This is a large Selfridges store, although I do prefer their Birmingham location and their flagship…read moreLondon Oxford Street location (this location appears to be much more basic and laid back than those two, which are both in stunning buildings which stand out massively). I do think this is a good department store, it is one of the largest and more high-end department stores in the city centre, which is a fading game with Debenhams on Market Street closing and House of Fraser on Deansgate soon to follow. The store looks pretty good and is opposite Marks and Spencer in the Manchester Arndale, sadly Selfridges doesn't have a Food Hall similar to their other branches, at this location, this is a real shame - perhaps that is due to the Basement level of Marks and Spencer (a different business) having a large food section? There are two different San Carlo restaurants in terms of eating or drinking inside, I would have loved to see at least a different brand to add something a little more different, similar to what you see in other department stores such as Harrods etc. They do have some unique experiences here occasionally, Manchester City did bring the Premier League and Carabao Cup trophies here a couple of years ago which was super exciting for me as a big City fan. It can be pretty difficult to navigate at first, but they do have a store plan which is somewhat helpful, the store remains modern and clean. Some of the staff seemed a little snobbish and unhelpful, this was mixed as other staff members seemed great and happy to help. 4*

Yes the store is VERY nice and very upmarket. The Selfridges store (huge!) in London's Oxford St is…read moreIconic in many ways - it was the FIRST department store in the UK and founded by an American who wasn't able to do his thing in the US - there is a TV series about it. It was the first store where women of the day felt comfortable and safe shopping alone.... Growing up in the UK my parents would take me there at least once a year (almost every time we visited London actually - so maybe 3-4 times a year. Yes there were upmarket things, and recently we were there and sure there are many expensive brands with absurd prices. But there are also more "normal" goods for sale. Not so much in Manchester - all Louis Vuitton and simile booths all around. A good friend who knows London very well explained that the smaller Selfridges don't have the room for affordable goods and it is all for the very affluent. So come prepared to go home broke or enjoy a window shop! Even the restaurant upstairs seemed very toffee nosed to be honest- not fun :( Review #4 2020

One of the larger stores in Bolton town centre, Marks and Spencer have a good store on Deansgate…read morewhich has improved since my last visit back in 2017. Due to COVID, they are only using the front entrance at the minute, I'm not sure why they aren't using the entrance which is located by the Food Hall, considering this is the only part of the store that is open due to UK government lockdown restrictions. The store had a pretty good selection in most areas, especially the Marks and Spencer Gastropub range, it was a shame that the Free From section was pretty small with multiple empty shelves in that department, and there didn't seem to be as many fresh counters here as my local store in Manchester, but the product range wasn't bad nonetheless. This store also supports Marks and Spencer's new scan and go, where you can scan and bag items, pay on your phone and leave, this is the first time I've managed to use it as many stores either have awful signal, for example, my local store has the Food Hall in the basement meaning you can't connect to the app, and in other stores, it just failed to load, I loved doing this and it made my shopping experience easier, it isn't without its problems however as even though I was charged, the screen froze on the "payment failed" option, with no option to go back or get a receipt. The staff members seemed friendly and were happy to show me to the Free From section and tried to offer the support they could with the app, which is a new concept so is obviously going to have some teething problems, it's just lucky I didn't need a receipt. 4* - Large Marks and Spencer store with a good food hall and friendly staff.

Just off of Victoria Square, it is in the midst of loads of other shops, so convenient if you have…read morea number of things to pick up. Because it is in the city centre, you'll have to use one of the car parks which do cost money during the week, but on weekends it is free to park. I haven't been to any of the other floors as I am usually headed in to pick up some food. The layout is not too cluttered, although the area around the self-checkout area and some of the aisles of food near it are a bit cramped and actually a little confusing about where the queue for the self-checkout begins. I have often seen a number of people standing there trying to figure out where they should be or if they have cut the queue. There is a bakery area and in front of that are coolers that have ready-made food for those stopping in on their lunch time. In fact, it is quite a large selection of sandwiches, salads, fruit, etc. I don't shop at Marks & Spencer for my regular shop as it is a bit pricey and we are on a tight budget. However, I do like to pop in for some special items every now and then... like items for antipasto, some of the desserts are nice, fresh baked breads and pastries, and I do like their selection of wines. They also have a small section of toiletries, cleaning supplies, and pet supplies, but they are limited. If you are looking for a bigger selection, you may want to head further afar to the M&S at Middlebrook... it has free parking as well. It is also located next to a number of other stores if you haven't found everything you need there. However, if you happen to be in the city centre and need a couple of items or want to treat yourself, this location does the job.

Debenhams in Blackburn is one of the many department stores I have visited of late. This is quite a…read moredecent size store and is part of The Mall, I came here to use the toilets after grabbing a coffee near enough next store at Rhode Island Coffee, who sadly don't have any toilets. The store was cluttered with "Black Weekend" stickers and most of the offers weren't worth shouting about in all honesty. Inside the store, it just felt average and perhaps a little like the old BHS store in Manchester before it shut down after the company went into administration. The toilets were average, and so were most things, it just didn't stand out as well. There was an issue with the lifts which were very slow, and the signal in store even with Free wi-fi remained poor. Overall, this is a decent store but it lacks on so many levels to the point I sadly think even two stars is slightly generous.

