Apparently they're dying on their arse in the States cos 'da kidz' wouldn't be seen dead near one.

We certainly used to hang out in our local one since we had nothing better to do, but you never see the youth anywhere near it now that I think of it. I'm only ever in there now when I need new glasses or Argos has a sale on. So once in a blue moon.

Is that normal, as Bratty would ask?

I pop into Westfield for Lakeland, otherwise most of my stuff is second hand


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There weren't any when I was a kid, when I lived in Southampton they built a couple, but I preferred shopping on the main drag. Here in Germany I don't even know where the next one is, probably in Bremen or Hamburg. I haven't been in one for probably 10 years.

I was working in the exhibition halls of the Trafford Centre a couple of weeks ago. Took the opportunity one evening to venture into the gates of Mammon. Enjoyed the meal at Tampopo and was amused by the ott interior design of the Trafford. Not something I would normally do but I escaped relatively unscathed. It was busy enough, any more people and it would have been uncomfortable.

No. Life's too short. If I do need to go to The Trafford Centre or The Arndale, I'll figure out what I need to get, go and get it then get the heck out of there pronto.

I was in the one in Doha a couple of years (the one which had a fire and some kids died), all the shops were the same as in England, Next, Boots and all. The things are so samey you can't even guess where you are in the world once you walk through the door. The only one I've been to in this country since is Stratford, and only I got lost exiting the station. It's a bit big. I wasn't sure if they have lots of copies of the same shop, or if I was walking around in circles.

I'm not sure there is one in Bremen - I've not heard my sister mention it and she's essentially a magpie with glasses

only when needed

Tell her to have a look at Weserpark.

Most of the big shops in Peterborough are located in the Queensgate Centre which is slap bang in the middle of town so you don't get much choice if you need something. Can't say I've ever noticed large groups of kids or teenagers hanging about. The security bods won't let them and I can't imagine why they'd want to in the first place anyway.

We don't have any locally to me. Thee are two "shopping centres" of the kind you'd find in the 1970s and 1980s. One was open to the skies, but was roofed over decades ago. The other is more purpose built, and dates from the 1990s. Between the two is a proper high street, which is alive and kicking.

Thee has been talk of another complex going up to house John Lews, and if the planning notices are to be believed, restaurants and a cinema. However nothing has happened in that respect yet. Chelmsford City Council want to stop people heading to Lakeside and BlueWater for shopping - which is what happens.

I was in Castle Court Argos last Thursday.
First time I'd been in Castle Court for ages, there was still loads of people in there despite it being about 8pm.

Mark

I haven't been in Castle Court for years now! There's more in Smithfield that interests me tbh, not that I've been there in years either.... I need to be buying something very specific or unavailable elsewhere to be in the town. Or extremely bored!

Victoria Centre in Nottingham has a Pulp so there's always loads of Emo Kids hanging about near it.

My Coke, Belfast needs a place like that! HMV tried it but nobody goes near that place in general...