The relatively modestly sized M&S in Lewisham is not quite like any other I've ever visited. Sprawling rather narrowly from the DLR side entrance of the shopping centre, out onto the high street, this one floor store manages to incorporate a little of what you fancy from most of M&S' sizeable range. And boy does it do you good.
Focussing on women rather than men, much of the front section is devoted to lingerie and nightwear. And it's pretty comprehensive - despite the relative small size of this M&S, it's hardly half-hearted, and a huge range of sizes is in constant stock. You're unlikely to find much of the more premium ranges, but if your modus operandii for the day is I must find a bra in my size, then you are highly unlikely to fail.
There's a small nod towards shoes and toiletries in the middle section (if you take a size 5, forget it. Go home and order online), and towards the back of the store we have food and womenswear. The food section is often surprisingly sparse, but from the long but swift moving queues (full marks to the till staff, who manage to be chatty and interested - particularly to the elderly - but keep things moving), this could be because the shelves are voraciously denuded by shoppers rather than a lack of stock.
A lot of the wearable smart casual range is shoehorned into the remainder of the store. Nothing particularly fancy, but with what small space there is, the store manager (or whoever takes the decisions on what to stock and how) has played a blinder. read more