Patsy and Edina raved about it in Absolutely Fabulous. I was so jealous when it opened in Leeds in 1996 and resisted the temptation of moving house….. But guess what? I don't need to.

Womenswear

On August 11th, Harvey Nics opens its doors on Exchange Square and I can't wait! (Help, I already need a few sessions at shopaholic anonymous and the store ain't even open yet).

I am practically salivating; there'll be three floors (over 100,000 sq. feet) of fashion, fragrance and food. Interestingly, the food market is situated on the second floor. (unlike Selfridges which is in the basement)

On the ground floor you've got the Lund Osler dental spa (cosmetic dentist to you - so now you can get your teeth white like Jon Bon Jovi's!). Also on the ground floor is Beyond Beauty which is an A-Z of holistic and 'cosmeceutical' beauty brands including an oxygen bar (in case traipsing around the store has got you so out of breath you feel like you've climbed Mount Everest). But I'm starting to panic 'cos I have noticed Manolo Blahniks isn't on the store's stock list. Yet.

Harvey Nicholls is right across the road from my other fave dept. store 'Selfridges. See'Selfridges - My favourite dept store'.

But whilst Manchester has become so cosmopolitan and is seriously giving London a damn good run for its money, one wonders whether Manchester has the spending capacity to sustain so many grade one dept. stores.

But then again with leafy suburbs like Prestbury, Alderley Edge, Wilmslow, Hale and Bowdon all within chauffering distance... the chances are we'll be fine. Time will tell.

Meanwhile I'm off to investigate whether they'll be stocking shoes made by my future husband….. Manolo Blahniks!