Back in the 80s and 90s, if you wanted to buy something you’d head down to your nearest Woolworths. No matter what you wanted, there was a good chance they sold it. 

Then Woolies tragically disappeared from UK high streets and Wilko became the place to go.

These days there are a handful of Wilko stores that have reopened as well as bargain retailers like B&M, Poundland and Home Bargains, but none have quite managed to fill the void left by the OG… or so we thought. 

It turns out, if you’re looking to recapture some of that 90s nostalgia with your shopping experience, there’s a little-known department store chain you’ll want to visit: Boyes.

The family-owned business currently operates more than 80 stores across the UK, many of which are located in the north of England. So if you live in London, it’s likely you might never have come across the chain before. 

What does Boyes sell?

Boyes sells everything from craft and hobby supplies, to clothing, bedding, beauty products and even food and according to social media users and customer reviews, it reminds them of being in ‘Woolworths’.

One very descriptive review of the retailer seems to sum up what you’ll find in one of these stores.

Posting on Facebook, Karen Gilfoyle explained: ‘For those asking – what do Boyes sell? It’s probably easier to list what they DON’T sell: Live elephants. That’s about it. 

‘Everything else I can think of, they sell in some form or other! It’s NOT like B&M – it’s a blast from the past, when Woolworths and similar shops sold virtually everything you could ever want.’

She continues: ‘It’s a family owned firm from Yorkshire, where it is rightly legendary – the flagship store in Bridlington is HUGE, and even has a cafe. And the prices are incredible – it really is like a time warp! 

‘If you think of Wilkos in its prime, crossed with Rowells from Stapleford, with a dash of M&S, WH Smith, Jessops-as-was, Skills toy shop and Hobbycraft thrown in, you’ll get the idea.’

And it seems the business certainly has a huge fan base, with people loving the ‘staggering’ bargain prices, as well as the sheer variety of random products found in store.

There are numerous reviews online praising the baffling experience of visiting Boyes, where you’ll find everything from fishing tackle to Adidas trainers.

The Station Road store in March has a Google ranking of 4.5/5 and dozens of five star reviews. In one, it’s hailed as an ‘old fashioned department store’ with an ‘astonishing’ range of products.

Sebastian Palmer writes: ‘We live within walking distance of the Boyes March branch, and shop there quite often. We love it, because it’s very like an old fashioned department store, stocking everything from cleaning stuff for the home or car, to cooking gear, fishing tackle, DIY supplies, clothes, shoes, craft supplies, you name it.

‘Sure, they don’t stock absolutely everything. But they carry a pretty astonishing range of stuff, and, nine times out 10, they have whatever it is we’re after, be it a light switch for the bathroom, or those fatty balls for feeding the birds.’

He adds: ‘The staff are friendly and helpful. And the prices are very competitive. So, Boyes is a great chain store: cheap, cheerful, with a staggeringly wide range of products. Highly recommended.’

Jane Edgley was also impressed with the stock, saying: ‘This shop has things that you can’t find anywhere else locally, you never know what goodies you might spot and the prices are very reasonable. It has a fabric and wool section, which is something that’s really hard to find these days.’

‘A place that provides the sort of family-friendly item that you never knew you needed until you found it there. Go prepared for the unexpected and you won’t be disappointed,’ proclaimed David Learner.

Many of the stores also still look straight out of the 80s or 90s, which has led to further comparisons with Woolworths online.

On TikTok @lifeatgully explored a store in Heanor for the first time and branded it a ‘retro supermarket’ and was intrigued by the font in the company branding, while @milliemayememorycorner shared a look at a store sharing: ‘Boyes always gives me like 90s/2000s vibes. The floor looks the same as it did when I was a kid.’

And a reviewer known only as Sindy claimed the Scarborough store was like ‘stepping back into 1987’.

She commented: ‘Beautiful… Just stunning. Like stepping back into 1987; nylon nighties and nail polishes galore, amongst a variety of other impulse buys and household goods. The aesthetic of Boyes sings to me. Please never update your stores or branding.’

Boyes dates back to 1881, when the founder, William Boyes, opened a small store in Eastborough, Scarborough, selling ‘selling odd lots and remnants from merchants’.

The business grew and William decided to expand the company in 1910.

Today W Boyes and Co Ltd have 83 stores throughout Yorkshire, the North East, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire.

More recently the brand has been expanding across the UK, with a site opening in King’s Lynn in Norfolk, Hartlepool in County Durham and Dunstable in Bedfordshire.

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