Exeter: not for the discerning shopper (Shopping Areas in Exeter)

Member Name: witneyite

Product:	Shopping Areas in Exeter
Date:	17/08/08 (25 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: The new Princesshay development has brough massive improvements...

Disadvantages: but left devastation in its wake

My name is Claire and I am a shopoholic. There, I've said it now. And frankly, Exeter is doing nothing to feed my addiction.

I have lived in Exeter for 2 and a half years noiw. Before that I lived in Birmingham for 5 years, and have spent a lot of time in Glasgow, both big guns of the shopping world, and Exeter really doesn't cut the mustard in comparison.

To be fair to Exeter, in the last few years and it has changed enormously and mostly for the better. The new Princesshay development has brough new and better shops with a more pleasant shopping experience (as well as some much needed restaurants for that all-important shoppers lunch; a girl needs energy to mooch around the stores all day you know).

But my excitement at Princesshay was sadly short lived. Firstly I'll concede its advantages. Some new top enf of the high street stores were brought in such as Reiss, All Saints, LK Bennett and Karen Millen. That's all great. Can't afford them, but they're great. However, lots of the stores we had were there already. New Look, River Island, Top Shop, Oasis etc. Yes, they are now bigger and better, but they've just shuffled round and haven't been replaced by other stores in their previous locations. Exeter High Street now suffers from 'Small Fish' syndrome as it can no longer compete with the big mall and shopfronts are left bare or filled with discount stores which are perpetually on their closing down sales. There are also very few unusual stores in Princesshay. It looks like every other shopping mall in Britain (although I believe our blue boy statue is unique).

It has some advantages as well in forcing other stores to sit up and take note. House of Fraser, Boots and Marks and Spencers are all noteworthy examples of stores which refurbished as Princesshay hit Exeter and are significantly improved as a result M&S is still a rubbish exmaple though; its stores in nearly every other city are better (NB its foodhall is still fab though).

For individual stores your best bet is Gandy Street. There are some great individual stores there particularly for jewellery and homeware, and the crowds don't make it there very often either. It's an altogether more relaxed form of shopping. There are also several designer stores there, something of a scarcity in Devon.

Fore Street is the best bet by far for individual stores. The Real McCoy (in the Real McCoy arcade) is a haven for fans of vintage and a must for fancy dress shoppers. Also try Electric Gypsy and Fantasy World for the same. Kitsch-u-like has good fun stuff for the home (although avoid downstairs if of a nervous disposition!). There are also various goth-emo type shops and other more specialist stores if you know what I mean...

The rest of the High Street is pretty standard fare. Nothing to shout about but nothing too offensive either. It's hardly Oxford Street (although the H&M should also be noted for its significant improvement - it's almost bearable to shopt in now). Ther are discount shops available in the form of the usual Primark, QS, Peacocks etc. Those on a budget should be happy.

But the Bull Ring it ain't.

Summary: Looks like any other city but some individual shops can be found if you're patient