This is a proper old school bakery and the smell that assaults you when you enter is just…read morefantastic. Up on Castle Street it just seems to be a little bit off the radar of most of the people in the town centre and I got the impression there's definitely a whole bunch of 'regulars' who go here. They've a huge selection of breads and pastries and all things sweet but I much prefer their savoury offerings like their jumbo sausage roll. They'll heat it up for you and with a dash of HP sauce definitely as close to a slice of heaven you'll get on a cold day. Next time you're after lunch, give your usual a miss and head up here. Pros: Delicious food. Cons: A bit off the beaten track.

Just tried Boyles Bakery today and have to say it was amazing taste. Had been going to a run down…read morebakery for years and then found this fantastic shop. This bakery is pure old school and is in a class of its own. Honestly next time in town hit castle street. x

Wow did this place make me hungry. The cakes in the shop just need to be eaten. Like, right now,…read morepreferably by me! The pastries, the buns, the cream cakes, the birthday treats, the bread, the oh so soft whipped ice cream and, much to my amazement, the slush puppies ...wow! I didn't even know you could get these any more, I had to have one after I saw one kid with a half red, half blue slushy. Ah childhood. How I miss thee! It's good to see old traditions never die! Sandra's seems to be a half grocery shop / local newsagent as much as a bakery, though they certainly do that right, the store handily also sells a few newspapers, confectionery, various tobacco, light grocery and a few magazines. I'm sure it's a great place for the locals as a one stop shop. I have to give brownie points for the slushies too! Happy me!

I love seeing new business start up in Glengormley (makes a change from all the chippies and estate…read moreagents!) Sandra's is a strange little establishment, with a shop in the front and the bakery in the back. Seems like an odd combination maybe, but what's better than calling in for your paper and milk and picking up a cream bun to go with it?? I've yet to try anything other than their bread and freshly made sandwiches, but so far, I've had no complaints...which is most unusual...

I have a bit of an issue, it would seem, of going into a shop and buying the most unlikely of…read morethings. Take Masseys, for example. A family run butchers, with a huge range of meat and meat dishes, plus a deli...and I buy some Toffee Squares. I think my whole life is generally an oxymoron... To be fair, there is a small bakery section, plus a few shelves full of chutneys, oils and sauces, so it wasn't all that strange. I think. Mr Butcher certainly appreciated this anyway, for the following conversation ensued: Jolly Butcher: Hello there! [Looks at my sister] Are you not buying something too? Me: Nope, I'm the one with the money I'm afraid. Jolly Butcher: Awk ok [Looks at the both us, back and forth, back and forth] Me: Yes, we're sisters! [Laughs and smiles at the realisation dawns on Jolly Butcher's face] Jolly Butcher: Ah yes, I thought so! I can definitely see it. Me: Really? No-one ever thinks we do. [Pays for Toffee Squares] Jolly Butcher: Awk, well you can carry those [looks at my sister, and hands her plastic bag, and then hands me my change and receipt]. Me: I like you! And we bid him farewell. Once we got home, my mum had noticed the receipt lying on the table. As soon as she picked it up, she loudly enquired as to why we had bought £20.83 worth of fillet and sirloin steak, when we had obviously purchased Toffee Squares. Laughter ensued as I guaranteed her we hadn't bought any meat whatsoever, and I had merely been given the wrong receipt. Ah, my life is a barrel of laughs...made all the funnier by certain escapades in Masseys. Excellent in every way.

Massey's for me a a place that has some really good things going for it and some not so good, but…read morethe positives tend to come out on top. Massey's is a very clean and well presented butchers. It has a wider range than most butchers as they have milk, a bread stand and they sell other home sauces and tinned goods, as well as a large stand of their pre prepared meals. That for me is the main excellent and simultaneously bad thing about this place. Their meals were a great idea, as the concept was food to go but of a better quality.Unfortunatel y they has taken things for granted and the quality of these products has slipped, which is hard to accept when they are so expensive. The whole butchers isn't cheap but it is good quality and delicious, with locally sourced meats in all the varieties you could ever want.

For so long I thought this place was only a bakery, but if you continue up the stairs at the back…read morethere is a small coffee shop in the upstairs, which I found really surprising as someone who had been coming to this place for years and not realised! They do the usual line up of coffees and lunchtime fare like sandwiches, soups etc but everything is made on site, down to the bread which gives it an edge. I've only ate from it one, but my sweet chilli chicken sandwich was delicious! My main experiences have been with the bakery however. They do great fresh bread of all varieties, with particularly nice wheaten bread. They do excellent tray bakes, with my girl friend loving their brownies and my brother adoring their pineapple creams. They also do a mean sausage roll in here which can be good for a guilty mid morning snack. They even pipe the sauce directly into the roll if you want sauce, which I find a really thoughtful feature! This should be a regular spot for everyone in Saintfield, as they do everything with love and care. Highly recommended.

