Although the name of this little shop of the needful and pointless has changed a number of times…read moreover the past few years its stock has remained largely the same; cork message boards, candleholders shaped like cartoon animals, balloons with happy 25th anniversary on them. Things you had absolutely no idea you needed until you realised that you didn't have them, or at least until you realised they actually existed. That the place manages to keep going while so many ventures in the high-rent Formby business lots go belly up is testament to how much people actually like junk like this. It's all pretty cheap and cheery in here but don't be surprised if some of the stuff begins to wither and rot, particularly if left out in the British summertime for any length - even the stuff that is technically supposed to be used outside. They do stock some decent blank black-and-white photo cards which always come in handy. Really though, who is still buying beaded curtains?

As my fellow yelpers have yelped before me, this shop and all its predecessors have generally…read morefollowed the same pattern - just get any old crap and throw it all together in one small shop (its surprisingly just how much you can fit in one shop, it really is). I recently visited Germany and went in a shop there that reminded me of here. It sold everything from Walkmans (yes, the original ones) to garden ornaments and it is this type of bizarre bric-a-brac that Gifts in House (it'll always just be a Poundland to me) specialises in, although not so much in the electrical equipment department. Many a bargain can be found here (it's very cheap) but when you leave with a bagful of goodies you'll be asking yourself if you actually need any of it or you just bought it because it was there and it was shiny. A good place to go if you're looking for some kind of bizarre joke birthday present as well I'd imagine.

Interesting market well worth a visit on Thursdays and Saturday closes quite early afternoon…read more Good bars close to market

Really lovely market, and you can find whatever you want. Their cheese stall is outstanding…read more.. definitely the place to get your provisions for the week.

The rise in express supermarket branches opening around the country, as well as supermarkets now…read moreselling a wide range of magazines and newspapers, has resulted in a decrease in popularity for local newsagents for whom sweets, drinks and magazines are all their business, as opposed to just one strand of their overall business. As a result, there are fewer newsagents around these days, and those that are still going are generally rather underwhelming. However, every so often you come across a newsagent much like K & C Douglas in Crosby. This reasonably sized newsagent offers a very good selection of sweets and drinks (we're talking a wide range of confectionery here, not just a few Snickers and Chomps) all at prices that are no worse than elsewhere (sweets aren't cheap anywhere these days). K & C Douglas also offers a very good selection of magazines in their shop, providing the usual glossies for the ladies as well as more specialist publications for those of you with more unusual hobbies and interests (Angling Weekly? Powerslam Wresting Magazine? Come on down).

This is the second Hamleys to open in Manchester following the arrival at Manchester Airport a year…read moreor so back. This opened not long after Daisy and Tom closed virtually next door. This branch occupies the top floor of the wonderful Kendals (becoming increasingly concerned over identikit UK, I can't and won't bring myself to calling it House of Fraser!) but I'm afraid it fails to fill the huge sandpit left by the much missed (um, if expensive) Daisy and Tom. With Daisy and Tom, you had a really nice children's café and play area, but nothing of the like here. Slightly worried over the increasing lack of facilities for children in our fair citybut once again this tangents cause a rise in my BP I was expecting something more in the line of the flagship store on London's Regent Street and they admittedly carry some of the latest crazes and fancy toys, alongside the demonstrations et al. But it all seems a little half hearted, a concession rather than the full orchestra. The café next door is extremely staid, and in fact I almost had a minor breakdown over the entire dullness of the surroundings despite relatively newly refurbished (best trying the other cafés in Kendals such as Albert Roux if you're feeling flush). Facilities wise we get a large slide and a small bath tub of wateraren't we all lucky? Overall I was disappointed with this branch I was expecting them to take over the four floors of Daisy and Tom instead of this side-car. Perhaps if it's a success they may concentrate on a larger, Northern flagship store but it's hardly worth the escalator journey if I'm honest.

