With over 3000 brands and 17 restaurants, bars and cafes, there is no need to visit London village (as Marc & Lard call it), Paris, Milan or New York to stock up in the latest in cutting edge fashion. We are the only city in the world that can boast two Selfridges store less than 10 miles apart.

Exchange Square

My favourite store is the Exchange Square Selfridges and I have been known to spend two to three hours just in the food hall - in Tampopo, when money is tight, and the Oyster & Champagne Bar when somebody else is paying. By the way, the coffee bar is just to die for!

Maharishi, LK Bennett, Balenciaga (what Kylie wears!) have all set up residency here, so it was no surprise when I once found myself rubbing shoulders with David and Victoria (Mr & Mrs Beckham to you) at Trafford centre Selfridges, and then on another occasion at the Exchange Square Selfridges - on both occasions trying to do some serious damage to their credit cards!

Which is usually what I have to do to my credit cards by taking a pair of scissors to them, whenever I have been on one of my infamous binges at the store. Take last month for example I got carried away and ended up spending two months' wages on one (as in single!) handbag. Needless to say, I have been too scared to be seen in public ever since with the handbag lest some drunken fool should spill their cheap lager all over it, plus I haven't yet found shoes to match.

Talking of shoes, when is Manolo Blahniks going to open up in Manchester? Maybe Harvey Nics. will do us the honour. If they do, then my fave Dept store will be quickly revised.

Watch this space.