Drake Circus — Attraction in Plymouth

What a miserable experience. £10 in fuel to get there, £2 on the bridge, £3 to park the car, bus lane cameras, speed cameras, shops with low stocks, sub standard food outlets. No wonder the High Street is dying.

So, Drake Circus suggested that I should email them direct. So I sent them this...

Dear Drake Circus,

You recently responded to my review on Google Maps of my experience whilst visiting Drake Circus, inviting me to contact you at this email address.

I believe that my review, whilst succinct, contained adequate detail to accurately describe the misery of visiting both Plymouth and Drake Circus.

Whilst I travel to the city daily from Liskeard for work, I must admit that I rarely venture into town. However, on this particular day I wanted to buy my wife a replacement wedding ring, as she has recently lost the original. Whilst we were there, I decided to take the opportunity to buy a few items of clothing and we thought it would be good to have lunch whilst we were out.

As I described in my review, I had to cover the cost of fuel and the Tamar bridge toll, as well as the £3.00 car park fee. At a conservative estimate, I’d say that came to between £10 and £12. On leaving the A38, one is confronted with a variety of traffic cameras, designed to punish drivers for minor traffic infringements. I didn’t infringe, but it’s quite clear that the city regards visitors as an opportunity to fill its coffers. Driving around Plymouth is certainly not an enjoyable experience!

On arrival at the shopping centre, it was easy enough to find a parking space, which isn’t really a surprise given the ghastly experience which awaits you. Entering though Marks and Spencer we went to the menswear department, but the stock of sizes was so poor I couldn’t find anything to fit. Disappointing though this was, we decided to have lunch. Yo Sushi was first. We waited to be seated and were directed to use their useless app, rather than take our order. Naturally, the app didn’t work, so the waiter offered to take our order in person! Sadly, they never had anything that we wanted. This is not an exaggeration, literally nothing that we ordered was in stock! This was lunchtime, not just before closing time! On leaving, the waiter suggested we should visit before 12 on a Tuesday, as it’s not so busy!! The place was virtually empty!!

We decided that as we’d wasted enough time, and we needed to buy the ring, we’d head straight to the other end of the building to where the food outlets were. To be honest, the choice of Burger King or Spud-U-Like, with or without James Martin’s endorsement, didn’t really get our gastronomic juices flowing but we settled for the burger. Twenty minutes later, after we’d done our best to sanitise the table and returned the incorrect meal, and parting with nearly £20 for a cold burger and some soggy chips, we headed off with some hope to find a suitable ring.

Still, with a degree of optimism, we visited every jewellery store. To our surprise, and intense disappointment we were unable to find a suitable piece of jewellery. The stores had several lovely pieces which were within our budget, but in so few sizes it was impossible to find anything to buy.

Eventually, with all hope dashed, we trudged back to the car, paid our parking fee, negotiated our way though the maze of potential fixed penalty notices on the way to the A38 and headed for the sanctuary of Cornwall. The thick end of £40 out of pocket, and a nasty case of indigestion from the miserable repast.

On balance, I think that my Google review was somewhat generous, and if you or the city of Plymouth want to tempt shoppers back to the High Street, you will have to do much much better than this.

With kind regards,

This was their response...

Good afternoon Martin,

Thank you for taking the time to share this information and we’re sorry to hear that you were disappointed with your visit to Drake Circus.

We’ll ensure your feedback is passed along to the relevant retailers.

Kind regards,

Lisa

Lisa...

Drake Circus is a fantastic shopping destination right in the heart of Plymouth. The mall has a great selection of stores, from popular high-street brands to beauty, tech, and lifestyle shops – making it easy to find whatever you’re looking for in one convenient location.

The centre is modern, clean, and well-maintained, with a spacious layout that makes for a relaxed shopping experience. It’s also beautifully decorated during festive seasons, which adds a really nice touch.

There are plenty of food and drink options available, whether you’re after a quick coffee, a light lunch, or something more filling. The café and restaurant area on the upper floor offers a good variety and a nice spot to take a break.

The staff across the stores and the mall itself are friendly and helpful, and there’s a strong sense of safety and organisation throughout. Parking is convenient, and the location is easily accessible by public transport.

Overall, Drake Circus is a great place to shop, meet friends, or spend a rainy afternoon in Plymouth. Highly recommended for locals and...

TLDR: Impressive Shopping Experience with Excellent Facilities

I recently visited Drake Circus in Plymouth with a friend who was looking for a formal purple shirt, and we also wanted to grab a bite to eat. This shopping center left a lasting impression on us with its size, cleanliness, and wide range of options.

The variety of shops and stores at Drake Circus is truly impressive - you can find anything you could possibly want.

The atmosphere at Drake Circus was calm and not too busy, which made our visit stress-free. The mall was clean and well-maintained, and the presence of plenty of security staff added to our sense of safety.

We enjoyed exploring the dining options available at Drake Circus as well. There was a good variety of places to eat, catering to different tastes and preferences.

Overall, I would highly recommend Drake Circus to anyone looking for a diverse shopping experience in a clean and safe environment. You can find everything you need here, and the facilities...