why has All Saints at Bicester Village closed?

[alltoomuchrightnow]

was hoping to go today and just had a quick look at their map and All Saints is gone! Why? Is there anything similar there now? I'm not into blatant designer labels or bling...

French connection has shut too! Those were two of the more reasonable places to shop IMO. I went in November and got stuff from Reiss, Kate Spade and Calvin Klein. Ted Baker, LK Bennett still there too. But was a bit gutted about french connection, although their sales in normal stores are still good. Get most of my work stuff from there.

All Saints have recently opened at Gloucester Quays outlet. Haven't had the chance to go and look yet though.

Ahh yes All saints has opened in Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth recently..well in the summer. French connection recently closed then came back! Fingers crossed for you it will come back too.

I know, I was sad too.

It's way out of my price range now - when did FC go?!

Apparently Bicester Village is one of the top five tourist attractions in Britain for Chinese visitors. Really. Yes, I know! I listened to a Moneybox programme on radio 4 earlier this year about it. The UK tourist board had asked some Chinese people what Britain should do to attract more Chinese tourists and the answer was, "build ten more Bicester villages".

One of the things that makes it popular with overseas tourists is the internationally recognisable British brands (Mulberry, Burberry, Reiss, LK Bennett etc - the latter two thanks to Kate Middleton's frumporamas). So maybe that's what Bicester are now trying to focus on, rather than the more fashion forward/high street retailers? I bet they charge high shop rents.

frumporamas!

frumporamas!

frumporamas!

I went to Bicester recently but won't be going back again. No All Saints, Jigsaw, French Connection or Fat Face any more. Only vv expensive designer shops left, with queues for Prada etc.

I can believe that.

It's very popular with Russians too - I think it's not just about being recognizable, but it's also a culture of spending shitloads on that sort of thing.

Where else is good for more normal prices?

Woops posted too many frumporamas. It made me laugh but not that many times!

If you're near it, Cheshire Oaks is the best outlet village I've ever been to.

I'm not, but thanks, I'll keep it on my list if I do go out that way.

Ruddy Nora! Surely the recommended ten extra villages must now be under construction!

half of it is made especially for the outlet shops though according to that programme on channel four, so not sure how much of a bargain was to be had realistically?

french connection has an outlet at Hatfield Galleria, hope that doesn't close!

wont be going back to BC then, wanted normal bargains, not designer..

my friend went on Boxing day, couldnt even park at BV, had to get in on the park and ride, wasnt worth it. All chinese people queuing outside nearly every store and fighting over stuff inside

so much for a recession

FinancePrincess I live in Bicester (and yes, it's getting more and more high end, I only go in to browse the CCO for MAC stuff, and to buy my son's shoes.)

Chinese tourists are dreaded by BV staff, because they tend to go to each shop as a coach group. Clarks shoe shop is the big draw funnily enough, Clarks has a good reputation in China. The tourists go in not just for themselves, but they take in pictures of their relative's feet (drawn on paper) and they leave the shop nearly empty when they go!

It's going to expand quite soon. The shopping village is tucked behind a Tesco supermarket, but they've agreed to sell. I'm hoping the extra space will be used for more affordable shops. But if I was going outlet shopping BV wouldn't be my choice.

If anyone is going to Bicester Village soon, the Oxford to Bicester bus is easy, or the train to Bicester North train station as there are free shuttle buses constantly going back and forth.

If you go by car and planning to arrive after 10am your best bet is to go and park in the town centre. It's a five minute walk from there.

Went to Bicester too last month. Been going for nearly 15 years. Not again. Hand rails to queue to get in? Dh was not impressed. I'm not having that, he said.
Chinese tourists everywhere.
Was just awful.

I've been going there for years I like Kipling bags but I've noticed that there's no other shops in my price range at all.

What I don't get is that the reductions on prada etc aren't that good - if I'm spending £750+ on a bag I want current season and not a second.