Ards tourist information is a centre with a difference. Sure, its got a wealth of guidance on where…read moreto eat, shop, sleep and go in Newtownards, as well as various other towns and cities in Northern Ireland. Naturally, there are the gifts and souvenirs available in a typical tourist information centre, and helpful, friendly advice from those in the know. "So, what's different?!" I hear you cry. Yes, yes, I was getting to that bit. A stunning array of locally produced arts and crafts are available for purchase - jewellery, glassware, china, pottery and the like. And when I say local, I mean local. Like twenty minutes down the road local. Beautiful, beautiful stuff. Not only this, but the centre collaborates with the creators and innovators behind these delightful goods, holding displays and classes for the general public to watch and participate. One such event is "Meet the Maker", which exhibits the likes of Karl Harron (a glass artist), Mike Miall (a woodturner) and Jan Campbell (a textile artist). Fascinating. Furthermore, he art centre is well equipped, with studios, galleries and meeting rooms all for use for this sort of event. Ha, bet you weren't expecting that! The name did kinda give it away mind you...

I'm not from Newtownards. I just blew in with my fiance a few years ago but I've been living here…read morelong enough to think i know everything about the blooming place. Ha ha - I don't. I'd never even been into the tourist information center until earlier today and without sounding like a maniac - I was blown away. Yeah! yeah! like all your bog-standard tourist information places they sell tea towels covered in maps of Ireland, attractions, sheep and Guinness. This is not however the cream on the Newtownard's Tourist Information cake. Go in deeper into the back of the shop to discover the wonder that is the arts and crafts section. Local artists from all over the peninsula create and display items in the display area. There are amazing ceramics, paintings, jewelry and sculpture. I couldn't believe it - all this has been under my nose all along. Seriously, I was blown away by all the free brochures about the area, the play area and the friendly, helpful staff. If you need to know anything at all about places to stay or eat anywhere in Northern Ireland then call in here.

Visited the Craft Room today after lunch in the courtyard. The shop is up external staircase &…read morethrough doorway entrance to room on the right. Not a lot of space but lots to see, touch and handle. From knitwear to scarves, from wonderful photographs to magical robot lights everything is handmade by local artists. We bought some baby knitwear for a newborn great nephew, lovely little booties, mittens and bonnet to match in eggshell blue. William was very friendly and helpful and we will certainly return.

I find this shop to be filled with cheap tat and dust gatherers…read more It is reasonably busy of a weekday and you can pick up some bargains within but really the things are very cheaply made and quite disposable. I only ever buy two things from this shop - scatter cushions for 2 for £5 and big plastic storage containers started from a few pounds up to about a tenner. The clothes are cheaper versions of high street fashion and older ladies jumpers and coats. They do have quite a nice range of clothing for children and babies at very low prices. The one thing I used to buy in here was canvases for my paintings (I'm a budding Rolf Harris don't ya know!) I'll not be buying them again - the quality is terrible, just the quality you would expect for prices starting at £1.50. A good place to pick up little practice canvasses or for children to get art and hobby supplies but don't expect any quality. A lot of stock but no real substance. Not for me.

This isn't just any Post Office. Oh no, this is the Comber Post Office. Complete with stationery /…read morecard / sweet / toy shop (i.e. Scribbles), it's totally reminiscent of old school Post Offices, where you had the massive card selection, with a few notebooks / envelopes etc. This one even has a retro wooden writing desk. Love it. The Post Office section is right at the very back of the shop, hidden from view. There are tons of cards in front if this, and they take up the majority of the shop, with the stationery section at the right hand side, and the sweet section at the front. However, it was the toys that interested me the most. I guess I shouldn't really refer to them in that way - these are collector's items, and cost a little bit more than the present you bought your five year old nephew for Christmas. We're talking model cars and other modes of transport (spotted a 1960s Bat Mobile model), as well as an array of fluffy Teddy bears and other stuffed toys. In a Post Office. Love it times two. Despite not being a collector of either of the above, I definitely feel it's a fitting time to allude to Enrique, and say "Baby, I like it"...

