9 things you only know if you shop at West Orchards

WEST Orchards has been at the heart of shopping in the city centre since 1991.

It opened at a time when shoppers thought Coventry was stuck in a ‘time warp’ and developers wanted to shake off the city’s reputation as a ‘one-store town.’

West Orchards cost £50m to build over three years and saw the creation of 35 stores and 1,000 new jobs.

Despite weathering two retail recessions and the numerous opening and closing of stores, there are a few things that have remained constant in recent years.

We’ve picked out nine things which will always happen to you when you visit West Orchards.

1. The escalator

You’ve been up THAT green escalator to get into the shopping centre We all know that green escalator. One of the many ways to get into West Orchards, the escalator takes you up from the Upper Precinct and into where HMV used to be.

2. Queue for car park

West Orchards has over 600 parking spaces and numerous electric car charging points.

We’ve all been there, queuing for well over 30 minutes during peak shopping times to get out of the twisting car park and onto Corporation Street ...we put up with it because it’s cheap and you don’t have to walk far.

3. Food court lunch

It isn’t a trip into town or West Orchards without going to the food court for lunch.

Just a few years ago, you had the choice of a KFC or McDonald’s.

But now, it feels like the world is your oyster up there.

Noodles, Subway, Krispy Kreme for dessert - and of course the old Maccy’s and KFC are still there.

The choice is endless now.

4. Losing car in the car park

Which colour floor and which corner did I come through?

However if you do manage to get into the complex’s parking garage, you may struggle to remember where you parked your car in the furore of getting the kids and shopping bags under control...then you have to try and get out at busy times.

5. Getting stopped by the Sky man

It’s difficult to walk through the side entrance to the shopping centre without being stopped by one of the sales men or charity reps.

You’ll try going on your phone, walking with purpose and avoiding eye contact, but they’ll always try and grab your attention.

We know it’s their job, but there is only so many times you can tell a person that you already sponsor a dog and have Sky TV.

6. Looking over the edge and getting vertigo

With the number of escalators, flights of stairs and the amount of hussle and bussle in the coffee shop on the ground floor - you are bound to get dizzy looking down.

Stood on the top floor looking down, you’ll see the busy food court, the

baristas in the coffee shop on the bottom floor. Look down on it all and you could feel a bit sick. The constant moving of the escalators definitely doesn’t help with the nausea.

7. Trying to pick the right escalator - going up instead of down

If you do take the escalator, then you’ll probably get confused about which one goes up and which one goes down.

8. Poppy drop

Each year dozens of shoppers gather on November 11 to watch thousands of poppies fall from the roof in honour or Armistice Day.

9. Santa’s Grotto

The festivities at West Orchards are at their peak during the Christmas period.

It’s the time when Santa pays a visit and the famous grotto visits the shopping centre for children to make their wishes to Father Christmas.

We’ve all been cramped in together to watch the centre’s Christmas light switch on and queue for a sneaky peek of Santa Claus.