Everything a corner shop could need, plus alcohol…read more If you're an avid reader of my reviews, you will recall an Italian Bistro I used to work at which used to send me out for pizza because it was on the menu but we didn't cook it. The same bistro used to send me running out to the 10 til 10 to get Amaretto for the occasional late night regular who'd prop up the bar and regale us all with the week's gossip. So it has always been the place for me where you can get emergency alcohol. And there's a decent selection. I do miss the way it used to be with a wooden frame separating you from the drink and grubby windows which students and tramps alike pressed their noses against whilst picking their drink of choice. These days they're a lot more trusting and let you get the majority of stuff yourself, but then they've obviously come under new management too, if the gaudy new shop sign is anything to go by. I have before and after pictures for comparison...

10 til 10 is a small convenience market that is actually open from 9am to whenever they feel like…read moreshutting, which is sometimes as late as 2 or 3 in the morning. I guess by lowering the expectations about when the shop was going to actually be open they expected that people walking past at midnight would be pleasantly surprised and would venture in and but Snack-a-Jacks and Blossom Hill rose aplenty. This is a particular gem if you have a friend, or indeed if you are a friend, who lives around the area. In which case a few six packs of export strength lager and a bag of minstrels procured at just-above-supermarket prices mean that the party can keep on going long after the last orders at the Pilgrim has been rung. Oh hells yeah.

This is a great wee convenience store selling everything from papers to milk to burgers to cakes…read moreand scotch eggs! Lots of home made produce here which is well worth a try, and good value too.

Every single time I use this shop theirs a problem, calming he has no change, arguing with…read morecustomers about paying by card not cash - whats that about?. They also always claim the "Collect +" system is down 3 times over the past 2 weeks even though I could see parcels on the shelf.....

The guy who runs this shop is a total ar*ewhole. Argues everytime with customers called me a "white…read morepiece of trash" for going in to look for something which turned out they didn't sell and asked "why come in if you're not buying anything" Told him the reason and that what does it matter if I come in and don't buy anything. He refuses to do Walrus cards saying he doesn't have to do them even though he's operating Pay Point. Doesn't want you to pay by card and if you do he tries to charge you £1 extra. Very arrogant and would never shop there even if he gave me stuff for free.

Spar has recently moved from a nearby location to the corner of Dale Street (where there once lay a…read moreHSBC). This Spar definitely has the most futuristic look about it with its glossy, glass-panelled and chrome finish on the exterior. I don't often shop at Spar because prices are generally expensive compared to competitive stores and of course it isn't really the place you'd go to do your weekly shopping; it's more of an emergency shop for locals and business folks nearby. Spar is located in a prime location for office workers in the area and has ideal products for people on-the-go. This makes it a great place to grab a quick lunch and newspaper or magazine. Let's say that this is your super mini-mart!

This is a very conveniently located store located on busy Dale Street. As you would expect it's…read moregreat for essentials like bread, milk etc and also good for picking up a bottle of wine on your way home from work to the train station :) They also sell a wide selection of magazines and newspapers plus lottery tickets and scratchcards and there is a food to go counter at the rear of the store for freshly prepared sandwiches and pizza. I think its open from 7am til late. There is also a cash machine in store too but it charges £1.50 for withdrawals.

Tesco Express on Strand Street is a good convenience store, located by the docks in Liverpool city…read morecentre. The facilities inside the store are good, this is a Hermes Parcelshop, so you can drop off packages here with Hermes (Good for cheap packages and Amazon returns), there is also a small Krispy Kreme doughnuts stand and Costa Express coffee machine. The layout of the store was pretty good, it was more visually appealing than other Tesco Express stores I have visited. The selection in-store was fine, obviously, the prices are what you'd expect for a Tesco Express store, which can be just over 10% more than a regular Tesco due to it being a convenience style location. My main issue with the store was the unfriendliness of the security guard, who seemed to have let all the power go to his head, he was standing on the door, blocking the only way into the store, I ended up having to squeeze past him, as he refused to even acknowledge me or move, both entering and leaving the store. I have never felt more unwelcome and like a criminal just for entering a store. 3* - The store its-self is good, but I probably wouldn't return if the security guard keeps acting like a nightclub bouncer at a low-grade boozer.

Popular corner shop franchise Spar is so big that it has branches in such classy European hangouts…read moreas Magaluf, showing that we English just can't go without our daily fix of essentials at slightly steep prices. This branch in Harrington Road, Formby is not really different to your standard Spar, offering the usual small selection of bread, cold meats and alcohol that are a bit overpriced. However, this branch does also have a bakery section on which you can purchase hot pastries such as sausage rolls that leave the shop with a lovely home-baked smell if nothing else. It also offers a DVD rental service, but I guess that's rather defunct now as it's cheaper to buy them off Amazon or download them for free.

A well stocked, clean mini supermarket. You never run out of anything living near to this shop. The…read morestaff are efficient and happy too most of the time! Service is usually quick too. This shop stocks fresh, frozen, tinned and dried foods and also have a good selection of newspapersn and magazines.