We have a relative visiting from Bristol, and said relative wanted to go to Bluewater. So, off we went.
I used to like Bluewater. I used to think it was a cut above other British shopping centres (which it still is), but then two things happened. First of all, it became more of a hang-out for chavs (for want of a better phrase), with the cinema in particular suffering badly from this. And second, I visited a real American mall, the Galleria in Fort Lauderdale, and now I know I see Bluewater for the pale imitation it is.
Still, it has an Apple Store, so the day wasn't entirely wasted.
Shopping Centre Hell
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January 17, 2006 8:29 PM | Reply
Funnily enough I visited it two weeks ago for the first time in a long time. We needed to look for beds in the sale.
I thought it was because I'm getting old/er but I just found the experience confusing. The shops are crammed in and it's so busy you don't have a moment to think - just join the rush to get inside, grab, pay and leave. Whenever you pick something up to look a crowd develops around you in case you've found that "golden bargain" that everyone else wants. I found myself feeling quite stressed in there.
Having said that, it's got a better range than Riverdale or The Glades ;)
January 19, 2006 4:03 AM | Reply
I've never been but I see there's a John Lewis there. So does the Apple Store offer a 2yr guarantee on Macs to match John Lewis? Or does everyone do their research in the Apple Store and then toddle off to Lewis's to buy?
January 22, 2006 6:02 PM | Reply
I'd not actually thought that through, mainly because I buy my Apple kit online with the National Union of Journalists discount…
Still, it's a good point. I suspect, given the relative bustle of John Lewis and the Apple Store, that most people don't know about the John Lewis two year guarantee.