Shopping is one of the main reasons many Brits make the Canal trip. It has long been known for “booze races” and around Christmas it is particularly busy. But there is much more to shopping in Calais in Nord-Pas de Calais than visiting Carrefour or Calais Vins, although these stores are. Here’s a selection of places to shop, whether you’re on a day trip from the UK, staying in Calais overnight, or returning to the UK after your holiday.
Hypermarkets
There are 2 main shopping complexes.
- Auchan, west of Calais, is open Monday to Saturday from 8.30 am to 9.30 pm
Roger Salengro Avenue. Tel.: 00 33 (0) 3 21 46 92 92.
Auchan website for location and information. - Cite Europe , a huge shopping center with many different stores, including a large Carrerour, is another destination. Carrefour is open Monday through Wednesday from 8.30 am to 9 pm, Tuesday, Saturday at 8 pm, Friday at 9 pm Cite Europe is open Monday through Saturday from 10 am to 8 pm, Friday and Saturday at 9 pm).
1001 boulevard du Kent, Tel: 03 21 46 47 48.
Website for location and information.
Offers on clothing and household items
- Channel Outlet Store in Coquelles has 80 good names from Adidas, Desigual, Delsey and Calvin Kelin to Hugo Boss, Lee Cooper, Tommy Hilfiger, Nike and Yves Delorme. Open Monday through Saturday from 10 am to 7 pm with some Sundays.
Boulevard du Parc, 62911 Coquelles, France.
Website for information and location
Buy wine
- For the wines, I recommend Calais Vins . At exit 44 of the A16, this is not only a great wine shop where you can taste many of the wines, but it also has beers, a good variety of sparkling wines and prices from the most modest to the heavens. The staff speak English and you can spend as much time as you want to try and choose. They source many of the wines individually, so you will get small owner-managed vineyards here. A Philippe Olivier cheese shop is off to the side, with a great variety of the best French cheeses and there is a good bakery and snack bar. And it’s open on a Sunday, which is a huge bonus. Open Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday from 9.30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Zone Curie, Rue Gutenbert, Tel: 00 33 (0) 321 46 40 40.
Website for location and information
Individual stores
- La Maison du Fromage et des Vins has a good selection of cheeses and wines, as well as other delicatessen products. It is owned by the Le Channel restaurant in Calais. Open Monday 2-7pm, Tuesday to Saturday 8.30am-12.30pm and 3-7.30pm; Sunday 10 am-3pm. Annual closing the last week of July and the first week of August and the first 3 weeks of January.
1 rue Andre Gerschell (at the corner of Place d’Armes), Tel.: 00 33 (0) 3 21 34 44 72.
Website for location and information - Bar a Vins is a great wine shop run by foodie Luc Gilles who really knows his wines. It is in the center of Calais. Open from Monday to Saturday from 9.00 am to 7 pm, Sunday from 9.30 pm to 3.00 pm Closed on Wednesday
52 Place d’Armes, Tel.: 00 33 (0) 3 21 96 96 31.
- Le Terroir You will get a wide range of wines here, plus all kinds of gastronomic items in this family-owned shop where Michel Morvan has been selling produce for 29 years. Good advice, friendly welcome. Tuesday to Saturday from 9 am to 12:30 pm and from 2 to 7:30 pm Sunday 9:30 am, -1pm
29 rue des Fontinettes, tel. 00 33 (0) 3 21 36 34 66.
Website for location and information
Fisheries
- Les Delices de la Mer With the owners buying direct from local fishermen, you can’t go wrong here.
160 Boulevard La Fayette, Tel.: 00 33 (0) 3 21 34 64 57. - Huitriere Calaisienne This is the place for crabs, lobsters and oysters from Brittany.
Blvd La Fayette, Tel.: 00 33 (0) 3 21 36 50 97. - Emile Fournier et Fils Established over a century ago and still family-run, come here to fish for smoked fish, from salmon to trout. There is a small fish market on the pier in front of the marina on weekends.
53 rue Mouron, Tel.: 00 33 (0) 3 21 96 49 36.
Specialized Food Stores
- A la Ferme This is a genuine agricultural store run by the local cooperative. All meats, cheeses, fruits and vegetables, and other products are as fresh as possible.
46 Blvd Gambetta, Tel.: 00 33 (0) 3 21 96 92 42
Cord
Once a great center for lace making, you should try to buy some when you are here. The International Lace Center store has some nice examples. Otherwise, try this specialty store that sells lovely handmade lace. Here you will find tablecloths, tablecloths, napkins and more in a rainbow of colors. Handmade lace is inevitably much more expensive than the machine-made variety, but once you have found these beautiful products, it will be difficult to economize.
- Noyon Boutique Lace
85 rue de Vic, Tel .: 00 33 (003 21 46 78 04.
Website for location and information
Sports shops
- Decathlon The main French chain covering all sports has a great selection and good prices. Monday to Saturday from 9 am to 8 pm
Zac des cailloux, Rue de Verdun, Tel.: 00 33 (0) 3 21 00 05 00.
Website for location and information - Terres et Eaux Warehouse style shop specializing in hunting, fishing and horse riding. Monday to Saturday from 9 am to 7:30 pm
Parc d’activite chemin vert, 196 rue des oliviers, Tel.: 00 33 (0) 3 21 17 17 70.
Website for location and information
Markets
Street markets are in place d’Armes on Wednesdays and Saturdays and in place Crevecoeur on Thursday and Saturday mornings.
- Getting to France from the UK by ferry
If you are visiting Calais, be sure to visit the Lace Museum, one of the main attractions in the area.
