John Lewis anyone been in since they opened?

[JinglingHellsBells]

Not exactly style and beauty but wondering if you had to queue to get in, if loos are all open as normal (no queuing etc). Thinking of Oxford St. weekdays.

Peter Jones was fine a few weeks ago. No queues to get in, toilets open. I think the coffee shop had even reopened but not the restaurant.

I’ve been in. It was joyless. I thought they were very low on stock. The loos were open but not the changing rooms.

I we t in straight after they opened and had a very nice time (JK is my happy place).

BUT went in last weekend and it was a different story with the mask thing. Virtually empty, staff barking about sanitiser when barely through the door, horrible atmosphere.

Walked out 5 mins later, empty handed.

They make you use hand sanitiser before you go in, which is really annoying when you already have clean hands and sensitive skin!

Also, not allowed to try clothes on...

Awful. agree staff lack charm. Make up counters totally redundant.

I went to Solihull JL and it was utterly joyless and depressing. Agree make up counters totally redundant and totally stripped bare of stock - stuff is there and if you know exactly what you want a staff member will dig around for you

Real lack of stock across the store as they’ve been focused on online

Restaurant closed still which considering other places are open is a bit strange.

I love JL but hated this trip

I love shopping and JL but agree it’s a horrible experience, particularly now that you have to wear a face mask (which I’m not against but it is not pleasant). I just can’t see the point of shopping IRL - online is the way forward. Given that you can’t try things on I really can’t see the benefit of going into a shop for most things.

I’ve been to Kingston a few times and while it’s not the same the staff were still nice and chatty and helpful. Lack of changing rooms is a significant issue....

I was in the Oxford St store a couple of weeks ago. It was very quiet. Staff were a bit nervous but polite and friendly. Stock levels seemed okay but I was in childrenswear rather than womenswear. The small cafes are open but not the restaurants.

Our JL is understaffed and joyless at the best of times, so I’m giving it an even wider berth than usual.

I’m so sad that you w all had the same experience as me in JL.

As somebody else said, JL is my happy place, sad as that sounds .

I can’t see me going back there while you can’t try clothes on, and tbh, if I was going to buy from a concession like White Stuff, I’d buy directly from them due to greater choice.

They need to open the changing rooms.

I went to JL Oxford St a week or so ago. It was okay....as much as anything is at the moment! No queues to get in. Staff were pleasant.

Southampton was friendly and welcoming a couple of weeks ago. It was my first trip into town, before masks were compulsory but all staff were wearing them. I was one of the few customers wearing a mask but all the hygiene and safety practices in store were reassuring.

Beauty counters were low on staff/quiet but stock levels looked relatively normal.

It’s still my happy place.

Oooh I was at university in Southampton. I loved JL when it was Tyrell and Green at the top of the high street (near the titanic memorial).

In fact that was the first branch of JL I ever visited!

Is it still there or did it move?

@CrystalTits oh that’s interesting about beauty counters because my local store has nothing out - no testers obvs- and you have to ask to buy anything.

Been a few times lately (returning online orders mostly and exchanging stuff). It’s an easy trip for me as it’s about 2 miles away, but like PP said they are very militant about hand sanitiser. Even if you say but I used some about 20 seconds ago over there. Which annoys me because in winter my hands break down in the cold and it will be a disaster. I’m not sure it would be a fun experience for browsing or relaxing shopping but with a purpose it’s not too bad.

@CountessFrog - a fellow Soton grad! No, when I was a student in the mid 2000s it had already moved to the west quay development. It’s a nice store, and also a happy place for me, especially the cafe when babies were small - DC2 was less than 24 hours old on his first visit.

Ah what a shame, I loved that shop. My boyfriend lived in a hovel in St Mary’s and we used to walk through the park into Tyrell and Green!

Which hall were you in? I was on Wessex Lane

I was over at Glen Eyre (in the then new block of Hartley Grove - across the road from the main Glen complex, with Chamberlain). I had friends in Monte 1 and Monte 2 over at Wessex Lane though. And then spent the next 2 years living in a hovel in Shakespeare Avenue!

Ah, thanks you lot!

I might be meeting someone (not to shop!) and it was always our rendezvous spot. I was dreading queuing there for the loo after a journey.

I went into the Cheltenham store last week. Stock levels were very low, just a few things on hangers for some brands. Make up counters were unmanned in the main and of course all the personal shopping and beauty sections were still closed.Even the selection of birthday cards was poor compared to usual. i can't understand why the cafe was closed, that might have given some incentive to go in. Not worth the effort.

I think everyone knew somebody in a hovel on Shakespeare Ave! I miss Southampton sometimes.

Been into the Reading branch twice since it reopened, masks both times. They seem to be low-staffed, but plenty of stock, remnants of the summer sale (I picked up some bargains!). Shame you can't try things on in the shop, but they have a month long return policy so I find it's ok.

The cosmetic counters were bare and a bit of a shock - no testers of course, it looked very weird. Not sure how you're supposed to choose a new lipstick or foundation these days...

My nearest is Milton Keynes, anyone been ? Report back please, my Mum wants a trip in (dreading it)