Robin Retail Park is a nice complex, it has improved a lot since my last visit and now features…read moremany more stores. Brands located here include JD Sports, Sports Direct, Marks and Spencer Simply Food, Boots, Argos, EE and Next. The location is easily accessed, with a large car park, with buses serving the area nearby. It is also a stone's throw away from the DW Stadium, home to Wigan Athletic FC and Wigan Warriors. A large ASDA supermarket is also nearby. The retail park doesn't have much of an online presence, I couldn't find a list of stores and restaurants located here anywhere, which was pretty frustrating. In terms of eating and drinking, the selection is good for fast food with Subway, Greggs, KFC and Burger King have outlets here, the latter two being drive-thrus. The only coffee shop would be Costa (inside Next), in terms of more of a restaurant, there is a Nando's in the process of being constructed (September 2021), but it isn't much else. 3* - A-OK, there is a good selection of stores here.

I often use the shops at Robin Retail Park in Wigan. I have just received a Parking Charge Notice…read moreas I have been informed that I over stayed the parking time by 13 minutes. I find this absolutely ridiculous as there is just not enough time to use the shops in a relaxed way. I intend to boycott the retail park and protest. I think that the media needs to be informed of this situation. I can certainly understand if people leave their cars parked on the car park for hours and hours. I am most unhappy about this situation. Thank you. Kind regards Gary K Tame

Total Reuse CIC is an all-encompassing social enterprise to do with recycling and resuse. I've…read moremainly been a customer of The Bike Shed, which is one aspect of what they do, with The Tool Shed, The Paint Shed, The Sewing Room etc being other aspects of the enterprise. It looks like they offer a domestic and industrial clearance and decluttering service. The furniture etc from the clearances plus other donated items are then refurbished and upcycled for sale in their warehouse shop. I would think their workforce are combination of paid project leaders plus volunteer clients who need a hand to get back into employment. The warehouse is impressively full of white electrical goods, beds, tables, chairs, sofas, vinyl records, paint and so on. I think you could bag a bargain here, especially in terms of the more basic or less fashionable stuff, but if it is a really cracking old pine table then I think they will price it accordingly and also there are probably a certain class of people (retro interior designers or hobbyists) watching this sort of place like hawks. If you are looking to kit out an unfurnished house on a budget, then Total Reuse should be your first stop. If you like the British Heart Foundation furniture shop in the Connie, then this place is probably right up your street. There is probably more chance of a bargain at Total Reuse, their showroom is much bigger and also they have some unique lines depending on what has recently been donated. For example, Laura Ashley denim paint seems to be there in some quantity at the moment. Plus, with The Sewing Room on site, if you like the chairs but not the upholstery, they will reupholster them with the fabric of your choice. And then there is the whole "upcycling" aspect, which could easily see you walk out with your very own custom-built Heath Robinson machine, if that is your bag! Given the fairly boring retail environment that is the Connie and indeed the shopping centres on all of Skem's estates, I think Total Reuse is a must visit for the intrepid shopper.

This is a lovely teahouse. It's a unique spot as it's traditional farm shop, but it also has a…read moretearoom and country store located in a 16th century barn. The restaurant features freshly made dishes made with homegrown seasonal produce. While visiting our family in Liverpool, we came here as a group for afternoon tea. My mother-in-law and sister-in-law had been here before, so they knew it was great and brought us back, along with my husband's grandparents. Do take note, you have to book your table in advance. We sat in one of the backrooms which was very cozy and inviting, albeit a bit noisy from a rowdy group of "ladies who lunch," but it was fine once they left. We all really appreciated that savory items were included in the the afternoon tea. The menu features a selection of sandwiches, savouries, a cup of soup, a bucket of chips, a selection of cakes and a mini trifle. Plus your choice of a pot of tea or cup of filter coffee. I was happily surprised at the wide variety of teas! There was ample to eat. My husband and I ate our entire afternoon tea, but everyone else in our group had a few sweet treats left to take home. The food was very delicious. I loved the little quiche best along with the soup served in a cute tea cup and saucer! Plus, the little basket of chips was a nice touch! Scrumptious! Also, it's just 14 pounds for Afternoon Tea which I think it a great value for such a delicious savory tea. Afterwards, my family browsed the farm store and boutique which featured a lot of cute country style home goods and seasonal produce and artisanal food items. Do go upstairs to poke around at their merchandise. It's cute. I really enjoyed this afternoon tea and I'd love to return next time we're back to visit my husband's family!

