Churchill Square Shopping Centre is the main shopping centre serving Brighton, UK, albeit there are…read moreshopping areas elsewhere such as on Western and North Roads, and within a few minutes walk of the Railway Station. It is a pretty small centre, most of the stores are also small and brands such as Three, EE and Superdrug do have other branches around the city. Many other stores also seem to be smaller by usual standards from the brand, including one of the older-fashioned, uninspiring and smallest Apple Stores I've seen across Europe. There were multiple cold-call style sellers conducting University research and a Sky desk, the latter was worse as it was located so close to certain stores such as Game, they were basically pulling customers a way to try and make them sign up for their services. I can't help but feel this only works in larger and more spacious malls so you can hide from them if you will, rather than being so close, making it seem even more awkward and frustrating. There are multiple brands here including JD Sports, Three, EE. WHSmith also has one of the larger stores I've seen in the brand, which includes a Post Office. If you prefer to use Collect+, the information desk does do Collect+ and there are Amazon Lockers within the centre. There is a small food court on the top floor, which also struggles to compete with the dining scene in the rest of the city, and mainly consists of a few fast food chains including Mcdonald's. Even most coffee shops including Starbucks and Costa, prefer to be outside of the mall and across the way! The construction across the mall is a little strange, it is over three floors, which are pretty small, there is a steep slope leading up to the Apple Store / Debenhams area of the mall, making it really similar in a sense to intu Potteries located in the Hanley area of Stoke-on-Trent. It has some good brands but doesn't do it particularly well. The Westside, on Western Road with large stores such as Topman, WHSmith and JD Sports, makes it appear modern and cool, but it just doesn't live up to that. 2* - More of a place to shop under shelter with some okay brands (some which can't be found elsewhere), avoidable on a nice day because Brighton is a nice place to spend time outside in the sun, along the seafront or shopping areas where the larger shops seem to be located, with the exception being the anchor stores here such as Debenhams. Lack of places to sit down and grab a drink or food such as major restaurants or coffee-shops also lets Churchill Square down, as it seems they focus on a few fast food outlets.

I have a kind of Love/Hate relationship with Churchill Square. It's reasonably convenient, what…read morewith everything being under one roof, but the parking is a pain (expensive, long queues, and difficult to access as they have shut a number of the roads around it at the moment). It's handy if you know what you need and where you need to get it from, and it contains most of the common high street shops that you would expect to find in a shopping centre of this size. However, it's also usually packed (with teenagers and prams) and can be a bit stressful. I've found myself here quite often recently for numerous Mothercare visits, and at least you aren't walking too many miles (useful at eight and a half months pregnant!) That said, Brighton has so many amazing alternatives for shopping if you want something a little less run of the mill. The Laines has some fantastic independent shops which offer a much better shopping experience in my opinion, and I usually prefer to shop here if I have the time and the energy.

Every Saturdays, from 7 am to 5pm, on Upper Gardner Street there is a lot of independent stalls…read morethat sell everything from secondhand books, antiques, records, clothes to street food and vegetables. Every time I go there I usually manage to find and buy a vintage cookery book. I have now four cookery books, they were published between 1911 and 1970. On Upper Gardner Street there is also a very big two storey antique shops which I really like: North Laine Antique & Fleamarket, it is the perfect place to find old fashioned plates and cups of tea for example.

The best thing about this market is it has such a variety of stalls, which makes it much more fun…read moreto walk around than if it was just fashion or organic vegetables. This street really does come alive every Saturday with sellers and prospective buyers. I sometimes wonder how these people have the energy to move larger items like bookcases and tables from place to place, especially first thing in the morning. You've got to have a passion for it is all I can say. Personally I'm a fan of perusing the vintage jewellery, the second hand books and records, the retro clothes stalls and the cakes!