I live in England but every time I'm in N Ireland I have to get wheaten farls from this little home…read morebakery. They are delicious. The staff are friendly and helpful and I sometimes place an order to be collected on the day I fly home. I hope the local residents appreciate how lucky they are to have this shop in the main street. Don't buy supermarket bread when you can get your bread here. I didn't know there was a coffee shop here so will investigate when I fly over this weekend. Helen

Diana puts a lot of love and perfection in all her Fantastic Cakes and bakes nothing is left to…read morechance and she can make your Cake Dreams come through all you have to do is say what you want and by Magic it will be made for you if you can think of it she can bring it to life. My cake was for a 50th Birthday and it was just amazing both in Design and best of all taste,an absolute wonderful treat for all to eat. I will be back for my next cake very soon.

From the owner: We specialize in custom celebration and wedding cakes, including fancifully sculpted 3D cakes. We…read morealso make delicious macaron and decorated cookies.

The Oakley fayre is a long standing, family run establishment loved by the locals of Downpatrick…read moreand many visitors. With a menu comprising a great mix of traditional Irish breakfast, lunch and bakery items and modern, up to date hot and cold food and drink options. Called in on a whim for coffee Saturday past and ended up ordering a bowl of soup just because it smelt so good wafting by. Welcoming and efficient service as always, and they thankfully didn't seem to mind the ever changing table numbers and different orders as groups of family came and went.

This is a really wonderful little bakery and restaurant that has been satisfying the bellies of the…read morepeople of Downpatrick for a long time and long may it continue! The store has been recently done up inside and is a good bit more pleasant and airy than what it was in the past. The store bakes a lot of fresh bread every day ranging from the usual Irish style favourites to multigrain and granary loafs, so all your bread needs are satissified. There are a lot of savoury pastry options on offer, as well as a vast array of buns, cakes and sweet pastries to help insulate you by increasing your fat reserves! The restaurant has a fairly basic menu o f the usual lunchtime options, but it everything is well prepared and delicious, with the added bonus that a lot of it can be prepared to take it away if you ask nicely to guarantee a good lunch! The sandwich station at the front is also great for those wanting a quick lunch. I hope that this review has sounded Fayre! ;D

Great food great price and great service will be back. The various meal deals are great for kids…read moreand adults or workmen and the portions are massive. The bakery side also is great with tons of sweet treats for after a coffee or your meal.

Shaw's Home Bakery is an independent business and makes a real change from the traditional bakeries…read morescattered throughout the town. In a prime location, this has to be the town's most innovative bakery- selling a variety of breads including Guinness wheaten and Mediterranean loaves. There is also a wide range of (rather unusual) scones to buy, with everything from your ordinary fruit scone, to flavours such as Cadbury's crunchie and raspberry ripple. I am personally a big fan of the Snickers- flavoured scone, as the chocolate and caramel just melt in your mouth. Shaw's also makes a real effort to follow baking trends, creating an array of delicious delights such as cupcakes and whoopee pies. The bakery also provides a daily supply of 'Paddy's pizzas' (a famous Northern Irish snack consisting of soda bread with a pizza topping) along with sausage rolls and other pastries. At lunchtime, Shaw's sells an assortment of sandwiches and you can also buy a meal deal (consisting of a sandwich, cookie and drink) for less than £3.

What is it about Bakeries that make it impossible for me to pass them? Perhaps I just enjoy the…read morecomforting smell of warm cooked bread? Yes, as it can't simply be the yummy, chocolaty fattening cakes! Mackey's is no exception to good home cooking! The breads, scones, cakes, pastries and tarts on offer here are vast and delicious! It's hard not to walk out with a box full of stuff. just to try! And everything I have tried had been so great and fresh that I can't help coming back for more! You can also sit in here and try some of their home made delights and sandwiches. I'm afraid to though in case I never leave! Great place! With great staff and a real traditional homely atmosphere.

There are days, especially when it's pouring, when the occasion demands food that's comforting and…read moresimple. On just such a day I decided to get some lunch at Mackeys, which besides a home bakery with lots of delicious cakes and breads has a cosy coffee shop in the back. The fried bacon and sausage looked rather nice so I had that with their fresh soda bread and tea which was served up quickly and was as good as it looked. There were also things chicken and broccoli bake, lasagne and chips along with scones. A great spot for a straightforward refuel with no pretensions to anything other than coming up with the goods.

It's been a month and a half since I visited this bakery, and I just can't stop thinking about it…read more Seriously the best Soda Farl on the whole Island. So moist and actually fluffy. I've never had soda bread like it! The scones were great too... and the biscuits (oatmeal cookies half dipped in chocolate) were a treat so don't want to miss! I wish I could fly back just to go here again!