Is Peacocks hot or not?

Peacocks mirrors everything that was bad about fashion in the Eighties, starting with the look and smell of the store — predominantly shoe polish.

It illustrates how the high street used to be before it became good. The clothes are either functional, or gaudy; the shapeless suit-trousers and lacklustre jeans come with a belt included, £20 for the entire package. Everything — from combat pants and jumpers to blouses and shorts — has unnecessary detailing, turning garments from something that could have been deemed all right into over-embellished.

The slogan tops are the type you could find at Greek holiday resorts in days gone by — a sleeveless sweatshirt emblazoned with "Work Hard Play Hard" and a pink Snoopy T-shirt that reads "Cold Nose Warm Heart". Peacocks' E-vie collection is hyped as the brand's trend-led range but, despite a few nice prints and shapes, provides no real contest for the rest of the British high street as it is let down by poor fabrics.

By contrast, the footwear available is quite strong: I liked a selection of double-strapped Mary Jane's. The children's department is also good with some eye-catching screen-printed T-shirts.

Staff: rude. One was up a ladder and another walked away when she saw me heading towards her.
Changing rooms: dirty, unattended and no seating.
Quality: low, but the prices reflect this.
Best buy: suede pixie boots, £22.