I am a married mother of two and thanks to all those who've help to make me violet!
I am a married mother of two and thanks to all those who've help to make me violet!
Member since:29.05.2007
Reviews:10
Members who trust:35
WHITE ROSE CENTRE
We recently found ourselves on the M62 heading back towards Manchester near Leeds and in need of a long break. Although not totally clear what it was, we saw the brown shopping basket signs and the arrow off the motorway to the White Rose Centre.
Within minutes we had gone round a few roundabouts and an entrance to the White Rose Centre was on our left. Not knowing which was the best car park for the site we followed the car in front, which took us into Car Park 6. This also happened to be a good car park for the disabled as there were a lot of reserved disabled spaces and the entrance to the centre had a large shop mobility office.
A first impression of the White Rose doesn't compare with the Trafford Centre in Manchester or Meadowhall in Sheffield, but this could be because the local road network doesn't allow it to be seen from a distance. Admittedly it isn't as big as these out of town megacentres, but with over 100 retail shops White Rose does still have a lot to offer.
Once you enter the centre it is fully enclosed. While you shop inside, a patrol on a motor bike goes
around the car parks (six in total) to give you that sense of security often lacking in modern town and city centres. Security staff are also on patrol inside the centre, which basically consists of a long lower floor mall with an upper floor food court. At each end of White Rose the main stores in the centre are Debenhams and Sainsbury's, with other large stores being British Home Stores and Primark.
Even though the centre isn't massive on scale a free map is available at information stands to help you navigate around. Shopping is the main purpose of any visit, but on the occasion of our visit we were very hungry and went to the food court area on the upper level. Sainsbury, Debenhams and British Home Stores have restaurants/cafes if you want a more formal meal, but we went for fast food. In addition to McDonald's and KFC the food court has other fast food favourites like Pizza Hut Express, Spudulike and Subway. A local cake and pie shop Ainsleys offers a variation on the usual mass produced food and along the lower floor mall there are two light refreshment bars run by Costa Coffee and Druckers.
Unfortunately, on our visit to the White Rose we had limited time because we were travelling back to Lancashire, but most people will visit to concentrate on shopping. The range of products and prices in the big stores are similar to those in most city centres. All the other retail outlets you'd expect to see are here too including: Dorothy Perkins; Evans; La Senza; Monsoon; New Look; Next; Oasis; Principles; Republic; River Island; Top Shop and Zara. The main sports shops of JD, JJB and Sports World are also in the centre.
No large shopping centre would be complete without Argos and the high street newsagent WH Smith. I did notice one significant store missing from the White Rose and this was Marks and Spencer, but I believe they will be coming soon. As a motorway traveller I didn't find this a big problem, even though I am partial to their produce. M and S is now in a lot of motorway service areas so we called in at Birch Services (Manchester) for some quality food on our way home.
Meanwhile, concentrating on the White Rose Centre, there are a decent number of shoe outlets including: Clarks; Dolcis; Faith; Ravel; Schuh; Stylo Barratt and Unze. Travel agents, mobile phone shops, jewellers and toy shops are also well catered for. There is even a Disney Store which is usually very popular with the younger children.
For those who have got mobility problems the White Rose Centre claims to offer free battery operated scooters or manual wheelchairs. We did not use this service, but wheelchairs can be booked in advance and all the public areas have toilets and lifts for wheelchair use. Prams and pushchairs can also easily move around the centre and there are ample parent and baby changing facilities.
For those who are short of fuel Sainsbury have a station selling petrol and diesel at the exit from the White Rose Centre. Being a major brand provider the fuel is competitively priced, which is another great benefit.
Public transport is provided from a number of Yorkshire towns and cities by bus. Key local centres from where you can travel are Leeds (of course), Bradford, Dewsbury, Huddersfield, Morley, Pudsey and Wakefield.
In Summary the White Rose Centre has over a hundred retail outlets; nearly 5,000 car parking spaces (all free and within easy walking distance of centre entrance); a bus station; a free shop mobility scheme and a Sainsbury fuel station.
Opening Hours Mon, Tues, Wed and Friday: 10am until 8pm Thursday: 10am until 9pm Saturday: 9am until 7pm Sunday: 11am until 5pm
I recommend this shopping centre.
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A good review there. I have yet to go to White Rose, despite living in Leeds for nearly two years, but most of the shops in WR can also be found in the city, which is only a 20 minute walk away. I shall go one day, though, just so I can say I've gone!
larsbaby 04.10.2007 17:37
Nice work!
luckyarchers 02.10.2007 16:34
Congrats on the diamond. I like not having to worry about car parking charges mounting up while I browse.
Aug 25th, 2007
exceptional by (2%):
very helpful by (97%):
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