The oldest department store in the world? Maybe. But it's not all frumpy rumpy old fuddy…read more I was in town when all the sales were happening. Thus, everything had a good price. At the entrance of this store, there is a beautiful display of bathing things: scented, glittery, soapy things. Beautiful. Further back there are hats and belts. Then a small section of crystal stuff. And other department store areas. Even for the experienced shopper, I was having a tough time telling the department stores apart. I was trying to organize by hierarchy and some left me a bit confused. This was not as trendy as New Look nor as cheap in quality. But it's not M&S. Everything is expensive in the UK. Even going to the toilet comes with a fee.

Ah, Eve and Ranshaw - Louth's traditional old-fashioned department store. I know a lot of people…read morewho rave about this place, but I'm not one of them - it's a decent enough shop, but I think it's too crowded, and tries to sell too many different things in too small a space. They only have small ranges of all the items they offer, which means choice is limited, and a lot of the designers they stock are old-fashioned and unfashionable. On the ground floor you find handbags, men's clothing, women's clothing, kitchenware, china, glass and bedding as well as a fabric/haberdashery department. Typical brands on offer include Portmeirion china and Fiorelli handbags. Upstairs is the lingerie shop, which admittedly has a fantastic range, particularly of shapewear. Eve and Ranshaw is crowded and it's hard to negotiate if you have a buggy or a child with you, but since the staff aren't child-friendly anyway, this isn't really a problem as its just somewhere to avoid if you are shopping with kids. It's a mainstay of the town, so I hope it keeps going, but I think it needs to move with the times - if only slightly - if it's to survive another 100+ years!

Typical department store, but the loss of the alcohol section has lost one of it's unique features…read more The Caffe Nero is very good though, with very pleasant staff.

When doing research at places I know pretty well and do go and spend time at, I thought I have to…read morewrite my review for 'House of Fraser' I can't speak for anyone else about this one, but I really love it, their have been some changes over the years to the store, some good, some not so good, but all in all, it's your typical department store where you can go, you can enjoy looking around, their is a Caffe Nero there that is very good and though out the departments, a wide range of fashion, home, furniture and food..etc.. You name it. The staff are very friendly and pleasant, always on hand to help. I myself am saving up for Xmas (coming to quick) and they have some great ideas for presents too. My advice, save up a bit, put some money aside and go and treat yourself from time to time. At 'House of Fraser' their is something there for everyone!

The East Midlands Designer Outlet formerly known as McArthur Glen is located next to M1 junction…read more28, near to Sutton-in-Ashfield. It's a reasonably-sized shopping centre, which is partly under cover and geared towards stores which offer predominantly discounted goods (though the shops are somewhat more upmarket than Poundstretcher et al). There is plenty of car parking, but public transport options are slightly limited due to the out-of-town location. Facilities are very good and the overall impression is of a well-run centre that is not overwhelming in terms of size. There is a varied mix of stores, with a bias towards clothes and gift shops. Overall, an excellent place to head for if shopping for a birthday or Christmas, though perhaps not quite large enough for a full-on Saturday shopping session!

I really miss this place. A large store on 2 floors…read more Downstairs is what I think may be catalogue returns and overmakes. Very cheap clothing, undies, shoes, crockery and kitchen stuff, gardening equipment, sweeties, CHEAP branded toiletries and cosmetics eg famous name moisturisers normally 20 squid for £3.99, tons of tools and DIY stuff including paint. It is mainly known names..may be end of line. I bought a Wonderbra for £3.99! Upstairs is THe bit for me. They have carpets, flooring, bedding furniture, curtains etc but thecraft supplies are top notch and cheap!!! Big range of cheap and gorgeous fabrics..clothing or household, patterns, wool. Whatever your hobby or craft you will find something here. I saw an overlocker (normally about £350 for £60! I may have to go the 200 miles back soon as I have withdrawal symptoms and cannot find a lot of the stuff online and certainly not as cheap.

