This beautifully presented shop stocks a bounty of gadgets, ingredients and gifts. Situated in the…read moreClarence Dock development, Hob is a hub of activity. Although I do not feel Clarence Dock has reached its full potential in terms of creating a vibrant atmosphere, I am sympathetic towards their plight. Economically, it has not been an ideal time to attract businesses to fill the space. With that in mind, I commend them for not lowering their expectations and therefore quality of the area, by settling for less and accepting the arrival of mediocre companies. For mediocrity is an alien concept to Hob. When entering the shop, my eyes were bedazzled with the spectacular array of colourful and unusual items. It appears as though The Mad Hatter got a little jaded with the monotony of Wonderland, and decided to relocate to Leeds to open a shop. Dainty little carts display items from varying cultures. An Indian cart is covered with convenient spice packs to create the perfect curry. Authentic Indian and Chinese crockery are available, perfect for enhancing the most sophisticated dinner party. Chinese lanterns and various cooking items are available in their droves, with the warming scent of herbs wafting around the nostrils. When I was in recently, I noticed that my behaviour began to change. Who would have guessed that I, Kate, would ever be interested in the grace of a ginger grater, the comeliness of cutlery or the tastefulness of a teapot. I admit, I do enjoy a good teapot, but I behaved as though I was an expert, a veritable connoisseur of all kitchen based goods! It is a lovely shop to choose a gift for a friend or relative. From the choice of cookery books, kitsch kitchenware and many more treats, a present from here should by no means be considered a generic last resort. A section which introduces children to cooking is also a great resource to buy a birthday present which is a bit different from the usual My Little Pony or He-Man figurines. I am not out of touch, you take that back. At the rear of the shop, there is a small cafe which serves a range of sandwiches, toasties, soup and brunch. The food I have had has been both tasty and inexpensive, with the breakfast sandwiches earning particular profuse praise. A huge wooden table serves as an excellent base to devour your snack, the communal setting creating an intimate atmosphere. Whether you need to track down some yellow mustard seeds, some loose teas from around the world or the latest scribblings from your favourite chef, Hob is the ideal place to do so. Whilst eating a ham and cheese toastie, result.

I could spend hours in this place looking around. It is a feast for the senses with bold colours…read moreand luxurious fabrics, decadently strewn about. I am slightly nervous about going in, it has always been one of those places that because it looked so good I always thought I couldn't afford it. On this particular journey they had some great screen pints on display and they immediately caught my eye, I just had to go and have a look. I was pleasantly surprised at the prices which I thought were extremely reasonable considering the quality involved. Once I was in the shop found it really hard to leave. The sales assistant was so friendly and chatty and there were yards and yards of some of the most gorgeous material I have ever seen. A fantastic place to come if you need to brighten up a dull room and they cater for a range of tastes.

This shop is a feast for the eyes, covered in wallpaper and fabric samples of an array of styles…read moreand colours. It has styles to suit most taste including dark striking patterns, colourful stripes, pale and pretty, plain and understated, jazzy and bright, vibrant gem colours and vintage Cath Kidston style prints and polka dots. If you're particular about the interior of your house you could probably spend hours in here browsing the vast range of options. The shop provides a curtain-making service to make the shop to home transition as smooth and easy as possible. When I popped in for a browse the staff were very pleasant, allowing me to browse for a minute or so before asking if I needed any help. They happily chatted away while I was there, which I really liked as I hate feeling like the staff are another part of the display, taking on a robotic demeanour in an attempt to make as many sales as possible. If you're looking for curtains or wallpaper you're very likely to find something to your taste here. It's certainly not the cheapest shop, but the prices reflect the high quality of the products.

What a house of wonder! Chase really isn't kidding when he says it sells everything, it really does…read moresell pretty much everything you might need for your home. From cleaning products, kitchen items, DIY bits and bobs, cheap snacks, cards and so much more - they've got it covered. If you're a keen shopper/browser it's a veritable treasure chest to explore. My particular favourite is the upstairs section. Here's where the items get slightly less bargainous and become a little higher end... They've beds, lamps and all other kinds of home furnishings in a range of styles. Faux-antique right through to the more modern sleek look. I bought an awesome 'telephone box' lamp for my room at home, which is so kitsch and delightful and only set me back £15. (I can imagine it costing a ton more in a vintage shop!) My Mum was particularly overjoyed with a red painted vase that she picked up as well, of which they had many different shades! So, there's plenty to get excited about, and not too pricey as well. However, all that glitters is not gold. I did come away having purchased a few oil reed scent dispensers (the pots of oils with the wooden reeds) and they simply don't work at all. They were only a pound each, but I can see why they were so cheap as they give off no scent at all! Even so, I'm pleased as punch with my lamp so that more than makes up for it!

