I knew I was in trouble from the moment I saw the big sign over the old Waterstones store on Epsom…read moreHigh Street - it said "Lakeland Store opening soon". My Chinese thrift gene generally keeps my spending in check but I have a weakness for cookbooks and kitchen appliances. Visits to Lakeland stores have therefore been dangerous sorties for me and my wallet in the past. Now, they've only gone and opened a store where I work! They carry a range of kitchen and household products. For my American friends, think William Sonoma but with a wider range of goods. They opened for business yesterday and I only had a brief look round. Fortunately not enough time to browse and buy properly. When I feel strong enough to resist, I'll be sure to be back.

Ye Ha! O source of wisdom that is Chinese! Lakeland indeed is a joy to shop in. When I first…read morenotified Lakeland H.Q. about the appreciation of their Epsom opening they sent me some vouchers of free mints, if I spent a £5! Unfortunately I can not enjoy them ,diabetic, but my wife will, with the oven hand muffs , and an item that I can only describe as a mini microwave cooking pot, in durable transparent plastic, which cooks baked beans and other tined items in their emptied form ,do not put the tin inside, unless you want wings or a trident, Long live Lakeland.

Ponden Mill has been one of the stalwarts of Epsom High Street for years if not decades. It's not a…read moreshop you would pop into regularly but it was always comforting to now that if you needed some soft furnishings, you could always rely on Ponden Mill to be there. Therefore, it was with great sadness that i noticed the 'Closing Down Sale' signs on the shop windows today as I drove past. I think the recession is still wielding the axe and it's sad to lose the variety on the high street with another independent shop closing. Might have to look in the sale though.

Had a bad experience in Reading branch where I bought a duck feather pillow which smells really bad…read moreand try to return on the next day and was told it is non/refundable - tried to reach out to the company through website "contact us" and yet nothing Product is faulty and should be returned - should be as simple as that

I did an on line check on this store.Although the Web link shows Croydon Depot, I requested them to…read moreconfirm that Epsom was still Trading. Full marks for immediate reply.

From the owner: Tile and Bathroom productsread more

Hmmm...... what's a keen home chef to do?…read more The chef's blowtorch that one can buy from John Lewis, Robert Dyas, etc are all the same small hand-held unit. Trust me, I've looked Frustratingly, the flame here isn't consistently powerful, especially with the passage of time and refilling the fuel from a butane cannister is slow Watching TV cookery shows made me envious when I saw the TV chefs wielding large and powerful blowtorches. On my recent to The Pass restaurant, I was able to chat to the chefs preparing my meal and they advised me to go to a hardware store and buy a professional blowtorch That's exactly what I did today. Wickes had a great looking professional blowtorch where you just twist off and replace the entire butane cannister when it's empty instead of needing to refill an integrated unit Watch out duck, scallops and creme brulee! Daddy's got a new professional blowtorch!

I have not been there since the revamp, it seemed to be less of an B & Q look and more of an…read moreimproved Homebase feel. I went up to the kitchens and bathroom part upstairs, and was impressed with the reception I received from a nice young lady, whom gave me all the information I required to help me make my decisinon in the new year. That is what I call service!