Bench lies amongst the many trendy high street fashion shops along Paradise Street. I am not a big fan of clothes and it takes a lot to impress me in terms of value for money as clothes aren’t usually cheap either. Normally when clothes are cheap, there is a compromise on quality so it’s hard to win sometimes. At Bench, I was neither impressed nor disappointed because I like their choice of dull and bland colours which are all a simple and effective option if you’re not looking to show off in any bright or silly designs. However, some prices were a bit over the top but on the other end of the scale, they did have some t-shirts on sale which were more affordable. All in all, not a bad shop and I wouldn’t dismiss Bench as they have a generous variety of casual jeans and shirts.
Dom M.
Place rating: 3 Liverpool, United Kingdom
Although i’m not a particularly avid fan of Bench clothing, i did enjoy this branch. The displays are well designed and everything was well laid out and easy to find. The staff were helpful and it is a very quiet shop as it is away from the busiest side of Liverpool One. Bench’s clothing is quite standard and they never seem to offer anything too special, however it is worth a look.
Sarah-Jane B.
Place rating: 2 Brighton, United Kingdom
A British label started in the late eighties, Bench used to epitomise urban clothing with a strong range of graphic tees, sweaters, hoodies, combat trousers and jeans. Twenty years on, their clothes are still as well designed and produced. The problem is, fashion has changed so much the brand now looks out of touch compared to companies like Urban Outfitters and American Apparel. The one concession is that this year’s spring and summer range includes some bright patterned shorts, vests and sun-dresses that should appeal to surfers and sport loving sunbathers.