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Christmas

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Original poster

Does anyone remember BHS Christmas in the 90's?

70 replies

crochetmonkey74 · 27/11/2019 12:04

Was thinking yesterday about when BHS were the first store to really 'do' Christmas and they had all stuff we had never seen before- like the big iced gingerbread hearts and themed 'banks' of colors coordinated decs etc. We used to LOVE it and would get excited when it launched. Does anyone else have fond memories? I can't find any pics online at all

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Pippapotomus · 27/11/2019 14:55

Yes! My mum and nan would do the bulk of their Christmas shopping there then struggle getting it all on the bus. They used to have to promise us a cake from the restaurant upstairs to behave.

I was really sad when the store closed down.

Original poster
crochetmonkey74 · 27/11/2019 15:20

Me too!

It went really poor towards the end but me and my sis could spend an hour or more just browsing in those first few years- then over the road to Woolies for pic and mix- we'd choose our own chocs to fill our miniature Christmas tins instead of buying Roses or Quality St

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DobbyTheHouseElk · 27/11/2019 15:21

Yes, Christmas in BHS was amazing. Apart from the clothing. I rated BHS, the homeware was good, ive still got towels from there.

Original poster
crochetmonkey74 · 27/11/2019 15:24

I miss Woolworths as well so much !!! and proper 1980's/90's WHSmith

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DobbyTheHouseElk · 27/11/2019 15:26

I’m beginning to think I’m an old relic. Loads of my home stuff is BHS or Woolworths.

DC has a old CD Walkman I bought in Woolworths years ago, still going strong.

DobbyTheHouseElk · 27/11/2019 15:27

I lived in a town where the Woolworths was a pilot store. It had the best lines and all at low prices to see if people wanted them. I got so much from there. Sad times when they closed.

Original poster
crochetmonkey74 · 27/11/2019 15:29

I thought their pyjamas and underwear were good and I still have a purse from there that must be 30 years old

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Steamfan · 27/11/2019 15:30

Loved BHS - I have some towels that I got in a sale, and they have been used and used - not a break in them. They're older than my son (he's 32)

Comefromaway · 27/11/2019 15:31

Yes, they used to have all sorts of stuff. I also remember in the 80's locally we had a store called Lewis's (nothing to do with John Lewis) and Santa arriving there and the unveiling of their Christmas windows was huge and very exciting as a youngster.

Toddlerteaplease · 27/11/2019 15:36

@Comefromaway are you from Leicester. Santa climbing up Lewis's tower was the start of Christmas, and so exciting. Their window displays and Santa's grotto were just magical.

Comefromaway · 27/11/2019 15:42

No, not Leicester. Our Lewis's had a spiky man!

RingtheBells · 27/11/2019 15:51

Yes, we always used to take DS(b1992) in BHS to look at all the stuff, always lots of decorations and stuff for Secret Santa.

aHintOfPercy · 27/11/2019 15:55

I miss BHS too! Decades ago one Christmas I bought a musical gadget that you put inside the loo roll and when the loo roll was pulled it played a Christmas tune. Everyone loved it and every Christmas my MIL still asks if I've bought another one. Never seen them anywhere else.

Howmanysleepsnow · 27/11/2019 16:03

I had a Saturday job in BHS in 94. I was normally in Womens clothes, but in the run up to Christmas I was in charge of the Christmas dept at the weekend. I loved it!

MorrisZapp · 27/11/2019 16:06

I had an adorable piggy fairy for my tree from bhs, piggy fairy served admirable duty for nearly twenty years. Was so sad when her wings disintegrated.

dottypotter · 27/11/2019 16:06

i had a saturday job there in 94.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 27/11/2019 16:07

Ooh I remember Lewis's in Leicester ( I was born in Leicester and a boy at school was the son of the Store Manager )

Glasgow had a Lewis's which has wonderful window displays too but it closed and got turned into The Enoch Centre Sad

I had BHS Country Vine crockery ( white with ivy) , I donated the set to a Charity Shop a couple of years ago and hope someone is enjoying using it as much as I did .

BHS was very over stuffed , hardly any space to move between the rails but once you battled past the clothes , the Homewares were excellant .

dingit · 27/11/2019 16:07

They always used to have a big cuddly toy you could buy if you spent so much in store. Little Ds had a complete lay on the floor melt down as we said he couldn't have it. My dm still chuckles to this day.

Honeyroar · 27/11/2019 16:10

I always liked their stocking fillers and little presents. Their houseware was good too, but I can’t ever remember buying clothes there.

Marcipex · 27/11/2019 16:12

Yes, we always headed to BHS at Christmas.
They had things we’d previously only seen in films or books, like candy canes and gingerbread houses.

Scoose · 27/11/2019 16:12

I loved bhs also miss Lewis's the grotto was amazing! (I'm not in Leicester either)

Tigresswoods · 27/11/2019 16:13

Totally remember BHS Christmas in the 90s they had so much cool stuff

itsAlmostXmas · 27/11/2019 16:58

I worked there when I was a student, loved their Christmas shop!

5foot5 · 27/11/2019 16:58

I remember Lewis's in Manchester when I was a student. They had a lovely Santa's Grotto.

I also miss Woollies and BHS. Mainly Woollies because we used to have one in the small town I now live in whereas the nearest BHS was some distance away

WellTidy · 27/11/2019 17:00

I stocked up on their Ultimate towels before they went into administration. They are so good, way better than posh brands like Christy. Really thick and sumptuous. They have no signs at all of wear.