This good old-fashioned charity shop situated on Kemp Town's St James' Street is certainly not for…read moreeveryone. When comparing it with Oxfam's flashy locally designed clothes just up the road on North Street, or even with the colour co-ordinated rails of Kemp Town's neighbouring charity shops, you may well turn your nose up at this one. It's dark, dingy and disorganised. It can even smell pretty bad. However, if you're not too sneeze-prone and have a bit of time for a good rummage this place is definitely worth a visit. Although maybe don't even bother if you suffer from OCD - with its disarray of items, and seemingly no discerning judge of what makes the shelves, it is hard to resist the temptation to give The Friends Shop a thorough clean and tidy. But for the dedicatedly thrifty amongst us the prices are dirt cheap - all books are 50p for example and clothes much the same. Make a few trips, have a good rummage, and you're sure to find a bargain you'll be proud of. Well, eventually. One of Brighton's hot spots it may not be, but I feel strangely fond of The Friends Shop. It recalls those days of yesteryear before charity shops were popularized by magazines and celebrities, and thus anything vaguely nice always ransacked by an earlier bargain hunter. And with money raised supporting local hospital and healthcare facilities, at least there's one clear excuse for that 'bound to come in handy' item you end up buying.

Before charity shops caught onto the fact that they were sitting on a goldmine of retro treasure,…read moreand hiked up their prices, you could get any number of things for less than 50p. Friends however, still maintains this old school ethos or maybe no-one told them about inflation. Either way, have fun rifling through the rails as bric-a-brac drips from the cluttered walls. There is so much packed into a small space that it takes a surprisingly long time to get around it all. Best of all is that they have already concocted different fancy dress outfits from the random jumble, genius.

This amazing flea market sells everything from jewelery to chez longs. A fantastic stop of for…read moregifts, as there's really cheap artwork as well vintage furniture, vinyls and everything in between. This would suit most shoppers as it has proper antiques for collectors along side kitch items to Brighton-up your living space. Situated on Upper St James Street the market is less than a minutes walk to the seafront, Kemptown village and the hubbub of St James Street. It often has interesting window displays, for example a homage to a legendary Brighton drag queen featuring one of her dresses. Coming up to its 20th anniversary the Brighton Flea Market is a must see for any bargain hunters and Brighton bohos.

I used to quite like Brighton Flea Market. Housed in a colourful building in Kemp Town, I was drawn…read morein by the flamboyent paint, the eye-catching window displays and the treasure chest of antique furniture and bric a brac. The last few times I've visited however, I've left empty handed and disappointed. A lot of the stock that was there a few years back is still there and you can pick up similar glassware, silverware and mirrors for cheaper prices elsewhere. If you're looking for a retro oil painting or 1950s to 1990s paraphanelia, it's probably worth popping in. My personal love affair with the place however, has probably ended.

They closed WAY earlier than closing time and my sister just gave birth and we asked them to hold a…read moreblanket for my sister that they said to get today!! TERRIBLE SERVICE!!!!

This is a great shop to pick up some quirky gifts or pieces for your home…read more I'm obsessed with their animal plant pot range that starts at only £7.99. Go check it out!

Huge store, great for denim and workwear. Lots of unusual stuff. Decent prices. Easily my favourite…read morevintage shop.

The genie must have listened to one of my wishes because Beyond Retro have finally opened a store…read morein Brighton! It's not just a tiny two up, two down on Sydney Street either, it's a huge, L-shaped building on Vine Street. Today being Halloween, I walked in to find the foyer piled high with amazing fancy dress costumes, wigs and masks. It was walking around the corner and seeing the racks of retro skirts, shirts, blouses, jumpers, jackets, coats and yup - cowboy boots - that made my heart truly skip a beat though. There was no boots in my size but the good news is, they are open 7 days a week and get new stock in every single day. Hallelujah. The staff are lovely too and whilst I was there they played 'Jolene' AND 'I Want Candy.' Oh and the stock is reasonably priced too, guaranteeing I'll go back in about, erm, 24 hours!

This chain retain store for men's, womens fashion and accessories are found in Europe and U.K…read more Prices are very reasonable. I often shop there and it's busy with shoppers.

