The flowers I sent were just 5 Star my sister was absolutely delighted with the beautiful…read morearrangement

I have used the Dutch Flower Shop for many years and have always thought of them as being in a…read moredifferent league, highly innovative and of a very high standard. I would definitely recommend them

I am not a person who writes reviews unless something is exceptionally good and should be shared…read more But I do not want anyone else to have the same experience I have just had with Dovedale Florists. My sister and I took our mum there to pick out flowers for our dad's funeral casket and a wreath too. We were as detailed as possible with what we would like and explicitly asked would the lilies for the coffin spray be in full bloom on the day and we were told absolutely they would; to trust them that they would do a good job. However, on the day of my dad's funeral a couple of days ago the display arrived in the hearse and there was barely an opened lily on it. I counted 16 that were tightly shut making the arrangement look sparse. We were so upset to see this especially as we had made the point of asking them would the flowers be in full bloom and we were unequivocally promised yes. The day after the funeral we went to my dad's grave to see all the flowers that had been left for him. The lilies on the coffin spray were still all tightly shut so we decided to go back to Dovedale Florists to let them know how disappointed we were and really to press home to them that we didn't want another grieving family to be let down by them. It may sound trivial but the flowers were our last gift to dad, a tribute to him, so were really important. The 2 ladies, one who took the order and the other who arranged the flowers were both there and it was the owner I presume we spoke to as the other lady walked into the back room on hearing that we were there to complain. My sister and I were very polite and calm and the lady said she was sorry, they had tried to open the lilies up but it just couldn't be guaranteed (despite their promise to the contrary). She had lots of excuses and was quite defiant and at no point offered a solution or any kind of gesture. My 75 year old mum has just lost her husband of 50 years and Dovedale Florists had no remorse about taking her money for this expensive tribute but then providing a completely inadequate display. I can understand why they have good reviews as the flowers in the shop are lovely but I would never recommend them to anyone who requires funeral flowers where they can't be viewed before delivery. Dovedale Florists duped us and then fobbed us off. Terrible customer service to a family suffering bereavement.

In full wedding panic mode the week of my dad's wedding, I was still trying to find blue flowers…read morefor the church arrangements (I mean, who has blue flowers for a wedding - surely they should be reserved for christenings. BOYS' christenings). The poor woman in Dovedale Flowers looked just as baffled as me. However, when I specifically asked whether she had pale blue flowers, she pointed out some quite obviously deep lilac flowers. To some, it may only be a subtle difference of hue. To me, it was a grave error and didn't improve my mood. Yes, maybe she was trying to be helpful and suggest an alternative to alleviate my stress. Or maybe she was slightly colourblind, in which case I'd be dubious about ordering flowers over the phone. I really hope it was the former otherwise the future does not bode well.... Still, a nice, bright florist with a limited amount of flowers on display but enough to get the general idea and a decent selection of silk flowers too.

Tramway stables, cow sheds, motor bus proprietors, telephone call office, picturedrome, cinema,…read moreknitwear factory and DIY store- never has a building had such a varied history as the one that is now the Handyman's Supermarket. It's worth visiting if only to catch a whiff of sawdust, also known as the international smell representing things getting done, manfully. This is a store that looks at glossy bungler-havens like B&Q before shaking its head and smiling with a faint air of pity. The place is so comfortable in its mettle that it doesn't need to tidy up. Tools and bits of wood are strewn across the bare floorboards and you half expect the back corner to be occupied by a burly blacksmith belting a horse-shoe into shape. That's not to say it's arrogant. The staff here are superlatively helpful and will listen with eager patience as you waffle on about what angle of doorstop you need or what kind of hammer you require to wrench nails out of a botched picture frame. Then they shall find the item within arm's reach, making you feel like an utter cretin. Also, they cut keys.

Oh this is more like it. A real manly shop amidst the students and namby pamby bohemians of…read moreSmithdown. A place a man can get any hardware and, tool stuff he needs to, chop things and, drill stuff. I went in purely to have a look around for a review and see what is what. I have very little need to often shop in these places, even when working for tv drama art departments I tend to just have a bash at hammering something with anything heavy and blunt or just use gaffer tape - usually solves any problem. So I went in. Yep, screws, drills, hinges. Until I was asked 'need any help?' And obviously not wanting to look a complete pleb by giving the usual 'just looking' - because I am in a specialist, hardware shop and must have reason for being there - I ended up leaving with a tube of polyfilla and and a bag of nails. Damn this male pride.