With a good range of all the latest DVDs and CDs, HMV is probably the best place to get films or…read moremusic in town. There is a varied and eclectic mix of music available, with sections for all the different genres, the same also can be said for the DVD side of the shop. Definitely the best place to find films/music that aren't in the 'Top Ten'. HMV also stock video games and consoles, a small range of music or film related books, and ipods and accessories. The staff are alright. One thing that annoys me though are the sudden price jumps there can be at times, (just ahead of a sale where they are then 'reduced'!)

HMV's are all over this little island, but this is the one I was most recently in so it's getting…read moremy review! HMV have a style which is understated.....or they just paint everything black so that it's easy to clean! I love going in here on a lousy day and just paying some random comedy DVD to cheer me up. The upside is that they always have stuff on sale, and not just the rubbish people don't want any more. They always have an outstanding collection of books that you wouldn't expect to find in the store such as HMV. I recently got Bill Bryson's new book for £7, a flipping steal! Whilst they might all be a little uniform, they are still worth having a peak into, just incase!

This is a big shop. Like, really big. I have the same problem with it as Suzy B does in that I…read moremostly go in for DVDs and so I have to trek the whole way to the top floor (I say trek. There are escalators. I'm just very lazy.) Their range of DVDs is vast, and you can usually find what you're looking for (or if you're me, you can find something, whether you intended to buy or not!), and the staff on that floor I find to be particularly lovely and usually up for a bit of banter (which is exactly how record shop staff should be fyi) The music selection is a little more limited, focussing mainly on chart and very popular stuff. Not that this is a bad thing, it just gets a little frustrating sometimes if you're looking for something a little more obscure. This store have also been known to host gigs and other such events. It's great to see that even though its part of a massive chain of stores, this branch is in touch with the local scene.

HMV... does anyone know what that stands for? I have been sitting here trying to work it out…read morewithout the help of Google but I can not for the life of me think what it could be? Must just be a big corporate mess made up of random letters from peoples names.. Anyway having said its name probably came from a boardroom it is obvious that HMV is a massive multi national brand but I thought I better just give it a thumbs up for the offers, deals and service that HMV continually dishes out. I mean DVD's and CD's for £3, it would be rude not to. But having said that its usually films that have been on ITV 15 times in a month that are on the bargain shelf. The staff are always really quirky in HMV, they have this thing about hiring individual looking people, this must be in a done in an attempt to mask the fact the every store is identical. But I must compliment the quirky characters that work in HMV, they are always really helpful, whether it is in helping you find you're a copy of The Notebook, ehhh or I mean Anchorman or having a bit of chit chat at the checkout.

HMV in town is pretty much a monopoly now which is kind of unfortunate. Back in the days where I…read moreactually had disposable income and I enjoyed acquired Cds and DVDs, I preferred Virgin/Zavvi being close by to provide a potential alternative! I do praise this HMV though. It has an excellent selection of Cds , DVDs and games ranging over 3 floors, with a wide range of music related accessories like t shirts, posters etc. In recent years the store has also increased its range of electronic items for sale and its music accessories! Staff here are friendly and have ordered in obscure comedy DVDs for me on a number of times when the usually impeccable fellows at Amazon fail me. Unfortunately the store is frequently jam-packed with people, most of whom are merely browsing which makes me fear for the future of such stores on a long term basis. I must say my concern is a little bit hypocritical: I am the biggest downloader around! * *To all copyright lawyers out there I do mean I download off reputable music and DVD download websites. Ahem.

My mis-spent youth is filled with happy memories of spending Saturday afternoons pottering round…read morerecord shops, browsing and finding new stuff. With the rise of digital the fun of flicking through the racks has changed but Sick is here to bring the fun back, hurrah! Opened last year in a tiny unit round the corner from Aether and Echo, Sick is a proper record shop selling proper records. We are talking the joy of vinyl here people, and boy is it a joy. There is no CDs here, just wall to wall plastic, and there's no One direction either. Sick specialises in new independent and Alternative music and Archive Re-issues on vinyl, if you are looking rare, this is where to go. Also special mention must go to the owner Kenny, looking dapper with his silver quiff, and the guys, who have such passion for music and they want to share it, always willing to advise or recommend something new. Yes, I still love being able to get music instantly online, but nothing beats buying the physical product, and you can't hold a download. If you feel like me, you'll love Sick.

