The Broadway Bradford opened in 2015, taking up the "hole in the ground" which has become an…read moreeyesore in the city centre. It was built and managed by Westfield for the first year, but has since changed ownership. The mall has a food court featuring KFC and Subway, right outside the mall there are a couple of sit-down restaurants including Pizza Express and Zizzi. For coffee, you have Costa and Dunkin Donuts. The mall is pretty clean, pleasant and easy to follow, however, I find the Food Court to smell rather unpleasant due to a vast contradiction in the foods on offer. There is comfortable seating at either end of the mall, for shoppers to sit back and "recharge" with USB charging. 3* - A good shopping centre for a small city like Bradford, obviously the quality/quantity of shops is much better in Leeds (20-minute train journey away), but The Broadway isn't a bad alternative. TIP: Avoid using the Car Park, they only support contactless payment and you must pay at the machine as you exit, I found it difficult to use Apple Pay or Contactless Card and it took me around 5 minutes to get through the barrier, there are much easier (and cheaper) places to park around the city centre.

Debenhams is one of the main anchor stores in the Broadway Mall in Bradford, at the opposite side…read moreto Marks and Spencer. Debenhams is a large chain of department stores in the UK, and they tend to have lots of large stores and be a regular anchor at a large amount of malls, even closer to home, being a Mancunian I'd also like to add how Debenhams also anchor at the Trafford Centre, one of the biggest malls in the United Kingdom. I mainly came in this store to have a look at the fragrances and small gifts with Christmas approaching and being exactly three weeks from the day of my visit, also the day I'm writing this review. The staff didn't seem too friendly, the person who served me originally seemed like I bothered him and went to get someone else, he seemed helpful but he was eager to just leave me to it, rather than give me advice. He just said here's your paper, here's your pen goodbye! I did see a nice range of some aftershaves including Hugo Boss, but the selection was much poorer than other stores nearby including The Fragrance Shop in some ways and Boots. I was also annoyed not to be given any samples and just given cards (or myself) to spray it on and test it. Most of the prices seemed a little high too, and there wasn't many offers for example the Chanel No5 Perfume, which my friend was looking at was around £20 - £25 more expensive than The Perfume Shop, which was running a 15% offer on the same day. Sadly there isn't much else to say, this is a decent store and worth a look in but sadly it isn't much more than that and doesn't deserve over two stars with the range and pricing of certain items and customer service being a key reason for the lower rating than which I would have liked.

Swish, Damn Swish - no, not a famous line from a swashbuckling James Bond rip off, this arcade is…read moreincredible. A whole Victorian street in the shopping heart of Leeds enclosed by a wonderfully modern glass covering. OK, so the shops are all designer, the ones everyone loves to look in, sometimes go in to have a look at just how much some people are prepared to pay for t-shirt....but boy the designers have designed a perfect place for designers to come sell their designer bits 'n bobs. little bubbling fountains, coffee and bagel huts for that quick pit stop and belly filler. I sat in here for about an hour, just sipping my cheap filter coffee and commoner's bacon and egg bagel getting a good view of how the other half live. I didn't mind, I was content, in such a place I find it hard to believe anyone could feel otherwise.

The Victoria Quarter is the Leeds hotspot for chic shopping. I'm sure it would object to being…read moredescribed as such but that's tough, cos it's be that's writing it so ner. In all seriousness, The Victoria Quarter is the opulent home to some of the more high end brands of the Leeds shopping arena, and with it comes certain prestige in being housed here. The little independent stores like the French Revolution and Rose & Co gain a little kudos in being located here, as that is the effect the Victoria Quarter has on a business here. It is really rather easy to get lost in the annals of the walkways, be it through gawping at all the lovely shopping enticements, or be it from the identical high vaulted ceilings and archways criss crossing across one another, identical fountains, and sympathetic shop signage so that it doesn't interfer with the original features and feel of the Victorian decor. Depending on which entrance you take you will find fountains tinkling delicately, or small tables with coffee service, or even a small but assuredly delicious pattisserie. Benches are also dotted around and if you take the time to perch, and knock your head back you'll see the bizarre yet beautiful glass decoration. A worthy attraction all on it's own.

Kirkgate Shopping Centre has become something of a dead duck in Bradford city centre, ever since…read moreThe Broadway opened, it seemed more and more shops have relocated from here to the new mall (and who could blame them), sadly that means walking around Kirkgate Shopping Centre now is depressing, a run-down mall with empty units left, right and centre, and virtually no atmosphere. I'm not surprised to hear talks about this place being demolished. I got into the shopping centre from the escalators, opposite McDonald's, the first thing you could see is the giant Primark and pretty much nothing else. Not much going on inside - lack of mall staff/guides for shops that still exist here. A small number of units remain, including Primark and Sports Direct, both useful and many smaller/discount stores. 2* - Not worth going out of your way to visit, unless you specifically need one of the stores, certainly would be better to move the existing stores into the newer mall and use this space for something else.

