Cool shop the products are good quality but it's slightly more expensive then it should be would…read morerecommend asian supermarkets for the japanese snacks it's much cheaper

KENJI is a gift store specialising in Japanese style culture and items, they have beverages and…read moreother items associated with Japan, it is a pretty new store to the mall. I was drawn in by a post which claimed they sold hand sanitisers and due to the current situation regarding Coronavirus (CONVID-19) it seems every pharmacy, drug-store or anywhere which would sell hand gels have been sold out however - They were advertising a product they did not sell - They were overpricing them heavily at £2.50 for a small one, which although isn't as bad as merchants on online giants such as eBay it still is around double the price it would be usually, which Boots and Superdrug still charge nearby if you're lucky enough to get your hands on one. The store also is so narrow, they've crammed so much stuff in a small place meaning it's so hard to walk around the store or find a specific product or even stop to look at something, the store did look good but even if the store is quiet, it isn't really made with the customer experience and ease of getting around the store in mind. Looking good and delivering a good customer-experience should go hand in hand, not one or another. Strangely, they had a drink selection with writing in Japanese I struggled to read allergen information and they didn't seem ready to drink they were lukewarm, being in a hot mall location without refrigerating them which is a bad idea. A Japanese themed gift-shop is a really exciting concept and it's a shame this store is more dire than exciting and fails to live up to its' great potential. 1*

One of the best shops I have been to. A great selection of comics plus a continual supply of…read morespecial offers.

When I lived on Oldham Street many moons ago, I used to pop into Forbidden Planet on a weekly basis…read moreto pick up new copies of The Sandman, The Invisibles and other cool comics. These days, I only venture in now and again for something specific, like Reinhard Kleist's awesome graphic novel based on the life of Johnny Cash - I See A Darkness. For me, the layout and interior of Forbidden Planet lacks the ambience and wow factor of somewhere like Dave's Comics in Brighton but their range of comics, manga and graphic novels is faultless. For true fantatics and collectors, they also stock a massive range of cartoon, comic and pop culture memorabilia including tee-shirts, games, videos and toys. Personally, I have my eye on one of Frank Kozak's toy smoking rabbits complete with eye patch.

Oh man I used to LOVE the Early Learning Centre!! I passed it the other day whilst on a mad grown…read moreup style dash about town and was immediately hit in the face with a hundred childhood memories. Whilst blustering my way through the corridors of the Arndale, all puffed up with my panicked maturity (you know you all do it too- "God! There's just not enough hours in the day for my city professional existence!"- own up now), catching site of the ELC massive felled my Wednesday blues like a chainsaw on a Canadian Oak and like a real life Benjamin Button I instantly regressed by about twenty five years. I floated into the store without touching the floor- this wasn't MY childhood ELC but, it was an ELC all the same and I knew what I was there for! Then, disaster struck. Looking around I was faced with something alien, something electronic, where was the wooden train track, where was Noddy, what the FUCK was a Percy Pig?!!!! I used to think that I was from the 1980's. Now I know that I was from a time when make believe, magic and romance still existed for kids. Elves where real and the bogeyman could be kept at bay by a Postman Pat nightlight. The soundtrack to my childhood was the Knightrider theme tune, Ray Parker Junior, Huey Lewis and the News signing The Power of Love whilst little Michael J would shout "Doc! We're in 1985!". The soundtrack to the lives of today's children is the cold whooshing noise of a games console cooling itself down after being played with for eight hours straight?

Weirdly enough, when I was around fifteen years old and constantly making bangles, if I couldn't…read morequite make it to the bead shop I'd buy the jewellery making kits from the Early Learning Centre. And even as a supposed non-child (or at least, I claimed to be), I was always fascinated by the range of toys on offer and found myself testing them out. There's a toddler in all of us. I loved the St Ann's Square location, but as that's sadly defunct this large Arndale Centre offering is certainly a good substitute. And having met more people over the years with little people in tow, it's a great option for gifts which the more discerning parent will appreciate. After all, ELC isn't all loud noises and flashing lights. It's about education. And sheep that make funny bleatings when you squeeze them. Those are great fun.

