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Evening Standard

Lifestyle

Abha Shah

Best Black Friday deals 2023: Offers to shop now on Apple, Ninja, Nintendo and more

Black Friday (Topic) Amazon Apple Black Friday 2023 Body Shop Argos Asos Boots Currys Dyson

It may have started as an American tradition, but Black Friday has become a fixture here in the UK too.

The shopping phenomenon sees retailers cut the RRPs of millions of products, meaning it’s the best time of year to check off your shopping list and make your precious pounds stretch that bit further.

So, what’s on offer, exactly? How dramatic are the discounts? And perhaps most crucially of all; when does the Black Friday sale start? We’ve answered all these questions and more below - scroll on for your Black Friday 2023 game plan.

When is Black Friday this year?

It’s not a mood, a moment or a set date, but rather a globally agreed time of year. Black Friday always takes place on the last Friday of November - this year that is November 24.

It happens to be exactly a month before Christmas Eve - and if that’s not a sign to get a headstart on your festive shopping, we don’t know what is.

It’s not just a one-day event by any means. Most brands and retailers run sales through the weekend until November 27, the Monday after Black Friday given the moniker Cyber Monday as it’s traditionally the time to score deals on all things tech.

How did Black Friday begin?

Settle down children for the origin story of the world’s biggest shopping holiday. The tradition began in 60s America, when stores put on huge sales to entice families after the US holiday of Thanksgiving. Shoplore has it that the term ‘Black’ comes from the colour of the traffic-choked streets in Philadelphia, and it’s a catchy title that’s stuck around ever since.

In the intervening years, the phenomenon caught on across the Atlantic - no surprise, who doesn’t love a bargain? The sales begin on Friday and finish on Cyber Monday, now both established fixtures on the UK’s shopping calendar.

There’s also Green Friday, an eco-minded alternative that encourages folks to shop more sustainably. And Travel Tuesday when bargain hunters can pick up travel deals at rock-bottom prices.

Will there be early deals ahead of the main sale?

Just as the official sale extrapolates over the weekend and onto Cyber Monday, pre-sales are now commonplace as more and more retailers jump the official firing gun with discounts, sales and promotions taking place well ahead of the event.

While you’re better off waiting until Black Friday to buy, when there's an emergency - like a fridge or washing machine breakdown - replacing an appliance is more of a necessity than an upgrade, which makes early sales all the more welcome.

The smart play is to shop Black Friday entirely online and have everything delivered to your door. Why tussle with the crowds on the high street and queue for hours on end when the alternative is a dignified few clicks from the comfort of your own home?

Consider ES Best your Black Friday ground control; as soon as the offers come in, we’ll tell you about them.

In the meantime check out the ES Best Deals section for sales you can shop right now.

Which brands hold Black Friday sales?

Almost every brand is likely to make some sort of offering as they angle for a slice of the Black Friday sales pie. Think major department stores like Argos, Apple, Boots, John Lewis and more as well as all the luxury and high street brands that you can shake your plastic at.

The likes of ASOS, Not On The High Street, Etsy and Amazon get in on the act too, with the latter casting a spotlight on small businesses to shop from too.

What were the best deals from last year’s Black Friday event, and can we expect these again?

As your go-to insider source for savvy shopping, the best place to read about the epic deals on offer will be right here at ES Best.

We will have dedicated roundups for popular stockists as well as categories (Fashion, Beauty, Home & Garden, Gaming, Kids Toys, and Travel to name but a few). And as regular readers will know, we will also run a live blog to clue you in on the hottest deals and flash sales as they happen.

Last year saw a monsoon of incredible deals with prices tumbling on everything from Glossier skincare to gas BBQs, high-spec OLED TVs and fine diamond jewellery.

With the cost-of-living crisis affecting millions across the country, we’re confident that retailers will respond with incredible offers to help your money go further this year, whether you’re Christmas shopping or stockpiling items to use into the new year. And, as well as dramatically reduced RRPs, there’s likely to be freebies like gift cards, limited edition collections and complimentary accessories thrown into the fray too.

The short of it? If you’re hoping for Christmas bargains, want to secure future birthday gifts or useful home essentials or to save money on practically anything else, Black Friday is the one shopping event you simply can’t afford to miss.

Find our full directory of Black Friday roundups below

Phew! Here are some of the best deals we've found right now

Best Black Friday 2023 deals to expect on kitchen appliances

Best air fryer deals to expect for Black Friday 2023: Ninja, Salter and more

Best mattress deals to expect for Black Friday 2023 from Emma, Silentnight and more

Best sex toy deals to expect for Black Friday 2023: Lovehoney, Durex and more

Best Dyson deals to expect for Black Friday 2023: Vacuums, Airwraps and more

Best TV deals to expect for Black Friday 2023 from Samsung to LG and more

Amazon Fire TV 43-inch 4-series 4K UHD smart TV

Was: £429.99

Buy now £299.99, Amazon

ghd Unplugged Cordless Hair Straightener in Pink Peach

Was: £309

Buy now £199.00, ghd

Nectar Memory Foam Mattress - double

The sleep expert is offering a whopping 60 per cent off all mattresses this Black Friday with delivery thrown in for free. The site has sleep deals galore, from memory foam and hybrid mattresses to bed frames and chic bedding to dress it all up in. For serious savings, don't miss the bundle offers which offer everything you need to give your bedroom a serious upgrade for less.

Was: £1199

Buy now £519.60, Nectar

Grande Cosmetics Five Star Favourites Set

The US favourite brand has brought its most popular products to the UK in this neat set. It includes its best-selling lash-enhancing serum, GrandeLASH; the brow-enhancing serum Mini GrandeBROW; a Mini Mascara; a Mini GrandeLIPS Clear; and a Travel Size GrandeBUFF. Lush!

Was £71.

Buy now £47.57, LookFantastic