I had a bad experience here yesterday. First, my shoelace came undone and it was too busy for me to…read morestop anywhere and do it up so I had to walk dead stupid because my right shoe was falling off. I don't normally wear shoes I have to lace up, which was probably the issue really, cos I'd just bought some converse hi-tops and wanted to wear them in a bit and had forgotten that double knots are the way forward. Anyhoo. Then I needed to pee. And finding the toilets was such a saga, with signs telling me to go upstairs (which I did), then to follow the concourse all the way round (which I did), and then queue up at the parking machines (which I did), and then get in a lift. At this point I got so confused and didn't believe that I had to come up an escalator and then get in a lift and so I ended up finding new toilets in the Kirkgate Market bit, which weren't very nice because they smelled of poop. I don't remember much else about Kirkgate Shopping Centre other than that it has an Argos and a Primark in it.

I love this place and go out of my way to go there. An…read moreAlladdins cave of treasures from shoes to fabrics..kitchen ware to religious icons..suits to saris.Balti trays and cooking utensils are very reasonably priced compared to any cook shop. This store is massive! It packs a lot of stuff all under one roof! Lovely sari fabrics from around £15.99. I often buy the plain white silk ones for £15 and cut into smaller pieces and dye for other things.Ornate saris make wonderful furnishing fabrics too. A great selection of haberdashery..lovely ribbons and trims. A bargain bin with short pieces of amazing fabrics at about 8 pieces a £1. Some stunning jewellery as well and indian cosmetics and hennabindis, henna tattoos and I also stock up on incense. The huge emporium is a gleaming bazaar with rolls of silks in every possible shade. Racks of spangled shoes and sandals seem to come straight from Bollywood. Yet there are also racks of little girls' organdie dresses like those worn by Shirley Temple in the 1930s. Indeed, something about Bombay Stores is very comforting for English people: it is as if time has stood still. For the Asian community is a taste of home. There is order and calm, no pressure selling and plenty of space to wander from the boutique, selling Bollywood pop hits and videos, to the cafe, en route to the fabrics, suits and shoes. I always keep carrying armfuls of stuff to the checkout but now they have also devised a new idea. In fact there's so much that the only way to shop for larger goods is to browse the store and pick up tickets for each item that you want to purchase, and when you're done you go to the checkout, give in your tickets and all your items will be ready to pay for and collect. I bought a huge, thick fleecy throw for about £20 and everyone wants to steal itit is so soft and luxurious! The brains behind Bombay Stores is 68-year-old Abdul Kader, who came to Britain in 1957. He knew nobody, and started with nothing, but there were jobs. He worked on the London buses and in the Bradford mills. By 1963 he had bought his first business, a former fish and chip shop. His capital was only £100 and his wife, Maryam, worked long hours in the shop making dresses while he drove buses on a double shift to pay for the enterprise. He expanded to the present premises in Shearbridge Road in 1983. Today, annual turnover is £10m and he employs 70 workers. Very efficient and helpful service. They have a cafe for wonderful samosas, coffee and good western style kids meals too. Bombay Stores in Bradford not only sells fabrics that attract customers from all over the world, it also brings together a multicultural community. It is the UK's largest Asian department store. They have a web site with a small online catalogue and various department goods. Opening times: Mon to Fri 10:00am till 07:30pm Sat 10:00am till 08:00pm Sun 12:00pm till 06:00pm

A great place to find interesting and colourful fabric/trims, Bombay stores has stacks of the…read morestuff. The wide range offers everything from simple plain white cotton to the most heavily embellished and luxurious satins perfect for wedding dresses. They have a dedicated bridal section and I believe they do custom made wedding dresses these do not come cheap but you get what you pay for. The extensive trims section offers glittering diamantes and a fantastic selection of buttons. They really do have everything you need at Bombay stores. The only thing that does start to get irritating after a while is the music as Bollywood tunes really aren't my thing but it's an INdian store so it fits well with the shop.

Valley Road, Bradford…read more BD1 4AG 01274 732797 This is a bit out of the way on the second part of forster square but well worth a visit. The store is quite big and open and very clean and well stocked. They sell clothes for adults and kids and have a wide selection of up to date fashionable clothes at good prices. They also stock a good selection of footwear/underwear/nightwear and accessories. They also do gifts which is quite a good selection and not over priced either. The staff while being very busy were nice and friendly and happy to help me locate some slippers for my nephew. well worth a visit.

I love peacocks. 20% student discount, good sales and affordable prices. It is always up on the…read morelatest fashions too.

33 North Parade Bradford…read moreBD1 3JH Tel: 01274 732247 This store is based at the top end of town just near to one of the main markets so it is in a good position. I like this store as it has everything all in one place - i think there is 3 floors, each accessible by the old fashioned lift which gives you muscles every time you use it - it is so hard to open and close the doors so im not sure how most people who shop there manage. On the bottom floor there are pet supplies and the odd ornaments and luggage. They also have a part called the bargain basement where they sell off odd bits of old stock like a jumblesale type of sale - ive never found a bargain yet. On the first floor as you go in there are sweets and other goodies galore and toiletries,etcthey do a good range of makeup which is very cheap even though they are the top brands. There is also school uniforms on this floor which are a lot cheaper than other places, but good quality. There is also a wide selection of toys and games, books, dvds, stationary, etc on this floor with many bargains to be had. The space is limitless and you also have brick a brack, decorating and d.i.y supplies, etc on this floor While im not sure which is on which floor there is also a good stock of nightwear, underwear, shoes and clothes. They do baby stuff too and a very good selection of craft supplies. Their bedding and curtains are also a good range and price. As i said they have everything you could need at a good price.