A note to parents across the globe: Don't do it!…read more It's not that I have something against soft toys and cuddly bears - it's that Disney do everything they can to promote shitty gender stereotypes. Walk round this store and you'll see exactly what I mean. On one wall, there's dozens of pastel and bright pink costumes, fairy wings, crowns and little princess style accessories for girls. On the other, there's Superhero costumes, plastic swords and cowboy and astronaut figures for boys. Just think about the message this is sending to kids about and what defines them and what they should aspire to be when they grow up. Pretty lame, isn't it? To borrow a triusm from the American artist Jenny Holzer: Raise boys and girls the same way.

Whenever I get broody, I pop into the Disney Store to remind me how useful birth control is…read more Because while one day I can imagine myself with a couple of anklebiters, being bewildered by the likes of Hannah Montana and High School Musical means I'm not quite ready yet. What is it with kids and cheesy musical numbers sung by squeaky teenagers these days anyway? The Disney Store is a bit of a misleading name... I bought an ex partner of mine a gargantuan Tweety Pie mug from here once and Tweety's not been seen near a Disney character since Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Gosh what a great film. Anyway while you'll find plenty of little trinkets bearing the image of your favourite classic Looney Tunes and Disney characters, upstairs is reserved for the baffling likes of Camp Rock and their ilk. Backpacks, dolls, clothing - this is a store where pester power is king, so be warned. Without a doubt, one for Christmas shopping FOR a specific child rather than taking said child. If you ever want to watch a tantrum or two for a laugh, it's worth popping in here.

Cheap and cheerful collection of toys, housewares and ambient groceries. Theres a small selection…read moreof chilled and fresh goods such as bread, milk, cheese, bacon. Extensive alcohol selection including some unusual bottled beers. Always the very cheapest prices. Sometimes the sell by dates are a little shorter than you would get in a main supermarket, but unless you're preparing for a siege then its not a problem.

Staff were very informative and polite. Enthusiastically helpful. Were honest about whether or not…read moreI would actually like a comic, based on the Information that I provided. Provided me with over 9 recommendations, and answered all of my questions. Will be returning. I was assisted by Kelly, and she was 10/10

TM Saved my interest in games and such…read more.. I went into the shop with a friend to try and get into gaming a little as have never really got it before. Liked it a lot in here, clean and friendly and has a much better atmosphere than the total BO fest that is Fanboy 3, a nearby store that perpetuates the stereotype that all Geeks smell. Had it not been for how nice and cool TM was, FB3 would have totally put me off and made me feel dirty even thinking about gaming.

This is a very interesting store in Manchester near the Manchester Piccadilly train station, about…read moretwo blocks away. It has an array of things, including books, records, but also clothes. Very cheap, as everything is used. What makes it worth visiting is its charm as an "anything goes" type place..I bought CD's and a few books there. I thought the owner was friendly. It's fun to rummage through these things. Take a half hour or so and have fun browsing.

HELP WANTED! I'll be traveling to Manchester, Liverpool, and London for a week in late November and…read morewould really appreciate some good recommendations for music shops, bookstores, coffee shops, and places to eat! I really like places that are quirky and out of the box so if you live in any of these areas and have suggestions please reach out! Thanks! :) -Amberly

House of Fraser is one of Manchester's oldest and most iconic department stores, it was founded in…read more1836 and the huge, impressive building on the heart of Deansgate is still going strong to its' day, despite being part of the House of Fraser group since the 1950s, and having its' current name since 2005, I like how they've stayed true to the roots and history of the store, by having its old name "Kendal, Milne and Co", still being clearly visible at the store's entrances, or Kendalls as it was known to locals. At Christmas, the decorations help light up and add to all of Deansgate, bringing a festive feel which even a Scrouge like myself can appreciate (but come on, just not in November - that's too early!) The facilities inside the store are good, for me with the fragrances, and high-end brands, as well as multiple lifts in the lobby, this feels like one of the Big American department stores, which I've only ever seen before in NYC, and London. The store isn't as good as it used to be, with some facilities/businesses located inside here closed, including a whole floor. With The Restaurant at House of Fraser gone, all that remains is a San Carlo Cichetti, which strangely is located directly opposite their main location in the city on King Street West. 4* - Pretty cool department store, it is sad to see the store deteriorating up until the inevitable closure which has been talked about for the past couple of years. This is currently one of the few branches remaining with many HOF stores closing down.