Debenhams has got to be blackburns best department store. It has everything in here from perfume to…read morepots and pans! I think the staff are lovely in here specially around the make up area as they are very helpful. I went to the make up section in debenhams a few months ago and i wasn't sure what to buy or what suited me so the lady tried all these different products on me and after almost an hour we finally found which brand and product was for me. That lady definatly went the extra mile for me. I think the staff on the underwear section are a little bit stuck up. I once asked if i could try on a bra and they looked at me as if i had said something very offensive! The toys are great in this and as for the clothes there is definatly something for everybody here whatever your age or size. Overall a really good store that i use very often.

Love the convenience of the café. John Lewis has always provided the best and delivery services and…read moreinstallation for all the appliances. This particular visit was for curtains. One star off because while there are many sizes and styles listed online, the stores usually only carry one or two of each variety leading you to have to purchase them online and have arranged for either pick up in store, or home delivery. So it is best to use the store to inspect the individual items first before purchasing, but you might end up going online to order them anyway. Prices were excellent as always and delivery was free and of course John Lewis has a wonderfully large parking lot. That is also free of charge. For online pick up or Customer Service head around to the parking behind the store and enter from the rear entrance.

Despite what my husband may think I'm not a big fan of shopping and spending time in mammoth…read moreshopping centres and hot, stuffy department stores where the exit is nowhere to be seen (think the Father Ted lingerie department episode) puts the fear of God into me. However, needs must and sometimes shopping can't be avoided so if this is the case I want somewhere that will make it as easy as possible. I like this branch of John Lewis as it's easily accessible by road (just off the M60 and Handforth bypass) with plenty of parking, making it super easy to pull up and head straight in. It's pretty big, spread over 3 floors, but still doesn't feel like it swallows you up and everything is very easy to find. 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 JL 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!

A really good value for money store, situated on Market walk in Chorley…read more I prefer to go in when it is not a market day, as it can get really crowded in there. There are plenty of reasonably priced clothes to chose from if you are on a budget, and i find it useful for a working wardrobe and for my Teenage girls. The tills sometimes have quite a wait if busy, but the bargains are worth it.

this store offers great value for money. it sells mens, womens and chidrends wear. it is situated…read moreclose to the main towns car park and is easy to find. it has 2 changing rooms, which are large enough to fit a buggy in but they can sometimes get busy. the tills can also be busy, especially during weekends and at busy times of year. the store some times feels a bit cramped and hard to negotiate, especially with a pram.

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?!

I live between two Asdas, both 3 miles away, the one in rawtenstall is 12 miles away. Makes sense…read moreto shop more local? Not always. I love this Asda, it's really big compared to my local two and has a great selection of homeware, clothing and dvds. Situated with two floors and three travelators in the middle, usually one going up, one going down and the other going one way or the other, also a lift in store too, so it's easy to get round. The store also has a cafe, opticians, photo-printing service and in-aisle pharmacy.

Asda, Rawtenstall is now a great place and enormous too. It as relocated from the grotty place over…read morethe river to a big proud supermarket closer to town centre. It is still a little out of the way being at the other end of town now though. It has everything under one roof so easy shopping. The different floors are great but using the escalator with a trolley is sometimes a little bit hair-raising, never sure if it your trolley will make it to the top! There is ample parking and you will never be stuck for somewhere, although christmas is a particularly tricky time anywhere in Rawtenstall.

I'm an M&S supporter. I've been shopping with them since 1973 and I trust them implicitly. The…read morequality of the food they sell is really beyond dispute and represents great value for money on quality. When there were food scandals here a few years ago like the horsemeat scandal their name never arose. Sure you can go to the other big stores but when you look at the prices they charge for their comparable quality provisions they actually usually charge more than M&S do for their M&S labelled products. Buy cheap folks and buy twice. I only needed croissants, Parma ham, roasted cashews and some of their exquisite Indian meals but I had grandkids in tow so things like Percy pig sweets, banana milk, sugary cereals, doughnuts and fresh baked cookies ended up on the counter. We all then went to the M&S upstairs cafe; adults for cappuccinos and kids for apple juice - before this it would have been to the Starbucks in this vast centre but since they charged me 5p for a plastic cup for iced water (in Portsmouth) I've not been back. M&S provide jugs of water with glasses for free in their cafés - you don't even have to buy anything.

I like Marks and Spencer's location in the Trafford Centre, it is over multiple floors with a large…read moreFood Section, they also have the Scan and Go capability, meaning you can scan and bag items as you walk around the store, and then pay on your phone and leave, which makes the shopping experience much more simple. I do find the checkout area to be a little hectic here sometimes, so that makes the app much more useful here. While I do prefer their Manchester Arndale location nearby in terms of item stocked and overall look/feel of the store, this store certainly isn't a bad alternative and I do seem able to get the majority of the items I need when I visit the store. The layout of the store is pretty easy to follow, I like how they've combined the cupboard and fridge "Made Without Wheat" range to be right next to each other, which makes the whole shopping experience much quicker. There are no toilets in store which is rare for a large Marks and Spencer, there are plenty of toilet facilities around the rest of the Trafford Centre though. 4*