The most memorable aspect of McKay's was the wasp chase that ensued as soon as I stepped through…read morethe door. Them chasing me, that is. Says it all... McKay's is really your average newsagents, with your average magazine / newspaper selection, your average confectionery choice, and your average bits 'n' bobs component (a few groceries and toys). I waited in an average line for an average period of time. Once I got to the front of said queue, the average till conversation went averagely, and the service was well, average. [Eh, hello, smile?] I did manage to pick up a couple of Lisburn papers (reviews to follow), and a packet of 45p chewing gum (above average prices, it would seem), so the visit wasn't all that bad. Just as dreary as the weather outside... The wasp chase continued on my out (blasted things), but they needn't have bothered. I was already leaving.

Top drawer this wee shop is, I don't know what your other blade was on about, maybe she mistook the…read morenewsagents in Ballynahinch for Harrod's and was disappointed by the lack of wildlife running about (other than that wasp obviously). I found the staff to be great, it had everything I was looking for and as I needed directions I got a chance to chat to the ones working there. Couldn't have been more helpful

There are not many Eason's stores around these days but this one seems to be thriving, set in a…read morecentral location they've given the interior a real facelift - it's bright and vibrant and seems to be doing the trick when it comes to drawing the Belfast punters in. Eason's are specialist's in stationery and magazines, especially niche ones. I popped in here last week to grab a birthday card and to be honest I was a little disappointed with their selection but I suppose there's dedicated card shops for that sort of thing. One thing I noticed is that Eason's seems to have moved with the times, selling electronic goods and essential office supplies such as printer cartridges. On the lower floor there's a huge book selection that would rival Waterstones. Belfast actually doesn't have that many big book shops so if you still haven't succumb to a Kindle this will be your idea of heaven. This Eason is really well staffed so if you're looking for something in particular I would just ask one of the many attentive assistants (who are also pretty quick on the checkouts). All in all it's nice to see a familiar name in the city centre, I'm sure at some point the majority of Northern Ireland picked up their school stationery and chose that all important pencil case from an Eason's branch.

Easons claims to be a bookstore, but it is not a bookstore in the traditional sense of the word. It…read moreis a corporate store than sells art supplies, stationary, newspapers, chocolate, fizzy drinks etc. I am a fan of old rickety bookshops which you have to bump into people to get past. This is not one of them. Though they do have cheaper priced books than old bookshops, they can still be gotten on the internet so again if all you need is a book, try the internet. If you want the experience, go to an oldfashioned book shop. Not a fan

Sweetie Miller may be a bookshop / newsagents (that bears an uncanny resemblance to another local…read morebookshop / newsagents), but as far as I'm concerned, it's all about the sweets and chocolate...baby. I think it's physically impossible to come out of this shop empty handed. It's certainly that way for me. Having gone in with the notion to buy a box of chocolates for a friend, I came out with a box of chocolates, three bags of Werther's Original Chocolates (my Cheepers' review explains all) and five Curly Wurly's. [Guess who Mr Dentist is going to absolutely love next month?] I couldn't resist. The Werther's Originals were only 99p, and the Curly Wurly's were unbeatable value at not one, not two, or even three, or indeed four...but FIVE for 89p. Yes, this excited me greatly. And it should excite you too. As well as the bargainous sweetie section, Sweetie Miller also stocks stationery, books, cards, magazines and all that sort of jazz. And they're all cheap as can be (except the magazines...they're just average price, but hey, we can't have it all, eh?). Now, where did my Curly Wurly go? (Apologies in advance Mr Dentist...)

This shop is in Bow Street Mall and always seems busy. I guess it can be best described as a…read morenewsagent. They carry a large variety of sweets, mainly boxes of chocolates and packs of chocolate bars and maybe just a bit cheaper in price than other shops in town. So especially good to pop into at Christmas time. The other section of the shop that interests me most is the book section. They have an alright range of books, and you can certainly find something interesting at a very good price. The only downside I can think of is can be quite awkward to move around the sweet displays near the front the of the shop when there are a lot of people about.

