of disdain and snootiness when you approach them. This might infuriate some people but it always tickles me and makes me wonder if it's part of the staff training! There's beauty products on the ground floor, furniture and electronics on the top floors and lots of men, womens and childrenswear inbetween. Some of it I wouldn't be seen dead in but I usually see at least half a dozen things I like from one of their emerging or established designers. The only problem is, is there anyone to serve me?!

Quite a large department store with loads of different departments to suit yourself and your home…read more The prices are quite high but the products are of good quality. There is a multi storey car park provided.