Fancy a spot of shopping?
 Apr 1st, 2004
(Apr 2nd, 2004)
Advantages:
LOTS AND LOTS AND LOTS OF SHOPS
Disadvantages:
I've not got enough money
Recommendable:
Yes
Detailed rating:
Prices
Transport links
more
  Christina666
About me:
Ganna be away for a while, on holiday and starting a new job. Be back as soon as I can! c X
Member since:10.11.2003
Reviews:50
Members who trust:29
Review rated by 34 Ciao members on average: very helpful 
This review received a counterstatement by a party concerned
Read Comment
My feet ache, the handles from my carrier bags are cutting into the flesh on my hands, I was meant to be home and in the shower an hour ago to make sure that I'm ready for tonight, but still I keep going. Trudging from shop to shop, dismissing every top I come across because nothing looks like the picture I have in my mind of the ideal top to turn me into an irresistible stunner. Sound familiar? Well that’s me every single pay day, when I go out and flutter away just a little of my hard earned cash on some new things for me. Where I live has a town centre with a good selection of shops, but liking lots of choice and preferring to shop in the evenings rather than on a Saturday I always make the 15-minute journey from my house to Lakeside Shopping Centre.
Location Lakeside is situated directly next to the QEII toll bridge in Thurrock Essex, and is a 2 minute drive once you have exited either the M25 from junction 30 or 31, or the A13.
It is well sign posted, and what with its massive surrounding Trading Park, bright lights and 26acres of ground, you can't really miss it. The nearest train station is Chafford Hundred, which is on the Tilbury Branch on the Southend to Fenchurch Street line, and is a 5 minute walk from the centre.
There is also a large bus station, with busses coming to lakeside from various parts of Kent and most of Essex. Car Parking
Parking your car at Lakeside is free, and there are various multi-storey car parks, and outside car parks which spread all the way round the outside of the shopping centre. All of the car parks are numbered and assigned a colour, and if your not used to Lakeside, it’s worth remembering these, as it can get confusing. There are 13,000 car parking spaces so most of the time; you can guarantee yourself a space. However, when the Christmas shoppers come out in force this can be a different storey and I have found myself driving round for ages before I found a space. Also beware on Sundays over Christmas, I once spent 2 hours trying to get out of the multi storey car park, the cars just were not moving.
There is plenty of parking for disabled drivers, and a couple of the multi storey car parks have the first floor dedicated to disabled drivers. These bars are marked as blue, and you will find that anyone who does not display the badge will get a ticket. Too right. Opening hours
Monday - Friday 10am - 10pm and that’s all year round!
Saturdays - 9am - 7.30pm
Sundays - 11am - 5pm
Bank Holidays - 10am - 6pm The complex
Well Lakeside has just had a massive refurbishment and is looking a bit sexy. The whole centre is bright, light and airy decorated with spotlights and chrome swirly things that make it look modern. The complex its self is shaped like a huge rectangle with a glass dome in the centre.
There are plenty of benches scattered around to rest your weary shoppers legs on, and with over 320 shops you will be making use of these, and the 30 different cafe's and restaurants available. The shops
Right let’s get to the important bit, what can I buy? Well quite simply.... anything you want! Lakeside has everything from clothes to sex toys. Department stores
With 4 major department stores, you are spoilt for choice: * Debenhams
Selling clothes, make up, shoes, underwear, toys, luggage, cookware, garden furniture and gadgets, there’s not much you can’t buy from here. They have a small cafe that sells drinks and hot and cold food, and an abundance of friendly, helpful staff all wanting you to try out this, or have a spay of that. Fantastic for present buying.
* House of Fraser
Selling clothes, shoes, makeup,
cookware, bedding, curtains, underwear, electrical goods, luggage, furniture and big fluffy towels (mmmm I love those towels) its a shop I always feel like I'm spoiling myself a bit when I shop in here. Again they have a cafe, but they also have hairdressers and to my mind the biggest selling point of this shop is that the shoe department is Kurt Geiger!! Wuu Huu!!. This shop is bulging with designer labels and those latest scents. * Allders
Again this sells much the same things, but to be honest with you, it’s never been a shop I can take to. Its too dark in there, it feels old and I'm always surprised to see the new things in such a shabby shop. Maybe I'm being silly, but I don’t see any point buying my Levi's from a miserable shop when I can go somewhere funky.
Having said that, like House of Fraser, they sell lots of labels and their electrical department is well worth a mention because the gadgets are fab! * Bhs
This shop always seems to be a bit cheaper than the others, and more specifically aimed at people a bit older than myself (I'm 24). They again have a restaurant, which always looks really busy! and again they sell clothes and underwear and general things like towels and duvets for around the home.
