Discount designer shopping (McArthur Glen Designer Outlets)

Member Name: Happyjaw

Product:	McArthur Glen Designer Outlets
Date:	12/11/08 (169 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Fabulous bargains to be had

Disadvantages: Some items aren't bargains but made purely for these stores

My nearest McArthur Glen is Mansfield and features such stores as Marks & Spencer, Gap, Next clearance, Whittards, Cadbury, Thorntons, Kitsch 'n' Sync, Past Times, Starbucks and a large number of others.

The outlet is a horseshoe shape, taking you away from the car park and into an open arcade, flanked either side by all the stores.

The nature of the retail parks is that all the stores have reduced goods, there's either a clearance, discount option or similar. The M&S is much smaller than most stores but still holds a large amount of clothing and a few other sundries such as gifts. However, you'll find clothing down to as little as 30% of the original price and even the Per Una range is hugely discounted.

Whittards holds current nationwide stock at discounted prices and a large clearance range at the back, somewhat more like a jumble sale in places but with exceptionally high quality goods in most cases.

Thorntons stocks bagged mis shapes at low prices along side their usual stock at lower prices and has a cafe besides. The mis shapes taste just as good as their perfect chocolates so Thorntons is a lovely treat at a fraction of the cost.

Next is a clearance store which would generally be great with prices at around 50% of the original prices in the usual stores but often the pickings are poor. Sometimes you can get some incredible bargains, especially when they have their own clearance when the prices are truly amazing.
However, I noticed when I was there last time that there is a range of clothing produced just for the clearance stores, which just doesn't seem like the bargain spirit to me.

In the middle of the horseshoe is a large food area with various vendors in a semi circle and seating in the middle. There are choices of burgers and fries, sandwiches and a multitude of other foods and drinks to choose from and a playing area to keep the younger ones busy whilst you relax.

It's a pretty good place for some bargains all in all, not ideal if you are hoping for older stock or looking for something in particular but generally you can find something worth buying.

The parking is insufficient at weekends and busy times like Christmas, worth going early or late to counteract that problem.
There are parent and child spaces and disability spaces though not well signed but generally directly in front of the stores.

Summary: Follow the signs off the M1 for discount shopping