I was first introduced to QLM by my new wife (I change them quite often, not really if you're…read morereading this love) just after we set up home together. It was the first time I'd been in a shop which I cannot categorize by what it sells, IT SELLS EVERYTHING !! From bleach to crisps, rugs to xbox games, they have almost everything under one roof. The only thing I can say lets it down is a lack of electrical goods like TV's but if you're looking for a pack of brass tacks and a birthday card for auntie Mabel this is a good place to start........ and if you're feeling tired you can nip upstairs and pretend you're testing a bed out :)

When Tableau first caught my eye I had two contradictory thoughts. Firstly: oh look at that nice…read morepainted iron table that would look lovely in the garden. Secondly: why is there another shop in Headingly selling seemingly pointless ornamental objects? I went in to check it out and see which initial thought would pervade. They have quite a few bits of furniture that are very attractive, expensive but original such as a white painted iron bench and a similarly crafted coat stand. Decorative things hang from the ceiling that would suffice as gifts for mothers or girl friends who like pretty, hand-crafted things and can overlook their pointlessness. There is hand-made jewelry and some interesting prints, including a Jack Vertriano print. I particularly like the tiny glass pigs for sale. This shop is a bit more sophisticated than others of its kind in Headingly/Hyde Park selling gift items but they do sell fairy lights.

Tableau is a gift shop that I'm actually willing not to whinge about! The exterior is very tasteful…read morewith a muted forest green painted front and minimalist stainless steel lettering. The large windows display their pretty wares. Upon entering it's quite difficult to categorise their products as there is such a range. Mainly decorative home ware. There are small pieces of furniture, clocks, fairy lights, plant pots, lanterns, watering cans, ornaments, bobs and bits, bits and bobs, pretty things and lovely items. What I must say is I just LOVE their greetings card selection. Small it may be but perfectly formed it certainly is. The cards are very unusual and with a vintage and quirky style. Though I always make cards for my family I found a few that would just make perfect mothers' day cards...could I really give her two? I might have to they are so pretty! Now I'm not easy to please when it comes to cards so waxing lyrical about a shop's card selection feels rather out of character! Now gift shops and I generally don't get on, but Tableau really is different with its own character and style. Definitely a place to hunt for a present for mums or female friends who like to beautify their home. What the hey...I'm a fan!

This gorgeous little shop really deserves a mention. Being one of a kind in Pudsey, which does have…read morea lot of pretty average shops, this one stands out like a beautifully manicured sore thumb from the rest of the businesses around town. When you go inside the immediate thing to strike you has to be the visual management - truly their displays are a careful work of art. The second thing to stand out is the product. They have some marvellous items for sale here. All of the items come under the 'beauty' label, with delicious items such as Rose&Co. bath products, organic soaps (the jasmine scented one was just beautiful!), sweetly scented candles and more. As well as those kinds of items Chic Boutique had a number of beautiful items that would make anyone's home look like a stylish boudoir of old. Their homeware items were fabulous and really, really well priced too.With beautiful vases, curtains, candle holders, blinds and such it's difficult to imagine where you might start. I, however, would start with the awesomely vintage style clock. For £55 I really might go back to Pudsey for just that. Maybe on pay day! A really lovely place to visit, take a look!

HomeSense is a chain of discount home furnishing stores, it is owned by TK Maxx, who also has a…read morestore next to this one in the Manchester Arndale. like TK Maxx the branding/styling of the name is different on this side of the Atlantic. The store is large and has a good selection of bits and bobs, from pillows to appliances, from ice cube trays and cheese-graters. Considering, they're supposed to be a "discount" chain, I did find some prices to be a little high, if you're lucky you'll find a high-quality item with a good discount/offer though, so it's kind of like a TKMaxx jumble sale but replacing the clothes with home items. The staff seemed friendly and happy to help me find what I was looking for, and the experience at the checkout was smooth. This is a fairly good store, obviously, some deals are better than others, but probably the best selection of home furnishing in the Manchester Arndale, with a fairly presentable store and helpful staff. 4*