My sister and I went into The Paper Shop in search of an ice lolly, and came out with two…read morenewspapers, two magazines and a packet of Werther's Originals Chocolate Caramels. Isn't it always the way? My sister had decided she wanted an ice cream (it was sticky, very warm, headache-inducing weather, and she was slightly below par bless her), so spotting the ice cream sign on The Paper Shop's window, I decided it may just be a good call to pop in and have a look (not sure what gave me that idea...). Once we were in, I got incredibly distracted by the newspaper section, and spent a good few minutes examining the plethora of papers. Meanwhile, my sticky sis was attempting to climb into the drinks fridge in order to cool herself down. Sometimes I pretend we aren't related... Refocusing on the job in hand, I pointed her in the direction of the ice-cream counter, but was met with a reluctant smile, and a "well, I kinda wanted an ice lolly more than an ice-cream" verbal explanation. Indecisive should be her middle name... I then decided to examine the magazine section, which was pretty vast I must say, and pick up a few for the journey home. Noting that The Paper Shop was much more expansive than I had first realised, I spotted a huge card section too. However, today was not a greeting card day, so my attention was once again diverted back to the magazines. Feeling somewhat satisfied with my reading load for the next while (and as an English graduate, I am utterly ashamed with myself, and hope the newspapers justify me in some way), I went to the till, only to be distracted for the third (or fourth? Eh, who knows) time that day by the Werther's Originals Chocolate Caramels that I haven't found anywhere for months. Ooooh excitement. Plus they were down to £1.49. Yes, this had indeed been a productive trip. No ice lollies, but Morelli's down the street had the curious ability to persuade my sister that she did actually want ice cream. Oooh man...

If you're in a rush, heading to get your train and then realise....damn I need a newspaper, soft…read moredrink, sweets or other snacky things then this is your place. I've been using Great Victoria Street station for many a day and I always need to stop by this little newsagent for a coke and the paper. Rail News not only has a clever pun but a solid range of magazines and local/national newspapers. I used to call in and buy a can of proper man coke and Kerrang magazine back in my younger days (I wouldn't read it now if I was paid). These days it's the Time, The Irish News and a bottle of diet coke (See, see how I've grown up) Prices are typical of shops in the area, they are quick and have what you need. They also stock a range of sandwiches if you're in need of a bite and nowhere else is open.

The Newtownards Chronicle (or 'The Newtownards Chronicle and Co. Down Observer' to give it its…read moreproper name) has just about everything a newspaper should have, and more. Seriously. And I love that at the top of each page there's a little title aptly describing what sort of reports come below. Organisation to the max. There's your 'News' pages, 'Courts' page, 'Features' page (which includes an article about a soldier from Ards who died in 1918, in this particular edition), 'Letters to the Editor' page (always makes for a good read), 'The Beauty Spot' page (where to get a hair cut / the GHDs fixed / some nice lingerie), the 'Family Announcements / Church & Public Notices / News' page, the Classifieds, and the Recruitment pages. There are even separate new pages for different areas, including Mid Down, Comber, Lower Ards and Donaghadee news. Oh, and not forgetting the Ards Shopping Centre 'Cutest Kidz' competition - a few pages covered in pictures of adorable (and not so adorable) little 'uns under five. As if all that wasn't enough (and you haven't fallen asleep tackling your way through the never-ending stories, articles and reports), there's a 'Sport, Schools, Entertainment and Motoring' supplement. Just in case you're really bored. Now for the catch. And yes there is one. The entire newspaper is broadsheet style, which is fair enough if you've got lovely long arms, but my stumpy little ones weren't appreciating this fact at all. Tabloids are the way forward peeps...

Raj Indian Restaurant and Take-away, Comber…read more With my sister, I have been enjoying the flavours of authentic Indian meals at the Raj restaurant for a number of months now. I started off trying the Chicken Madras merely because I wanted something hot but since then I have migrated to a number of other dishes, eg Chicken Chum Chum, and have enjoyed each meal I have tried. My sisters favourite meal is Curried Monkfish because this fish is quite meaty. The chef at the Raj has been producing Indian meals for over 30 years and has been quite happy to talk about the spices he uses, when time permits. We found all the staff at the Raj to be very helpful and friendly and that makes for a great meal experience one wishes to repeat.