There's a touch of 1970s sitcom Are You Being Served? about House of Fraser. It's not just the fact…read moreit's the oldest and grandest department store in the city, it's the slow elevators, the confusing floor layouts and the fact you have to buy your clothes from the area you picked them up rather than any till. Trust me, I've tried and failed on different occasions! The thing that really makes me feel I'm wandering around Grace Brothers department store however, is the staff. They're not quite as camp or witty as Captain Peacock, Mrs Slocombe or Mr Humphries but there's definitely an element of disdain and snootiness when you approach them. This might infuriate some people but it always tickles me and makes me wonder if it's part of the staff training! There's beauty products on the ground floor, furniture and electronics on the top floors and lots of men, womens and childrenswear inbetween. Some of it I wouldn't be seen dead in but I usually see at least half a dozen things I like from one of their emerging or established designers. The only problem is, is there anyone to serve me?!

Magma Magma books is possibly one of the coolest shops I…read morehave been into in a long time! Why you may ask? Because it sells MOOMINS merchandise and books!! They sell all sorts of cool things here like books, magazines, swirly notebooks, cuddly toys (moomin ones!), eco friendly stuff which comes in the shape of recycled objects made into something else uselful, the mother board coasters are pretty snazzy! Like the other shops on Oldham street, its only small but the layout is perfectly set out to seem like there is so much space! I love it!

Situated on Oldham Street, but a hop and skip from the Night and Day Café lies this fantastic…read morebookshop. I've been visiting this place for ages, even if it's just to browse through the store and short list future gifts. I've recently acquired some American Film Making/Studies from there (the Steven D. Katz shot by shot/cinematic motion - books that are usually pretty hard to get hold of unless you're on the net. This is one of those places where the staff know what they're talking about and can help either find what you're looking for or influence you enough to take a punt on their own expertly led recommendations in the vast array of different books and magazines in this store (increasingly rare in the accountant led 'United Chaindom'). It's a shame many more shops were as enthusiastic and passionate as the folks behind magma...I know they can't all be this way but it's currently unfairly balanced. One large chain book store dominates now (and with unfortunately less choice, more celebrity led airport reading fodder) and with supermarkets getting in the act of the book market (albeit with a truly disturbing 'array' of 'books') we should be thankful that places like this are still open in our cities. A large section of this shop sells magazines which are more like the aforementioned coffee table books the higher echelon of mags if you will. Film, Architecture, Typography, Illustration, Photography, Graphics, Fashion, Art, Design, Cities all these creative acts and scenarios collude together in the books and magazine range. They sell a top mag called 'Specialten' which is a 'bi-monthly collection of short films, music videos and exclusive interviews' which comes with a DVD for the media. Just reminded myself to pick up the next edition as I type this... This shop (alongside one or two in London village possibly the other two Magma's as it happens) was the only such store to stock Daniel Johnstone's graphics/drawings books (and as such is referred to in the fantastic Daniel Johnstone documentary). Reanimate your creative synapses and spare at least half an hour to imbibe the glorious fractions of the arts world we don't see as much as we should. It's always a pleasure to walk into a store like this, find what you're looking for (or see something jump out at you which grabs your interest by the book ends) and after downpiping your debit/credit details into the 21st Century piggy bank walk from the shop, freshly acquired book in hand. Rifling through the pages of a new 'Ilva Table book' in a nearby boozer/café is one of life's great, small pleasures.