mattb100's Qype profile

I have purchased loads of PC bits and bobs from Navatech over the past few years and have always been impressed by the prices and the service that they offer.
They mostly stock PC’s and components/peripherals but also sell things like TV’s as well.
One of the best things about Novatech is the various pre-assembled and tested bundles that they do. They have a range of motherboard and barebone PC bundles that come with the memory, processor, heatsink etc already installed and tested. This is a great idea, especially if you are a bit of a novice at building a PC but fancy giving it a go. It takes all of the guess work out of matching components and makes sure you don’t wreck the new kit you’ve just bought by installing it wrong.

The Next store in the Potteries Centre was originally in two different units with the childrens clothes in a seperate store. Both units have now been merged into the current location which means that everything is now in the same shop which is much better.
The range and quality of clothes is very good and they are usually up to date with the latest fashions. The prices are in the mid range - not Primark cheap or designer expensive.
The end of season sales at Next (especially the Christmas one) are well worth looking out for as you can get some real bargains with many items half price but be prepared to get up early!

HMV in the Potteries Centre has a very large selection of DVD’s, CD’s, video games and consoles.
The prices tend to be quite good and they regularly have special offers such as 3 DVD’s for £20 or cheap games console bundles.
The store layout is very good. Everything is arranged into different categories with special sections devoted to things such as the current top 40 singles so it’s easy to find the what you are looking for.
The staff are friendly and even though there is sometimes a large queue, they are very fast at dealing with people so you don’t usually have to wait long.

Wilkinsons is one of the best places places for bargain hunting and sell a huge range of items from razor blades to curtain poles, many of which are cheaper than other shops.
They also have a lot of very cheap DIY items. When we were re-decorating our house, Wilkinsons wasn’t the first store that came to mind when buying paint, light switches etc but in my experience, even though they haven’t got such a large range of products they are usually cheaper than all of the big DIY stores.
The staff are very polite and helpful and I have never had to wait long to pay.

The Woolworths in Hanley sells a very large range of items from TV’s to pick and mix.
The prices are reasonable and they often have good offers on things like CD’s, DVD’s and pay as you go mobile phones.
The staff are helpful although whenever I have been there doesn’t seem to be enough of them to keep up with the amount of customers especially on the tills. There have been times when I have waited for ages in long queues and there has only been one person working on the tills.
The store could also do with a bit of a facelift as it is beginning to show it’s age

Debenhams sells a large range of clothes, perfumes and home furnishings and also does a wedding gift list service.
The store is very large and split over 3 floors but it is well laid out and reasonably easy to find the things that you want.
There is also a cafe selling snacks and cakes if you need to take the weight off your feet.
It isn’t the cheapest place to shop but the quality of the items is very high and the customer service is very good.
They have very good sales especially around Christmas and if you are prepared to queue for a while you can get some real bargains.

In my opinion, Fat Cats is one of the nicest places in Hanley to go for a few drinks.
There is a small car park at the side but it tends to get full very quickly and you have to be careful that you don’t get blocked in.
It is quite a large bar that is split between two floors. The seats are very comfortale and there is also an outdoor seating area with patio heaters.
The drinks are about average prices and they also do a range of cocktails but some of these can be a bit on the expensive side.
The food is good quality and well priced.

Chy Bar is one of my favourite bars in Newquay.
The interior decoration is very good and the location makes it an excellent place to start a night out.
There is also quite a lot of seating outside and on a sunny day it’s a great place to go for a few beers and with a good view of the sea.
The food is very good especially the burgers - the “Chys Burger” is well worth trying and is good value considering the size of the portions. The drinks prices are about average and they have a good selection of beers, wines and spirits.

The Pizza Hut on the Festival Park is an good family orientated restaurant selling a wid range of Pizzas and Pastas.
The prices aren’t particular cheap for the normal Pizza and Pasta but as other reviewers have said, they run a buffet every weekday lunchtime where you can eat as much as you like for a set price. If you’ve got a large appetite this can be an absolute bargain. The only downside to the buffet is that they don’t have many different types of pizza (usually beef & onion, cheese and tomatoe and a vegetarian option).
When we have ordered from the Menu rather than having the buffet, the service has always been quite fast and the staff have always been friendly.

I visited the Park Plaza earlier this year. There was quite a large group of us on a stag weekend and this was in a great location for easy access to the city centre (there is also an excellent indian restaurant directly opposite called Mem Saab).
Booking was very easy through their website and check-in was very fast and efficient. Due to the location, the hotel doesn’t have it’s own parking but you can get a discounted rate at the NCP car park which is just over the road.
The rooms were very clean and modern with a flat screen TV and all the usual facilities.
I woud definately visit the Park Plaza again as it offers very good value for money.