I like funny stories. Funny haha or funny peculiar - either will do. Of course, the unparalled…read morefunny story contains these two aspects; the best of both worlds. The funny haha bit of this story is really that I know nothing about art or framing. I'd like to think I'd know a good frame when I see one, but that really couldn't be guaranteed. The actual painting or photograph is an entirely different story. I really haven't got a clue. This story one circles around a painting of a building in Toronto, which apparently is quite a good one. Of course, I wouldn't know. This painting came to us through a friend of my dad's. He'd picked it up in a charity shop and thought of us as he did so. It replaced a dodgy old picture of something-or-other (having not really had an interest in art, I'd never really paid attention you see), and looked quite well in our hall. Until (cue the funny peculiar part), it fell off the wall, completely randomly, and the glass cover smashed. Thankfully, someone who knows a great deal more about art and frames are Sheldon. The exceptionally friendly lady told my dad and I that she could have the glass replaced with 3 hours (at a very good price, might I add), as well as providing us with a new cord to hang the picture with. There was me thinking we'd need a new frame and everything, but thankfully not. Interestingly, the lady didn't believe there to be anything wrong with the original cord. Mmm, strange. Less than 3 hours later, a phonecall came through, alerting us to the fact that our picture was ready. They had even stayed open slightly later than usual to accomodate us. What nice people. The new glass looked...sturdy, and the picture has remained in tact for 2 months, so we're pretty hopeful. If, by any chance, you should have any picture issues, the lovely people at Sheldon will happily get you sorted. Despite my lack of knowledge of art etc, I never doubted the expertise of this lot.

Sheldon gallery is based in Newtownards and I have used this shop on several occasions. As a…read morepainter who likes to give away my attempts at art I often use the shop to frame my pieces. They have a wide selection of different frames, in different colours, thicknesses and materials. The ladies who work there are all very experienced and they will sit with you to help you choose just the right frame. They do a very clean neat frame, which doesn't cover up the edges of the work - sometimes this happens in other places. The job they do is well worth the price, which I find is reasonable for good service. Sheldon's also sell art by local artists as well as prints, cards and other decorative items. I enjoy calling in for a browse, to pick up ideas and have previously purchased artwork for a good price in their excellent sale, which seems to be on all year round.

This shop is exactly what it says on the tin. It is books, books and more books. Many of these can…read morecome in at about £1 to £5 and is probably the best place to get an annual of a bizarre autobiography. It wouldn't be the best place to try and get cutting edge, up to the minute fiction but is a great place to get almanacs or books on gardening etc. The place is always bunged with people and the books are piled high so it can seem a bit cluttered and isn't always the most calming place to be in but its ok if you have a bit of time to have a look through the seemingly endless piles of books. The staff are friendly and helpful and this is definitely a place to try and get a last minute present for your parents or grandparents.

At Christmas Bargain Books sells 3 rolls of wrapping paper and 1 roll of sticky tape for £2. So…read morethere you go, it is not just bargain books it is bargain everything. As I have already mentioned the main time I would go into Bargain Book is at Christmas time. Everyone has been there, it is Christmas Eve and you're still struggling to find a few presents for friends and relatives and you haven't even started your wrapping. Well that is when Bargain Books comes in handy, located in Bloomfield's shopping centre with great parking and ATM access Bargain Books is sue to bail you out. There is something for everyone in this shop, it sells books and bit and bobs for kids to grandparents. As the name suggests it will not break the bank either. I love Bargain Books for exactly that reason, even if you are out shopping and you want peace and quiet on the way home you could find a book or two to keep the kids entertained in the back of the car.

I'm not used to decorating homes and recently I have undertaken some redesign and decor of our…read morespare bedroom. I called in here to price curtains and bed linen as they have been about for absolutely ages and have a decent reputation. I wasn't that impressed. The stuff, I felt, was out dated and expensive. The staff weren't very helpful even though I very obviously needed help with measurements, colour schemes and the like. I personally prefer Dunelm Mill but I was in the centre of town and couldn't have been bothered traveling about the place. I don't think I will go in again for anything other than a definite item as I just felt a little overwhelmed at all the stuff but the lack of help.

I'm not really big into curtain / fabric / bed linen shops, since I don't have a requirement to buy…read moreany of these types of goods. However, when my parents were away on holiday last year, I decided I would venture in and purchase a duvet cover set for myself, having been in dire need of one for quite some time. Undoubtedly one of the most important days in a girl's life... I was fortunate enough to be in the shop during sale time, and was even more fortunate to find a blue and white barcode striped duvet cover for half price...£10 ("how do you do it?" is a frequent question asked by my mum). That usual jubilation that suddenly overcomes me the moment I find a bargain eluded me for once. I *had* to phone my mum and dad to ensure that my find was genuine and the bargain was good enough to warrant a purchase. A five minute phonecall later, and we established that this was the case. Phew. A year later, and my blue and white striped duvet cover is still perfectly intact, currently taking pride of place on my bed. Having had such a wonderful experience, when I went back this year to a newly refurbished Spinning Wheel, I was slightly disheartened to find no duvet covers on the bottom floor, despite the fact that this was indicated on the wall. Being in a hurry, I had to go, but I will definitely pop back in for a proper look very soon. And to get lost among all those curtains. Looks like such fun...