I completely forgot how good Primeywimey is! So glad I decided to take a punt on it today because…read moreit has saved me a fortune! I'm usually really weary of Primani, with its hordes of prams, queues and the disarray of jumbled up clothes, but to be fair I was missing out through being lazy (surprise surprise). Today I went in with an open mind and low budget an am thrilled with my findings. I've basically walked out with a new lovely autumn wardrobe, a new (very warm) coat for cb that looks expensive but was actually only 10 squid! And as I was feeling silly and cold, three ridiculous (but snugly) all in one suits. A tiger for G, a strawberry for me and a monkey for Chas. All for under £80. Winners! I also find this the best place for jarmies, tights and socks and things. They also do some nice bags here for pennies.

Fantastic web site, excellent online service. Great shop. Looking forward to visiting the physical…read morelocation some day. I have indeed placed an order here and found the customer service and ordering experience to be top notch. Excellent service. Support your local record store!

Every city needs a great independent record shop. London has…read moreRough Trade Records, Soul Jazz and Sister Ray. Manchester has Piccadilly Records. Liverpool has Probe. And Brighton has Resident. Situated at the heart of the North Laines, Resident is a complete joy to visit. The record selection is small but perfectly formed and there's aisles of great CDs to flick through. The choice of music is also extensive as they stock everything from rock, pop, dance, hip hop and electro to funk, soul, jazz, bluegrass, country, americana and afro-beat. The staff are knowledgable, approachable and passionate and there's handy sections like New Releases and Resident Recommend as well as an on-going £5 section that includes recent and classic albums. I love this shop so much I would happily work there!

Brighton's Imperial Arcade is a mini shopping mall in the centre, situated along Western Road and…read morethe side of the large Three store. It isn't too small and is more of a passageway, which is why I was surprised to see it on Yelp, yet happy to offer my feedback in the form of a review. Many of the stores located here such as O2 and Starbucks only have their back entrances here of which are all blocked off, meaning you have to go onto the main road to get into the stores anyway. Pretty old-fashioned with some nice infrastructure which is hard to find in the retail area of Brighton, away from the Pier so that warrants an extra star. 2*

This is a pretty little arcade with an arched glass ceiling and dangling Victorian streetlamp style…read morelights. You will be able to get fed in here, get a haircut and even play a Wargame at Wargames Heaven. This is also home to Alliance and Leicester and 02 plus Cafe Nero (which I used to go to smoke and drink coffee pre-smoking ban). A pleasant little walkway.

Snoopers Paradise is a must-visit for anyone coming to Brighton. Cluttered and bizarre, the shop…read morehas absolutely no apparent order, with bits and bobs scattered and hidden throughout stretching rooms full to the brim of treasures and, well, crap! There's literally something here for everyone - old furniture, jewellery, boxes of tatty old photographs, vintage clothing. Whatever it is you're looking for, Snooper's Paradise is likely to have it in some form or another. It's also likely to stock everything you're not looking for, which is why I especially love taking a stroll around here. First of all, let me state clearly - if you are not a browser, don't even come inside here. You will hate it. If you get stressed out by sales or TK Maxx, then back away slowly from Snooper's Paradise. It is, sadly, not for you. However if, like me, you love a good hoke around - you'll love this place! Many an afternoon can be spent wandering, trying on ridiculous hats, flicking through old books, pining after beautiful bits of furniture that you can't afford and that wouldn't fit in your flat anyway. It's that sort of place - you can get lost in there for hours, caught up in the wonder of it all! In terms of prices, this is obviously a very mixed bag. Some things are expensive, some things are a penny. Such is the way with big shops like this! That being said, there's always a bargain to be found in here somewhere! The staff are helpful and friendly! It always amazes me how they can find and price things in there without getting utterly frazzled by the sheer volume and randomness of the stock. Get down there and have a good rummage - you'll either love it or you'll hate it!

Snoopers Paradise seems to bring out the inner bargain hunter in everyone that steps through the…read moredoor. You walk in empty handed and somehow end up leaving half an hour later with a tin robot, a 1960s chair, an antique mirror or a pair of models legs! Situated halfway down Brighton's fantastic Kensington Gardens, its a sprawling, antique market that has dozens of different stalls offering everything from the brilliant to the bizarre. There are some cool furniture and homeware stalls, handy book and record stalls and a few inspired clothes stall selling great vintage clothes. There's also a lot of very odd bric a brac that I imagine will still be there in 2020!