Debenhams is one of the many department stores in such a small area of Leeds city centre on…read moreBriggate which includes the likes of House of Fraser and Harvey Nichols, this is a rather unique branch for Debenhams as it doesn't follow the original branding in all aspects of the store, with it being so close to the old part of Victoria Leeds and many stores from designer brands to department stores and even a Starbucks having a victorian name-sign, this was no different. I like how they had a direct lift from outside the store going out to the cafe, although it looked more like a service entrance - this was one of the easier ways in, saving time too especially if you just wanted a seat with food or a beverage. Pretty much your average Debenhams in terms of offerings, although the toilets could have been in a better position and more clearly labelled, staff again were average. It is over multiple floors, as I recall there are three or four floors with Click and Collect on the top floor, another idea I don't like as I believe Click and Collect should be quick, it feels like this way they're punishing online shoppers by making them go through the store, possibly hoping they buy more. Still a decent store by Debenhams standards in a good, central location, I also like how this store tries to be slightly unique compared to other stores, but still, it remains pretty much average - with some flaws such as the service not matching a traditional British department store, and the location of Click and Collect, and perhaps a lack of a food and technology section especially compared to other department stores nearby. Slightly generous three-star rating as this store is bold, unique and stands out and inside, pretty much average, albeit above average for Debenhams, who tend to have some pretty old and terrible stores across the UK.

So, I was on a seemingly never ending search for a bridesmaid dress. You've probably heard me…read moremoaning about it, and if not before, you have now as you're reading this. Yes, it seemed an impossible endeavour to seek out the perfect vintage style deep purple, slightly plum, bridesmaid dress. That was, until I found the concession within Debenhams, Debut. For starters, all the dresses on this concession were lovely. All in beautiful silks, tailored for the most part from the empire line which is always flattering, and they were in a variety of classic colours. They had deep red, turquoise, deep navy, ivory, forest green and my beloved purple! I immediately rummaged for the sleeveless maxi in my size. To my delight it was there! I took the dress, and a couple of others for good measure, to the fitting rooms and had a try. Fantastically, as I was browsing solo, the staff were incredibly helpful and gave me a ton of advice - including a hand with the zips! I explained the situation regarding my sister's wedding and they advised accordingly, not once pressuring me to purchase, but assuring me that the fit and look were perfect. Happy days! I was able to put the dress by so that I could come back and confirm with a friend later in the week, which I did, and so purchased the most lovely deep purple maxi silk bridesmaid dress you could ever find. Woo hoo! I shall go to the ball. I was really pleased with the service and the price, at £110, was a lot less than I had expected to have to fork out for such a lovely garment. So, if you're on a similar quest, my advice is try Debut. I'm going to glitz mine up with a home-made fascinator and such, so as to make it my own, but for the most part this dress will speak for itself.

Dreadful company. Zero Customer Service…read more They sent me a £150 garden storage box that was so badly damaged it is unusable. I asked for a return - they refused because of their 28 day policy - I told them I don't want a return, I want a refund under the Sale Of Goods Act because the item was faulty. They refused and ended the webchat. There is no phone number to speak to them - the number on Google just rings and rings and no-one answers - rang weekday at 1pm - phone rang solidly for 10 minutes without answer. Do Not Use. They actually deserve minus 5 stars.

House of Fraser is a brand I've visited many times recently, mainly at my local Manchester store…read morelocated on Deansgate, that store basically is everything that this branch in Leeds is not, large and spacious, with the Manchester branch spanning across 6 floors and having more room across those floors for an enjoyable shopping experience, meanwhile this branch just feels rather unwelcoming and cramped. Unlike many branches of House of Fraser (HOF), this store doesn't really have much of an impressive feel to it, which is a shame. The selection of fragrances here seemed good, prices seemed competitive but there didn't seem to be any offers on, I did like how they had all the bottles in one area so you could spray them yourself, without different stands such as one for Armani and one for Hugo Boss, which in a way was okay as it made it easier to view a slightly limited selection of fragrances they had in store, however an issue was the mixing of male and female as there was about two female perfumes in the male fragrance section, luckily I spoke French and was able to read the bottle before disaster struck! The staff here seemed okay, they didn't seem too friendly, they seemed slightly helpful, perhaps average at best, yet slightly impersonal. I really didn't like this store mainly down to it feeling small and cramped compared to other stores, yet still this is a nice brand for a city like Leeds to have, and there is reasoning for this place not to warrant a single one-star rating, so I feel House of Fraser in Leeds deserves a slightly generous two-star rating.

