Martin wrote:

I would never recommend anyone spend "just" 100 quid on a new bike.

Double that to get acceptable. Double *that* to get tolerable. Double
*that* to get reasonable.

The Halfords jobs look OK and are under £100 - been looking for my daughter

Is this for a young child?
Their play bikes may be OK but the rest, at that price, are just not
worth it.

They are very likely to be made of poor materials and aimed at being
sold to the inexperienced.
yes, the bikes will 'look' OK, but the aim is to sell on features and
image, not quality.
For example, children will cry out "it must have suspension" because
suspension looks 'cool', yet at that price it will be more truoble than
its worth.
After a couple of months, perhaps less, you will probably be rueing the
day you bought the bike and it will be left unused at teh back of teh shed.

Last Sunday I had two children for cycle-training who had recently been
bought new bikes from Halfords.
One had the front quick release done up finger tight - it was clear no
spanner had been used.
It could have dropped out if a bump or pot-hole had been hit
The other had handlebars that were so loose as to be lethal.

Both bikes were also completely the wrong size.

These are not isolated incidents.

I am sure some stores have competent mechanics, but whenever I hear of
someone with a bike from Halfords my heart sinks. I'd advise you go to
your local real bike shop first, where you should receive better advice
on what would be best, together with back up service.

That said you may be lucky.

John B