Large Mothercare World on site - good range of other stores (Festival Park (Stoke-on-Trent))

Member Name: bucksfizz66

Product:	Festival Park (Stoke-on-Trent)
Date:	30/08/09 (230 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Lots of useful stores out of town

Disadvantages: Car park exit and size, revamp of Mothercare and tatty dry ski slope

Festival Park is located just off the A500 in Stoke - the approach road from the A500 does has 40mph speed cameras on it. There were two reasons I started to visit here about 7 years ago. Number one was there is a Mothercare World here an absolutely massive Mothercare which aswell as having a Clarks it stocks loads of the Mothercare range. Number two is that not far from here not quite on the Festival park site is a large Mamas and Papas, so it easily killed two birds with one stone.

Reverting back to Mothercare World this was a monolithic store that also had an upstairs which was accessible via stairs or a lift housed in a giant tree. I was disappointed to see today that the store has been completely revamped and now has no upstairs, no giant tree and a much poorer layout. The age range of the clothes also seemed to stop at age 7 whereas previously it went up to age 11/12. There is now a small Early Learning Centre housed in the store too but what can I say - even my Daughter kept saying "i'm lost I don't know where I am".

Since the time I started to visit here the site has not expanded - but the units now house different shops, notably there is now a Boots, New Look, Brantano, Next and Argos. Undoubtedly Festival Park is hugely popular with locals because it eliminates the need to venture into the centre of Hanley and the convoluted road system of the area. However the Festival Park car park is woefully inadequate to cope with the amount of traffic that wants visit, also to exit the car park requires that you join the traffic at the point where you enter the park and then veer off and loop round through the centre of another car park to exit (confused?) - this car park is in serious need to a re-design.

There is a Frankie and Bennys on site, and whilst this might not be the most appealing looking of buildings from the outside - inside it is great and gets busy enough to create a good atmosphere (just watch those balloons - read F&B review for more on that). Directly opposite this is a Pizza Hit and MacDonalds - so something for everyone.

On the site where Mamas and Papas is - I noticed today there is a large British Home Stores too - it certainly looked very "Next esq" and worth a visit.

Festival Park is also home to a dry ski slope, I have only visited here on the pre-text of checking it out for a party for my daughter. Old and shabby are the words that spring to mind and an entrance that speaks of I've had no TLC. I felt this was a great pity as if it was spruced up it would be a real crowd puller. They obviously felt this too as you can opt to ski only for the party and go elsewhere for your food. I have to say I didn't book up.

There is an old B&Q at Festival Park - really I wouldn't bother with this store - there is a B&Q warehouse at Meir which for a DIY store is fab (did I say that). Also there is a Toys R Us - like all of their stores the range stocked is fairly uniform - I have no further comment on this - this store does what you require it to - I love it for the wide range of board games.

There are without doubt other facilities at Festival Park - I have only commented on the ones I have direct experience of.

Summary: For a good range in baby items I always venture to Festival Park