The Twig Shop. Well…read morenot so much a shop, rather a garage. Yes it's just a car garage, It's been going for some years now. Wednesday and Saturday it opens up the top sliding door to reveal a bit of an Aladins Cave of bits and bobs. It's all run as a charity to help people in third world countries. Every penny goes to the help needed. All items it sells are donated by the community and sell for a very small price. It's not the most elegant of little charity shops but it does what it says on the tin and really does help others. I nip in there very often and find those little gems that add something to my life. Very much the old saying Someones rubbish is another persons treasure.

Allwood Furniture is the gateway to Cheetham Hill Road's rows of odd wholesale shops. Go a hundred…read moreyards up the road and you'll be able find stores specifically selling shop mannequins. True fact. The idea of Allwood Furniture is a bit more straightforward. They specialise in selling pine furniture. So whether that's beds, cabinets, dressing tables, chest of drawers or desks, they have it all. In pine wood. Everything is of a good quality, and is more likely to last the test of time than the cheap mdf furniture we all buy from Ikea. Some of the smaller sets of drawers are still for self-assembly at home, but the quality of the wood is what you're paying for here - roughly double the price of Ikea tat. And in Allwood you can have a relaxing browse listening to Radio 2 on the stereo, how delightful.

I bought a few items from this shop recently and was really impressed by the choice of furniture…read morethey had in. It has fairly big choice of any style, highly recommended to visit. Irina /Laserina/

My boyfriend and I happened upon the Heskin Hall Craft Center during our recent UK Road trip. It's…read moremuch larger than it appears from the outside and has many local crafts vendors. You could easily spend a few hours perusing the stalls. We are not really into crafts, but we did enjoy the market side of the building. Unfortunately, we had a big lunch shortly before finding Heskins and we were not ready for another meal. There were loads of food options that looked fantastic. Instead, we grabbed a snack for the road- locally made potato chips and lemonade. The Rose Lemonade was unique and delicious. We enjoyed looking at the chickens and cows!

Earlestown historic market is 700 years old with over 150 stalls - so make sure that you have some…read moretime if you want to properly look around. Located in the centre of Earlestown there are regular train and bus services and its easily accessible from both the A580 and M6. I wasn't spoilt for choice with an enormity of local and fresh produce and products from local traders including: Cakes/confectionary, Fresh Meat and auction, Plants and Flowers, Tools and Hardware, Bedding, Sportswear, Ladies/mens/childrens clothing, Electrical goods, Household products, Bread, Pies, eggs, CD's & books, Furniture, Jewellery and Repairs, Pet food/toys/accessories, Greetings cards, Footwear, Wool, Watches, Protective clothing, bags, Fishmonger, Carpets, Fruit & Veg, phone accessories, cosmetics and more. It was the cakes and fishmongers that did it for me! The prices are pretty good and its nice not to be in a supermarket. The market takes place every Friday throughout the year from 9.00am to 17.00pm.

Earlestown market runs three days of the week and each day its there is absolutely different…read more The Monday and Friday market is the one that sells new items, clothing, shoes, foods, household things etc. Friday is the better day as there seems to be more stalls with more variety. Also on a friday you get all the extra food stalls mainly consisting of fruit and veg, then there is also the big meat trailor where you can definately pick up some good deals - however they don't seem to sell meats in small quantities even so still very good. Monday seems to be half the size of a friday - still worth a look if your local maybe not if you have to travel far - it really is pot luck on a monday. Saturday there is absolutely everything there that nobody would want unless you where looking for something in particular, however, this is the busiest day for the market so be warned - if you have no patience don't go its packed and everybody walks around at snail pace. It really handy to get too as the local train and bus stations are within walking distance.

Grand Arcade is a small shopping centre, serving Wigan town centre, considering it serves a small…read moretown, it isn't too bad, they do have a decent selection of brands including WHSmith, Boots, Superdrug, JD, Wilko and Waterstones. Car Parking isn't free, but being in Wigan town centre there is easy public transport access if coming here via train from Wigan Wallgate, or Wigan North Western, and buses also serve nearby. It's modern and clean and I like how they have a statue dedicated to George Formby, a comedian and singer, known for his ukelele, who was born in Wigan. 3* - Not too bad for a small town, but not worth a trip out for.

When the Wigan arcade opened the shops relocated from the main streets leaving many buildings…read moreempty. Then the relocated to the galleries leaving the Wigan arcade 90% empty. Now they have relocated to the new Grand arcade there are many empty properties available in Wigan town centre