Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To still miss Debenhams?

103 replies

ssd · 15/03/2023 10:48

I know its been shut ages but i still miss a wander round it. And i loved wallis, and a few others which are only online now.
Its not the same shopping online.
I used to go myself and have a good wander. It was comforting and familiar. I'd buy things too.
I miss it.

OP posts:
Albiboba · 15/03/2023 10:50

YABU. It was so depressing.

Flippinghecklike · 15/03/2023 10:52

No i am with you. Even further back used to go to bhs on oxford st with my grandma and get sausage and chips in the cafe. Oxford st and all the shopping centres seem so bleak now. I miss it too.

smellyflowers · 15/03/2023 10:52

I miss their beauty hall

MissHavishamsMouldyOldCake · 15/03/2023 10:54

YANBU to miss your Debenhams.

The Debenhams in Glasgow though was a depressing place though. Pokey and corridor like.

thenightsky · 15/03/2023 10:55

I miss it too. I miss BHS even more, with their lovely range of swimwear that came in longer body lengths, with matching beach dresses or sarongs.

1fluffydoodle · 15/03/2023 10:55

Me too, being able to wander around trying on things and being able to mix a variety of brands. Not having to order online and return items. The various make up counters , helpful staff and everything being in one place. I hate online shopping, it's so tedious in comparison.

LightDrizzle · 15/03/2023 10:56

I agree. It wasn't Selfridges or even John Lewis, but it was in a lot of cities and towns that don't have access to those and it offered a decent homeware department, particularly tableware; and affordable clothes and lingerie that included good mid-price brands. It has left a hole in a lot of towns.

Thedogscollar · 15/03/2023 10:58

@ssd
I completely agree. It was great to wander about. Loved their bedding and towels. Like you, loved Wallis always found something to buy. I'm 60 yrs old so I'm not into shopping online. I prefer to try on, feel the material and see how it looks on my body.
Our High Street is so empty now we have literally 3 shops in our town imo worth a visit. It's so sad. YADNBU.

Talipesmum · 15/03/2023 11:00

Me too. Our one was really nice up till the last couple of years, when it started getting eaten away and patchily bleak. But for years it was great, as were the others I’d been to. Miss a lot of good shops all in together - I have to go and schlep around a town 30 mins away to get the range now. My DH misses manteray, and I miss the swimwear, j for jasper conran soft pjs, browsing the home wear stuff, sifting through oasis / Wallis / principles / phase 8 / jeans selection / careful sift through manteray / all the other brands. So handy.

Ourladycheesusedatum · 15/03/2023 11:01

I so much agree, I wasnt even a regular shopper there, but I miss it being an option. Along with every other shop that's gone online only.
Currently trying to replace bras that I bought from debenham before it shut, but the idea of ordering online and sending back or just giving them to charity shop fills me with dread. Plus the cost. And aside from I boycott m and s the last time I went there their bras were shit and sizing was even worse.

Sagittariusrising · 15/03/2023 11:05

I really miss it too. It was the only department store in my town and there homeware was fabulous at one time. I kitted out my home in the 90s/2000s from there and still have loads of bits.

I work near the Oxford St store and used to love going in for a wander at lunchtime. Gutted to see it all being torn down now, especially with HoF gone too. Lunchtime isn't as much fun now!

JuliesBicycle · 15/03/2023 11:08

Me too.
But I also still miss C and A.

ShesThunderstorms · 15/03/2023 11:08

Me too! It was the only place in my city that sold MAC makeup and I miss their lipsticks.

Laiste · 15/03/2023 11:09

Totally agree.
Every time we go near the town centre and see the Debs all boarded up i feel a pang!

I miss it for the mooch, i miss it for xmas shopping, i miss it for being the only place within a 40 drive of where i live where you try out posh brands of make up. I miss having a collection of stuff under one roof. You could go in for kids socks and a bra and come out with those plus a lovely handbag and some bedding as well.

Beebumble2 · 15/03/2023 11:11

I’m another one who misses Debenhams, especially at Christmas, you could do most of your present shopping there. I used to take teen DS, park him in the cafe with his phone and then swan round the store buying things and taking them to him to look after, continue shopping and getting him to carry them to the car!
I’ve bought a few things on line during lockdown, but they took ages to come and were delivered in separate parcels.

bigbluebus · 15/03/2023 11:12

I miss it - even though I didn't go that often. I don't miss the 'electric ' shock I used to get off the lift at my local one though!

TheKeatingFive · 15/03/2023 11:13

I'm so with you. We had a lovely Debenhams here in Dublin, also in Cork. Loved it for kids clothes and general gifts around Christmas.

I also massively miss Oasis and Warehouse. And mothercare. And Cath Kidston.

But I am the kiss of death for shops. If I like them, they're toast. ☹️

FineThings · 15/03/2023 11:14

I agree. It was a good, mid-price option for various things especially children's clothes. We no longer have Debenhams or M&S or Next in the town centre, all disappeared in the last few years, so when I am looking for clothes for my boys its Primark or H& M, which don't have a great range for 12-15 year old boys, or Superdry or Fenwicks, which are very pricy (and Fenwicks doesn't have anything for them anyway). Nowhere to buy school uniform. Nowhere to buy boys' coats.

BellatrixLestrangesHeatedCurlers · 15/03/2023 11:21

Completely agree. The online version is terrible, filled with polyester clothing. I remember feeling really posh going into our big Debenhams as a little girl and seeing all the fascinators and makeup.

MrsR87 · 15/03/2023 11:22

I miss it! I liked the Red Herring brand and I preferred the beauty counter in my
local one to Boots. I also miss the shoe and bag department.

I also miss BHS. I was having a sort out of some home stuff and came across quite a
few bits from there and it made me nostalgic!

Hbh17 · 15/03/2023 11:28

Goodness, no - they were awful and full of tat. I'm amazed they lasted as long as they did!

PuttingDownRoots · 15/03/2023 11:30

I used to need to go to several black tie events a year. It was one of the best affordable places for long evening dresses.

Deadringer · 15/03/2023 11:36

I miss mooching around Debenhams too. It was a bit tired looking but they had some good brands and I found many a gem there. I had just got a part time job in Wallis after many years at home so I was gutted about that too.

2023forme · 15/03/2023 11:37

@ssd YANBU. I'm just back from Dubai and there were lots of shops in the mall that have closed here including Debenhams and mothercare. I am a weird shape and really need to try clothes on to know if they will fit and look ok. DD who is a lean and leggy size 8 can buy all her stuff online and it fits great but for me, nah. I'm dreading Marks going under as I buy nearly everything there - although their clothes have been shit recently - they really don't get who their target market is - although that is another whole thread!

TrickorTreacle · 15/03/2023 11:37

If we're talking department stores, then yes agreed on Debenhams.

Other (general) stores I miss - Littlewoods, Woolworth's, Our Price, Toys 'r' Us, Disney Store.