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.

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.

Marks and Spencer at Stanney Woods Avenue is the largest Marks and Spencer location outside of…read moreLondon, a short drive (under a mile away) from Cheshire Oaks Retail Park. Opened in August 2012 and being just under 10 years old, it still feels like one of the newest Marks and Spencer stores. From the outside, the store looks really good, the design is unique and impressive and the store does look huge. I like the 300 square meter green wall and the greenery, which really does make the store stand out. As you'd expect from an out of town superstore with limited public transportation access, there is plenty of parking right outside the store. The store is over two levels, there is Women's Fashion and the Food Hall on the ground level, while upstairs you have the Cafe and Men's Fashion. Lavatories are available on both floors. One of my biggest hates about this store is the wasted potential - from the outside, there is a sign stating their eco-credentials, but they could be doing so much more. For example, why hasn't this store been selected to trial and use the Fill Your Own initiative? This offers to be able to pick your own eggs and use a reusable box, while also grinding your own coffee beans, selecting your own carbs (pasta and rice), and eliminating the need for packaging. I understand this is in place at their Manchester Market Street store, and others, but it just feels strange it wouldn't be in place at this one. This store does offer Marks and Spencer's mobile scanning and payment system, they are advertising this in the store. You are also able to use a handheld scanner if you do not have a mobile device, however, the stand didn't have any devices - perhaps an issue with technology as the store did not seem very busy? I wasn't able to find the items I was looking for in both the clothing and food sections, I did find the gluten-free section to be a little poor here, especially for the size of the store. The selection was good, however. 4* - This store is nice and has so much potential, I would certainly visit this particular Marks and Spencer branch again if I'm in the area.

This store closed down in the Spring of 2022 (I've reported this to Yelp but I don't think they…read moreupdate listings for place in North Wales any more?). A new M&S store has since been opened on the Parc Llandudno Retail Park.

There are two Marks and Spencer in Llandudno situated just a few feet from each other. One is food,…read morewith Ladieswear upstairs and the other is Menswear and Children. the extensive food department here in Marks and Spencers means you can always find the latest foods on offer, the shelves are never empty. The staff are always very helpful and polite. They also do a food ordering and pick up in store service

This was once Beatties, the tradtional department store in the heart of Birkenhead; to be fair,…read moreother than the name, not very much has changed: the place looks a little more modern, there are a few new departments under the same roof and the prices are about the same. I think most people know what to expect with House of Fraser: posh shops, most selling clothes, others furniture, electricals, gifts, homeware, beauty. I always come here for my make up as they have an Elizabeth Arden counter which is usually cheaper than Boots. I think the cafe is lovely. I used to visit with my nan when it was still called Beatties and we loved it. It's still as good, if not better: the furniture is more comfortable for a start and the place seems a lot brighter. There is a nice atmosphere in here, the cafe is spotless and very appealing, actually one of few available in Birkenhead offering such surroundings. The menu is quite extensive and offers great hot and cold food, all very fresh. It's a touch expensive but I'd pay it to avoid BB's or the alternative Sayers!

Outstanding service from the staff at House of Fraser, Birkenhead. In particular I want to praise…read moreRabina and the rest of the team at Phase Eight who worked tirelessly to help me find a particular dress I wanted for my son's wedding. The shop has a lovely calm and friendly atmosphere. Pat

I am quite simply a fan of TJ Hughes, always have been and always will be because its your store in…read moreone apart from selling food. They might fall short of selling food but they do have a basic cafe/restaurant where you can have a hearty lunch for cheap prices. Its the nature of their departments that makes them so popular with people of all ages. I can't think of anything they don't sell, especially when it comes to domestic requirements. Their crockery ranges from low to high standards similarly with their electronic appliances so whatever you are seeking, there should be an item that wins you over 9 out of 10 times. Not to mention, the same goes with shoes; the place is packed with them! And clothes too, the list is endless. If you're looking to treat yourself or find a gift, then TJ's is probably your first port of call.

To me this is the archetypal nan shop. My nan doesn't go much further than the bottom of her…read morestreet for her weekly shop these days but when she does venture into the city centre it will be to hunt out a bargain at TJ's. These bargains usually end up as my birthday or christmas presents. Like the much lamented Lewis' which has closed down on Renshaw Street, TJ's is a landmark store within the city. It is a much more modest department store than Lewis' was and can be seen as more of a front runner to the now universal pound shops. The key to TJ's is the bargains. It covers all sorts of quality products and ranges - although nothing exclusive or top of the range - and at the cheapest possible prices.

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.

This is a cheap little women's clothing stall in the market, and I'm not really able to come up…read morewith that much else to say about it because it's namely: 1. Cheap and 2. Boring Sorry to say that, but it's true, and the general reason why I almost never buy clothes in market shops.