A few of the friendly faces from Daisy & Tom have gone across to Hamleys and they are what make…read morethis place. The staff clearly love what they do and know their products. The demos they give are great and the large Thomas set is a must for pre-schoolers+ I think more of the 6th floor should have been given over to Hamleys but then I think putting a Children's Department on the 6th floor is ridiculous. The range of toys is a bit limited and I still refer to the internet site for a few they don't stock but the layout, with the space they have, is good, accessible with a pram once you get there and items are well displayed. Good for smaller gifts rather than a large lavish present. The Hamleys own wooden items in the baby range are well made and excellent value but in the 5+ age range it gets very generic No, it doesn't have the signature Daisy & Tom WOW factor, but then (sadly) it isn't D&T. I don't recommend the cafe on this floor either, I was going to treat the kids to the Paddington Bear lunch boxes (where you pick three items) but the choice was limited, the oranges were well past their best and the cheese sandwiches were curling because the fridge wasn't even on!

NewsPoint is quite a nice newsagents in The Lowry Outlet Mall and is also a Post Office, which is…read morequite handy. It is located on the Upper Level near the so called foodcourt containing the likes of BB's, Burger King, Subway and Chicken Cottage. I came here to post a letter, there didnt seem to be a Post Box, it just was a hidden counter service, it didn't feel like a full post office but they did still sell a selection of envelopes. There was a large selection of drinks, however some of the pricing was a little expensive such as a Lipton Iced Tea costing £1.29 which normally retals at around £0.99. The overall vibe and feel of the store was average, not too great but one thing saved this store from getting a low two star rating and that was - Customer Service. Having been well and truly drowned in the Manchester rain, my envelope was ruined and wet too, but the man behind the counter went out of his way and gave me a free envelope and a pen to use to re-write the event and then of course he helped get it posted for me, which was really kind. Shop as a whole - 2 stars Customer Service - 4 stars Overall - 3 stars

An interesting concept WHSmith store, The WHSmith Local brand is from WHSmith's Wholesale…read moredepartment and is described as " ideal for independent CTN/Newsagents & Post offices", so the store is different to your regular WHSmith store. Located in Canning Gate Shopping Centre, within Leigh town centre, it is opposite Ryman and close to the Bus Station. Cannings and WHSmith Local is the full name of this location. The store was small, but they had a decent selection of most items you'd expect to find from WHSmith, including a lottery desk at the back, meaning there were two separate tills to help ease queuing, they had a small selection of drinks too but sadly they didn't stock Lipton Ice Tea. 3* - This store is OK, one of the better newsagents within the town centre (especially if you don't fancy going into a supermarket), and a unique concept.

There are two designated card shops in Moor Lane. One is cheap and cheerful, the other is Maude…read moreSmith. This is posher, and arguably nicer, by miles but it is expensive. They sell a much better range of gifts and wrapping paper/bags etc than the other store as well as a fancier range of cards. I must admit, as the price goes up the standard of service goes down. The staff in here have, on occasion, been quite brusque and rather unhelpful. I have asked if something is stocked and I have recieved a flat no, no apology or suggested alternative, no half-hearted look, just "no". end of. so off we go to the cheap shop then...

There was uproar in the village when it was announced that Byrne & Sons would be closing its Brows…read moreLane premises (almost as much as when they mentioned that there might be a McDonalds opening opposite Waitrose). The men's clothing store had been in the village for a good long while and it should jolly well stay, especially as all these bally WAGS keep being bought boutiques here to run into the ground. Obviously the people making these sorts of remarks didn't really concern themselves with actually shopping at Byrne & Sons, and why would they? It was very expensive for what it was. "£55 for an argyle cardigan? I could get one half that price at the Edinburgh Wool Mill!" Still they were adamant that it shouldn't leave Formby, it was an institution. Imagine their joy then when it moved to new, even bigger (and cheaper) digs opposite the Grapes pub. Hooray. It still didn't mean that anyone really went. "£20 for a tie? Good heavens no, I could get three for that price at Tie Rack!"