Looks a bit like a yellow mess sat there on North street, in actual fact sells everything you've…read moreever needed and some things you haven't. By definition it's a hardware store, they describe themselves as selling 'all those thingummy bobs and what-you-ma-call-its' like brooms, cloths, screws, paint, brushes, bolts, polish, pet food etc, etc. Their DIY section including quality branded tools and ironmongery is second to none, with prices that surpass B&Q and knowledgeable staff to go with it. A good combo. Despite it's very traditional appeal and seemingly like it's stuck firmly in the 1970s (Open All Hours, anyone?) it's also a good place to get fireworks all year around (should you need them).

As you'd know if you read an earlier review of mine you could tell i'm a massive fan of shops like…read morethis. This one is especially brilliant because it feels like it's going to implode at any moment. I went in the other day and they had two people working in the shop and there were just 3 customers inside (me included) and I asked the chap inside if he had any Yellow electrical tape (at this point in my life I needed about 30 roles of the stuff! ... don't ask!). So there was this brilliant choreography as the 5 of us in the shop moved around each other to let the guy look for the electrical tape, it was crazy, messy, unmanigable, unthinkable, but boy, oh boy was it a joy to behold! Unfortunatley he wasn't able to find any electrical tape, but I was so pleased to have discovered this gem of a shop, I ended up buying a really thick bristled broom. Maybe I felt like I needed to offer some sort of thanks to the effort he had gone to in order to move around his shop to find an obscene amount of yellow electrical tape, or maybe I just needed a thick bristled broom...

Always helpful. If they don't have what you want they will tell you where to get it. If not in…read morestock they will order it or find a substitute .

I have lived and worked on the same street as Clifton Hardware so I truly understand just how…read morevaluable and useful this shop is, especially as it's located in what can only be described as the least practical place to live anywhere on earth. I mean if you want flowers, crockery, antiques, jewellery or trinkets you're living in the right place. However, I was a 20 year old boy. I don't think I have bought a more diverse range of items from any shop in the world. Even when I used to work in a nearby pub and the manager had affection for strange lamps, with exotic light bulbs, no matter just how odd the light bulb I needed was, Clifton Hardware would stock it. I have gone to them for door stops, spray paint, screws, TV aerials, glue, probably everything at some point or another, including a kitchen sink. It even smells like al lovely old hardware store, and these shops used to be the cornerstone of every high street. I challenge anyone to find a B&Q that smells as good as this place Clifton Hardware can stand there proudly as the last bastion of usefulness in Clifton Village... Just don't ask them for Four Candles.

First confusion is the sign says Staple Hill Carpets - that's moved up the road. The sheer amount…read moreof stuff that isn't carpet outside the shop should give you a hint that it is no longer stocking carpets. Second confusion, yes they have moved from one side of the road to the complete opposite side! Third confusion - surely they can't stock EVERYthing? Well yes, yes they can. Lightbulb with a vintage fitting in green? No problem sir. Skirting board tacks hand made by virgins in Argentina? Third aisle at the back. One of those squeaky balls my dog lost in the park and now he won't play with anything else? You mean this one? *squeak*

I'm a bit of a novice to say the least when it comes to DIY. Since moving to the area I've used…read moreStaple Hill Stores twice. Although on both occasions I knew I had a DIY problem I needed to fix, I didn't really have a clue what I was going on about and it probably sounded like I was asking for various 'thingies' in broken English. However both times the shopkeepers have been really helpful and pointed be in the right direction straight away, the items purchased were fit for purpose and good value. On the last visit I wasn't to sure which colour thingy to go for and the shopkeeper advised me to take the ones I thought were right and bring them back and exchange for a different colour if need be. Just the sort of friendly service you want from a local hardware store! I'll definitely be returning if I need to purchase any other thingies.

Now, I'm going to say 'hand woodworking tools' to you and I'm guessing 90 per cent of you are going…read moreto click elsew.... hey! Well hi there 10 per cent of you, I can see you have perked up a little. If you know of this shop then you will be having a far-away dreamy look in your eyes right about now and if you didn't then you're checking your watch and wondering where to park nearby. Yes, a whole shop of hand tools: gauges, mallets, chisels... including lots of vintage tools for very cheap prices as well as brand new ones. The staff (I feel I should use the word 'proprietor' here) are very very helpful and alway gleeful verging on surprised that other people like to chip bits of wood from a large block of wood. There's a lot of us about, be proud.

