Forum Topic

John Lewis @ Westfield, Shepherds Bush

Ref the headline on this site from a couple of days ago would John Lewis realistically pull out of this centre after just 2 years?With Debenham's gone and House of Fraser on the way out there would be no department store anchor tenant - unless you count M&S.

Philip Coe ● 2312d53 Comments

I was surprised to be reminded that it had been opened for two years. It was my intention to go but I never got round to it - by all accounts it was pretty impressive.It has to be that some pretty hard negotiating is going on with Westfield. If the store is losing money even before rent and the group is making redundancies they won't want to reopen but it would be a disaster for Westfield if they lost yet another big store.Westfield themselves will probably have to offer free weekday parking if they want to keep tenants.

Anita Blake ● 2312d

The numbers of people shopping in the new extension is significantly below  what they’d forecast so I’m guessing JL are using it as a way of negotiating a cheaper rent. They’re probably got more leverage  given the demise of Debenhams and HoF.

James Carter ● 2312d

We've never been either!

Philippa Bond ● 2312d

I vaguely recall that John Lewis declined to be part of the initial development and oening as it was thought that this location would just cannibalise sales from their relatively nearby store at Oxford Street & Brent Cross.

Philip Coe ● 2312d

The 237 from Chiswick goes right to White City Bus Station in front of John Lewis. Surprising that more Chiswick residents haven't ventured there since opening.

Gina Thomas ● 2312d

Personally I would rather stick hot pins in my eyes than go to one of these horrors, my idea of the seventh circle of hell!

Vanessa Smith ● 2312d

Why do you regard a John Lewis store as a "horror"?  As Gina says, the bus stops right outside JL, or there's Wood Lane station next door or a car park above the store.  You don't have to endure the rest of Westfield if it's against your religion.

Richard Jennings ● 2312d

Only went to Westfield once.  It was a very unpleasant experience.  I'd need a very good reason to go again.

Claire Moran ● 2312d

As Richard says, it is possible to visit John Lewis White City without entering Westfield at all.

Gina Thomas ● 2312d

Peter Jones - Sloane SquareJohn Lewis - Brent CrossJohn Lewis - Oxford StreetJohn Lewis - Wycombe (superb, self-contained and so relaxed)Four good reasons never to venture anywhere near Westfield.

N V Brooks ● 2312d

I might visit JL if I wanted new curtains but can't think of a reason otherwise

Claire Moran ● 2312d

John Lewis Partnership is a terrific retailer, never knowingly undersold, excellent customer service with a wide range product lines and you can order online with goods delivered and installed - what's not too like ? Suspect JL are trying to negotiate terms with their landlord to make it viable for them to trade

Loraine Pemberton ● 2312d

I’ve been there and bought things. It’s fine. In the good old days, I could stop for a coffee and cake or some Prosecco. If you know your way around and what you want, Westfield is OK.

Vivienne Cox ● 2312d

Wycombe is really a pleasant experience rounded off by easy parking.

Nicholas Beard ● 2312d

I hope it does reopen. I love that one. You can get to ut bypassing everything else  do everything and a nice coffee  then escape. Sad if it goes

Beccy Thorp ● 2312d

We quite like Westfield, especially as it’s so easy to reach by bus.  Apart from John Lewis there’s a superb Waitrose, the multi-screen Vue, Wahaca (or a multitude of other eateries) for lunch, Uniqlo, M&S, so many shoe shops, etc etc.  It can be a bit manic at weekends but if you’re able to go weekdays it’s fine.

Alastair Banton ● 2312d

I've been to Westfield Several times - I used to go to the pensioners cinema on a Tuesday morning (not sure if they still do it) and to the Jo Malone shop.  But the problem with the John Lewis store is that it was such a slog from the main shopping area, unless you only went JL and parked in their separate car park.  In fact, when I went there I exited from the wrong door and found myself in no mans land and was completely lost.  Rather go to Oxford Street or Kingston.

Micki Hawkes ● 2312d

"Rather go to Oxford Street"Having lived down the road many moons ago i still even today dont get Oxford street. Westfield offers a lot,and you can or could play ten pin blowling or a round of pitch and put with alcohol. Whats not to like

Julian Pavey ● 2312d

Would rather do all that in the open air with greenery all around instead of in a grim concrete jungle.

