I usually hate picking cards. There is simply too much choice in those massive card shops that you…read morefind in town centres. What you really want is not twenty-odd types of jam but about six, as that experiment goes. Because otherwise you will be flummoxed by too much choice. So, with a cardshop you want a well edited selection as you have in Archie's instead of every card ever printed in the North West. Also, come here for cheap wrapping paper. Wrapping presents beautifully is a lost art, I think. It is so insulting when someone just bangs your gift in a gift bag (sticker still on the bottom and everything). Here they have paper and bows and that thin ribbon stuff that you can wrap round to make people feel special. You have given up 5 minutes of your precious time to make their gift look nice. The gift may possibly be one of the silly things they sell here, I wouldn't necessarily buy any of these don't get me wrong. Maybe it is because a shop I used to work in was a gift shop that had outgrown these roots yet still wrapped every in tissue paper. Still.

Incredible art store. I was blown away by how well stocked the store is. I loved the top floor with…read morecool crafts and unique art gifts to purchase. The second floor had every art supplies I could dream of, and the bottom floor was an amazing selection of paper and canvas. Truly a great art store for all

Incredible place, but dangerous at the same time as you could easily spend a lot of money in here!…read more The first time I popped in was when I needed a few items for an event and I thought I'd gamble on Fred Aldous having the stuff I needed - they did! Anything you need for arts & craft or decorations they have it and with some good choice! I've now been in a few times when I need to pick up bits and bobs or essentials for work i.e. scissors etc. Loads of interesting present and gift ideas in here as well so if you're out and about birthday shopping or it's coming up to christmas - I'd say Fred Aldous is a great option with some similar style stuff to Oklahoma! Most of the stuff here is well priced and I've always been fairly surprised that my total wasn't higher when purchasing as I think the interior and style gives off an expensive vibe but really it's good value for money! A short simple review for a top NQ shop!

Magma Magma books is possibly one of the coolest shops I…read morehave been into in a long time! Why you may ask? Because it sells MOOMINS merchandise and books!! They sell all sorts of cool things here like books, magazines, swirly notebooks, cuddly toys (moomin ones!), eco friendly stuff which comes in the shape of recycled objects made into something else uselful, the mother board coasters are pretty snazzy! Like the other shops on Oldham street, its only small but the layout is perfectly set out to seem like there is so much space! I love it!

Situated on Oldham Street, but a hop and skip from the Night and Day Café lies this fantastic…read morebookshop. I've been visiting this place for ages, even if it's just to browse through the store and short list future gifts. I've recently acquired some American Film Making/Studies from there (the Steven D. Katz shot by shot/cinematic motion - books that are usually pretty hard to get hold of unless you're on the net. This is one of those places where the staff know what they're talking about and can help either find what you're looking for or influence you enough to take a punt on their own expertly led recommendations in the vast array of different books and magazines in this store (increasingly rare in the accountant led 'United Chaindom'). It's a shame many more shops were as enthusiastic and passionate as the folks behind magma...I know they can't all be this way but it's currently unfairly balanced. One large chain book store dominates now (and with unfortunately less choice, more celebrity led airport reading fodder) and with supermarkets getting in the act of the book market (albeit with a truly disturbing 'array' of 'books') we should be thankful that places like this are still open in our cities. A large section of this shop sells magazines which are more like the aforementioned coffee table books the higher echelon of mags if you will. Film, Architecture, Typography, Illustration, Photography, Graphics, Fashion, Art, Design, Cities all these creative acts and scenarios collude together in the books and magazine range. They sell a top mag called 'Specialten' which is a 'bi-monthly collection of short films, music videos and exclusive interviews' which comes with a DVD for the media. Just reminded myself to pick up the next edition as I type this... This shop (alongside one or two in London village possibly the other two Magma's as it happens) was the only such store to stock Daniel Johnstone's graphics/drawings books (and as such is referred to in the fantastic Daniel Johnstone documentary). Reanimate your creative synapses and spare at least half an hour to imbibe the glorious fractions of the arts world we don't see as much as we should. It's always a pleasure to walk into a store like this, find what you're looking for (or see something jump out at you which grabs your interest by the book ends) and after downpiping your debit/credit details into the 21st Century piggy bank walk from the shop, freshly acquired book in hand. Rifling through the pages of a new 'Ilva Table book' in a nearby boozer/café is one of life's great, small pleasures.

