Retail therapy is only the start
All retail outlets are pretty much the same, right? There’s a decent selection of stores, if you’re lucky, some good discounts – but generally situated in the middle of nowhere, tough to get to and not exactly a sure-fire fun family day out.
Well, Affinity Lancashire is a class apart – located right by an attractive marina on the edge of the seaside town of Fleetwood, it lies just ten miles by car from Blackpool making it a convenient destination for holidaymakers.
And you don’t need a car to get there, as a bus runs regularly from Blackpool to Fleetwood and stops right outside the centre, plus the site is well served by one of Britain’s oldest tram lines, with a stop only five minutes’ walk away.
The centre also prides itself on pushing the boat out when it comes to attracting families with a summer programme of free events to keep the whole family entertained, from “Meet the Minions” events and traditional Punch and Judy shows to steel drum bands, salsa by the sea, and even magical bubble displays.
Inside the centre, accessibility is key – all the shops are on one level, while there is ramped access to the centre from the parking area which has 32 blue badge parking bays.
Meanwhile, all the toilet facilities are accessible, there is free wheelchair hire, and for those who find things getting stressful can access sensory “borrow” bags with a range of helpful accessories.
It’s an unusually inclusive atmosphere and it has attracted some of the key names in retail with more than 40 top brands offering discounts of up to 60 per cent off regular high street prices.
Affinity has also gone out of its way to make the centre dog-friendly too. Dogs are welcomed at a number of stores, while there are plenty of drinking water stations that are regularly refilled as well as free poo bag dispensers dotted around the site to help ensure the space is kept clean even if you run out.
Affinity Lancashire is certainly your first choice for footwear no matter what you’re looking for as it has retail outlets for Clarks, Skechers, Sports Direct and Pavers.
And if your new shoes inspire you to head outside more often then there are plenty of outlets at Affinity to kit you out handsomely. There are premium brands, from Regatta Great Outdoors to Trespass, alongside Craighoppers and Mountain Warehouse.
And if you’re looking for something specific many stores offer the option to order an item online before collecting in store. This is an excellent option if you know just what you want.
However, there’s still something to be said for just having a browse, perhaps including checking out the Next Outlet, Next Home, Saltrock, and London Leathers Direct. You can pick out a shirt from Double Two and perhaps co-ordinate it with a sweatshirt from Crew Clothing Company.
You could easily spend a full day at the Affinity site, and accordingly it’s fully equipped with a Costa and Coffee Box for quick refreshments, while there’s also a McDonald’s on hand. The centre’s Fleetwood Garden World also has Poppie’s Tea Room – and Fleetwood Ice Cream World is in store to tempt you.
Affinity Lancashire may be easy to get to but with so much on offer it can be hard to choose so a visit to the centre’s website to keep abreast of the latest events and discounts is recommended.