Boyes in Freeman street is brilliant,,, the staff are great and it's the place you need to go for…read moreall of the things you can buy elsewhere but at a much higher price. Today I went for some items,,, but today my wife and I actually spent some time looking at what they actually sell. Their store in Freeman street is a gold mine of everything and the experienced staff really know what they do and don't have. We need to keep such companies going,,, because as you all know,, what you see on the internet does not always mean value for money. Please take your time and go and see what they sell,,, because if you don't, they will disappear and then you will be sad. Kevin worrell

The Great Yorkshire Outlet to give it its full name is situated in the old market hall. On first…read moreappearances it doesn't look much but venture inside and there are plenty of fantastic bargains to be had. It's a bit like Boyes stores in that it has a wide variety of household and clothing items often at ridiculously low prices - obviously overstocks, last season, bankrupt stock, slight seconds etc. I tend to go here for tough outdoor clothing. Both of my current 'heavy weather' coats are from here. One (a long waterproof coat with fleece lining) cost me the princely sum of £10 and the other - a rather fantastic wax jacket - cost a massive £15. I also recently got a pair of fully lined thinsulate fingerless gloves/mittens for £4 from there too. I'm just appalled that I live in Grimsby where I would expect to be able to find something and in the last two occasions that I've wanted a heavy duty coat I've had to go to Louth to get it. It's testament to the quality and variety of shops in Louth. Anyway, there are a lot of other clothes for men women and children and other household goods too numerous to mention. The only downside is that there never seems to be many staff on and they seem a bit indifferent in their attitude.

The idea is great in principle - this shop sells end-of-line edible goods and goods that are at, or…read morenearing, their sell-by date. However, the nature of the business means that it's really hit-and-miss as to whether you'll get any bargains or not! I've come out of the shop empty-handed as often as I've come out with bags full of packs of 50p Duchy Originals biscuits (reduced from £4!). The shop also has a good range of things like tin foil, baby wipes, etc but these aren't actually that cheap - they are similar prices to Wilkinsons or even the supermarkets. It's easy to be misled by the cheapness of other things and to think that everything's a bargain. It's also a very poky shop and hard to negotiate with a pushchair or children in tow. That said, the poky feel means that bargains feel more bargainous!

A couple runs Louth's Value for Money from a cramped unit within the Market Hall. The shop offers a…read moremixture of food/drink, household items, toiletries and other miscellaneous items. In general, the prices are no better than can be found elsewhere, even in Louth, and are often more expensive. Remarkably, it is not even unusual to see items far cheaper at other branches of Value for Money; I recently saw exactly the same item at 80p in the Louth branch and 30p in another branch. Louth shoppers are clearly regarded as affluent and gullible. Within the food and drink, there is a mix of items that are in date, together with some that are past their best before date, sometimes by as much as two years! Very occasionally you'll find a bargain (more by accident than design on their part I suspect), and sometimes there's the odd niche product that's difficult to obtain elsewhere, or is a cost effective alternative. The pricing can be very inconsistent and illogical whilst other items have no price shown at all. After all, if the price weren't a consideration, you wouldn't be in the shop! At other times there is only a price shown for bulk buys, not ideal when you only want one or two. You feel reluctant to ask, as they don't give the impression of being very approachable. They don't even bother to routinely provide a receipt. All in all, if you have the time, dedication and patience to wait for the chance to save a few pence every so often, it might be worth a look. If however, you have a life, you're best advised to keep walking.

Oldrids has been in Boston FOREVER. I can remember going to the cafe upstairs with my mum when I…read morewas little and having a ham roll and a glass of milk before spending my birthday money in the AMAZING toy department. Nowadays I'm not so much for the toys, more for the kitchen bit downstairs, which is excellent, and the perfume department. I went in a couple of weeks ago and had a look at some fancy shoes but the two women at the till there looked at me as though I was a bag lady and needed ejecting. I felt very, very uncomfortable. I think it was because I was wearing linen trousers and flip flops and my hair was a bit messy, but whatever it was, it was like that bit in Pretty Woman where the shoplady is mean to the prozzie. Anyway, Oldrids is a well stocked, well laid out department store, which on the whole is deserving of a visit if you're on a shopping trip and need some knickers or tights or makeup or perfume or a griddlepan, and don't mind paying a bit more for it, or if you just want a cup of coffee in a place where you can peek out over the main pedestrian bit and laugh at the chavs, but beware the grumpy staff is all I'll say. Just to clarify, I'm not a prostitute.

Great, spacious department store, with a lot of choice & a fantastic toy department…read more I haven't tried the restaurant, so can't comment on what has been written before! ;-) Very pricey for certain items, but well worth a visit (just make sure you check the price tag carefully before purchasing!)