At Christmas is when BHS seems to really come alive though, the whole from of one floor is filled with Christmas gadgets - talking walking pigs, signing dogs and selection boxes of beer from around the world etc. Ladies Clothes shops
Right, well here's a list of the shops that you can buy ladies clothes from! Accessorize: Mainly selling accessories, scarves hats etc.
Allders: Department store. See above! Ann Harvey: Aimed at older clients, do a lovely range in cardies (or so my mum tells me ;o)
BHS: Department store. Again, see above! Bay Trading Company: Young fashion and affordable work style clothes and basics. Also carry a children’s range called Angel.
Bewise: Cheap! Carry's a large collection of women’s, men’s and children’s close all at bargain prices. Butler: Cant say I've ever ventured inside! Sorry!
Choice Woman: Mmmm and what a shop this is! Selling scrummy designer wear and stupidly high prices. Everything from Dolce & Gabanna to Burberry. Club Row: There seems to be a permanent sale going on in this shop. Cheap, every day no thrills wear.
Confetti & Lace: For you lucky ladies who need a wedding dress! (Although word to the wise, give this shop a miss and pop over the river to Bluewater, its so much nicer ;o) Country Casuals: Jumpers, big trousers and waterproof jackets.
Cromwell's Madhouse: Warehouse style discount shop, reduced priced Levi's, CK Jeans, T-Shirts and some sports wear. Debenhams: Department store. See above.
Dorothy Perkins: I used to think that Dotty P's was an old women’s shop, but either I'm getting old, or Ms. P's developed some fashion sense! Affordable, and on the whole fashionable clothes. Some work wear, and a great selection in junk jewellery. Eisenegger: The shop that always advertises 70% off! Everything has a high price tag, with signs round the shop showing the reduced price. My dad buys his work clothes from here, lots of body warms, jumpers and cheap coats etc.
Etam: The aged more haggard version to Tammy Girl. Selling mid-priced every daywear. Evans: The shop I'm going to need soon if I don't stop breaking my diet! Sells every day wear, in larger sizes.
Fiorelli: Lots of lovely handbags, purses and belts. I love treating myself in here! French Connection: I whole shop dedicated the somewhat tiring FCUK for England etc.. Slogan. Quite expensive with snooty staff.
Gap: Well they got Madonna in the adverts so they must be doing something right! Always seems quite expensive to me though. Lots of denim and jumpers. Huge store! H&M: This is one of those stores to when I first walk in, everything looks new age-y, hippy flowy, stuff I'd never wear. On closer inspection you can pick up a bargain top or 2. They also sell some nice knickers!
House of Fraser: Department store. See above Jane Norman: I love this shop. Selling fashionable clothes and mid range price. More expensive that others, but not as wear and your designer labels. Always seem to have new stock coming in, and everything I go in I see something else that I need. Their trousers also have lovely long legs if anyone else has that problem!
Kookai: In my younger days I loved this shop, but now they seem to sell overpriced, poor quality tat. All fashionable though, and they have some cool tights in stock at the moment! Marks & Spencer: Massive store! I get so lost!! The seem to have moved on from their image of old though, and some of the stuff in their I'm sure would have disgusted my Nan with its tight fitting fashionableness!
Mikey: Junk jewellery shop, that’s a bit dearer that your common or garden bling. Most of it is sterling silver and its all so shinny and lovely you wont leave empty handed. I always get my belly button bars there, and they are usually around the £20 mark. Miss Selfridge: Loud music, bright colours and lots of slashes, funky slogans and fishnets. This shop is a haven for the teenage, skinny, funky people. The clothes are reasonably priced, and if you look hard enough, there is something for everyone. Even if its just a vet top for your hols!
Monsoon: Lots of my friends seem to buy their outfits for weddings from here. Lots of pastels, silk and flowing materials. Not really my kind of thing. Morgan: Again, in my younger days I loved this shop. Their clothes are all fashionable and a bit daring in some cases, you need to have the figure and confidence of a teenager on the whole, but they do sell some nice trousers.
New Look: Bargain basement me up eh!! Fashionable clothes cheap, although not as cheap as they used to be when they first opened!
Next: One to avoid on the first day of sale! It gets rammed. Selling everyday clothes, work clothes, undies, shoes and bit and pieces for the house. Oasis: Reasonably priced, fashionable clothes.
Pilot: Fashionable, affordable and now redecorated! This shop is so bright and shiny looking!
Pineapple: Is just me, or does anyone else think of 'Fame' when they see a Pineapple tracksuit???
Principles: Again, my Mum likes this shop, so I guess I might be prejudice. Republic: Lots and lots of Levi's and FCUK tops!
River Island: I think I own most of River Island ;o) Affordable, fashionable and selling jeans in 3 different lengths. I can even buy my shoes here. Select: Cheaper than cheap. You could probably get a new outfit for a tenner. They try to be fashionable and I guess they are, but the clothes are such poor quality, and the set up is similar to a jumble sale.