I'm kind of in love with this shop. It's dreamy! The window displays are whimsical and they're sure…read moreto draw you in every time. The seasonal produce is brilliant, both food items and general home ware. They've got the Christmas stock in at the moment and it's absolutely gorgeous, snow globes and crockery, bath products and food. You name it :) I had to drag myself out of the shop before I spent my entire pay check. I love that you can get top quality, one off items here are a very decent price. The staff are always helpful and the store is clean and well presented. They also have a pretty good reduced to clear range. If you're in to DIY like me you can pick up something that's a little damaged for a ridiculous price and fix it up at home. I've saved so much doing this. I also find this shop to be ideal for gift shopping as they stock such a wide range of products, the packaging tends to be beautiful and I can pick up items here that I wouldn't normally see in other shops.

What started off well, didn't work out so good in the end here…read more. The store in Leeds is amazing, spread up over 4 floors (yes, even the attic is cram packed) they've such a range of furnishings & accessories - although none sale/discounted prices are on the steep side for some items there's others that you can't understand why they're so cheap! My tales of woe however, aren't regarding the store itself but the stores & aftercare team - I bought a (very nice ;o) ) chrome & leather rocking chair from them, which was delivered very timely with a great service of the delivery people texting you to keep you updated & provide you with an opportunity to text back with an alternative time/date at your own convenience. Unfortunately the warehouse packed my delivery incorrectly, and I received 2 seated sections for the chair & no back piece. Mistakes happen yes, so I called them & explained but was told it would be another month before they could rectify it - clearly I wasn't going to accept this, so the customer service officer agreed that she would call around the stores & get someone to ship one out to me. All good? No! Didn't hear anything back so I called again - no record of my previous contact, so had to start the fiasco all over . Eventually getting a new piece for the chair..

Ever walked in to a shop and wanted to buy everything? Made In The Cellar is like that. It's like…read moreAladdin's cave, but in Sheffield. In there you'll find things like typographic prints of inspiration & wit; stripped-back, up-cycled tables and bespoke one off pieces of furniture; gorgeous scented candles, and stylish candlesticks; quirky lamps and the types of light fittings you see in ultra stylish interior design magazines... The list goes on. There is a selection of smaller items which would be great gifts for people, and a box of greeting cards which are so sarcastic and borderline offensive, that I couldn't resist buying 4 on my last visit - the one I'll be giving my dad for his birthday will either make or break our relationship! For the quality of the stuff in there, it's incredibly reasonably priced, I just wish I had a big enough house to fit it all in!

Junk Again is another fantastic furniture place that doesn't require you be to snobby and rich to…read morepurchase their goods. I like Habitat, don't get me wrong, but really, why bother when you can get good quality furniture for much less. Especially if you are a student! Which is perfect for this area. Flocks of students come and go through Leeds, moving every year and needing to get rid of or attain furniture every time they do. Junk Again are aware of this and have cleverly positioned themselves not far from the postcodes that are predominantly student populated. If you are looking for a cabinet, a table, or arm chair, or are looking to get rid of, a fridge, a freezer, or chimney pot, Junk Again is a great place to go. They are slightly chaotic but that just adds to that old fashioned feel of shops of this type. Plus no-one will look down their polished nose at you as they so often do in Habitat.

When my friends and I moved house last year we opted for a grand four bedroom house that was…read moreunfurnished as it wold cost us a little less. That, sadly, was not the case in the end but that's more to do with the Estate Agent and building than anything else. However, pretty much the only thing that we required for our move was a sofa and some arm chairs. Enter: Junk Again! My old housemate had spotted Junk Again on her way through Woodhouse and suggested that we tried here for a cheap second hand suite. I was game for any bargain and so when she called me, all a fluster, to tell me about this awesome sofa, two arm chairs and a pouffe for a mere £40, I came immediately to the scene. Yes. That's right. All that for forty flippin' pounds. The friendly chap explained that he had planned to have them cleaned but hadn't yet, so was willing to let them go for that much - all we needed to do was clean them. No probs, Handy Hire in Headingley solved that one for us dirt cheap too! We couldn't have been more chuffed. Inside you'll find an array of lovely old furniture and the odd antique, for seriously cheap prices. My advice is: if you're moving look here first. I've a few more things I need myself so I'm planning a re-visit very soon...