Claire Moran ● 2312d

They are wonderful for domestic appliances, computing,mobile phones, toys for the grandchildren and a myriad of other things.

N V Brooks ● 2312d

Make that five good reasons, I forgot Kingston!

N V Brooks ● 2312d

Can all be bought online!  Much less time consuming and stressful.

Claire Moran ● 2312d

Less time consuming, I would argue equally, if not more stressful when the ruddything arrives and it's not what you expected/wanted and you miss out on the social interaction (even with social distancing).

N V Brooks ● 2312d

The only downside to shopping on the high road is when the other half drags you into about 6 shops shopping for one item and you end back in the first shop you visited 3 hours earlier.Thats the only nightmare

Julian Pavey ● 2312d

The other positive to buying from JLP, other than it being a local employer is that I trust that they’re paying a fair amount of tax and treating their employees much better than many online only retailers in existence these days!

James Carter ● 2312d

I don't find social interaction while shopping particularly edifying.  More often blood pressure issues while four of them gather round one call or customer (particularly in tech shops) as they are clueless to sort the customer's problem while I am twiddling my thumbs or having such a nice chat between each other that it's clear customers are a necessary evil (and that's on a good day).  You need to do your homework properly before you order online but if not what you want when it arrives there is a grace period - longer than in shops - to send the item back for a refund.

Claire Moran ● 2312d

I was unaware of this store's existence until I heard it might be closing. Perhaps that provides a clue as to why it was struggling.

Felicity Caborn ● 2312d

"Would rather do all that in the open air with greenery all around"For that there is the John Lewis app available on smart phones everywhere from the comfort of Richmond Park. Or perhaps a bubble bath.

David Lesniak ● 2312d

Another day, another weird snobbish W4 thread.Westfield is absolutely fine for what it is, and very handy for Chiswick residents whether they are drivers or not (like me). Shopping in John Lewis there is a far nicer "experience" than either the Oxford Street or Brent Cross branches, and I've never particularly been a fan of Peter Jones.I find it very odd that W4ers are seriously suggesting that Wycombe JL is a better alternative.Westfield is jolly quiet early in the morning and the posh cinema screen is excellent and well worth the extra cash. I once saw Bob Willis there and everything (before he died, obviously).

Mike Firth ● 2312d

A new department store, a Harrods Outlet, opened on Friday in the old Debenhams space.

Felicity Oates ● 2312d

Wycombe is straight down the M40 so quite handy for W4. Its got a nice atmosphere and its in the country.

Nicholas Beard ● 2312d

I sometimes wonder if this is a forum for Chiswick residents or for Top Gear fans, considering the obsession with driving so many people on here have.Also, this doesn't look all that countrified to me: https://airqualitynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/high-wycombe-town-centre-aerial.jpg

Mike Firth ● 2312d

It's not just John Lewis @ Westfield we've never been to - it is Westfield itself.We do like John Lewis and sometimes shop online and get things click and collect.  We have also been known to go to all the other John Lewis' mentioned - as well as the new Oxford one (don't go to that one if you insist on taking a car!).  Occasionally - very occasionally - we like to do the kind of browsing that you can only do by actually going there (not that we do much online anyway).

Philippa Bond ● 2311d

I loved John Lewis for the wonderful and very personal service one always received.  In any department there was always a staff member who could clearly explain and talk you through what you were needing.  Now I need to talk to a bedding expert as I require a new mattress or even an entire bed.  A disembodied call service voice is no good (that presupposes you can find a phone number and that once found anyone will answer before next week).  I have finally managed to send an email it's been acknowledged but quite a delay before anyone will call me back.  I wait with baited breath!

Jennifer Selig ● 2311d

But it's not in High Wycombe town centre (nowehere near in fact)!Also surrounded by nice country pubs.

N V Brooks ● 2311d

My daughter who lives in Iver visited JL High Wycombe this afternoon to buy some shoes for her three-year-old daughter.The staff member explained that they were not able to measure or fit childrens shoes but.....happy to get all of the measuring equipment, sit three seats away and give my daughter detailed measuring instructions. Then the JL partner scurried off to get a selection of shoes (not pushing the expensive ones but a pair that were low-mid range) and then gave my daughter detailed instructions on how to check the fit.Delighted three-year-old, happy mum, cracking service!