Top Shop: They sell most things, jeans, work wear, undies shoes, spangly dresses, tops, tights and jewellery. Good shop for a reasonably priced complete new outfit when you feel like you need spoiling.
Time: When this shop first opened, it really was as cheap as chips. Now it’s got more popular, the prices have gone up, but they are not expensive by any stretch of the imagination. Fashionable clothes that you probably would only wear a few times. Although I do have a couple of pairs of their black trousers for work which were only about £15. The Vestry: Nice suits!! Quite expensive though for what the clothes are. They sell clothes and suits mainly, but there is the odd dress and dressy top. Worth a look.
USC: Only has a small women’s collection because the shop is split in half and the men have the other side. Cheek eh!! You can buy names like Diesel, FCUK etc. in here. Very trendy looking with stuck up staff.
Wallis: ? What can I say! Neither me or my mum shop here, but it looks ok? Warehouse. Great for work clothes and tights. Reasonably priced.
A little tip always worth bearing in mind, there are concessions for Top Shop, Oasis, FCUK, Warehouse, Morgan etc.. in House of Fraser, Dagenham’s and Allders, so if you see something you want and they don’t have your size, they are always worth a look (and sometimes the department stores have 'Blue Cross Sales' etc.. where everything is reduced by about 20% just for one day, so bear it in mind ladies!)
Men’s wear
Here's your shops boys!
Allders: Department store. See above.
Baron Jon: Suits! Suits suits and more suits.
Bhs: Department store. See above. Base: There is also a Base Boyz for anyone with tiddly winks! They sell mainly jumpers, FCUK, Duffer etc. and jeans, but you will find the odd pair of trousers lurking and occasion Ben Sherman shirt.
Blue Inc: Lots of designer labels and Garage music, Very popular with the twenty something’s of Essex. But alas, the staff are all moody and snooty. Bewise: Cheap as chips shops. You can pick up a shirt for about a fiver, but the appearance reflects the price in my opinion.
Blakes: Men's 'country' type of wear. Big jackets, jumpers and trousers.
Burton: They've got quite fashionable lately haven't they!! Lots of t-shirts with slogans like 'Who's the Daddy' for this season, but you can also pick up trousers, jeans, jumpers and undies. Reasonably priced and always busy!
Cecil Gee: Mmmm and the designer suits, shirts and jeans!! Quite pricey, but the quality says it all. The whole shop feels exclusive when you’re in it - wooden floors and gorgeous staff. Choice Menswear: Like its female counterpart, lots of labels. Dolce & Gabanna, Burberry etc.
Ciro Citterio. Not one I've ever been in I'm afraid!
Club Row: A shop selling every day wear and always having sales.
Cromwell's Madhouse: Reduced jeans, shirts and pants selling names like Levi's, CK and Ben Sherman. Too loud and bright and in their for me! Dagenham’s: Department store. See above.
Eisenegger : As it says in the ladies, this is the shop with a permanent 70% reduction. That’s not always a bad thing, you can pick up a bargain, and with the recent re-vamp of the shop, and it looks nice too!
Envy: For the trendy lads out there, you can buy all you’ll need for a good night out. Nice shirts, trousers jeans, all with the usual high street designer names tags on them. Quite pricey, but you’ll feel like you've just treated yourself. ;o)
French Connection: Lots of T-Shirts with FCUK etc. splashed across the front, the occasion shirt, jumper and pair of jeans. Over rated and over priced in my opinion!
Gap: Khaki's and jeans, and maybe a jumper. Quite pricey for just a high street name, but always busy so must be popular! H&M: I've never looked in the men’s section, but I should imagine it’s the same as the girlies! So see above!
House of Fraser: Department store.
Marks & Spencer: Good if you want a reasonably priced suit, some sensible undies or a jumper. Quite reasonably priced.
Monserrat: Eh? Who?? Never seen this one! Moss & Moss Bros Hire: As the name says, its all suit hire and suits to buy. Their nice ones though!
Next: Suits, trousers, shirts, shoes and undies. Most men own at least something from Next don't they? Always seem to! Reasonably priced, but like the ladies, avoid on the first day of sale unless you’re a hardened bargain hunter.
Officers Club: Cheap, boring clothes to my mind!
Republic: Jeans, T-shirts and names like Levi and FCUK galore. Quite reasonably priced, and cheaper than a lot of department stores for the same things.
River Island: Well I love River Island so I'm going to give it good pres aren't I! Suits, shirts trousers Jeans and shoes. I think the quality and the price of the clothes in River Island is fantastic
Suits You: Yet again! More suits!
Tie Rack: I can’t remember what they sell. LOL - Um, they sell ties. Top Man: For the trendy boys, the type that straighten their hair and pluck their eyebrows. Lots of shirts and jeans etc..
USC: Fashionable, labelled, every day where.