Bristol Design is a fantastic shop. It has everything you could ever need for your DIY redesign of…read moreyour kitchen to hanging up a picture. In my case it was the latter that needed doing and I had no idea how to go about it. The staff in here were extremely helpful and were easily able to point me in the right direction as far as picture hooks go. Now that I know what I need, I would probably go to Wilkinson's as it's a lot cheaper but for something a bit more complicated then it's definitely worth a trip here.

I found this shop very helpful to me when I had a problem with batteries for my landline phone…read more They were interested and keen to help me find a solution. I will definitely use this shop again, thank you to all who work there. Great customer service, thank you!

Absolutely love Langbridge. What you get here is customer service. I'm not saying you don't get it…read morein the larger stores but you do have to track an employee down to find it whereas in the smaller independent stores there always seems to be someone on hand to help but without being pushy. I love the fact that they have a website too as I can't always get over to the other side of Bath and delivery is reasonable and quick. I'd rather visit the store though as I often spend more money online! It's a family run business and I think that's what makes it a winner. Always good to support local independent traders.

Helpful staff. A wide range of diy and homewares in stock. Always willing to order in if…read moreunavailable. Quite competitive on prices. Esp when you take into account the travel to Newport or Chepstow.

A hardware store to satisfy any cook or handyman…read more This place seems to have just about everything you can think of, in fact, I can't think of anything else it could have. Even that slightly sawdust scent that goes with hardware stores. Now, this store does not carry the reputation of two that I have reviewed before. But if I lived in Wimborne, I'd be a happy camper. Collandars, graters, knives, tupperware, caddies, drainers, cookwareand then hammers, nails, screws, and thingummies. They also do garden furniture, indeed, there was a very rustic looking one on display outside. I really could have spent ages snooping around, but hey ho, time is the master of our lives. No fifth star because there seems nowher to park, so how are you going to lug your goods to the car?

This Robert Dyas, located in the Galleries, is where I always end up coming whenever a fuse blows,…read moremy toaster dies or my very last light bulb gives out. It's not what I would call a particularly fun shopping experience, but it does the job and I don't think I've ever come out of this place empty handed. They've got pretty much everything you could wish for in terms of household necessities in this store and the staff are very helpful when it comes to helping you find what you're after. It's not the cheapest of places - if you shop around a bit I'm sure you could find yourself a better bargain for some items at Wilkinsons or Argos, but if you don't fancy spending your entire Saturday morning shopping for a new vegetable steamer/hoover/junior hacksaw, then head to Robert Dyas. You should find everything you're looking for within a matter of minutes.

A great place to find some hard to find cleaning items. They sell some very cheap mops, and also…read moresell alot of kitchen items, such as toasters, kettles and grills. Definitely a good place to shop. Staff are friendly,a nd alwasy pleased to help a confused customer.

Although billed as a garden centre, there is an important attitude here that lifts it above the…read morepansies and roses standard stuff and nearer to a proper nursery - they have a policy of trying to use mostly local growers. This means not only do you get some unusual plants making it a horticultural goodie bag for gardeners, but you also get plants that are used to the local climate. Plants range in size - there are some great specimen plants here to have a more instant garden feel as well as cheaper younger plants. All are in great condition with plenty of roots to the point where if you choose wisely you can split them and get two plants for the price of one. They have a bargain corner of those which have gone over but will come back in a few seasons or with a good pruning, so if you know your stuff then you can pick up a real bargain. The plants area outside is set out in handy sections - so if you have a shady corner where everything you plant dies then head to the back and there is a whole section of plants that will love that area. The staff are very happy to help, knowledgeable and perpetually cheery. The garden centre-y bit is well stocked, with the focus on what you can use now well-displayed. The cafe is always busy as the owners know that nothing goes better than pottering round a nursery with friends is to sit down and natter afterwards.

Cooperatively owned, Riverside Garden Centre is much better than it's more commercial peers…read more They've got an excellent (Bristol's largest, in fact) array of plants, both indoor and out, with a bargain section that I keep a sharp eye on. The emphasis is on locally sourced stuff, so you're unlikely to get something flown in from South Africa that's going to die within a fortnight. The staff are all chipper and friendly, and will answer your questions no matter how basic they are. The views over the River Avon and of the Suspension Bridge really are second to none. Add to this a café with absolutely scrumptious cake and you've got somewhere that's worth a visit even if you're not planning to pick up any plants (though that's not to say you won't).