I can't believe I am the first person to review The Cove. This is a true Yelpers paradise. This wee…read moregift shop is literally full to the brim with antiques, cards, gifts and presents that your mum would like. Thy have a huge rang of vintage items set outside the store, this is what actually caught my attention. It's a bit like an upmarket car boot sale. There didn't really seem to be a theme to the items. There was a mix of furniture, household decorations and general bric-a-brac. I loved it - there is something really exciting about sifting through all their products. Almost like a treasure hunt. Antiques collectors would love this place. It also had a range of vintage camera equipment that was behind lock and key. Upstairs houses more modern handmade gifts, cards and part accessories. If you want a unique gift for a loved one or are decorating your home and want something a little different look no further than The Cove! Couldn't recommend it highly enough.

Yes this shop is great. My first car was a Morris Minor, dark blue. I got a little Corgi car…read morejust like it, even the registration number is similar!

i love fresh garbage a lot but the queue to get in is long and you have to wait 20-30 mins it's…read morebefore even getting into the shop itself, whenever you get in you can't even move because there is so little space, if you spend a lot of time in the shop you feel guilty of holding up the line outside. it's also really hard to let people past you because of the small space, you have to stand in a spot for a long time in order to let people pay and your just wasting time there. not to mention the overpriced clothing!! most are cringey as-well, most of the skirts there are around £60 and yes, are nice but wayy too pricey. good shop for alternative people but also not because there isn't a large variety. you cant even try clothes on aswell which is stupid staff are nice and will help :) i think that fresh garbage could do with an upgrade in a shop as in space because it's super hard to move around, and you cannot even look at clothes because you feel like you holding up a line or room for people to get past. bigger shop is definitely needed!! overall it's a good shop but very small. i'd say come during week days when you have the chance because it isn't as crowded.

Word of Advice; Do not under any circumstances try and go into Fresh Garbage at around 4.30pm on a…read moreFriday afternoon during term time. The reason I say this is it will be packed full of geeky emo's looking for their next quirky crazy purchase. I could not even walk into the shop to do a decent review, so I left and am now spreading what I have learnt toy the good people of Yelp.

Sigh. Can I please move in and live in this shop? It's just a treasure trove of trinkets and…read morebaubles and lovely lovely things. Jewellery, flip flops, underwear and clothes, clothes, clothes, all in beautiful colours and fabrics and made for me. Ok, not all made for me since I haven't won the lottery and this is a high end boutique with prices to match. All of the accesories are spilling out of pretty boxes and trunks and scarves are draped perfectly around mirrors and lovely white armoirs are filled with underwear. I guess you get the picture. So, yeah, the prices. Ouch. But then this places sells Custo and Papillon Bleu (and bizarrely kids Canterberry tracksuits) and even OMG, Meghan Fabulous. The only place in Northern Ireland I have ever seen Meghan Fabulous is Chocolat. If you don't know this label, it's also sold in Harvey Nicks and Harrods, so that's how high end we're talking. Take a rich and patient man to Chocolat with you and you're sorted.

What a pretentious load of over priced drag gear! too harsh? maybe! just my opinion but, seriously,…read morewho buys this stuff? The clothing is all tiny - nothing over a 14 in this place (and even then you would be lucky!) Plus it all seems to be weirdly shaped tie dyed flimsy tops that would be soaked through in seconds in our climate - the outfits look more suited to St Tropez or Marbella than down a side street in Holywood! Now I know Holywood is yuppie but I still can't get my head around who these clothes are aimed at - very thin, rich people who want to dress very young - is that it? The jewellery is nice and displayed really well - in fact the whole shop looks really good but I think it's one of those boutique style places where there is a lot of space and decor but not much to actually buy. Anyway the lady who worked there took one look at my massive 14/16 size body and knew there was nothing for me so she sat quietly at her desk thing until I left. I won't be back and frankly that's no loss to me!