This is one of the branches of The Basement of which there are now three (I think) around the…read moreBelfast area. This branch is Carrick is located on one of the main streets and the shop stocks a great range of DVDs, CDs and games. I must admit, I was very impressed, although I thought it would be rubbish, I was pleasantly surprised by both the amount and variation that the shop sold. Now sadly the staff don't really seem to care about whoever's in the shop, certainly when I was in I wasn't even looked at, never mind spoken to, but hey I guess you can't win every time! So, all in all The Basement sell good second hand stock for very good prices. A bit like Extradeal or a second hand Xtra-Vision, a good place for bargain buys. It's handy too if you're looking to make some extra cash as you can bring in your old films you no longer want and make a bit of money in the process, win!

For a film buff, a good film store is a necessity and so I am more than thankful that I have this…read moreHMV on my doorstep. Although certainly the Belfast branch is about three times at big if not bigger, this branch still is able to pack in a fair deal. HMV sell films, CDs, games, accessories, books, clothing and the likes. Mainly I use this place for stocking up on Sale item DVDs but I've often found it great for putting my hands on some great books that you don't see in most places. Sometimes I find the staff in here a bit abrupt but that is mostly at times when the shop is busy, when it's quiet they are more than helpful and willing to assist you find whatever you're after. HMV also offer than great discount card where you can use your points for money off purchases in the HMV store. A good, much needed shop around the area.

Replacing 'Wesley Owen' Christian bookshop, which was a particularly favourite haunt of mine, is…read morethe new 'Living Oasis' bookshop. I was surprised to see that the layout was basically entirely the same, though this is no bad thing, but the shop has undergone a paint job, with yellow and blue tones appropriately reflecting its name. The store is well laid out, everything is tidy and well-organised, with suitable sections for new titles, most popular books etc. It's not a huge shop, but there is a good amount of stock, which mainly consists of...yep, you guessed it...books. There are Christian CDs and DVDs, as well as cards and gifts, and interestingly, an Irish / Northern Irish souvenir section which I thought was quite novel. Amongst the fridge magnets featuring Belfast murals, and books about the Orange Order, were shamrock keyrings and Irish flags. Nice touch...got to keep everyone happy! Very much a calm and tranquil shop, Living Oasis is definitely one I'll be returning to. Even if it is only to dream of sun, sandy beaches and the glistening sea...

Bang Boutique is at the higher end price range of vintage shopping in Belfast. In my opinion it's…read moredefinitely not as good as the other shops I've been to (Rusty Zip, Best & Vintage) They do sell some really funky clothing, stuff you really wouldn't see anywhere else. But in my eyes it's all second hand clothing, but here it's got the 'vintage so expensive' tag. One bonus though is the manager and staff who are awesome, you'll often find them in adjacent Muriel's (By the way, go here! It's great!) One thing that did disappoint me was a visit I made after going to buy a friend a Michael Jackson t-shirt I'd seen. (This was shortly after his death, she was devastated) we had a bit of banter together and then I enquired about it, he was asking £50! I mean, no way! Said friend was (is) his hugest fan, but even she would kill me for spending that amount of money. It was absolutely ridiculous. That's totally just cashing in on the mans death, I wasn't impressed.

Bang Boutique is a cool little vintage clothing store just across from Muriels bar…read more It has really cool and funky clothes but I fear it is one of those vintage shops where everything is great to look at but you never actually buy anything because it's all too pricey. There were some cool things to browse through on the counter like an old school telephone and a girl's annual from the 1960's called Boyfriend, which had some really cool drawings in it. I also spotted some cool leather handbags but at £20, they were a tad too expensive. The owners are really nice and friendly and will chat away to you as you browse. I could imagine the members of Belle and Sebastian doing all their shopping in a place like this.