Dunnes

Dunnes! I expected this to be my least favourite feature of my local retail park, but upon entry I was forced to revise my assumptions, its not that bad at all. Without doubt, Deichmann Shoes is worse, what even is Deichmann Shoes. Go away Deichmann Shoes.
Anyway Dunnes is pretty good. I feel like aunties belong here, and if you go in that is what you’ll principally find. However, if you can manage to feel a little out of place (unless you are an auntie) you can pick up a lot of good bargains.
The clothes is probably the best thing about it, though they are mainly for girls. Its quite similar to Primark in prices and quality. You can get some good stuff at low prices, but its probably not going to last 10 years.
I don’t think it deserves the five stars, but its certainly better than I ever expected.

My mother once told me that Dunnes is sometimes known as ‘the Irish Marks and Spencers’. Or certainly what Marks and Spencers used to be before it became all hip n’ groovy with its food porn adverts and Noémie Lenoir prancing around in her knickerbockers. I’ve often gone in there for basics when I’ve felt the dreaded Primark Guilt — socks, tights, pumps, cardigans, underwear, that sort of thing. You can always grab a bargain, and unlike Primark, shopping there is not a baffling ordeal. Things are neat, clean and clearly laid out by style.
However, when I popped in recently with the sole intention of seeking out a winter white stole for the New Year wedding I’m attending, I was taken aback. Dunnes has upped its game, big time. Did I expect to be coming away armed with about ten party outfits for the festive season? Does the Pope wear a burkha? Well, I don’t know what he does in his spare time, but you get my drift.
The Savida range in Dunnes has knocked me for six. The clothing is gorgeous. Simple, elegant, easy to wear. They’ve even taken on some high fashion items, like those crazy structures shoulders that are going around (I very nearly bought a dress in that style but didn’t quite love the material so much), tulip dresses and a heck of a lot of sequins. I even partook in sequins. As I type, sitting on the train destined for London (my friends keep pointing out how ‘Sex and the City’ I am), there’s a sparkly silver bolero waiting in my suitcase which might make its debut at the gig tonight, if not, a delightful peachy pink T-​shirty type dress which is totally perfect with leggings (fact: both dress and leggings from Dunnes) is also tucked away.
Dresses can set you back between £6 and around £20, and I’ve never had a problem with any item I’ve bought there. In fact I’m wearing a semi-​cashmere jumper as I type which I got from Dunnes years ago, still going strong. Shoes are excellent, I particularly love the little range of flats they do, from around £3, and I bought five pairs of socks for a mere £2. And on top of all that, they have an super homeware range, including furniture. I’ve grabbed so many essentials from here it isn’t even funny.
Best of all though, it’s located in my beloved Regent Retail Park, which means parking, nearby Sainsbury’s and… well, this one’s just for me, it’s a five minute walk from my abode. I couldn’t recommend Dunnes more. The sales are superb with everything at around half price or less, the bedding is particularly excellent, and the only thing it’s missing to make it really rival Marks and Spencers is a food department. Now, let me think of some tasty Irish cuisine they could pedal… what? Irish cuisine exists!