Model Zone is a geek's heaven, situated within St. Johns market this is the kind of place where…read moreyour typical nerd can go and spend the day marvelling at the products within. There is nothing at all wrong with this but it just so happens that I am more of a games console man and as such I didn't really understand the fervour surrounding these types of products. This place as the name suggests sells models for war craft games and other related activities and to be fair the range of produce is quite astonishing. As well as this the quality of the products is fantastic and there is much attention to detail here. I was also very impressed with the staff who worked hard to help out each and every customer so they get much kudos for customer service. On the whole a well run establishment which does its best to draw you in to its slightly nerdy world and if we are honest there is a bit of a geek within all of us.

I've never made a model of anything before I don't think, but we used to come here a fair bit when…read moremy brother was a toddler because they had loads of cool trains and cars and he was interested in collecting them. Then, as he grew up and became interested in the RAF, the family would generally call in here if at a loss for presents at Christmas or birthdays, and get him a model aeroplane set. This is quite a fascinating shop if you like geeky things (or at least appreciate them, like me). You can get all the Thomas the Tank Engine trains from here, you can get Meccano sets and Scalextric and even Star Wars, Star Trek and Dr Who collectibles. If you're at a real loss for inspiration for presents, it may be worth while looking round here for ideas, as more often than not you'll see something that you know someone will love. The staff are eager to help and even if you ask them random ambiguous questions they eventually find out what you're talking about and sort you out. It's on the same avenue as the 99p shop so you know you're going for guilty pleasures (ie stocking up on £5 worth of sweets) if your feet take you in that direction.

Though the Modelzone chain went into receivership some years ago, the Chester shop was one of the…read morefew that has passed on to another model retailing business. The same premises now trade as the Chester Model Centre. There is a web site as well.... The current shop is well worth a visit. It is now the only model shop in Chester I believe...Hobbycraft down by Sealand Road don't now stock so much in the model area...

There are two World's Apart shops in Liverpool and contrary to the name they are actually quite…read moreclose together. This building in Lime street is a mess and needs a sympathetic refurb and clean. I was surprised to discover that actually this shop is part of a small chain. I visited the shop for the first time this week. It's full of comics and toys you simply can't get elsewhere - not that I have tried. So many of the toy figures I could not recognise although I did spot some of the original Dr Who figures and some from Final Fantasy. Forget Toys R Us, this place is a wealth of badges, stickers, games and oddness for kids, adults and fans of things I've never even heard of.

Like its geeky counterpart, Forbidden Planet on Bold, World's Apart deals in all things cult. Cult…read moreis often a term used to describe things that have a strong, devoted core audience - or for studio executives something with low viewing figures. But no more, the popularity if this store can be seen on Saturday afternoons as children and adults alike fill the store and rummage through the amazing collections of limited edition, imported and new toys, comics, books, graphic novels, DVDs, posters and clothing for every genre and range of sci-fi, horror and anime franchise.

Formby Models offers a great slice of nostalgia for those who remember playing with model boats,…read morecars and aircrafts. Fitting a surprising number of different models into one moderately sized shop, Formby Models is a lovely place to browse in, even if you don't plan on buying anything (the scalextric sets nearly had me opening my wallet). It is a good place to look for a present for a youngster, or just someone young at heart, although unfortunately in the days of games consoles and internet I guess such carefully crafted models as these may be somewhat lost of the youth of today. The staff here are friendly and helpful, with their reliance on repeat business meaning they remember a face or if you're looking for something in particular. They also offer their workshop facilities for service repairs and tune ups for those who find some of the more advanced models a bit more challenging. It's a shame that such shops like these aren't as popular nowadays because for myself and others my age, playing with models such as these in their various forms were a staple of our childhood, as well as my parents before me. A local treasure hidden away amongst the Formby estates.

My son recently bought a drone from Formby Models and after 4 months shortly after take-off it lost…read morecontact with the controller and dropped out of the sky damaging it badly. The drone was sold as having 'return to home' facility for this very problem! 27/05/17 The shop have now had our DJI Phantom 3 now for 19weeks and will not repair or replace it claiming user error. Those that know Adam knows he has been flying drones for years, has had 3 drones plus other RC helicopters and even teaches others how to fly. There is no customer support, the shop are fobbing us off saying we have to deal with manufacturer which is not how UK consumer laws work. We could have got it cheaper off the internet but like to buy local and bought from the Formby Models shop thinking we would get the after-care and support that you don't get off the web. Sadly not the case.