I'd never heard of this newspaper before, which I felt was a bit odd, given the 'Ulster' part of…read morethe title. What is even odder, however, is the fact that it's a Lisburn-based paper essentially all about Lisburn. Yep, there's the story about residents battling against the Lisburn Tesco extension plans, a report on how one of the finalists of the Rose of Tralee competition works in Lisburn (despite hailing from Newry), and an article on a guy from Lisburn who has been chosen to be a rep for Bushmill's Whisky. Oh, wait...what's this? A page five story on how a Lisburn student is off to spend six months on a placement in Florida's Disney World Resort (as part of her Travel and Tourism Foundation Degree) seems to fit in with the 'norm' of the rest of these stories, but the picture beside it tells a slightly different story. It's off two girls (one of which is the Lisburn girl), and a guy. And I just so happen to know the guy. What are the chances?! He's not even from Lisburn (though he isn't included in the report, just the picture), but I still found this pretty darn hilarious. The rest of the newspaper is solely focused on Lisburn news, although an article on A Level results does branch out to include a report on Hunterhouse College (it's in south Belfast...I know, my sister went there). Pages upon pages of what's been happening in Lisburn - The Property News informs the reader of houses for sale / to let in Lisburn, the Lonely Hearts ads are all about singles based in Lisburn, and the sports section provides accounts of Lisburn-related activities. Someone please tell me...why the heck is it called the 'Ulster Star'?!

Hazel's is your average newsagents / corner shop with that little added extra, which so many of…read morethese types of stores neglect to include these days. And no, I'm not referring to the decent staff (which some *do* fail downright miserably in), nor indeed to the range of magazines (though some do indeed have an incredibly narrow selection). No, I'm talking about the large number of sweetie jars. The key to any decent newsagents / corner shop. My sister took full advantage of this little bonus, and decided that while I was about to pay for my magazine and chewing gum that she would like a bag of sweets. "Fair enough", says I, "What would you like?" Ha, well her face offered the glaringly obvious answer of "em, I dunno", which was soon followed by a verbal response of "em, I dunno". I know her so well... Apologies were swiftly left with the shop assistant, who didn't mind in the slightest (bless him), and waited patiently whilst my sister took a good look at all the sweets on offer. "Oooh, how about those sour raspberries?!", pointing to a jar filled with these horrendously bright blue numbers. When she saw my face (for I was going to be delving into the bag at a later stage, and wanted someone at least remotely edible), she decided to go for the more agreeable option of cinnamon lozenges. Thank goodness. I paid (it's my duty apparently), we left, and and all was well with the world again. As well as it could be anyway...

I used to love this place when I was a youngster, as it was where I used to come and get the Beano…read moreand Dandy when it was still cool for kids to read and have an imagination. Unfortunately I have long since grown up since those days, but this place hasn't really gone with the times either. This is what you imagine as your stereotypical local corner shop newagent.There is a decent range of all the most popular papers and magazines, as well as the usually confectionary, crisps and drinks. The most useful services provided by here are the ability to get the Belfast Telegraph delivered to your home, and for the older generation for the paper/ magazine you want to be kept aside. I hope this place stays open and grows due to my childhood fondness, but with the sweet online world crushing everything in the way of published media, I fear for the long term health of small newsagents like this that don't offer much else.

I must admit, I don't usually go in to book stores, when I am going to buy a book I usually head…read morestraight to Amazon but today after having breakfast in the Botanic area I was walking back to my car and I thought I would call in to No Alibis to see if I could pick up a book I had been recommended by numerous colleagues. On entrance No Alibis seemed cluttered and I couldn't immediately locate the section I thought the book I was looking for would be in. It certainly wasn't as clear as the Amazon search results. Anyway I struggled on and eventually came across the 'business' section at the back of the store. After having a quick sift through the books it became clear that they didn't stock the title I was looking for. With that I was about to leave but then I thought I'd ask the lad working there if she had seen/heard of the book. It was then my experience took an amazing turn for the positive. The helpful lady immediately consulted her 'book database' on the computer and immediately found the book. Unfortunately she didn't have it in store but she was able to reserve it for me and have it ready to be collected on Monday - plus it was cheaper that it was on Amazon. What a result! It was look old meets new! If you're looking for a book for study or leisure definitely pop in here - even if they don't have it they can source it for you. I also noticed they sold some unique pieces of local art. Hopefully this main stay of Botanic will be around for years to come!

I'm an English student so any bookstore is a good bookstore as far as I'm concerned. This one…read morehowever is independent of Queen's but has a very close relationship with the students and the staff. Despite there already being a bookshop owned by Queen's, many would recommend you try here first as if they don't have it, they will guarantee you it with their next delievery. It could be either that or the fact the people (whose names escape me yet again) are exceptionally friendly and have a real passion for their job. I have been in browsing before and soon i was sitting down with some friends having coffee and discussing books... pretentious possibly, but it's almost certainly the bookstore that makes me want to sit and drink coffee and talk about books. I dont even like coffee either. Very very very helpful, very friendly and a must for anyone who requires a good book