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 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.

Shopping can be difficult with a baby the best of times, but with the customer orientation of…read morepartner "David" it's ten times worse. Granted, it was extremely close to store closing time - but unfortunately the bodily functions of eight month olds do not align to timetabling notions like "David" must apply to the staff under his care. Simply put he kicked us out with a soiled baby and a smile on his face. Look, I understand that people are just doing their jobs and that closing time is a difficult time. But this level of callous disregard for the needs of a vulnerable human being (a baby) is just appalling. On a different note, there were three ladies there, also being kicked out. We all were people of colour. Make of that what you will.

Although this is a very expensive store, the service is excellent! I was helped by a lovely young…read moreman named Thomas. He was extremely polite, and extremely helpful. He helped me select the perfect christmas gift for my father and he walked me through every selection. He even rang me up right there and i didn't have to go to a till.

Old fashioned shop in the centre of Northwich. On the ground floor is cometics including clarins…read morewhich is where I get my make up from. On the other side is a selection of bags and purses. Most of the store is dedicated to clothes and geared more for the mature lady although there is a small section of Mexx and Espirit. On the top floor is a hairdressers and cafe with toilets. There is also a small Bratts cookshop a few doors down.

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.

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!

I'd like to start by pointing out how strange it was for me to find a branch of House of Fraser in…read moreAltrincham, House of Fraser have never appeared to me to be a brand that put stores in small towns like this one, especially so close to a much larger store on Deansgate in the city centre of Manchester. This store however is okay, but does have a really old fashioned feel to it, it is over around two or three stores and it is really old fashioned, it was the old Rackhams Department store, before being taken over and HOF have seem to followed in the footsteps of many branches by keeping signs from the old building, and the old name as they did in the Manchester branch, which was formerly called Kendall's. I came in this branch for two reasons, the first of which was to check if their was any fragrance samples, the staff members I spoke to were really unhelpful and slightly rude, and told me they had nothing and didn't even offer the use of any testers or try to recommend any best sellers, which was a shame. Especially on the Upper part of the store, it just felt deserted, it really wasn't a nice place to shop. or in general which was a real shame. Unfortunately, my pictures of the decor and feel and looks of the store were no longer on my Iphone, due to an issue with Apple which basically deleted most of my photo's from the day beyond recovery which was a real shame, but overall this store is really poor due to the selection and range of products as well as feel of the store, it feels too old-fashioned and not a nice place to shop and in a way this store is irrelevant with Altrincham being such a small town just around a half hour drive from a much larger branch in Manchester, a much larger city.

Founded in 1888 and now in its 4th generation of family ownership, Tyrer's is dubbed by some as…read more"the Harrods of the North". Quality and service are two good words that sum up what Tyrer's is all about. They provide a range of top class fashions for men and women, together with beauty products and their own restaurant and hairdressing salon. It is a department store that has retained a little bit of tradition. You shouldn't have any problem finding it as it is in the town centre. They have a 'genuine' sale on at the minute, declaring that you could save 70% - it all sounds very good! I am not the best when it comes to sales and tend to have a brief filter through the sale items and then get totally put off and then swiftly move onto the full priced stuff! I am just no good. I need to be sent to sale buying training school!

A quality family owned business that has been here in St Helens for a very long time. There…read morecosmetics dept is great all the best names and free make-overs for men and women. As you would expect the fashion is a bit out there, but the quality is wonderful especially if your shopping for a night out or an occasion, Wedding, party, job interview. You can even get your hair done or have a cake and coffee. One of the best if not the best shop in town. Down side it's not cheap but you always get what you pay for.

Just like its grocery namesake, Branded Bargains furniture offers the very same discounts and…read morereductions except in furniture form. As you can see from my pictures the low price doesn't mean a scrimp on quality, and you can find everything from beds to sofas, chests of drawers to mirrors and a great deal more, including some very snazzy wall prints. I'm a huge fan of this shop, and it's ever so handy for any students or young urban things moving fresh into the area. The staff are really friendly and there's even a fridge where you can buy cold drinks if trudging around the store has taken it out of you. Brilliant stuff!