Matalan

Well Matalan exceeded my expectations with the most ineffective method of handling the Covid situation. As a customer I spent twenty minutes outside the shop in pouring rain with a queue of about twenty people all getting soaking wet, waiting to enter the store. It was back to school time so a few families were waiting patiently. Finally I complained after watching a stream of at least forty people leaving through the same door that this should have justified allowing a few in. Finally we were in. Then that’s where the problems really started as there were no directions marked on the floor and the rails are still the old configuration so no matter what way you go, squeezing passed rails and other shoppers is inevitable. I did not feel there was any social distancing going on at all. I shopped in haste so I could leave as quickly as possible but then the next problem was at the tills. The queues were as long as they usually are and again no spacing between customers and no one in the least interested in trying to rectify this problem. The customer experience was absolutely dreadful and I have made a promise to myself I will never return to Matalan no matter how inexpensive they are. The staff aren’t interested in anything other than themselves They talk to each other like there is all the time in the world. There is clearly no pride in the store or any interest in who they serve. The store was filthy and there were clothes everywhere. I’m done with Matalan - Customers deserve better.

Add 10-15 minutes to the expected time of staying there as you'll be spending that in a queue. Range is good, quality is good, sizes are often out of order although that's the same in a lot of places. It's probably time these places got self service machines as the lasting impression was the long queue. Update: They did get self service machines, but the 10-15 mins queue hasn't gone away, no doubt distancing plays a part so a minor improvement. Apparently the queue isn't unique to this store, so it's the usual.

Good place to buy clothes. They are at reasonable price and place is also not over crowded. Quality of clothes is good and there are lot of variety in shop. Good place away bit away from town market ,hence good for a break from city side

Have seen tidier displays with more organisation at a car boot sale. Clothing scattered all over the floor, so obviously no cleaning done. No method to finding stuff on sale, very haphazard, not sorted into sizes or even same styles. No social distancing evident either. Horrible shopping experience that I certainly wouldn't want to repeat.

Good quality shirts, although it can be pricey