This is a proper Newsagents in Belfast, the type that everyone in a 2 mile radius would visit for…read moretheir cigarettes, newspapers, bottle of coke and chewing gum. It seems more of a local gathering point on the Woodstock Road than anything, it even has its own bandits' to keep loiterers happy. But that is the beauty of places like this and it is a pity that they are dying out and being replaced by chain newsagents with no personality. As I walked in the guy behind the counter said, "Alright mate?" I quite liked this initial enquiry as it confirmed that I was welcome in his establishment. They have a huge choice of newspapers including national and regional publications and all the same magazines you would expect to find in your local Easons. As I said previously it is these places that have been serving the community for over 30 years and have a real charm in the area as well as providing ultimate convenience to the residents.

This is a shop I'd never seen before so I thought I'd take a dander in- all in the name of yelp! It…read moredisplays novelty and rock T-Shirts in the windows which were pretty funky looking and on offer at 3 for £20 which was quite good. Once inside the shop is a bit dingy and seems to be a head shop selling drug paraphernalia and legal highs. But they also sell music, posters, magazines and other bits and bobs. Not really my taste but if you're into your rock, alternative music and related things then it's worth a visit!

This is a shop I used to go to all the time as a teenager. Now, when I was younger, the shop didn't…read moreprimarily deal in what it does now. When I was a kid it sold Alt rock hoodies and giant baggy jeans that I thought were the coolest things in all existence. Nowadays, Rip Off is more of a head shop. these sell drug paraphernalia and 'legal' highs. It had moved from the previous place it was due to a fire and it appears to have left its original sales in the ashes as well. It is quiet and dark. It is the type of shop which has regulars that like to mope about inside it. This gives it such an appearance that, even though it doesn't sell anything illegal you would think it does.

The Wee Carnaby Centre is a unit in the In Shops which sells a range of rocky/gothy/western style…read moreclothing. A good range of band t-shirts is on offer here. There's also a range of incense and tobacco products / smoking paraphernalia. You can buy some interesting figurines/decorations/ornaments here if you're in to that fantasy style look. The shop owner is notoriously unfriendly, I'm not sure why this is, but I know for certain that school kids aren't allowed in uniform so its maybe got something to do with stealing in the past. It seems to me that most of the time he doesn't even like you buying anything from the shop. It seems that way anyway but maybe it's just my perception. His wife owns the card shop next door so if you don't see him about then he'll most likely be in here. Worth a look in if you're after any smoking regalia or fantasy items.

The Wee Carnaby centre has become a Belfast institution, mainly because of the owner who really…read moredoesn't like anyone coming in for a browse. OK, he has to be on the look out for shoplifters, but that doesn't necessitate his wife actually standing on a chair in the middle of the shop to stare at people when they're browsing through the T shirts, as happened to me a couple of years back. I got that kind of stuff when I was a scruffy teenager living in a backwards town - I don't expect it as a thirtysomething adult. (He was very friendly though when I came in with my mum years ago, so maybe he's just automatically suspicious of anyone under 50.) The last time I was here was only a few weeks ago, when I was having lunch at the nearby Morning Star and decided to nip in and buy a bandanna. (I'm just so Godammned Cool, man. Actually I was having a bad hair day.) Aware of the owner's suspicion bordering on paranoia about anyone who comes within six feet of the entrance, I was very polite, smiled away at him like a lunatic, and even dropped my bag on the floor by the counter so he could see nothing was going to disappear into it. No go. I don't like to be too mean about the guy because he's obviously paranoid for a reason, but it's quite offputting to go in and clearly be thought of as suspicious. Not a good way to do business really. This shop has some bits and pieces a lot of people will want to pick up at some point, so I'd not exactly recommend not visiting it. Just be prepared to be scowled at when you do.

Good wee shop, can be pretty hectic on a Friday due to the market being right next door…read more They have a good selection of hot foods, sandwiches etc for any one looking a quick lunch. Atm also in store but it charges you £1.50 per withdrawel

This is just a normal bog standard corner shop, but I do really like it. The staff are really…read morefriendly and remember a face even when your not in all that often. They stock all the usual faire that a corner shop does, which is to be expected of course! There's no hot food counter which is weird considering that its so close to the centre of town and would make quite a lot of money if it were to! Really pleasant people offering a good service which can be quite hard to find in the centre of Belfast!

Mace are a franchise of Irish corner shops that frequent many streets across the city, this is one…read moreof them and has often served me well when I need a coke or the paper. Situated in the Ascot House building in Shaftesbury Square this little shop really does the job for your every basic need, little else, but it's there with the usual range of essentials. Aside from magazines, papers, drinks etc they also stock a modest range of locally made sandwiches at predictably city centre prices. Most drinks (500ml) are in excessive of £1.10 per bottles so it is encroaching into the expensive local shop. That said, it does what it says on the tin. It;s not open particularly late but it's usually open at around 7am when I'm out on and about.

One of the few remaining corner shops that seems to be lasting the pace well. Buoyed by the…read moresurrounding local businesses, the nearby residential areas, and students from St. Mary's University (see my St. Mary's University review), this shop looks like it'll be around for a while yet.

Entrance to the park is via Falls Road or Grosvenor Roadit has children's playground and a…read moreclassical fountain.. Metro no 10 A-F go to park I guess children can enjoy playing here

Aargh this Mace really annoys me. Firstly it opened almost a month late, making those of us who…read morewere used to lurching one minute down the road to the independently owned shop in the same spot until then rather cross. Take your time in getting the shop how you like it, but don't say you're going to be open if you're not. I wouldn't have got out of bed for my tin of Coke otherwise, and having got dressed and come home empty-handed am not happy. Then, when they did open, there was, and still isn't, no facility to pay by card. I realise this makes me sound like one of those rich annoying types waving a credit card around for a packet of chewing gum, but no, I only had six quid in the bank, couldn't take it out of the ATM, and needed milk, fags and the paper. Heavens forbid if I'd needed tampons or something. (I would have said that in the shop too. Loudly. I have no shame.) Then, the other day, I was so scundered in the shop I still shudder to think of it - although it wasn't the sales assistants' faults so I apologise for being grumpy. I woke up after night shift, staggered downstairs, flicked the kettle on, and nada. The leccy had run out. But so had my money. Remembering the policy of Centra on this matter, I scraped three quid together from the caverns of various bags and the piggy bank and tottered over, pillow-haired, to get enough leccy to do me until the next day, glorious payday. Sorry, it's a fiver minimum, the guy behind the counter said, forcing me to trail home again, very embarrassed, raid the piggy bank again, and give him a fiver's worth of 5ps. And he was so nice to me I know he felt sorry for me. Oh the shame. Sort it out, Mace, why the freak can't someone put three quid on a card rather than five? It's lucky I only have a rabbit to look after and not a baby. This shop has been open for weeks now and is still nowhere near fully stocked, not good enough for a chain store that must be ordering loads of stock every week. This Mace only sells mild cheddar in its cheese 'section', for example. Mild cheddar? What a tasteless waste of calories that is. You may as well eat lard with a spoon.