Is it really that big a deal?

Retail experts say we're going to spend £3.49 billion over the four days starting with "Black Friday", with online sales alone predicted to be up 16% on last year.

14.7 million shoppers will take part in the sales bonanza, and they are expected to spend £450 million more over the four days than France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and Belgium combined.

Does that mean fighting in the aisle of Tesco?

Much of the cash is expected to be spent online rather than in store, but high street stores are expecting higher than usual footfall. However most this year are sticking to more usual shopping hours rather than opening at midnight like they did last year.

So what's open when? 

GAME is the only retailer we're aware of that's opening its doors at midnight - and at the Sovereign Centre they're opening at 9pm tonight until 3am tomorrow.

Tesco at Castle Lane, Fleetsbridge and Tower Park will be closed from midnight tonight and reopening specifically for Black Friday customers at 5am, before opening to "normal customers" from 7am. 

BHS in Poole will be extending their opening hours from 6am until midnight.

Argos stores - except at Tower Park - will be opening from 6am. 

Sainsbury's has announced a limited number of Black Friday deals on electrical goods in selected stores (including Castlepoint, Poole, Talbot Heath and Ringwood) with stores open from 7am.

John Lewis at Home in Poole are open from 8am - 8pm and will be taking part in Black Friday as part of their Never Knowingly Undersold promise.

Debenhams will be open from 8am-10pm. House of Fraser is open from 8am-7pm.

Bournemouth Beales will also be participating and are extending their opening hours from 8am-8pm on the day.

In Bournemouth, both Next and M&S will be running Black Friday deals but are not extending their opening hours. The same goes for Boots.

The Consortium is offering Black Friday deals instore and online until Monday, November 30.

Christchurch electricals store Purewell is promising "price crashes all throughout the day" on Black Friday and will be open at 8am.

Currys PC World at Wessex Gate Retail Park will be open 9am-8pm but are advising people to ‘register their interest’ in deals on their website. Those planning to visit the store on the day are advised to get there early.

In Poole's Dolphin Centre, department store Beales will be running offers as well as BHS, The Body Shop, Primark, and HMV. The majority of participating shops will open at 8am on the Friday and close at 7pm.

Other stores offering Black Friday deals at Castlepoint include Boots, B&Q, Gap, Lakeland, Marks & Spencer, Monsoon, Robert Dyas, Sainsbury's, and Topshop.

Who's not taking part?

Primark in Bournemouth and Boscombe are not taking part. Neither is Asda. 

But it may not be all it's cracked up to be

Money saving expert Martin Lewis is warning people to be aware that the deals are "nothing special".

He said: "There are, of course, the much-hyped huge discounts of single items like giant TVs. Yet the stock on these is so limited, they're far more akin to competitions than offers. With thousands of people trying to get them, it's a lottery.   

"The real boon of Black Friday, Cyber Monday and the rest of the Christmas shopping deals and codes is that if you have a specific list of things you plan to buy, if the store that sells them has a cross store discount code, that's the moment to pounce.

"Above all, remember, if you don't want something, don't need it or can't afford it, then don't buy it."