If you need a new suit, then Lakeside has to be the place to go, they sell some fab ones in Cecil Gee, and there's also some nice trendy clothes lurking around too. Music Stores
There is a massive HMV and a Virgin to buy your CD's and DVD's from, but there is also a Woolworth’s and WH Smith, which carry a selection too. Off License.
Yep! You can indeed pick up your vodka here too ;o) There's only one and its an Oddbins, very small but have a surprisingly large selection! Cards, gifts and flowers
There are 2 Clinton Cards, Birthdays and Hallmarks, all with a large selection of cards, soft toys, balloons and novelty party things! Flowers
Marks and Spencers have a surprisingly large flower department in their store, and the flowers are always beautiful! There is also a Special Days, which is situated in the Pavilion. Well as for Gifts, you will be spoilt for choice again! There is a gadget shop which I go into every time I need to get my Dad a pressie, and a store that opened just before Christmas that’s called Menkind, and its full of toys for boys! With my dad, boyfriend and 3 older brothers, feels like I'm always in there!
There is also a Perfume Store, and lots of jewellery stores, an Argos and an Index, Toystack, a Thornton’s and 2 cookie stores that will personalise massive cookies for you, and a The Bear Factory which will stuff and personalise a bear for you while you wait, so anyone who says they cant find a gift there is a dirty little fibber. Surely it’s impossible! FOOOOOOD!
How very important is this category for a hardened shopper! Up on the top floor under the giant dome is the Food Court, which is were most people tend to end up (well I'm presuming that because its always so busy!) The food court has Chinese, Spud-u-Like, KFC, Burger King, Country Fare, a baguette store, a Hagendaaz shop (Mmmmm), Tennessee Secret, 2 sit down restaurants and a Newsagent so there is something for everyone.
There are also 2 McDonalds in the complex, one at either end, 2 pizza huts, another burger king and a Chinese in the Pavilion. Coffee bars are plentiful too, with Costa and Starbucks tempting you in with that smell.
Cash points. Lots of cash points around for you to re-fuel your wallet after a days shopping. There is also a HSBC and Nat west on site.
Travel Agents Yip - you can even book your holiday with 4 travel agents.
Cinema There is a 7-screen cinema, which is open even when the complex is closed.
Pubs Floating on Lakesides own man made river is a boat, which is a pub, which is a restaurant. Again this stays open even when Lakeside is closed, and sells bar snacks as well as having a restaurant.
Children are welcome during the day, and they do a fantastic line in cocktails! The Pavilion
I think this deserves a mention of its own! The Pavilion is set to one side of Lakeside and is like a small market places. Stools are set up selling everything from pick and mix to signed and framed photographs of the rich and famous from TV and film! The Swans
During the warmer months, there are swans available to hire from the Pavilion, which are basically small pedal boats that are out of Lakeside's lake. Diving Centre
I know!! Diving Centre? Bit weird huh? I cannot advise you of the cost because I've never tried it, but Lakeside has a Diving Centre with PADI certified instructors. Children’s Play Area
Sorry but I cant give you a full run down on this facilities because I don’t have any babies! But up by the food court there is a haven for little people. Sponge slides, nets and ball pools - usual things really!! Basically you can leave you kiddies there to play supervised whilst you roam the stores. Bliss
Customer Service Points At various points around the complex, there are customer service desks with friendly staff that are there to answer your questions. They also keep Wheelchairs, which you can borrow if needed, and rent out small kiddie carts so you can sit your toddler in a plastic car and push him around.
Lakeside Vouchers Gift Vouchers are available to buy at customer services and in some shops, which can be used all over the complex. Great idea for Christmas eh!
Lakeside credit card You can apply for their credit card at customer services
- - Surround Area - -
Just a little bit on the retail park, which surrounds lakeside! There you will find Ikea, Tesco, TK Max, Harry Ramsdens, TGI Fridays, Curry's, Leatherland, Courts and various other large electrical, furniture and toyshops.
So if you can’t find it in the complex or you fancy something different to eat than whets available, then you can get it on your way home.
Personally, I always try and go to Lakeside for my shopping - except food - they have a fantastically large selection, lots of places to eat and a nice atmosphere. It does tend to get a bit busy on the weekends, but in the evenings after work its bliss.
For a full listing of their shops, take a look at www.peoplelovelakeside.co.uk Thank you all for reading and happy shopping!
C x
Read more on this product
Related tags for Lakeside (Thurrock)
|
|
by (18%):
by (3%):
09.06.2004 13:03
I like it that Lakeside is now a smoke free Centre. I don't expect smokers to be pleased though ;-)
14.04.2004 11:17
All the information we could ask for, set out logically and easy as well as entertaining to read - that gets an E from me!
05.04.2004 22:09
Unfortunately a bit far for me to travel, but it seems like a really good one. Great op. Marc