I love this shop so much. It embodies everything that is wonderful about independent, old…read morefashioned stores. Before I bought my house I didn't really appreciate shops like this. Now I am a responsible grown up this is the kind of place I love visiting. Basically it does exactly what it says on the tin and stocks everything you would ever need for your house or DIY projects. The chap that runs the places is so helpful and can even give you advice for those tricky little jobs around the home. Currently, they also have a good stock of outdoor plants ready to go into pots or the garden. This is what I stopped and bought but I will be back anytime I need a DIY product for my house. Great price too.

We could all do with a shop like this in our street, and it needs to be open 24/7. It is simply…read morebrilliant. This is an emporium of delights, a real pleasure to visit. Many of us tend to visit B&Q (whatever that stands for) or Homebase for anything DIY but I urge you to drop by this store and compare not only prices but the service. I'll admit, I am useless when it comes to anything DIY and I am fed up with visiting the aforementioned chain stores because whenever I ask questions, the 12 year-old, happy to help staff member I'm met with has the same look as me, they're as clueless as I am. This is not what I need! I need someone who knows what I might be talking about and this is why I take full advantage of the word "useful" in Jeff's Useful Shop. There is nothing about hardware the staff in shop don't know about. It's well stocked, if your house needs it, it'll be in this shop.

Gregory Pank is a good old-fashioned hardware store located on Digbeth Highstreet. The shop seems…read moreto be a bit of a hidden gem. It shouldn't be: this place sells probably just about everything a budding DIYer or seasoned craftsperson could want. When you enter the shop your nostrils are filled with the scent of DIY history. Whether you're after glue, polyfiller, drill bits or string (all things I've been in for) you need only ask one of the very knowledgeable staff at the counter and they'll scurry off into the depths of the store to find it (or suggest numerous alternatives if they can't).

I'm going to make some bold statements with this place. First up it is my favourite shop in Acocks…read moreGreen. I also think it must be the best hardware store in Birmingham. Jeffries is a huge hardware business that stocks all the standard nuts and bolts plus a huge selection of outdoor planting, perfect for this time of year, and has a large gardening section at the rear of the store. Recently I was after some fence protector and after a visit to a huge DIY shop felt frazzled by the choice in products, colours and price. One trip to Jeffries and I got exactly what I needed, no fuss, a great price and I parked my car at the rear of the store to load up. I also recently discovered they do key cutting. They stock a wide selection of pet products. The beauty of this place is that they've always got what you need and know exactly what you are asking for. On the very slim chance they don't stock what you are after they know where you should go to get it. Amazing staff and service.

Need a hardware item for your garden and/ home? Take a look here as I'm sure they'll have it! There…read moreare lots of little sections in this shop like their garden hardware, animal treats and carpet sections. It was a nice little surprise when discovering each area here. In summary it's a big hardware store that sells all (or at least most) of the nuts and bolts you need for your home and they have a big garden centre. If they don't have what you want then the staff can tell you where to get it. The shop is mainly for people who want to buy anything to do with DIY for their home. I came in here in search of a few things for home and, I don't mean to offend anybody by stereotyping, as a woman in a hardware store I didn't know where to look first. The staff were friendly and polite enough however to put me in the right direction. If you need any hardware for your home and garden then it's worth giving this store a visit.

Adams Ironmongers is one of those little shops that seems to have been there forever and has never…read morechanged because its never needed to - it even gets away with still having an 021 phone number displayed on its sign. It sits quietly on a corner next to Holland House Infant School, plying its trade. Adams is a bit like a Tardis - it's certainly painted the right colours - because when you go in what looks like a tiny shop you find it to be an emporium of pretty much anything you could need in the course of your DIYing - or even your ironmongery. Shelves and boxes filled with screws, bolts, nuts, washers, drill-bits, locks, latches, gaffer tape and most more (anytime the snow comes, they immediately start selling orange plastic sledges - I had one when I was little and it was great, especially when it snowed) are presided over by friendly and dilligent chaps who know what they're talking about even if you don't.

The man running this shop has the only available key to a gate that blocks access & egress to an…read moreadjacent school & nursery. It caters to children from birth upwards. To my knowledge he has no connection to it other than proximity. He appears to open & close the gate purely at his convenience, oblivious to the needs of parents there & the often very young children with them. I had my 2-year-old twins there for a playgroup which they very much enjoyed. I normally take them in a buggy but it had broken so I was driving. I'd gone to pick up a parcel on the way home when I realised I'd left my shirt & the parcel card in it at the Nursery. I drove back & retrieved them. When I turned around to drive out there was a locked gate blocking our exit. I was told that this man had the key so I asked him nicely to unlock it. He refused. When I pointed out that I had very young children in the car with me who had been away from home for over 2 hours he responded: "So go & look after them then!". Even the Nursery management were unable to talk sense into him. After half an hour, by which time my poor children were very fed up, hungry & in need of a changing, at his convenience he eventually decided to walk all the way out of his small shop & the 4 feet to the gate & let us out: us & many other irate parents with their children. He seemed to find it all very amusing. A man who appears to take pleasure in detaining & distressing small children & their carers is not someone that I would ever want to do business with.

This is my local go to hardware store. They have everything you need for most DIY projects - paint,…read moretools, lighting, gardening tools, fertilisers, weed killer and pesticides, and much much more. They also cut keys and sell Calor gas . I sometimes think this place is like a TARDIS, they stock so much in a small store.

Always got what you need and it's cheaper than anywhere else. Has anything I can think of even if…read morehe doesn't have it in stock the owner will get it in for the following day. The staff are very welcoming and give me advice step by step. Overall a great service!

This is a classic high street hardware store that seems to sell just about everything that you need…read morearound the home. Plugs, mops, buckets, paint....the list goes on. It's a family run business that has been around for as long as I can remember. They also cut keys, although it's been a while since I used that service, so whilst I can't comment it's always worth knowing where your local key cutting services are! Bear it in mind next time you need some spares. What I like about this place is that the owner always takes the time to make his outside display look fairly decent, whatever the weather. As he's situated on the main route through Kingstanding to New Oscott and Boldmere, and beyond, it's a fairly safe bet that you can pick up what you need en route (should you travel from South Brum to North Brum quite often, as I tend to do). The prices are reasonable and the service is always friendly - so I recommend popping in next time you need a fuse for a 13 Amp plug.

they are now closed. No longer trading due to retirement .when they were trading they were excellentread more

When it comes to DIY or building then I haven't got a clue and prefer to leave it to the…read moreprofessionals. I recently paid a visit to E H Smith Builders Merchants to get an idea of what was involved with a DIY job i needed doing. I was impressed with the comprehensive range of "stuff" on offer. Much better than the chains of DIY stores like B&Q or Homebase, E H Smith are experts at what they do and that comes across when you speak to any of the knowledgeable staff. Building materials, timber, paving and landscaping, plumbing they seem to have it all here. So next time you're off to a DIY store try E H Smith

From the owner: Well established in the construction industry as specialist in bricks and timber, we pride…read moreourselves on our excellent customer service, knowledgable staff and comprehensive range of building materials.