Forget pots of paint, stencils and fancy wallpaper…read more The only reason anyone would be crazy enough to go to B&Q this week would be to buy one of their wood burning stoves or electric fires. Last time I checked they had about half a dozen different models at reasonable prices. Admittedly, none of them looked as stylish as the fires you see in lifestyle magazines but when Britain is having it's worst cold spell for thirty years, I think some people might be willing to sacrifice a little style for the sake of staying warm! Handily, this branch offers Reserve and Collect so you can order products online or by phone and collect later.

B&Q at 'The Fort' on Cheetham Hill Road, less than a mile out of the city centre. What can I say…read morebut DIY. This store is very big has a large garden centre, both inside and out. Whatever you need for your home you will mostly find it here.

Makro seems to have got stuck in the past. In the 10 or so years I have been shopping here…read more(rarely), I can't remember a time it has ever changed. It is very dark and dingy. Sometimes a bargain is available but most things seem to be overpriced especially for a cash and carry. Tesco usually have better deals on! I have never seen a rush of people here or a rush of staff for that matter. On my last visit I think there were only two other customers in the place but when I came to the tills to pay I still had to wait and the lady who served me was verging on rude! I only go here when I am desperate for something I can't find elsewhere.

We used this store (and the one in Knowsley) for the whole time we ran a pub. After a short period…read morethe store offered us a Gold card due to the amount we were spending there. We told them that we only spent so much because the offers and general prices were always so good, but yes thanks. This enabled us to use a different door (actually better than it sounds when you come out with a trolley-full of stuff and don't have to push it all over the carpark) and a dedicated till. The staff always proved to be extremely helpful when asked. I think those who have complained about the attitudes, possibly didn't make their requests clearly enough, or were aggressive in manner, but can't really comment further. Yes, there are times when they don't have stocks of some items I am sure every business has run out of something at one time or another, especially when they have as many customers as Makro do.

A community run garden centre in the middle of Hulme. I've admired it from the top of the 86 bus…read moremany times. This is a very well designed space which feels surprisingly big as you walk around it. There's a good variety of flowers, fruit trees, shade plants and more for sale. There's a gluten free, vegan cafe on site. I saw a sign for vegan hotdogs, cakes and coffee when I was there but didn't sample anything. There's lots of seating at the cafe but also lots of little quiet spots with seating all over the centre. It feels like a community park as much as a business. There's also a 'schoolroom' with hay bales for the students. This place is not the cheapest garden centre but then your money is going to support a community not B & Q shareholders. Also all the plants are organic and in peat free compost.

A non commercial garden centre that has a really lovely relaxed feel to it and a good selection of…read moreplants and shrubs with some unusual varieties. The path leading in has lots of lovely plants growing along it and you are drawn in to the various areas with a smile. Loved the sensory garden and the staff are very friendly. If you need some vegetables for planting the have a selection. Also there are various courses run by this centre and details are on the website.

So there I was, wandering round the Northern Quarter looking for something new, and POOF it…read moreappeared! In a shadowy doorway near Leo's gross Fish Bar, is a little staircase, lined with cool music posters and a couple of outfits on hangers. To be honest, I didn't hold out much hope as I descended the stairs. The sign above the door isn't the best (though it gets kudos for being simple) and, let's face it, vintage shops are ten-a-penny nowadays, and Manchester's NQ selection is already so good, it'd be hard to live up to that. But, I am glad to report, Bratt's does it admirably. Located in a cellar, basically, Bratt's takes advantage of the exposed brick work and low ceilings, and the arched alcoves in the wall are used as features; one of them houses much of the homewares selection (more on that later) and the other has been curtained off as a fitting room, which is almost too cool for words. It's the best fitting room I've seen since Rags to Bitches' silky tent. In terms of stock, Bratt's has really got it. Endless racks of good quality, well-cared-for vintage merchandise line the tardis-like cellar, organised, by style and material. So you'll find all the cricket jumpers together, offset by a great collection of retro trackie-tops and a bunch of good-looking furs (faux, or no? I dunno.) There's a multitude of jolly good womenswear, from all eras and epochs, and a seriously decent selection of knitwear. There's also a fantastic array of upcycled dresses and skirts by Love Me Again. I love upcycling, and you should too! The homewares, though mainly concentrated in one area, are scattered round the shelves. The awesomeness is too much to list, and I'm sure it's changed since last week, but expect to see vintage telephones, Atari consoles, the odd coffee table and some very nice mirrors. The perfect addition to any bijous dwelling, and the sort of thing I yearn for, but cannot have, in my modernist gaff. Sigh. Anyway, if you've got a kitsch aesthetic going on, you could do a lot worse than to pop to Bratt's for a vintage milk jug. (£3!) Not only is the stock great, the people here are fab too. The manager was more than happy to have a wee chat about the place, and told me that originally he'd planned to open a bar there. Thank God he didn't; this vintage shop is far too good to miss out on. As well as Mr Bratt (j'assume) there's a lovely female shop assistant who wafted around being the epitome of vintaahhhge styyyyle, dahhhhling, making it look totally effortless. She's hard to hate, though, because she's so damn lovely. Considering the instant awesomeness of Bratt's, only two weeks after opening, I think this place is one that will go quickly from hidden gem to firm fave, and rightly so.

What a really cool vintage addition. Downstairs you go and explore and be fascinated and prepared…read moreto shell out on some very amazing pieces. Fancy a batman mobile telephone? A very old sewing machine? Listening to Rock FM and admiring the brickwork, the poster work and breathing in that vintage smell? Get yourself down to Bratts. Brilliance.