I visited new Toys R Us and Hobbycraft at T G Jones’ – 1 thing stood out

They are some of the most beloved lost names of the high street – Toys R Us, Hobbycraft and more recently, Claire’s Accessories.

But now city centre high street shoppers can find all of these iconic brands under one revamped roof – which I went to check out at the newly overhauled TG Jones.

I happened to pop in to TG Jones, the new name on the high street which has taken over the old WH Smith stores with a slightly punny new name. A few weeks ago on my first visit, I wasn’t very impressed, calling it dark and pokey.

TG Jones then announced a big refurbishment of that very store following the Express’ visit, and has now turned it into a sort of ‘superstore’ for some of the UK’s most cherished former retail names.

Since the changes, I decided to nip back and see the difference for myself – it’s only fair. But the difference is immediate.

TG Jones’ Leeds city centre store has now invited Toys R Us, Hobbycraft, Claire’s and other brands into its store. But one thing really stood out to me on my visit: a massive blast-from-the-past Post Office with proper counters.

On my return visit, I was seriously impressed with the changes and I’d go as far as saying it’s now one of the better shops on the high street. 

Downstairs, TG Jones channels WH Smith of old. It’s got sweets, magazines (more than WH Smith used to have), cards and the usual stationery, but the back of the store now boasts a Hobbycraft zone, complete with all the crafting kit that used to fill the old Hobbycraft stores.

Upstairs, there’s a huge new Toys R Us, with loads of toys, books and board games for kids – finally giving Smyths Toys a bit of high street competition. I took my son with me and he was very excited to sit with ‘Geoffrey’ the Toys R Us giraffe and the layout is clean, bright and modern. A world away from what it was just a couple of months back.

Rounding it out is a Post Office which for me is probably the most useful thing of all. It feels like it’s from 20 years ago, in the best possible way. It’s got actual staffed counters, a passport photo machine, envelopes and parcel stuff, and offers things like paying bills, sorting driving licenses, cash deposits and withdrawals and travel money. It’s like Post Offices used to be, before they became tiny part-time counters which stop at midday, squashed into off-licences.

Elsewhere, bright new decals, much better lighting and a general TLC lick of paint has turned TG Jones from a dingy bargain den into a shiny, cosy high street one-stop-shop. It’s offering useful services, decent prices and a lot of items and brands you can’t find anywhere else, and I would honestly come back again in future.