St. Andrews Square is a little oddity of a place in a very central location. I've been shopping in…read moreBolton for 18 years and I think I've only ventured into here two or three times and each time my curiosity was piqued enough to explore, I came out the other side rubbing my head thinking 'huh? what did i miss?!' because quite frankly there's not a lot to it! The only thing that makes me venture here these days is the wonderful St Andrews Travel Agents. From the outside it looks curious and and you'd expect some interesting structure and architecture inside but it is just dark and scruffy and totally uncharming.

As a sales assistant at one of the new shops opened in St Andrews Court I may sound a tad bias but…read morethe whole court has come on leaps and bounds the last few months, everything you can ask for is opening up here! I work at Mr Simms Olde Sweet Shoppe in St Andrews Court we sell everything you can possible imagine from Twinkies to Sweet Peanuts! Why not pop down and see all the changes through out the shops, including Toy shops, Clothes shops, gift shops a new cafe opening soon and so much more to come. Watch this space :)

what a fantastic shop, got everything in store bongs, pipes loads of smoking stuff!, they have wood…read morecraft art, jewelry, phones, vaporizers, and if your that way inclined you can buy herbal/legal highs and laughing gas paraphernalia. great shop loads of funky stuff you dont really see!!

The food was excellent. I got cheese and onion pie (lunch) and tried the chocolate challenge…read more(which we failed dismally). The chocolate was to die for...totally scrumptious. The service was really good with friendly and knowledgeable staff. I'll be back for sure. The prices were good also. The seating was good and the wait was not long ( although I booked ahead of time).

The best Patissier and Chocolatier in North Manchester…read more Any time I drive into Manchester (which is very often) I have to drive past Slattery's and always manage to make some excuse to pop in. I shouldn't have to make an excuse to go here - It's excellent. The ground floor is their outstanding chocolate and cake shop - definitely worth spending some time here tasting and choosing what they have on offer. Their selection of over 40 celebration cakes on display are stunning - you'll find yourself staring at them like some sort of art. A few of the wedding cakes are pushing £1,000.. asking if it would be worth it? For me, yes! Their cakes are amazing - no wonder Wayne Rooney bought his wedding cake from here and had it shipped to Italy. You'll find me with my face pressed up against the viewing window where you can watch the cake decorators working hard to perfect these masterpieces *drool* I'm certainly not planning my wedding or anything but I already know that there's a massive possibility that my cake will be from here. On the first floor is an elegant restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, and of course CAKE. The menu is fab and I haven't heard anybody mention a bad word about it. I have yet to visit the restaurant and I hear that unless you book weeks in advance you've no chance of getting in, but this only makes me want to try it even more and it is certainly on my list. In the past I have bought baskets from here and made my own hampers, mainly for family or friends at Christmas time - consisting of chocolates, hand make cakes, biscuits, marmalades, wines etc (all locally sourced). Safe to say these always go down well. If you have a sweet tooth, this is somewhere you should definitely visit.

Ever wanted a frying pan that makes heart-shaped eggs? How…read moreabout a grill that makes toast with religious figures engraved on? Or a polka dot suitcase with a smaller polka dot case inside? In short, Oklahoma's Gift shop is a living and breathing homage to the art of Kitsch ahd Colourful accessories. There's big items like lampshades and clocks hanging from the walls and ceiling, wallpapers and posters behind the main counter and dozens of shelves and tables stacked high with all kinds of weird and wonderful nonsense. One of my favourite items is the old American Popcorn Machine filled with jewellery and the desk overflowing with stationary, plastic moustaches and candy cigarettes.

I have wanted to go to Oklahoma for at least a year now and just never got around to it! Eventually…read moretoday was the day...and I was not disappointed at all! This quirky and cutesy store was everything I dreamed of! I couldn't wait to let my purse loose and I was didn't leave empty handed! This place is great for knick knacks, xmas presents and homely decor for those (like me) that are obsessed with kitchenware, signs and much much more! I was careful and only bought a little Christmas tree decoration (part of a family tradition) I buy my Mum one each year and this winter it will be an addition of a cute glass bottle with a wish and fairy (glitter) floating around inside! Picture to follow...