West Quay shopping Centre opened about 10 years ago right in the centre of Southampton.
"The outside"
From the outside building is impressive to look at, very modern and expansive (although there's been some mixed opinions about it ruining Southampton's historic appearance). The main ... Read review
Advantages: Everything you need under 1 roof Disadvantages: The inconvenient escalator layout!!
West Quay shopping Centre opened about 10 years ago right in the centre of Southampton.
"The outside"
From the outside building is impressive to look at, very modern and expansive (although there's been some mixed opinions about it ruining Southampton's historic appearance). The main entrance is conveniently off the precinct and is covered by a large awning. There are various other entrances, round the back and through ... ...guarantee you'll find it in West Quay. I'm not sure exactly how many shops there are, but it must be close to 100. The 2 main stores are John Lewis and Marks and Spencers, located on opposite sides of the centre and spread over 2 levels. It's clothes shopping heaven for the girls - H&M, New Look, Dorothy Perkins, Warehouse, Principles, Oasis, Kookai, Coast, Monsoon and Next to name but a few. Don't worry guys, there's plenty for you as well, including ... more
West Quay shopping Centre opened about 10 years ago right in the centre of Southampton.
"The outside" From the outside building is impressive to look at, very modern and expansive (although there's been some mixed opinions about it ruining Southampton's historic appearance). The main entrance is conveniently off the precinct and is covered by a large awning. There are various other entrances, round the back and through individual shops, such as Waterstones and John Lewis.
"The inside" The inside is white and gleaming and very clean - there's always a number of people walking round picking up litter (funky space-age bins are provided). There's plenty of benches, usually occupied by bored-looking men waiting for their wives/girlfriends to emerge from a clothes shop. The shops are set out over 3 levels, connected by glass lifts and escalators. As pointed out in the disadvantages field, they are not all that convenient if you want to get quickly from one level to another! They are located in the middle of the centre which is in a circular shape with balconies looking down over the lower levels, and there is only 1 escalator going up and down to each one, so you will find you have to walk round the opposite side of the circle to get up or down. I think they planned this cunningly, to encourage you to go into more shops as you walk around!
"The shops" Whatever you're looking for, you can almost guarantee you'll find it in West Quay. I'm not sure exactly how many shops there are, but it must be close to 100. The 2 main stores are John Lewis and Marks and Spencers, located on opposite sides of the centre and spread over 2 levels. It's clothes shopping heaven for the girls - H&M, New Look, Dorothy Perkins, Warehouse, Principles, Oasis, Kookai, Coast, Monsoon and Next to name but a few. Don't worry guys, there's plenty for you as well, including Burtons, Suits You, Gap, Levi Jeans, and Envy. If you're looking for new shoes, you won't go home empty-handed, with Barratts, Shoe Express, Aldo, Faith and Office to choose from. Aside from clothes shops (because I'm told there is more to shopping than clothes!) there's a large Clintons and Paperchase for cards and stationery, various jewellers including F Hinds, Goldsmiths and Samuels, along with Essentials and Accessorize for costume jewellery, or La Senza for a piece of sexy lingerie. On the ground floor there is the Teddy Bear Factory where you can actually make your own teddy and choose an outfit for it, and even put your voice inside! Obviously value for money varies from shop to shop, but there is something to suit every budget, and the majority of the shop assistants are helpful.
"Food" The 3rd floor is a dedicated food court, with fast food outlets such as Macdonalds and KFC, but also a couple of nice cafe's serving tasty baguettes and light lunches. There's a jacket potato place if you're feeling healthy or Harry Ramsdens if you're not! And of course, no shopping centre would be complete without a Thorntons ice cream!
"Parking" There are 2 car parks attached to West Quay - the Podium, and the larger multi-storey. Both have direct access to the shops via lifts and stairs from all levels, so if it's raining you don't even have to go outside. You can pretty much guarantee you'll get a space in the multi-storey, it has 13 levels, although the podium tends to get full quite early. West Quay gets as busy as you'd expect a large shopping centre to get, and there's usually a bit of a queue at weekends, especially if its raining. It's also open late on Thursdays, so can get quite busy then.
All in all, its a great shopping centre with everything you need, but you can easily blow your budget! Although there's shops for every budget so it suits everyone, and you could easily do all your Xmas shopping in one place!
Advantages: great variety of shops and eateries Disadvantages: sports direct staff were very rude and unhelpful
...girlfriend and I went to West Quay on the Saturday just gone and we had a great time. We went in search of a present for her mum and for some work trousers and shirts for me for work. There so are many shops at West Quay I won't bother listing all of them, i don't want to be accused of filling out my review nor do I want to bore you! I will mention the ones I personally experienced however. -------- Parking Firstly arriving at West Quay from the ... ...to the shopping centre of West Quay. You also have to switch lanes drastically if you come in from the M27. There are plenty of lifts in the multi storey and you can walk around the corner and there is also an Ikea whose car parking is about 10p cheaper per hour. The multi storey car park was not that busy and parked on the ground floor in the morning which was nice. Getting out later on was also not a problem. -------- Shops For my work trousers ...
jamiebecks 16.06.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of West Quay - Southampton
Advantages: Undercover shopping, Modern, Mix of Designer Shops and High-Street Fashion. Disadvantages: Can Get Very Crowded on Weekends, You Have to Walk a Long Way Round to Go Up or Down to Next Level, Can get Quite Hot in Shops.
