The Clock Tower Retail Park

M & S Food slways enjoyable to shop in this food hall. Free parking outside (T & C apply) Few self checkouts if you're in a hurry otherwise staffed checkout if doing weekly shop.

I don't go here very often (but then I don't like shopping so avoid going anywhere that often.) I mostly go to M&S because they do some nice gluten free things and their sausages are gluten free. But I have been to Dunelm and Aldi, and there are other shops. I try and go when it's quieter and never had a problem parking, though occasionally have had trouble getting out, when it's been busier. But is a useful shopping area this side of Chelmsford.

Received a £60 parking fine for staying 16 minutes over the 3 hour free parking time (which I wasn't even aware of). Won't be shopping here again unless just to pop into one store. It's shameful that M&S, Dunelm, Aldi, Furniture Village endorse such treatment of their clients.

Plenty of variety over the whole site and sufficient parking, the downside is the accessibly either entrance/exit is badly designed for getting out, one side you have to cross two or three lanes of heavy traffic so you are reliant on courteous drivers, and the other end you have to exit left that takes you onto a very busy roundabout so you have the potential for a very long wait. If you are buying chilled or frozen food take a freezer bag you will most likely need it.

Only went to one shop. Got what I wanted and left. In and out in 20 minutes.
Would have been a lot quicker if Dunelm opened more than 2 of their 7 tills when there was a queue of about 40 people.
Second time I have been spectacularly unimpressed.

This is always a good place to shop. I was only disappointed that they did not carry any m&m's or anything like it in their brand.
A nice clean store with very helpful staff.

The parking was excellent and shops we visited were well stocked staff polite and knowledgeable of products.

Shopped 2 weeks before Christmas, had just moved house & buying everything essential in Dunelm. Especially fantastic helpful lady in the curtain department. Sadly 40 minutes queuing to pay & get out left me with a £60 parking fine having spent £500 in store. Will not return, not enough time when you're buying beds, carpets curtains etc let alone then trying to do an Aldi shop.