I could have absolutely sworn this place was called Antiqua (sounds like a character from Star…read moreWars, doesn't it?), with the emphasis more on the antique-y part of the shop. However, upon a second look, it is actually called Artiqua (sounds like a chilly North Pole shop of some description, doesn't it?), with the emphasis more on the arty side of the shop. I'll let you get your head round all that before I proceed... Thankfully, the latter name seemed more applicable to this rustic boutique. It is overflowing with expensive jewellery (oooh, it was lovely), models of aeroplanes and cars, bronze ornaments made by some German company, those Granny handbags which almost resemble some weird tapestry, and animal ornaments and figurines. I spotted an unusual beanie ornament type thing, with a cat on it (yes, I know, I'm useless at explaining things), which hugely resembled our own wee puss. I had to do a double take. The shop keeper was in deep conversation with an elderly man about some antique he owned, so we didn't get a chance to natter with him. The shop is very well-kept, and laden with great gift ideas for those awkward people in your life. I'm already eyeing up a Concorde model for my dad for Christmas...he'd better not be reading this! Could always buy the cat that strange beanie thing and pretend its a mirror...

From the outside this shop looks like it is going to be filled with expensive little bits and bobs…read moreand guess what? It is! It's a boutique on the High Street in Holywood so you would expect the items to be a little pricey. I was drawn in by the window display which includes... ladies - this is amazing, wait for it....here we go! - replica jewellery that has actually appeared in episodes of Sex In The City! Seriously this shop stocks jewellery by the same designer and if you want it be prepared to pay for it - over £100 for some pieces. I would. This is one of those shops that keeps thinks like tapestry bags with dogs faces on them - I never really know who would buy these, I certainly wouldn't. There are other cool things like funky shopping trolley things that you usually see in tartan and being pulled by an elderly lady - this gives that bag a new twist with a cool look to it. One other thing really took my fancy and that was the jewels for dogs - bling! bling! silver and diamante collars and funky little, expensive looking necklace thingys for your mutt - you gotta love it, I'm definitely getting our Toby something from here for his woof-day.

Do you remember those Halifax songs with good old Harvey? He sang the following to Tom Jones' 'Sex…read moreBomb'... "Extra, extra, I know you want more, I'll give you something extra when you walk through my door". Every time I think of this wee shop, I have an uncontrollable urge to burst into song, namely Harvey's 'Extra' song. Oh, it's not good... The question is, and one which I have often asked - does Extras really offer extra? Well, this is really yes and no answer. Extras mainly sells those extra accessories women are in dire need of - umbrellas, bags, purses and the like, as well as cheap makeup, false lashes and nail varnish. My purpose in going into Extras was to purchase one of those large, see-through umbrellas for my sister (they're a must have ladies, seriously), but I wanted the smaller version rather than the full size. Unfortunately, none were available, and the shop assistant informed me, "Just those there love, sure that's them opened out there [points to window]". Huh, fair enough. No umbrella for me then. Extras did not entirely fulfil it's self-referential name, but it does have a few additional accessories. Worth a look.

Located within Holywood Exchange retail park, Decathlon is the cheapest sports shop (warehouse)…read morearound. No matter what you're looking for Decathlon will have it. They have everything from Canoes to Dart Boards. Often with cheaper sports shops you sacrifice quality for price but this is not the case at Decathlon. They sell their own brand items called Kipsta and I must say that these aren't great quality but likewise they sell big name brands like Nike and Adidas at a lower price than other High Street stores. This Decathlon is huge - you could spend a full afternoon here wandering through the isles. I would make a list of what you want before visiting or else you'll come out with a new home gym and nowhere to put it. Great parking is also available - really handy if you are buying a bigger item and need to cart to the car.

Massive store and very tempting. You go in looking for one item and end up coming out with half a…read moredozen other things. They have equipment for every sport that you could think of racket sports, Kites, windsurfing, swimming, running, horse riding, boxing, biking etc etc I have bought many items from decathlon and found the quality good enough and all at very reasonable prices. I have bought cycling helmets, gloves, goggles, clothing and ski equipment, many big name brands are available and at better prices than other sports stores. They have a loyalty card scheme too.

Really nice art store with a wide selection of items. Unfortunately, I was only searching for a new…read morejournal, but the journal selection was also quite extensive. 3-4 racks. Massive collection of Leuchtturms and Moleskins if that's what you're into. Would recommend. I grabbed one for a friend from a brand I didn't immediately recognize in a niche color. Staff seemed quite friendly additionally.