A store of many floors. In truth it's probably only three or four but each small department seems…read moreto be up or down stairs. I'm pretty sure that at least one is between offical floors. The lift is probably an original feature and is therefore difficult for the elderly and the disabled. It's of the type where you close the doors yourself - mind your fingers - and that also means that if someone forgets, the lift is out of service, but that doesn't happen often. It would be hard to list in order all the floors and what they contain but Boyes does have mini departments with the following ranges; toiletries, toys and stationery, school uniforms, womens clothes, kids clothes, mens clothes, hardware and a very nice craft department. There is also a small but very nice cafe at the top of the store, very quiet, I don't think most people realise it is there.

What a house of wonder! Chase really isn't kidding when he says it sells everything, it really does…read moresell pretty much everything you might need for your home. From cleaning products, kitchen items, DIY bits and bobs, cheap snacks, cards and so much more - they've got it covered. If you're a keen shopper/browser it's a veritable treasure chest to explore. My particular favourite is the upstairs section. Here's where the items get slightly less bargainous and become a little higher end... They've beds, lamps and all other kinds of home furnishings in a range of styles. Faux-antique right through to the more modern sleek look. I bought an awesome 'telephone box' lamp for my room at home, which is so kitsch and delightful and only set me back £15. (I can imagine it costing a ton more in a vintage shop!) My Mum was particularly overjoyed with a red painted vase that she picked up as well, of which they had many different shades! So, there's plenty to get excited about, and not too pricey as well. However, all that glitters is not gold. I did come away having purchased a few oil reed scent dispensers (the pots of oils with the wooden reeds) and they simply don't work at all. They were only a pound each, but I can see why they were so cheap as they give off no scent at all! Even so, I'm pleased as punch with my lamp so that more than makes up for it!

I was first introduced to QLM by my new wife (I change them quite often, not really if you're…read morereading this love) just after we set up home together. It was the first time I'd been in a shop which I cannot categorize by what it sells, IT SELLS EVERYTHING !! From bleach to crisps, rugs to xbox games, they have almost everything under one roof. The only thing I can say lets it down is a lack of electrical goods like TV's but if you're looking for a pack of brass tacks and a birthday card for auntie Mabel this is a good place to start........ and if you're feeling tired you can nip upstairs and pretend you're testing a bed out :)

I'd never heard of Dunnes before and so I didn't really know what to expect as I perambulated…read morethrough their large front doors. The first thing to catch my eye was the amazingly cheap bed linen on offer. They were selling some really quite duvet covers for next to nothing! I checked the feel of the fabric on the display cover and it was lovely and soft too so I was really quite impressed. On further investigation of the store I came to realise that Dunnes is something of a 'do-it-all' kind of shop - they had clothes, shoes, accessories, decorative items, house items and more on show in this really quite large shop. It's a little bit of a mix between Wilkos and Primark I guess, with the fashion and homeware items all rolled into one building. Whilst I was loving the cheap prices, I purchased myself a delightfully cheap sewing kit for £3 with a great deal inside, the quality is certainly not of the highest standard. For example, the safety pins inside bend very easily and the unpicker is pretty much good for nothing but accidentally stabbing myself. Unpick it does not. Jab me in the thumb as I try it most certainly does. As well as that the clothes on display, in spite of the temptingly cheap prices, were simply not nice enough to buy. Primark at least is bang on trend, even if their items will only last as long as their latest range - 3 months if you are lucky! I think I'd definitely browse again, certainly for some cheap bits when I move house, but it won't be the first place I think to come. The service I received was reasonably friendly but quite lack lustre. That being said, in a shop like this I'd rather not have someone going for the hard sell as they simply wouldn't get it. It's a fair old browse but not necessarily worth a special visit.

Dunnes is the Irish equivalent of M&S, to all intents and purposes. It's perhaps not quite as good…read morequality, but it's really handy as I live within a couple of minutes' walk from here. There's a particular clothing line they stock, Savida, which is pricier than the ordinary 'Dunnes' stuff, but is really good quality. They sell a lot of nice business dress and jackets. There's also a trendier, funkier line on offer, of which I own a few t-shirts and pairs of jeans, and I can't for the life of me remember what it's called - I'll have to check and update. The underwear is good enough quality and cheap too - got a few bras from here that have lasted and still look nice, and their homeware section is pretty much the same as Primark's but it's a bit more expensive. As it's next door to Morrison's, I find myself drawn in for a mooch about every time I do a big food shop, much to my detriment, as I always end up buying something Worth a trip.