J E Beale

I only like this store because it carreys M.A.C makeup which I adore and nowhere else in Bournemouth has MAC…

This is a lovely old fashioned department store which has been in Bournemouth for many years. It is situated on many levels and can be accessed by many doors onto many streets. The products are of a high quality and the staff are exceptionally friendly, courteous and helpful. If you are looking for an upmarket product then this is the place to visit. Parking is a bit difficult as the multi storey is the closest and is quite a walk away. The store boasts a lovely café which although pricey serves excellent quality drinks and snacks. It can get busy on Saturdays so leave plently of time. If you are after quality and top class service then this is the place to come.

Department stores are not everyone’s cup of tea, but Beales has modernised over the years and feels quite trendy again. You can probably get various items in other individual stores, but it’s still handy shopping under one roof. Beales always delivers on great staff service, which these days is something I look out for and you feel you are buying with confidence backed with a no-​fuss guarantee that should something go wrong with a purchase then it will be sorted quickly. Good range of items in all departments and prices are no more expensive in the chain stores. Great place to shop.

I like shopping at Beales for a really special gift for friends/​family. Although pricey their products are always good quality and loads to choose from — jewellery (brands inc Dolce & Gabbana, Calvin Klein and Gucci), accesories, nightwear, Homeware etc. There’s loads in store fashion wise too with brands for men and women like Ben Sherman, French Connection, Coast and Timberland.
Beales is also great place to come for beauty advice, as you walk in you have the huge Mac and Origins sections at the front and then many other counters down the middle for brands such as eve lom, clarins, clinique. It also has natural and organic brands on the shelving down the side with brands such as Dr Hauschka, Neals Yard and Burts Bees (although there is no sales assistant for advice on these brands, Dr Hauschka occasionally has instore makeover days — dates on website). The sales assistants vary, i have had some really nice women give me advice and some very unhelpful advice too — depends which counter you go to.
They also have a café and restaurant but they are soooo expensive — although nice food, i dont think its worth the money (go to debenhams!)
Rated 3 as i only visit now and then for gifts really and i now would prefer to go to space nk for beauty.

Beales is located pride of place in the main thouroughfare in Bournemouth. A huge store on many many floors, it’s your typical detartment store.
Reminds me a lot of dingles and debenhams outfit
great if you want to flick through the latest collections, or check out the new sale bargains, or even flake out in the café and recharge you batteries after battling around Bournemouth.
Can sometimes seem a little quiet in this store, not sure how it makes its money on such a huge scale without the mass in footfall!

A fabulous department store.
This is just about still family owned. and really has a traitional feel without being old fashioned. It is far bigger than the Poole branch by a long chalk.
There are lots of concessions in all departments, so there is a lot of choice. And although expensive, their own brand is very high quality.
I love going in here — it just oozes class and taste. I once had my handbag stolen, but it’s not the fault of the store.
There is a cemetery on a nearby corner and drunks hang out there, and will make a dash through neighbouring shops in opportunist fashion. One night, however, a tomb stone was used to break a window at Beales!!!