I'd never heard of Dunnes before and so I didn't really know what to expect as I perambulated…read morethrough their large front doors. The first thing to catch my eye was the amazingly cheap bed linen on offer. They were selling some really quite duvet covers for next to nothing! I checked the feel of the fabric on the display cover and it was lovely and soft too so I was really quite impressed. On further investigation of the store I came to realise that Dunnes is something of a 'do-it-all' kind of shop - they had clothes, shoes, accessories, decorative items, house items and more on show in this really quite large shop. It's a little bit of a mix between Wilkos and Primark I guess, with the fashion and homeware items all rolled into one building. Whilst I was loving the cheap prices, I purchased myself a delightfully cheap sewing kit for £3 with a great deal inside, the quality is certainly not of the highest standard. For example, the safety pins inside bend very easily and the unpicker is pretty much good for nothing but accidentally stabbing myself. Unpick it does not. Jab me in the thumb as I try it most certainly does. As well as that the clothes on display, in spite of the temptingly cheap prices, were simply not nice enough to buy. Primark at least is bang on trend, even if their items will only last as long as their latest range - 3 months if you are lucky! I think I'd definitely browse again, certainly for some cheap bits when I move house, but it won't be the first place I think to come. The service I received was reasonably friendly but quite lack lustre. That being said, in a shop like this I'd rather not have someone going for the hard sell as they simply wouldn't get it. It's a fair old browse but not necessarily worth a special visit.

Dunnes is the Irish equivalent of M&S, to all intents and purposes. It's perhaps not quite as good…read morequality, but it's really handy as I live within a couple of minutes' walk from here. There's a particular clothing line they stock, Savida, which is pricier than the ordinary 'Dunnes' stuff, but is really good quality. They sell a lot of nice business dress and jackets. There's also a trendier, funkier line on offer, of which I own a few t-shirts and pairs of jeans, and I can't for the life of me remember what it's called - I'll have to check and update. The underwear is good enough quality and cheap too - got a few bras from here that have lasted and still look nice, and their homeware section is pretty much the same as Primark's but it's a bit more expensive. As it's next door to Morrison's, I find myself drawn in for a mooch about every time I do a big food shop, much to my detriment, as I always end up buying something Worth a trip.

I have to say, although having only been the once, I was instantly a fan of this fabulous shop…read more Along every wall you'll spot home made trinkets, specially crafted delights, and lovingly crafted goodies that appeal to a wide range of tastes. It's a pure treasure trove of locally crafted art work, paintings, crochet, knitting, jewellery, decorative pieces, hand bags, furniture and more. Each section has its own personality, and the shop shines as a haven of talent, made up of the various creative items displayed within. I realise this perhaps speaks to those who enjoy pretty things a little more than those who don't, but I'd whole heartedly recommend anyone wander in and take a good long browes - be it for gift shopping, inspiration, or simply to marvel at what can be created by our local talent. What's more, Fabrication hold regular classes, including sewing lessons, crochet and more. I've intended upon taking a class for some time, but haven't found the time, although I've heard some very good reports from folks I know who've partaken. Essentially, I've wanted to learn how to sew for a while, since it's one of the many talents my mother has that I didn't take advantage of whilst at home, and would love to see if I can continue the trend. I won't make a promise here in writing, but watch this space. I may be a dressmaker yet! The real lesson here? Visit this place now. Visit, get your creativity flowing, and support the local scene!

What great shop. Selling goods from local artists. I bought several cards from the hilarious…read moreRubbish Seaside section as well as a few Leeds Brudenell Social Club cards by Richard Heald. The Brudenell is one of the best music venues I have ever been to. Nice way to commemorate my love of it by framing these cards. Staff were very friendly as well. A must visit each time I am in Leeds.

'Batley Mills' is a great place to visit for a relaxed one stop discounted shopping experience…read more I am pleased to say 'The Mill' in the last couple of years has evolved and improved greatly on their selection of women's clothing and fashion, catering for a wider range of clients than just the over 60s. As well as Planet and Precis Petite, they have expanded their clothing range to include Minuet, Kaliko and Jacques Vert which is great. I have as a result started going to the Mill regularly to keep my work wardrobe up to date. I have really had some good buys. As well as the improved womens clothing, the Mill in Batley is a great place to find handbags, luggage, wallets and purses etc. The discounted brands include Radley and Hideskin The staff seem helpful and friendly and if you are visiting by car there is plentiful free parking (although it can get busy at the weekends). The Cafe Nova coffee shop is located on the 1st floor of the mill and they not only serve delicious teas and italian coffee but their cakes and sandwich selections are also very tempting and a great excuse to have a break. It would be nice if good quality fashionable footwear could be introduced to the mill, similar to the selections found at the Boundary Mill in Colne. I also think emailing offers and information out to customers regularly for shopping events such as an extra 10% off or a free coffee voucher would be a good way of encouraging cutomers to keep visiting. I don't always go to the upper floors of the mill as I find the escalator system a little bit frustating in that you are forced to walk along the length of each floor for the ascent and then the same again on the way down. This zig-zagging may be an attempt to encourage shoppers to walk through each of the floor areas but I am afraid I just find it a nuisance. Other than that I would enthusiastically recommend a visit to The Mill in Batley. Happy Shopping :)

The Mill at Batley is great, there are loads of different shops inside offering designer clothes…read moreand shoes also home ware at good discounted prices. They have several cafe's too. I was there again last week and bought 2 nice suitcases and 3 pairs of shoes all good makes. They have a great selection of Radley and Tula handbags the prices are about half the normal price and I bought my husband a really nice Regatta jacket for £45 instead of £100! If you want a good shopping day out you can spend several hours at the Mill with all the top brands available at half the cost! A mile further along the same road is Red Brick Mill which is fantastic for Home purchases rather than clothes.