***WHERE IS WEST QUAY?***
West Quay is an undercover shopping complex in Southampton City Centre. It is a short distance from Southampton train station, and provides 4,000 parking spaces for those who wish to drive there. As with anywhere, the parking is fairly pricey, but not excessively so.
***WHAT SHOPS ARE THERE?***
West Quay is on three levels. The top level is where you will find places to eat and drink: such as KFC and Singapore Sams. Upper ... ...are many more shops in West Quay, please take a look at there website www.west-quay.co.uk ***GOOD POINTS***
Undercover shopping so you don't get wet in bad weather.
A good selection of shops.
There are more shops outside West Quay on the highstreet such as Topshop, Primark, Miss Selfridge, TK Maxx (about 5 minute walk). Plus there are two other undercover shopping centres within minutes of West Quay....(Marlands and Bargate). Marlands contains ...
HannahBoo 21.02.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of West Quay - Southampton
Advantages: Modern, lots of shops, food court Disadvantages: Gets very busy
West Quay is a huge, and I mean huge shopping centre in Southampton City Centre.
It is a fairly new centre so the design is modern and spacious, but at busy times this is a problem. Because the distance between shops opposite each other is quite a long way, when the centre is really busy it is almost impossible to get from one side to the other. This as I have said is only a problem at busy times, during the week it is absolutely fine.
It consists ... ...court on the top floor. The shops are pretty much what you see in every shopping centre, City or Town, but it is so much easier here as they are all together. No need to go walking up and down high streets to find the shop you want. This is epscially helpful when the weather is bad. Some of the shops include; John Lewis, Clinton Cards, Game, Schuh, Sports World, Apple and most high street clothes shops.
The food court is right on the top floor and ...
gdaisyp 15.08.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of West Quay - Southampton
Advantages: Warm & dry Disadvantages: Can be very crowded, same old shops
...could hardly fail to miss West Quay!
There is no doubt that West Quay has made a huge improvement on Southampton's shopping scene, bringing together many of the most popular shops into a warm & dry environment. The day I visited was grey and drizzly, so not having to traipse up and down the high street, struggling with opening and closing my rather battered umbrella at every shop entrance was a real bonus!
I went on a Saturday morning, which have ... ...The other main problem with West Quay is the traffic - although, to be fair, this is a problem with Southampton city centre overall, rather than with the shopping centre itself. If you are not careful, you can still find yourself sitting in long queues as you approach or leave the centre.
Most of the popular chains in Southampton have now moved into West Quay, including clothes shops (Gap, H&M, Monsoon, Warehouse and Next), jewellery (H Samuels, ...
garbadine 02.06.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of West Quay - Southampton
Value for money
Selection & range
Availability
Quality
In store customer service
Quick review of West Quay - Southampton
I agree with most of the points made by HannahBoo - it's a friendly, pleasant place to shop. It can get terribly frenetic on Saturdays, and there is quite a lot of walking required. Facilities for disabled shoppers are reasonable but far apart. ...
mmsparkle 31.08.2007
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of West Quay - Southampton
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***WHAT I THINK ABOUT GUNWHARF***
I like the location (near the water), this is especially nice during the summer. The selection of shops however don't really appeal to me. I much prefer highstreet shops...and I never really find anything I like at Gunwharf. I much prefer to shop at WestQuay in Southampton (see my review on WestQuay for more info) as it has a mixture of designer shops and highstreet shops. Additionally WestQuay is undercover whereas Gunwharf isn't.
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Advantages: Great shoes, Great Quality, Not too pricey Disadvantages: None near me!!!!
Revel....what can I say? The first time I went into the store back home in Liverpool I was in heaven....finally I'd found a shoe shop where I would quite happily buy EVERY pair of shoes in stock (I love shoes but spend hours walking around shops in dispair at some of the nasty nasty shoes!). Liverpool (lucky lucky b*****ds have TWO ravel's).
A few years back I left the 'pool behind me and moved down south to Bournemouth..."Trendy place," I thought assuming that they would have a huge Ravel's, but no it wasn't to be. Bournemouth has no Ravel, Poole has no Ravel, Southampton has no Ravel......NOWHERE down south has a Ravel, the nearest store I know of is Kensington High St in London!
Please, if anyone who has anything to do with Ravel reads this...PLEASE...Open a shop down here. (The new WestQuay centre in Southampton has plenty ...
hml198 06.12.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Ravel (Shop)
Advantages: range of products, 'treat' potential Disadvantages: uncontrollable spending spree potential
Call me shallow, but there are definitely times when the only thing that helps is a new lipstick. Or mascara. Or nail varnish. Or, in fact, practically anything sold in the gorgeous, lush, bursting-at-the-seams Sephora shop.
These emporiums of cosmetic enhancement (phew!) originated in France - of course - and are today found in most really big shopping centres. I've visited those in SouthamptonWestQuay and Bluewater - I'm sure there are others.
They sell every conceivable brand of perfume, which line the walls in a particularly useful A to Z arrangement.
Other temptations include many of the major cosmetic houses - Chanel, YSL, Guerlain, Christian Dior etc - and several of the more affordable brands - L'Oreal and Bourjois. Sephora also do a truly vast range of their own make-up, the quality of which is good ...
