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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:
ErrolTheDragon · 15/03/2023 16:42

thenightsky · 15/03/2023 13:08

There are some things that are impossible to buy on line.

  1. Perfume.
  2. Bras.
  3. Shoes and boots.

Yes. I've got increasingly difficult feet as I get older.

I miss Debenhams too, it was pretty good for petites even after Anne Brooks went.

Mrsjayy · 15/03/2023 16:45

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.

Debenhams in Glasgow was depressing I hated it. Stirling one was nearest me and that was better I really do miss it.

girlfriend44 · 15/03/2023 16:46

Just the bras I miss

Oblomov23 · 15/03/2023 16:47

God yes. Was the best place for me clothes wise. Plus their free fitters where I got a dress for holy communions, weddings, etc.

Butchyrestingface · 15/03/2023 16:49

I LIKED the Debenhams in Glasgow. Sad

IcedPurple · 15/03/2023 16:52

girlfriend44 · 15/03/2023 16:46

Just the bras I miss

Same.

The only thing I bought regularly in Debanhams was bras. I have a fairly unusual size, but could find lots of bras there at a good price. I thought the rest of their range was uninspiring and overpriced. I'm slightly surprised they lasted as long as they did as they seemed like a dinosaur for years before they finally folded.

KievsOutTheOven · 15/03/2023 16:54

ssd · 15/03/2023 16:18

Pokey, the one on argyle st was enormous

Show quote history

It may have been enormous in size but it still felt pokey. Those horrid escalators to get in! And the lighting was dreadful. It was laid out so poorly and was just generally grim. The ones in shopping centres were better (silverburn, East Kilbride, Livingston)

Teatime55 · 15/03/2023 16:54

When I did go to town it was Debenhams that took up the time to get round it all. If you had time to kill, it was brilliant. Without it there’s nowhere to go. Our HoF was always awful.

GonnaGetGoingReturns · 15/03/2023 17:01

Debenhams when it was good was good but the last few Debenhams I visited when they were open (Wimbledon due to working there) and Bromley and Croydon due to living nearby all went steadily downhill in terms of stock and customer service in the past few years. The Oxford Street one was much better though.

Compare and contrast to eg Elys in Wimbledon or Bentalls in Kingston and they’re both much better and still open.

A friend of mine who’s a size 18-20 loved the Croydon Debenhams as like a pp says, they could try on lots of clothes there and for occasion/workwear this was great for them.

Moonlightdust · 15/03/2023 17:06

Same OP.

IcedPurple · 15/03/2023 17:11

Teatime55 · 15/03/2023 16:54

When I did go to town it was Debenhams that took up the time to get round it all. If you had time to kill, it was brilliant. Without it there’s nowhere to go. Our HoF was always awful.

True. It was a place to go and look around, but increasingly not buy. Just check out the goods and look them up online when you want home, which obviously isn't going to pay their rent.

Debenham's was an 'anchor' tenant in a shopping centre near me, and the place seems empty without it. But big dept stores don't really have a future. They seem like something from another era, which I guess they are.

Snowdropsarelovely · 15/03/2023 17:12

I totally agree, used to love Debenhams and I really miss it

Marvwell · 15/03/2023 17:37

YANBU. I loved the stores and have fond memories of them - I had a beauty card

IcedPurple · 15/03/2023 17:39

Genuine question for the people saying they miss Debanhams.

Did you regularly spend money there in the years before it shut?

ErrolTheDragon · 15/03/2023 17:54

IcedPurple · 15/03/2023 17:39

Genuine question for the people saying they miss Debanhams.

Did you regularly spend money there in the years before it shut?

Pretty regularly. Most of my favourite tops are Mantaray, for instance. DD got quite a bit there before she went to uni too, and it was where we'd both go for bras.

bellac11 · 15/03/2023 17:54

IcedPurple · 15/03/2023 17:39

Genuine question for the people saying they miss Debanhams.

Did you regularly spend money there in the years before it shut?

I wouldnt say regularly for Debenhams

I was in BHS all the time buying something or other.

Marvwell · 15/03/2023 17:56

IcedPurple · 15/03/2023 17:39

Genuine question for the people saying they miss Debanhams.

Did you regularly spend money there in the years before it shut?

Fair question - last time I shopped there was 2016

Marvwell · 15/03/2023 17:58

Totally agree with a poster below - Debenhams was the 'anchor tenant' and I miss it

TwoMonthsOff · 15/03/2023 17:59

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.

YANBU
Our Bournemouth one was nice - I’m still using Jasper Conran towels and the home ware was lovely, they had Dartington Crystal, I loved Principles clothing back in the day as well, so well made.

Fannieannie63 · 15/03/2023 18:01

I really miss Debenhams, I bought some lovely dresses there. I loved Jasper Conran and their other designers. Bring it back I say!

TwoMonthsOff · 15/03/2023 18:02

They had Antoni and Alison as well

manictuesday · 15/03/2023 18:04

I also miss the bras. Specifically the own brand Gorgeous range and the maternity/feeding ones. And swimwear, and formal wear for wedding guest dresses. I even had a bridesmaid dress from there.

And I also liked the HUGE Glasgow store and am a bit puzzled by the description of the poster who didn't. I can maybe see what you mean in that it did take ages to get into and back out of though. Lots of round and round and figuring out if you were on the right floor to exit into St Enoch or had to go down the corner escalators to Argyle st.

RampantIvy · 15/03/2023 18:07

IcedPurple · 15/03/2023 17:39

Genuine question for the people saying they miss Debanhams.

Did you regularly spend money there in the years before it shut?

Yes, and BHS.
I really miss both of those shops.
I don't like online shopping. I prefer to feel clothes, try them on and get the instant gratification of knowing that the item I have just bought fits properly and looks nice.

RampantIvy · 15/03/2023 18:08

And my nearest Debenhams was not pokey.

KievsOutTheOven · 15/03/2023 18:21

manictuesday · 15/03/2023 18:04

I also miss the bras. Specifically the own brand Gorgeous range and the maternity/feeding ones. And swimwear, and formal wear for wedding guest dresses. I even had a bridesmaid dress from there.

And I also liked the HUGE Glasgow store and am a bit puzzled by the description of the poster who didn't. I can maybe see what you mean in that it did take ages to get into and back out of though. Lots of round and round and figuring out if you were on the right floor to exit into St Enoch or had to go down the corner escalators to Argyle st.

I think it’s because most Debenhams stores were in a more open floor plan where you could wander from one department straight into another; whereas it felt fractured because it was so long and then rather than a big square.