A pretty average Marks and Spencer store, located on Briggate and serving Leeds city centre, sadly…read morethis store still has the older style layout, despite being a pretty busy location in a large city, it hasn't received the newly refurbished layout we've seen in other stores such as Meadowhall, Sheffield and Manchester. My main reason for visiting the store was to visit the Food Hall, this is located on the lower level, I do think the layout again could have been made much cleaner and simpler, compared to other Marks and Spencer stores but they did have a good product selection for a store of its' size. The staff members seemed friendly and happy to help, unfortunately, this store does not have car-parking, a cafe or an optician, which again is disappointing as the facilities do lack compared to other large stores in similarly-sized cities. 3*

Marks & Spencer seems to really be trying to push itself to the forefront of fashion and trying to…read moreappeal to a wider audience. You only have to see the TV adverts to realise this. The store on Briggate does stock the usual older fashioned style blouses and knitwear but have now intrduced even more up and coming designs to their Per Una range. This store also has a large cafe and a huge food supermarket downstairs so you can pretty much do your weekly food shop here and pick up some nice bits and pieces. I really don't like the layout of the store and feel that they need to change the decor inside to keep up with the new attidue they have. It looks a little drab. But anyway, it's well stocked and that's the main point!

I love Wilkinsons in Headingley, it is so useful. For a start, I can get all kinds of household…read moregoods - such as shampoo, washing up liquid, washing powder etc - for much cheaper than most supermarkets. Another great thing about Wilkinsons are the garden and homewares sections. I've so often needed something stupid, like a drill bit or some compost, and dreaded having to find my way to B&Q only to remember that not only can I nip down the road to Wilkos, but it will cost me so much less at this shop! Even their ink cartridges are super cheap - for my old printer I can get 2 black and 1 colour cartridge for £5. Yes, that was £5. As well as this, the craft section in the Headingley store is really quite good, for example, they sell ivory card which, for love nor money I couldn't find in the store in town. The other grand thing about the Headingley Wilkos is the staff. On many a flustered panic, with only a few minutes to closing, they have come to my aid and helped me find what I was looking for without a hint of frustration. Wonderful.

Wilkinson has a bit of everything under one roof...DIY, Homeware, Cards, Childrens Toys, Beauty and…read moreCometics, Toiletries.....really...it's just a big bundle of organised chaos. I used to visit here when I was on my fashion design course, it was handy to pick up paints, pencils and even sewing kit accessories. My friend (who is 22) comes here to pick up spray paint for her sketch books regularly but was absolutely humiliated the other week when she was asked for ID for her pritt stick...as she didn't have her ID she was forced to leave the store empty handed. The shame of it. She doesn't look under 16 either...not even under 25 for that matter! Anyway, aside from that unfortunate incident, the shop has always worked well for me. It's cheaper than shopping in a supermarket when it comes to buying toiletries and they stock main brands such as pantene and herbal essences so you know you're still getting the quality.

Irene's manages to cover the exterior of the shop with its wares while still keeping the sign…read morevisible - plenty of other stalls in the market should take note! It sells mainly baby clothes, and some very adorable ones at that (though I am a little biased as I am one of those (probably rather irritating) people who practically squeals in adoration at the mere clatter of a pram so I find anything approximating a baby-grow pretty adorable!) Some of the baby grows are padded to the max with detachable mittens to keep little baba toasty and warm even in our recently snowy climate...I actually rather wish they sold them in my size! They also have other baby grows of standard thickness and some rather more grown-up baby clothes...I actually find it rather creepy when a six month old baby boy wears a nicely ironed checked shirt and jeans and has his 3 hairs gelled in a side parting like a terrifying little man...but these clothes also go up to toddler sizes. There is also a tiny hoodie with the word 'skate' emblazoned across the chest...personally I think trying to make your baby look cool is most certainly not cool! Other clothing includes princess-style dresses for tiny baby dolls ...sorry... 'girls', hmm...also not particularly cool. It would make some sense maybe if she's a baby bridesmaid...I remember my little sister aged 10 months looking decidedly spherical and bored in a pink satin dress and matching headband at my aunt's wedding. Haha! The clothes here are very cheap at 2 or 3 pounds for tops or trousers and £9 for an amazing padded baby grow. Great for parents struggling to cope with the financial burden of a new child, though charity shops also often cater well for little ones.