hamleys

A few of the friendly faces from Daisy & Tom have gone across to Hamleys and they are what make this place. The staff clearly love what they do and know their products. The demos they give are great and the large Thomas set is a must for pre-​schoolers+
I think more of the 6^th floor should have been given over to Hamleys but then I think putting a Children’s Department on the 6^th floor is ridiculous.
The range of toys is a bit limited and I still refer to the internet site for a few they don’t stock but the layout, with the space they have, is good, accessible with a pram once you get there and items are well displayed. Good for smaller gifts rather than a large lavish present. The Hamleys own wooden items in the baby range are well made and excellent value but in the 5+ age range it gets very generic
No, it doesn’t have the signature Daisy & Tom WOW factor, but then (sadly) it isn’t D&T.
I don’t recommend the café on this floor either, I was going to treat the kids to the Paddington Bear lunch boxes (where you pick three items) but the choice was limited, the oranges were well past their best and the cheese sandwiches were curling because the fridge wasn’t even on!

This is the second Hamleys to open in Manchester following the arrival at Manchester Airport a year or so back.
This opened not long after Daisy and Tom closed virtually next door. This branch occupies the top floor of the wonderful Kendals (becoming increasingly concerned over identikit UK, I can’t and won’t bring myself to calling it House of Fraser!) but I’m afraid it fails to fill the huge sandpit left by the much missed (um, if expensive) Daisy and Tom. With Daisy and Tom, you had a really nice children’s café and play area, but nothing of the like here. Slightly worried over the increasing lack of facilities for children in our fair citybut once again this tangents cause a rise in my BP
I was expecting something more in the line of the flagship store on London’s Regent Street and they admittedly carry some of the latest crazes and fancy toys, alongside the demonstrations et al. But it all seems a little half hearted, a concession rather than the full orchestra. The café next door is extremely staid, and in fact I almost had a minor breakdown over the entire dullness of the surroundings despite relatively newly refurbished (best trying the other cafés in Kendals such as Albert Roux if you’re feeling flush).
Facilities wise we get a large slide and a small bath tub of wateraren’t we all lucky?
Overall I was disappointed with this branch I was expecting them to take over the four floors of Daisy and Tom instead of this side-​car. Perhaps if it’s a success they may concentrate on a larger, Northern flagship store but it’s hardly worth the escalator journey if I’m honest.