If you had an account that refilled with £86,400 EVERY day but anything unused would disappear, you'...
If you had an account that refilled with £86,400 EVERY day but anything unused would disappear, you'd make sure you spent everything wouldn't you? Well think of those £'s as seconds - make sure you use every possible moment.
Member since:23.09.2005
Reviews:20
Members who trust:15
Why have I not written a review of Bluewater before? I only live 10 minutes away and go there all the time, for shopping, for the cinema, for the restaurants, for a decent coffee and doughnut from Krispy Kreme, for a multitude of reasons.... so for goodness sake why have I not written a, what should be a relatively easy, review for the place?!?
Well I guess partly because other people have done such a good job, a couple of Diamonds kinda puts you off trying to add something special, something new, or something even more exciting.
But I've resolved myself to try - so here goes.....
This little piece (for that is what I intend it to be) isn't going to go through the statistics or transport links. Neither shall I try and name the countless wonderful shops, boutiques, stalls or sales desks that Bluewater has to offer. Instead I'm going to share some of my experiences of one of the best shopping centres I've ever been to, and yes I am a Man, and no I'm not gay (apologies for the stereotyping) MASSIVE REVELATION - Men do enjoy shopping too - it's the standing around not doing anything that we hate.
Why I enjoy going to Bluewater so much is that there is such a huge variety of things to do/places to eat/shops to buy from but it isn't such a massive place that you get lost in it.
There are places that you can find that provide a welcome solace form the inevitable crowds. Don't get me wrong - it's not always busy, indeed Saturdays are often quiter than Sundays. I do find that the scattering of coffee shops, the bars (yes there are a few) and the cafes make it a nice place to relax as well as shop. Find Cafe Giardino and grab a coffee or a freshly-made panini and watch other people rushing past with their mountain of bags. Retreat to Pizza Express and tuck into some gorgeous Dough Balls, watching the wildlife paddle by on one of the nearby lakes. Dive into Waterstones and sit in one of their soft-brown leather sofas or armchairs and immerse yourself in a good (or bad) book while sipping a creamy beverage from Costa. Take the trouble to rise up through John Lewis and unwind while you eat in their restaurant.
There are many many more little oases (or whatever the plural of oasis is) to find in Bluewater but I'm not going to spoil your fun by telling you all of them. I've been going to Bluewater since the second day it opened and I'm STILL finding places I didn't know about.
For me Bluewater is more than a local shopping centre, it is a hub of something, what exactly I don't know but it has certainly expanded my horizons (if not just my waistline - thanks to the yummyness that is Krispy Kreme doughnuts) Is it a bit much to say it's expanded my horizons?; well I don't think so, it has brought the London/Oxford Street/Regent Street shopping ethos to a chalk quarry that no-one except locals knew was there. The South East has benefitted from it being here. If you go, give it a chance, look beyond the shop windows; look beyond the fact that you may have to walk more than 10 yards to get to an entrance - not every parking space can be infront of an entrance.
Enough of my rambling - my top tip? Don't try and see every shop in one day - you won't manage it! Even the smallest of shops such as Vom Fass can take half an hour to look round. Thats not to say it's a big shop, it's just filled with wonderful stuff!!!
Enjoy your trip.
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Advantages: Great range, fresh ingredients, always trying new combinations Disadvantages: Some can be slightly pricey, and it can sometimes be rather busy
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