Manchester – Shopping – Department Stores
The 1938 Modernist building by J. Beaumont impresses on the outside, as well as inside. A mix of brands, from MaxMara to Phase Eight, is spread across the floors. The ground floor dazzles you with what looks like a fragrance and cosmetics paradise. But for someone like me who loves kitchen and all cookware upper floors are the magnet. Even browsing their range of funky little kitchen tools makes me feel hungry. In her own words, Nigella Lawson always buys these kitchen “things”, and it seems I’m almost following in her footsteps.
The cafe upstairs looks somewhat bland, compared to the status of the store and the brands that trade here. I certainly expected something on a grander scale, although it is cosy.
Last but not least come HoF’s shop windows. Somehow those on the sides of the building often seem to be more impressive than the one that faces Deansgate. Needless to say, a lot of effort is put into these frontal windows during Christmas season, but it does not always spills over to festiveless times.
