Next week I move to the other side of town, where my nearest shopping area (apart from corner shops and take aways) will be the One Stop shopping centre in Perry Barr. This is in North Birmingham, about 3 miles away from the city centre and easily accessible on buses including the 11 and 51. There’s a huge row of bus stops in front of the shopping centre, which have lots of rubbish and are not the nicest place to hang around.
Most of the shopping centre is in an inside mall on one level, but there are also some larger stores outside, surrounding the car park.
Access is easy, with lots of free parking spaces, no stairs and a sloped travelator upon going through the main entrance. The malls are wide, although there are a number of stalls in the middle making it a bit crowded at busy times. The stalls offer hair weaving, manicures and jewellery, and there is also a discount book stall.
The toilets are satisfactory but last time I visited, the female toilets were closed so I had to use the Burger King toilets. There are also payphones by the entrance as well as a few cashpoints dotted around.
The shops are all high street chains, with a huge Asda (which sells clothes and electrical items), Blockbuster video, New Look, Claire’s and a Boots to name a few. There is also a discount chemists called Savers. There is a market section with a number of outlets selling fabrics, make up, jewellery and stationary. The inside of the centre is clean and airy with a no smoking policy.
Outside there is a TK Maxx, various electrical superstores, a carpet warehouse, a large fashion store encompassing Top Shop, Dorothy Perkins and Burtons, a JJB Sports, a McDonalds and KFC.
There are a number of food outlets, including a Subway sandwich shop (nice but expensive), a Greggs Bakers and various fast food "restaurants". Clearly One Stop does not cater for food connoisseurs.
Typical shoppers at One Stop are local families and annoying gangs of wannabe gangsters (in the school holidays). Police vans are often located outside.
Overall I would say One Stop is an okay place to go shopping. It’s nothing special, and the shops have no individuality, but if you need to get something you should be able to find it there. I would not make a special trip to go there, all the same shops are on every high street, but as I will be living nearby I expect I will be going quite a lot. I realise this is quite a short opinion but there isn’t really a lot to say about One Stop.
Oh, and avoid the place in the run up to Christmas. My old secondary school sends the choir along to (COUGH) "entertain" the shoppers with their delightful singing.
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I've just moved to near the One Stop and I think it's great. :o) Nice op. Chris x
jamez 24.09.2002 19:16
Seemed long enough to me. More and more shopping centres are being relocated out of town, but not everyone has a car, I find this a worrying trend, but I can't talk because I do have a car.
roy_l_t_1970 01.09.2002 00:05
Hi Katie. If you think that is bad you should try shopping in Glasgow. Sure there are lots of big name stores etc and everything you need is right here, but trying to get around is an absolute nightmare. Anyway, anywhere that has an Asda and a Greggs bakery are ok with me. Take care. Roy
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Aug 24th, 2002
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