N V Brooks ● 2311d

Completely agree about helpful and knowledgeable service in the stores - something that is lacking in many stores nowadays and something that they could work on to entice us back to the high street.I asked a question about something that was listed online with JL and the lack of knowledge of the item - ie its size - was amazing.  I'm sure the size listed online was just the size of the box that it came in.

Philippa Bond ● 2311d

"Also surrounded by nice country pubs."So you drive all the way to Wycombe and then go to a pub where you can't even enjoy a drink or two?

Mike Firth ● 2310d

You can't beat Peter Jones in Sloane Square.

Chris Blackwell ● 2310d

The current situation is transitory and country pubs often have large gardens to enjoy.The drink needs not to be alcoholic and I don't always do the driving! Silly boy!

N V Brooks ● 2310d

JL High Wycombe is a good place to meet up halfway between homes except that parents end up paying the bills!

Philippa Bond ● 2310d

Yep, been there done that :-)I always like the way they have community events between the numerous entrances. Last visit (prior to lockdown) they had a wonderful youth band playing and collecting for local charities. They also often have partners doing the 'Japanese courtesy' of greeting all arrivals and asking how they can assist.

N V Brooks ● 2310d

I hate Westfield (& shopping generally), but I have been persuaded into JL White City through it's separate entrance and found I got really good service and decent products at a fair price.My last purchase was a dishwasher.  I didn't expect to buy from JL, but they had their 3-year warranty and it was the right spec and price.  Installation was perfect:  two friendly blokes arrived on time and got it into a tricky small space with no issues or quibbles.  The £20 extra I paid vs AO (& several other online guys) was well worth it for the peace of mind that it would be installed OK and if there were issues I would have a reasonable company to deal with.

Tim Parlett ● 2309d

The experience in the stores has always been good IMO and they've been a good place to browse and research with good quality etc.  I always went for sewing materials and accessories - things I needed to see first.  The separate entrance sounds more interesting. The getting there is not so pleasant at the moment.  It's a boon in the meantime being able to order online and use the click and collect at Waitrose.  I understand that there has been a change in their returns policy and it's not quite as generous as it was - but times have changed - and we have to too.

Philippa Bond ● 2309d

The experience in the stores has always been good IMO and they've been a good place to browse and research with good quality etc.  I always went for sewing materials and accessories - things I needed to see first.  The separate entrance sounds more interesting. The getting there is not so pleasant at the moment.  It's a boon in the meantime being able to order online and use the click and collect facility they have with Waitrose.  I understand that there has been a change in their returns policy and it's not quite as generous as it was - but times have changed - and we have to too.

Philippa Bond ● 2309d

Philippa, don't forget that 'Mr.Bunty' is still there in Daniels West Ealing for haberdashery

N V Brooks ● 2309d

And Kingston,

Ken McAllister ● 2308d

Mr Bunty is no longer in Daniels. He retired and sold the business a while ago. I have to say that it is a much more welcoming space and offers a wider range of wool and sewing accessories.

Pat Kingham ● 2308d

Thanks, I thought that I hadn't seen him when I purchased a mattress in January. I assumed that as the haberdashery was there that he was still running it.

N V Brooks ● 2308d

John Lewis have just announced 8 store closures, but the Westfield branch reopens on 30th July.

Rebecca Singer ● 2307d

John Lewis Watford is closing, I didn't even know that there was a JL in Watford!

N V Brooks ● 2307d

It was originally Trewins, opened in the 1880s, came under John Lewis in the 60s, I think, then when they rebranded all their stores to John Lewis it changed name.  Good denizens of Watford unimpressed, rather like Streatham didn't like losing its Pratt's.  It moved into the Harlequin Centre about 20 years ago, but that's a horrible shopping centre.  I only know all this as family members used to live just outside Watford.

Rebecca Singer ● 2307d

Great news - for the staff, for Westfield generally and for all of us John Lewis fans.

Alastair Banton ● 2307d