Westfield

cceacton

18th September 2009

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expensive

Angella

Well Planned 10th April 2009

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I'd driven past and got all excited. It's huge. Then their mini-book arrived through my door in a far away suburb. Vouchers at the back of the book offered you discounts such as 25% off at Bamboo basket and a free glass of wine when you by a savoury AND a sweet dessert or crepe at Crepeaffaire on the Balcony. The vouchers lasted until June 30th. I don't know how you get the book if you haven't already been sent it. When is the next one, or was this an opening promotion. Fifteen per cent off Burger king and at Yam To Go. Several more vouchers. So it's not all spend a fortune and get tuppence off. The book had the usual problem. The designer sitting under arc lights has probably designed on screen for somebody of the same age, 19 years old with perfect vision. The print is teeny and thin are barely readable and even if you can read it tiring in broad daylight. I'm sure you can't read anything late at night, in bed, or in a crowded shopping mall as you bounce along or sit in some dimlit corner on a dull day unable to find reading glasses lost at the bottom of your bucket bag.

What amazed me was the services. Valet parking. Drop the car and keys and they park for you. Phone ten minutes before you leave and your car is brought ready for you to go. This costs £10. Oh, well.

They deliver goods to your home in the UK or anywhere in the world. Provision for translation into other languages. And tax free purchases for those living overseas sending goods there - which means your overseas aunts and uncles and visiting colleagues from overseas and ex-pats.

For parents there's loads more. They will tag your child so that if it goes missing you know where to find it. They even have kids clubs and Mums' mornings.

Some of these services will be free and others at a price and it wasn't clear from the book. But it's very well thought out. If even one of their umpteen offers works out for you or makes the place so safe and convenient that everybody else is smiling, it's great.

The hours for the restaurants are wonderful. Brent Cross everything closes early evening so you can't shop in the day and get your working spouse of family to meet you for a meal in the evening.

Knowing that restaurants are open until midnight most days is handy. And open until 11 pm until Sunday is good too as in the London suburbs and country pubs a lot close at 10 with last orders at 9.30 or 9.

The only thing I don't like is the free parking for only two hours - and only now, early days of the centre, not guaranteed as a permanent ongoing. Obviously if they get too busy and people in first thing in the morning blocked the car parks they'd want to move you on. If you are going by tube that won't bother you.

But I hate to feel rushed or to mess about with coins and queues and barriers stopping you getting out if you've lost your ticket - like Harrow and Watford. For parking, I prefer Brent Cross. Free parking. All day.

Who does a shopping centre in two hours including a meal? By the time you've driven half way across London, you might as well make a day of it. But I'll certainly give Westfield a try and report back to you soon.

Now I've been there, it's great. Glamorous and spacious. A great Foyles bookshop with seating so you can sit and read and a two for one offer on books. Books on computing for Mac, life of rich American Buffet - if I could make money like him I wouldn't need bargains in the sales, but I bet he looks for bargains.

A huge Marks & Spencer. Debenhams.

Public areas have proper seats in colours to match carpet and the chairs have backs. (Unlike Brent Cross where you sit hunched over on flat slabs shared with others.)

Food - the M & S bar outside had run out of the smoked salmon sandwich but we went into the M & S food supermarket which had smoked salmon as one of the fillings in the triple roll picnic pack. And they had seating. Mostly high seats like bar stools with high tables. But a couple of low chairs with normal height tables.

The best bargain lunch was in the big Boots, a meal deal of sandwich or salad, drink and choice of third snack item for a total under five pounds, £3.49 actually. Couldn't find a big Water Pick in Boots to massage gums. Amusing kids' talking toys.

dee234

Westfiled 7th December 2008

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Some lovley places to eat or just have a drink and a chat!

Great range of shops to suit every budget.

Its a must see!

ceedoubleu

The elephant in the room 2nd November 2008

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So I took a trip to the new centre for the worship of Mammon, and it certainly seems to live up to the hype. First of all getting there: Very easy, served by the Central, Hammersmith and City Lines and a mainline station or, in my case, a bus. It was the first Saturday and it was crowded, I mean very, very busy but surprisingly easy to get around. I didn't have any particular purchase in mind but Maryam wanted to buy some cheese, given that I had singularly failed in my Borough Market task the previous day.

So we wandered around and what struck me was the genuine enthusiasm of the people working there - they really are proud of being part of such a massive project.

Coming in from the Shepherds Bush entrance, you pass the restaurant row and then arrive in the luxury goods atrium - I think it is called the Village. Smack bang in the middle is a Champagne Bar, so we found time for a quick drink before going on to shop - it's fine and makes a good pit stop and is strategically placed fpr Tiffany's for some champagne fuelled shopping that I fear will cost a few people close to Christmas!

The opening hours are 0900 - 2200 with the restaurants remaining open until midnight. The cinema multiplex opens early next year.

So, its easy to get to, has shopping for all budgets but I would try and arrive early.