This is a fairly standard model shop with all your basics like trains, model airplane kits, etc…read more They did seem to tend more toward the masculine interests, whereas some model shops also carry girly things like dollhouse miniatures. They are well stocked, and seem to be helpful and reliable, but I guess if I were looking for something I'd probably go to a larger store just because I like to have more to look at and choose from.

Ahoy there!…read more Nauticalia is appropriately located amongst the array of touristy type gift shops in Albert Dock. If you are an admirer of seafaring, then this shop is definitely for you. There are a wide amount of ornaments and collectables, some of whom might consider odd if you're not familiar - if you're like me, it's kind of difficult to describe them! Although, I did manage to recognise a barometer - an instrument sailors use to measure atmospheric pressure. Some items may be pointless but you can buy products such as strong weathproof clothing, and thermals all of which are fairly expensive. The member of staff whom greeted me was cheerful and I actually enjoyed the browsing experience which was quite unique. From my visit, I saw a gift cloth with a very interesting description and I'd like to share those sayings about why a ship is called "she". A ship is called a "she" because..... There is always a great deal of bustle around her There is usually a gang of men about She has a waist and stays It takes a lot of paint to keep her good looking She shows her topsides and hides her bottom She can be all decked out It takes an experienced man to handle her correctly And without a man at the helm, she is absolutely un-controllable. It takes a lot of Paint to keep her Good - Looking. And the main reason....It's not the initial expense that breaks you, It's the upkeep!!! When coming into port, always heads for the buoys. Fascinating!!!

Nauticalia seems to have forgotten one of the only rules about owning a shop. Sure, you can make…read moreyour range of products fantastic to look at, but if it's so expensive that people will run screaming, you've failed at business. Then again, this place has been here for years so I'll hush ma mouth. Selling everything to do with the sea, this is a great shop to stroll around and browse the bottled ships, maritime clocks, diving helmets and miniature twin cylinder engines (every home should have one) but, as I said, unless you've recently discovered pirate treasure, the chances of you buying anything whose price you can justify are going to be slim.

After visiting this shop a couple of times recently I can say that I am shocked and appalled by…read morethe way this business is run. The shop is dark and smelly and has a terrible atmosphere. The man who works there is rude and condescending and offers no or little help when asked for advice and I am made to feel very unwelcome. The shop offers a very poor selection of goods with too much emphasis on warhammer and not enough real hobbies. I find it hard to believe that a shop can operate like this in this day and age and get away with offering such awful service and shopping environment. I can see many people will be going to the nice modern and friendly hobby shop down the road over this place.

Offered me a deal at 20 Pounds for a selection of Die cast models for my son, It was Agreed cash…read morewas preferred so I went to the cash Machine and returned with £22, Then I was told It was now £40 and he had made a msitake, I was on the spot and already told my son of these purchases so I paid it, Only to Arrive home to find out that my original Purchase was missing Items from the deal that was agreed and I had a bag of old broken Hot Wheels I never selected, nor Asked for. Next time I returned the Owner was slamming boxes around the shop and refused to speak to me, so Obviously I Left never to return again, The owner will also Attack you for not wearing a Face mask, which is no longer a legal Requirement, nor does he have any signage requesting the wearing of masks. A very expensive, Frustrating, pointless experience and I would genuinely advise against shopping at this establishment. Thank You Jack

Due to the rarity of seeing hobby shops these days, particularly in town centres, Hobby Scene does…read morelook somewhat odd in its location, especially next door to an electrics shop that sells the latest HD plasma TVs and iPods. However despite its somewhat dated appearance, Hobby Scene is a very pleasant and charming shop that offers its customers a decent selection of different hobby products that are more traditional past-times than the latest next-gen gaming consoles or an iPad. They sell a decent selection of remote control cars, helicopters and boats as well as a large selection of models and scalextric, all of which are available at pretty cheap prices. The staff there are friendly and able to offer a very personal service due to it being a small, family-run business. All in all, Hobby Scene is a lovely shop that whilst might not be for everyone (particularly youngsters in today's society) is a very useful source for many different hobbies.