Hempstead Valley Shopping Centre
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Quick info
About Hempstead Valley Shopping Centre
Hempstead Valley Shopping Centre is a shopping mall in Gillingham with more than 50 stores, open daily and served by a free underground car park for drivers. Marks & Spencer and Sainsbury's each fill two floors, while the other shops sit on a single level. The line-up also includes a beauty shop, an EE shop and two charity shops. Costa and McDonald's cover food and drink on site. A gym is also inside the centre, and a pub stands nearby.
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Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention free underground parking, EV charging bays, M&S and Sainsbury's and restaurants and cafes.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention free underground parking, EV charging bays, M&S and Sainsbury's and restaurants and cafes.
Customer Review Summary
Free parking, including an underground garage, is what reviewers raise most, alongside a single site holding M&S, Sainsbury's, JD, Costa, a gym and a beauty shop. Reviewers call it bright, tidy and always very clean, with benches for resting and loads of places to eat and drink. One describes a relaxed, village-like feel, less crowded than Bluewater. Complaints are specific. One reviewer finds the centre increasingly a youth hangout that feels intimidating, citing the car parks and McDonald's, and calls the parking spaces ridiculously tight. An EV driver reports charging at about half the rate found elsewhere nearby, then an overstay fee starting while the battery was still charging. Another says the welcoming atmosphere has faded. One parent describes an EE shop employee who patiently helped their son with his phone on two visits.
Customer Review Summary
Free parking, including an underground garage, is what reviewers raise most, alongside a single site holding M&S, Sainsbury's, JD, Costa, a gym and a beauty shop. Reviewers call it bright, tidy and always very clean, with benches for resting and loads of places to eat and drink. One describes a relaxed, village-like feel, less crowded than Bluewater. Complaints are specific. One reviewer finds the centre increasingly a youth hangout that feels intimidating, citing the car parks and McDonald's, and calls the parking spaces ridiculously tight. An EV driver reports charging at about half the rate found elsewhere nearby, then an overstay fee starting while the battery was still charging. Another says the welcoming atmosphere has faded. One parent describes an EE shop employee who patiently helped their son with his phone on two visits.
Featured reviews
- Google user
“The range of shops and restaurants is brilliant but personally I feel like this shopping centre is becoming more of a youth hang out and it’s actually quite intimidating, security need to up there game, covering car parks and McDonald’s where kids are playing up. Car parking spaces are ridiculously tight and small.”
- Google user
“A shambles if you need to charge a EV/Plug in vehicle. Over multiple visits and when the other charging bays are unused. The charging rate witnessed, and recorded is around half what I have received elsewhere in the local area at 3-3.5kw. So naturally it takes almost twice as long to charge. Which at first seems very odd to happen when all other bays are empty and over multiple visits, as you would naturally expect the top speed. But wait..... As after only 2hrs of this glacial-speed charge rate is a extortionate additional charge per-hour to add on. Incorrectly labelled as "overstay". It SHOULD be for when your battery is completely full and you are blocking the bay for others in need. But it actually kicks in whilst you are nowhere-near full, and still charging. The final charging bill, is borderline daylight robbery. Why this is a problem: While at the time of writing, the entire rest of the car parking is free and for many hours. EV/Plug-in owners charging vehicles are having to pay for parking over two hours. Sound fair? It may also start to explain why the charging bays are seemingly empty 90% of the time. As from my experience EV/Plug in customers are seemingly treated as nothing more than cash cows.”
- Google user
“Nice tidy shopping centre very bright Great free parking underground loads to see buy and do here loads of places to eat and drink”
- Google user
“The shopping centre is ok if you are looking for a specific shop that is there. And although there are a mixture of shops, some larger name retailers and some smaller ones, to me it doesn't have that welcoming feeling / atmosphere it used to have. I don't get the urge to just go and visit for something to do, or to arrange a meet up with anyone for a cuppa anymore. But then this is how I personally feel. Others may think it is great.”
- Google user
“Superb … you can find whatever you want M & S , Sainsbury, JD , Beauty shop, GYM, Travel shop, Costa …. Small space and cover all criteria for shopping and lifestyle. Remotely located on hilly area…. Its dream place for shopping in Kent”
Hours
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
Good to know
“Modern mall featuring over 50 stores, including a supermarket and high-street fashion chains.”
- ParkingFree parking garage · Free parking lot · On-site parking
- AccessibilityWheelchair: entrance, parking lot, restroom, seating
- Good for kidsHas changing table(s)
Amenities
- Free Wi-Fi
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- In-store shopping
- Onsite services
- Restroom
- LGBTQ+ friendly
Show more amenities
- Free parking garage
- Has changing table(s)
- Accessibility· 3
- Wheelchair accessible parking lot
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
- Wheelchair accessible seating
- Parking· 2
- Free parking lot
- On-site parking
- Crowd· 1
- Transgender safespace
Location
More to explore in Gillingham
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