Shopping outlets - are bigger sizes ever available?

ivyleaf

We were thinking of going to a shopping outlet in the near future, to look for bargains to wear on holiday. The two nearest to us are the MacArthur Glen one at Ashford, and the one at Chatham which I can't remember the name of!

However, I'm sure I remember reading in a magazine a while back that it was a waste of time going to outlets (I think MacArthur Glen was mentioned specifically) if you needed a larger size. Do any old-stylers in the South-East know whether this is indeed the case? I'm going to be looking for size 18 and don't want to make the journey for nothing, especially as it will be a very tiring day for me and DH (of course we can always keep going for a cuppa! )

Any advice welcome!

ivyleaf xx

Katgoddess

In my experience being an "average" size 14/16 there is never anything in my size in outlet and clearance stores only big and small sizes. I went to the Monsoon clearance store in Chatham the other week (Pentagon not the outlet centre) and there was nothing nice in my size. It was all bigger or much smaller sizes. I don't remember any specifics I'm afraid. There is a Next Clearance store in Thurrock.

I combined my day trip to chatham with a few hours in Rochester. Nice and peaceful and was full of Goths not Chavs. There is a specialist Oxfam bookshop there, a few non charity secondhand/vintage clothes shops. As well as a proper OS bakery and OS Sweet Shop.

ivyleaf

Ooh! haven't been to Rochester for ages and I'd forgotten about the Oxfam bookshop! Must tell OH it's high time we went back. Last time, King's School was having their Prizegiving Day so we could spend only a few mins in the Cathedral then had to go outside - and it poured with rain so we sheltered in a bakery which had a tearoom - no hardship there!

Haven't been to the Pentagon at all - I take it that's in Chatham town centre.

Hermia

I like the Clark's Shopping Village in Somerset and go there quite a lot. Obviously you are not going to get the range of sizes that you'd get in a normal shop, but I still think it is worth going. I have found that the sizes vary a lot in each shop you go into. One will have a good range, one will have teeny clothes, one will have big clothes etc. I have a large bosom and actually find I get a much better choice of bras (and better quality ones too) in shopping outlets than I do in department stores.

Remember shopping outlets sell other things as well as clothes! I think they are fabulous for pressie shopping and do loads of my Christmas shopping in them. Last year I got lots of half-price Crabtree and Evelyn gift sets in a shopping village and everyone I gave one to went, "OOOH! I can't afford C&E normally - thank you!" whilst I stood there looking smug!

juno

The Oxfam bookshop is often expensive! But just down the road there's the Backroom Bookshop, and if you're looking for anything in particular the man who owns it instantly knows if he's got it and where to find it.

Katgoddess

Yeah the Pentagon is in the town centre. I couldn't work out where to park and went around the one way system twice... Chatham is the same as every other high street though. The Monsoon shop is next to Sainsburys. Or it was 2 weeks ago. Apparently they pop up and dissapear in different parts of the country. I'm not being much help :S

Pooky

The one at Ashford is pretty naff for larger sizes. They do have a decent sized Marks and Sparks outlet but it their stock changes so quickly it's hard to say if they'll have anything in.

It's mostly sports shops and mens clothes there at the moment - although the clarkes shoes are normally a decent price.

Just across the road from the outlet it Asda - their clothing range is much better.

CAFCGirl

In all honesty I would say that the ashford outlet centre is essentially just high street shops, nothing is ever discounted to a decent money saving amount, the only one I've ever seen have decent reductions are Oasis, and Warehouse, however warehouse do still sell their prime stock in that store too, with about 10% taken off.

The MS one is a fairly good size but a bit dated in my opinion, you're better off keeping an eye out in their in-store sales (the MS in Chatham is horrific, try Canterbury) My manager got two pairs of trousers, three tops and a summer jacket for £15 in Canterbury.

The GAP outlet sometimes has some good value bits, esp' their t-shirts and basic button up blouse/shirts.

With outlets its all depends on the day.Ashford is very much sports shops, think theyve got reebox, adidas, puma, ralph lauren, sports international etc. Shopping heaven for the native chav.

As for Chatham (its called Dockside the outlet there) I counted (on last visit) 25 empty retail units.It's complete rubbish!!!So in all honesty save yourself the cash for petrol and parking and avoid like plague.

Good things about that area tho is the charity shops, good ones in Rochester and also shelter shop in chatham high street.Also in Chatham is a discount food store opened up near marks, they generally have the larger sizes of items,like fruit squash for very good prices, doesnt help with the clothes I know but still money saving is money saving.

I dont know if its still there anymore but there was a catalogue outlet up where the cinema and amadeus nightclub are at Medway Valley.That generally had very good reductions if you can get used to the set up.

Other than that, I know nothing, and even what I do appear to know....... can't always be taken as gospel!

ivyleaf

Many thanks for your replies! It looks as if it's not really worth bothering with Ashford or Dockside! Better stick with TK Maxx then and see what I can find next time we go to Bluewater or Lakeside.

My son goes to Amadeus occasionally so i could ask him if he knows whether the catalogue outlet shop is still there.... he prob won't know though, I think he's only been there in the dark Must def visit Rochester again soon though.

Thanks again

ivyleaf xx