Absolutely delighted with my Bradbury Art Store delivery; was able to order over the phone and my…read moreWinsor & Newton art supplies were delivered to me the next working day. Canvas and oil paints - looking forward to using them. Excellent quick service, very helpful staff and great selection of quality art materials. This will help me carry on painting during the Coronavirus lockdown - thank you Bradbury Art, much appreciated.

Eek! Boutique! I should have run but I was lured in, as I always am, by the uniqueness of the…read moreplace. I am not a boutique person for two reasons. 1. i do not have a wad of fifty pound notes literally falling from every pocket, purse of orifice of my body - unfortunately. 2. I am a size 14/16 - boutiques do not like my body. Nuff said. They had lots of flimsy, artsy, printed pieces for rich skinny folk - all priced at the steep end. Somethings in there were £200 plus - yikes! I will say that as a fattish poor person I don't maybe give a fair review. They do have lovely little necklaces that I have never seen anywhere before - very long chains with little sculls or handcuffs on them - lovely and in the sale! Horrah!

A wardrobe staple! Lesser known but top designer brands from NY and LA, get them here before they…read moreshoot to megastardom. The owner Fiona's eye is so good, that even when I lived in NY I shopped here! She and her sales staff are the best at helping you put together an outfit. Sure some of the clothes are a little steep but you get what you pay for and everything I have bought here has gotten years of mileage. (Sales are not to be missed!) The styles are wearable, elegant and understated and work well in my professional life as well as when I am out and about! Plus very cute accessories that make brilliant gifts for your best girly friends! And the Marketa bags are to die for. I am currently crushing on one that is the most gorgeous purple suede!

I can't decide whether I like this shop or not, it is a weird one…read more Yes, they have a massive selection of bags, some of which are nice, but they tend to be either pretty conservative or tacky. If you are looking for something different to the high street chain stores you may find something in here, but some of the bags are a lot more expensive than they appear. Perhaps I am just too young for their target demographic which I'll take as a compliment, so it might be just the right spot to find something for your mum. ;-)

So many bags, so little that you would want to choose. Well that's how I felt about GD1 accessories…read morewhich I visited in search of a black leather bag. It's a nice, bright, clean, immaculate and well tended shop mainly specialising in women's bags in blacks, blues and reds that were expensive and not for me anyway. There were also various overnight and knapsack type bags with bold designs which were quite attractive especially maybe for younger people along with some jewellery. I spent a while deliberating over some cotton scarves which were knocked down to £5 in the sale that could have been useful but didn't buy anything that time.

One good thing about recession - it makes second hand cool again. In a time when everyone is…read morewatching the pennies, charity and vintage shops are making a killing. This store opened up in 2009 and seems to be doing very well. I love going in for a wee hoke about and while, like at most second hands, the results are varied, I've managed to find a few little pieces amongst the rails. It is predominately clothing, but there is the odd bit of furniture which tends to be beautifully crafted dressers or wardrobes - just what you need to hold all your beautiful vintage items, right? The staff are always very welcoming, the prices are right and there's always something new to find, rather than the same old stuff you see on the high street normally. Plus, it's run by the East Belfast Mission who do a lot of good work in the poorer parts of East Belfast, engaging with young people and homeless outreach, so everyone's a winner!

'Vintage, re:use, re:style, re:store'…read more I love the idea of this shop. I hate waste and I'm always one for restyling my own clothes. This isn't just another vintage shop, it's slightly better quality than the others. They do a great job with mannequins, I'm always impressed with their window dressing skills. The clothes in the shop front was the first thing I ever noticed about the place. It's always a really good job. So kudos to whoever sets this up. Inside the store it's always laid out brilliantly, some vintage shops are a bit like TK Maxx at the best of times, you need a good few hours to sort through the jumble until you find the gem you're after, but in Vintage they've got everything in order around the shop and you can immediately find some real gems. They sell (amongst a myriad of others) trousers, skirts, dresses, shoes, jackets, formal and casual wear. Anything and everything. Paradise! Even their furniture is for sale (so pretty too!) Like most vintage shops they don't offer refunds but do offer a credit note exchange. I find this particularly handy if you don't have the time to try items on. You're always going to find something you're after anyway.