Needed to have something delivered for a family birthday at 3 day's notice. Only problem is that…read morethe relative is allergic to most flowers. Jemma helpfully reommended a plant arrangement with some orchids and I took a shine to the style of the Pure and Simple arrangement on the website. Jemma took it from there and created a truly dazzling arrangement with fresh flowers on the day of delivery and which were received with delight. It makes such a refreshing change to see real creativity and flair in this industry rather than just seeing the same old arrangements trotted out. Will certainly use again.

Let's be honest, flowers can't erase a stupid argument or replace a family heirloom you've smashed…read more They can however, help you get out of the dog-house and back into your loved one's good books. The trick is, you need to buy as big a bouquet as you can carry and you need to hand-deliver them with a humble apology, a big hug and an even bigger kiss. I can't help you with the last three but I can recommend you get the flowers from The Northern Flower. Situated on Tib Street in the Northern Quarter, it's a cracking little florist that sells a small but brilliant selection of everything from roses, lillies and gerberas to birds of paradise, exotic flowers and big plants. Everything is reasonably priced, the staff are friendly and accomodating and they also sell a small selection of wine and champagne. Good luck and god speed!

If I need flowers I head here. They for a while had a tiny little pug puppy, being a man I usually…read moredon't fall for such pathetic things, but this thing is cute, like definition of cute. Any way northern flower is a small shop front that hosts all manner of lovely green matter. At different times of the year they keep all varietys of plants from orchids to the very cool carnivorous plants including pitcher plants and monkey traps (they dangle down and have been known to catch monkeys in their huge pitcher mouths). The folk behind the counter (always one girl whenever I'm there) knows her stuff inside out and can advise you on an easy to care for birthday present, gift for the girlfriend all the way to more technical beasts such as the before mentioned.

Great selection of flowers…read more Located very close to Oxford St Train station. The staff are super friendly

I've lost count of the amount of bouquets of flowers I've bought from Venus over the years…read more Suffice to say, there's been a lot and they've never let me down. The prices are a little steeper than other florists but the fact their flowers are so breath-takingly beautifuly makes it worth digging a little deeper. I've bought star-gazing lillies, birds of paradise and bunches of long stemmed roses from here and they're never died or wilted on me until at least ten days later. The staff are super-friendly too and clearly as passionate about flowers and foilage as I am about bourbon, cowboy boots and vinyl.

Got to be honest, I'm actually getting pretty sick of bleating on about how quirky, quaint and…read morefolksy every shop in the Northern Quarter is. I'm not a fucking pixie. I'm not setting up home with an elf. I'm not planning a vacation in Narnia- I don't need bricka brack, I don't need keepsakes, I don't need fecking chintz- that's why it's called chintz, if it was any use to me it would be called 'the essentials'!! The NQ has sold us a hippy dream that can never be. Being a boho mash head who sits in coffee shops talking about Neil Young, collects dolls and Japanese backpacks and is generally too arty to care about 'the system maaan' is an expensive past time so either these fakers are secretely high flying lawyers or daddy is a patient and giving man because the good ol' NQ is one of the most expensive and business minded monsters in Manchester! Sell me a dream I can achieve Thunder Egg!!

Until I checked out their website, I had no idea that Thunderegg was a shrine to all things…read moreJapanese.. but now it all makes sense. It is a cute little shop in the Northern Quarter selling clothes (Cutie, Gorgeous - brands like that- yes please), vinyl toys, plastic headbands and jewellery. The till area and near the fitting rooms are like if a harajuku girl started up her own branch of Accessorize. They sell Hello Kitty, Paul Frank, Emily Strange and the clothes aren't even that expensive - I tried on a spotty grey/ purple dress for £18. There was a fair amount of the old leopard print and plenty of sequins and sparkle for autumn parties ahead. Also towards the back I found a Herve Leger style bandage dress with an exposed zip. Ok, fair enough all the 'slebs were wearing those six months ago but I think in Normal-Time that's still a good buy.

I used this florist last year as I wanted to send something special to my mother on Mother's Day…read morewhilst I wasn't in Manchester. They were very helpful on the phone as I tried to remember what flowers my mother does and does not like - carnations, gerbers - I'm a novice. Array of Blossom's motto of adding a personal touch to their service really is true. It was easy enough to specify the flowers and price (around £40) that I wanted to spend and they made up a bouquet specially for me. I never got to see it obviously as I wasn't around but my mum definitely liked the surprise and there were no difficulties with delivery on Mother's Day as I've actually had in the past with other florists. Get it right: like these guys. Their shop on Bury New Road is cute with small potted plants too, ready to take home. They would also be fabulous for weddings, anniversaries, birthdays and christenings - all floral services which they offer.

From the owner: all aspects of fresh flowers for any occasion, funeral flowers our speciality,…read morewe also sell silk flowers, balloons, teddies, vases, plants.

Delivered a beautiful bouquet for my in laws wedding anniversary at short notice. Highly recommend…read more 5*

Rooted on Quay Street close to the famous Coronation Street set, Flower Style is a floral paradise…read more I popped in there last week to buy a bouquet for my friend Helen who has thoughtfully provided me with a gorgeous god-son. The exterior is so inviting with topiary plants framing an almost Parisian green entrance. The lady who greeted me knew exactly what I wanted. Hardly a flower buff, I requested an unusual exotic arrangement and I was shown the most incredible array of worldwide flowers. Service was quick and the flowers were so beautiful that I wanted to keep them for myself. The choice of flowers is extensive, curious, unusual and alluring. The bouquet was reasonably priced at £40 and it was made to look extra special. This is designer floristry at high street prices and Flower Style is a keepsake for my blackberry.

I always fall into the Gadget trap. It's all those items they display in the window, enticing you…read morein. I know deep down it's just a museum of useless artifacts, things you play with and then discard 2 weeks later, but for some reason I'm always brainwashed into thinking that at that particular moment they're an absolutely necessary purchase for you or your loved ones. So brainwashed I was. So far, my mini pool table has had a lot of wear. But I can't say the same for my brother's Desktop Henry Hoover.

A Christmas store if ever there was one and an absolute must on any manly shopping excursion!…read more Red 5 is crammed to bursting point with tons of unusual and innovative gadgets and gizmos that would make excellent stocking fillers. Full of things you'll want but never knew you needed, Red 5 is store that makes it difficult to stay on track when shopping for others by bringing on some serious techno greed! The company obviously scours the globe to find new stock as I've never seen half of the stuff they have before.......although I'm soon going to own it all.