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.

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.

'Outlet Shopping Village' just outside Fleetwood. Shops include Mountain Warehouse, Thornton's,…read moreCadbury, M & S Outlet, Denby, Antler, Gap, Past Times, Paper Mill and many more. Several of the shops are meant to be discounted and some do seem to have sale prices a lot of the time but I wouldn't really describe it as chock full of bargains by any means. There's a food court which overlooks a pretty marina with its assortment of yachts and boats. A MacDonalds on the outskirts and a Costa Coffee within the village itself add to the eating and drinking possibilities. I'd describe it as a nice place to visit for a morning or afternoon out if you're in the area but you may be disappointed if you travel many miles to shop here as it doesn't compare to serious shopping venues such as the Trafford Centre and in all honesty I don't think it would make any claim to.

I agree with the previous review: it's a really good place to visit but if you're comparing it to…read moreMcArthur Glen or any of the larger outlets you'll be a bit disappointed. It's got the essential M&S and Next Clearance though, so I was happy enough! The play area is a massive bonus for those of us with men and kids: one place to dump them both for a couple of hours of shopping in peace! It's not the best in the world but it is perfectly adequate and if it's somewhere you don't visit often then there would be plenty to keep the kids amused. I liked the fact that at the end there's a sort-of marina, so you can watch the boats (ok, I only did it for about 2 minutes then got bored and went to buy chocolate in Thorntons instead, but I liked the idea of it). Definitely worth a visit if you're having a good old British holiday in Blackpool and want a bit of civilized retail therapy.

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.

The West One is a nice retail park in the Salford/Eccles area, I'm going to share the embarrassing…read moremoment that I actually came here by mistake, through making a left turn which I should have made 150 yards or so later according to my sat nav, I was quite impressed at the retail park as it was quite nice, even having a WHsmith to its-name, which seem to be in every shopping mall, every station, every airport, every town centre but still they seem to shy away from retail parks from some bizarre reasoning. It is located just off Junction 2 of the M602 motorway and is quite close to Trafford Park and Old Trafford and even the Lowry Outlet mall, all around one or two miles away. There are a few big names here such as Home Bargains, WHSMITH, Subway and The Carphone Warehouse, still the retail park is only small compared to others, it still is quite decent, quite satisfactory however nothing more than that, I'm sorry to report. It is also a shame this retail park doesn't seem to be making a name for its-self to make it more of a place to visit, through not having a website, there are numerous fast food chains here, as I recall there is both a Subway and a Mcdonald's, two of the largest fast food chains in the world which seem to always not be far from each other, where you can often find them in the same complex. There is also quite a large "Range" store here but that's about it really. The location of this retail park is interesting, with so much around it so it probably isn't the best place to go and shop but still it is quite nice and I do feel it has done enough to earn at least a high two star rating.

West one is the retail park in Salford. On this retail park there are some fest food restaurants…read moresuch as McDonald's subway. There is plenty of parking. There are still a few units empty.

Hoopers on James Street is the largest department store in Harrogate town centre, it is located…read moreover five floors in a fairly old building. The layout of the store did seem a little strange, which could be down to the building its-self, you have to pass through the Cafe, and then a set of doors after going out of the lift on the Basement, to get into the Menswear section, despite having five floors, each individual floor was not overly large, with the top floor being just "customer services", but the store was a reasonable size overall. I did notice some of the clothing sections to be a little laid out like a jumble sale, they did have some good items at reasonable prices though, so not a wasted trip by any means. The Ground Floor was nicely laid out, and perhaps the most welcoming and premium area of the store, showcasing a range of fragrances and beauty products. The opening hours are pretty draconian, so plan ahead, they are open between 10 am and 5 pm Monday to Saturday and do not open on Sundays. I probably wouldn't return, but a nice addition to the shopping scene in Harrogate's town centre. 3*

Fantastic store, lots of choice and some brilliant makeup counters- New Laura Mercier!!…read more Some great clothing finds- French Connection and Ted Baker are definately worth a look

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?!

Regent Retail Park is a decent no thrills retail park, the retailers here are mainly focused on…read moreessentials, a large Sainsbury's superstore for essentials, and a JD Sports for sportswear, which also includes a gym. Other outlets here include Costa for a coffee, Boots for a chemist/pharmacy, a couple of discount stores, pound shops and a pet store. It is classed as part of Salford, but it is a short walk from the western edge of Manchester city centre, just head straight down Liverpool Road from the Hilton at Beetham Tower. It's fairly easy to follow and find the stores you need here, but for a smaller retail park, this has to be expected. There isn't anything in terms of food options outside the supermarket, but KFC and McDonald's are across the way. It is easy to access as a pedestrian, and for cars, there is a large car park centred around Sainsbury's. 3*

Not exactly a lot I can write about a retail park. It is what it is, a place of convinience with…read morestores you can use for essentials. Although I still avoid one of the stores like the plague, choosing to travel 4 miles to my nearest equivalent, I do use nearly all the other stores several times a week. With Sainsbury's, Boots, Argos, Home Bargains, Sports Direct you pretty much have everything you will ever need in these stores, not to mention the others. So its a good location and a decent selection of stores. My only downside is the layout, featuring two four way roundabouts in quick succession, it can become rather chaotic at times, especially with idiots and the speeds they drive. But all in all its a good place.

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!

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.