Showcase Kitchens Bedrooms & Bathrooms,
Southwick

Located on the green in the attractive Southwick area just outside the city, Showcase has a corner position with three showroom windows and, unusually for Brighton, plenty of free parking nearby.
Downstairs there are several Crown kitchen displays. These were a little messy when I called in as, proprietor Andrew explained, they had just taken in a delivery. Despite having to edge round a bath just inside the front door I was able to open and close cupboard doors and inspect the variety of worktop options available. Andrew took me through to the back of the shop to show me more displays and talked through the latest high gloss finish available from Crown and how I could mix and match colours and finishes.
When I mentioned I was renovating an entire house he took me upstairs to see a fitted bedroom display and also a range of showers and vanity units. The upstairs showroom wasn't well lit so didn't feel entirely welcoming. I asked about installation and Andrew explained, "We can install, plaster, tile, deal with the electrics, everything you need really so that you don't have to project manage."

Score: 7/10
Pleasant shop in attractive location but the presentation could be more professional

Plumbwell Bathrooms,
Trafalgar Street

The bottom end of Trafalgar Street in the heart of Brighton is dominated by Plumbwell Bathrooms which occupies three shops - two on one side of the street and one showroom on the other.
This is an Aladdin's cave of a shop bursting with basins, showers, taps and accessories. It may be cluttered but everything looks clean and new. I went into two of the shops and both were busy with customers either browsing round the wealth of product on offer or picking the brains of the assistants behind the cramped counter.
With this shop you get the impression that if they don't have it in stock it isn't worth having. I approached the counter during a lull in proceedings and asked about wet rooms and was told, "My advice to you is don't do it." We talked about low level trays as an alternative and I asked about installation. "Ask in the showroom next door and they can give you details of a fitter."

Score: 7/10
Impressive array of bathroom fittings, but I found the service brusque

Bathstore,
Gloucester Road

I asked in Bathstore about installing a wet room and was told by the helpful assistant that they don't recommend such systems. Instead he talked me through Kermi low level trays.
"If you want to make these really flush to the floor you can tile up to the edge," he suggested. I was shown the relevant catalogue so that I could see pictures of what he described. We talked through the merits of fitting a glass screen to prevent the bathroom being soaked and I was told it would only take a week to get the products in stock.
We then moved onto showers and I was shown a display of different overhead and hand held options. The assistant explained how I could have both if I installed a diverter. Bathstore was bright, clean and the assistant was knowledgeable although only volunteered information when asked.

Score: 7/10
Smart shop but impersonal

Parker Bathrooms,
Seven Dials

A stride away from the city centre up the hill to Seven Dials brought me to Parker Bathrooms. Judging by the piles of cardboard boxes on the pavement outside I thought this must be newly opened.
Inside I was greeted by more boxes, a ladder propped against one wall and several gaps in the displays. Music was blaring out from a portable radio propped on a box by the door.
A lovely £2500 freestanding bath dominated the front of the shop which I spent some time looking at before wandering through to the back where vanity units and WCs were set out on a worn blue carpet. As no one had yet approached me I asked the lad at the reception desk if the shop was in fact open for business. He said yes and shouted for Tara who came down from upstairs. "So is this a new shop?" I asked. She looked amazed and said they'd been open for over 20 years. I asked about Parkers design and installation service, Tara would make a site visit and then prepare a quote,  and then she took me two doors down to their second shop which sells lighting and fireplaces which I had no interest in.

Score: 4/10
Some upmarket products in less than upmarket surroundings

Cannadines Bathrooms,
Preston Road

It's easy to spot Cannadines as you drive along the main A23 into Brighton.
The wide shop front is painted in classic navy and white and there is an array of basins on the pavement and stainless steel sinks hanging from the front of the store. Inside the displays are clean and orderly so although there is plenty of choice it is easy to find what you are looking for.
 I couldn't see any large freestanding baths on display so asked the assistant Alan if they would be able to get one for me. He went one better and walked me four doors down to the company's new showroom where a very nice twin ended acrylic bath on wooden sleepers was on display.
We talked about the merits of floor standing or wall mounted taps and then returned to the main shop where I asked about installing a wet room. Alan showed me images of the flush to floor Bette shower tray and extolled the virtues of the Impey wet room system. "I have sold several of these and they really don't cause any problems," he said.
Although Cannadines don't offer a design and installation service Alan suggested if I return with my room dimensions he would be able to offer advice and could give me contact details for a reputable plumber.

Score: 8/10
Attractive shop with helpful well informed staff

Carters Electrical,
Preston Road

Over the road from Cannadines it's hard to miss the big blue and yellow Carters frontage.
This shop has an enviable position - it's highly visible on the busy main road into Brighton and, unlike the majority of retailers I visited, it can offer customers free parking. Carters is a retail and trade supplier of domestic electrical and gas appliances and claims to be the largest independent dealer in the South East with a further six outlets in East Sussex and Surrey.
Inside the shop washing machines, dishwashers and ovens are arranged in rows. I started looking at a selection of range cookers, there was certainly plenty to choose from, with models from most of the major brands. A young assistant was dusting but soon stopped what he was doing to ask if I needed assistance. We discussed the merits of freestanding or built-in ovens and the possibility of connecting a range to LPG.
We then moved on to fridges and finally microwaves. I was assured that if they didn't have what I wanted in stock they would be able to source it for me. Local delivery is free and Carters will collect my old fridge for £23, all other appliances they will take away for just £15.
 This is a well-stocked showroom and the assistant I talked to was helpful and well informed. However, the product display was unimaginative and the lighting dull.

Score: 6/10
Dreary presentation lets this otherwise impressive shop down.

MFI,
Carden Avenue

On my way out of Brighton I called in at MFI to 'buy' a kitchen. The displays were clean, well propped and the gentle background music created a pleasant ambience without being overpowering (Parker Bathrooms take note).
As the sales assistants were all busy with customers I browsed round the displays of Hygena and Schreiber kitchens which offer a choice of both traditional and modern styles. There was plenty of sales literature available regarding the furniture and appliance choices, displays of door and worktop options, plus an imaginative arrangement of wall hung kitchen stools and chairs.
When Paul became free I approached him to ask about MFI's design service. "First you need to have an idea of the kitchen style you like, then we will come to your home and measure up. Then we make an appointment for you to come into the store and we create the design. There's no rush, our designers will allocate you two hours as there will be lots of options to consider."
I mentioned that I have a range cooker that I want to keep and Paul said, "That's fine, we can incorporate existing appliances and make sure we create the kitchen that is just right for you."
We then walked round the displays while he pointed out the various design details and I left with the brochure and price list.

Score: 7/10
Helpful assistant and a well-presented showroom.

Winnners Profile

Michael Cannadine opened a small bathroom shop in 1991 and moved to the larger premises on Preston Road in 1997. Recently he acquired a second shop four doors down which is used as a showroom for higher-end products. Michael says, "We have a lot of regular customers which is really important to us and we attract passers by." Around 20% of the business is trade with the rest retail.
Michael picked up the tip for displaying product on the forecourt from his father. He says, "My late father had a shop in the Kings Road before the war, he would have cast iron baths sitting outside on the pavement. We stopped advertising years ago as this works better for us. People driving past can see exactly what we do and they can also see that although we have moved more towards the middle market they can still buy standard products from us like a stainless steel kitchen sink. The trick is to combine both ends of the market."