The corner of Coles Lane has something of a tradition of being an 'outdoor' (old-school Brummie…read moretalk for an offie). For years it was a Victoria Wine, then a Threshers before becoming 'The Local' - a disastrous attempt at selling wine, spirits and baked beans in the same small space. After sitting dormant for a while, it's current owner took it on and put it straight. Going under the imaginative banner 'Shop', it's exactly what a corner shop should be and a great example of a community shop. It sells your usual newsagent fare: Chocolate bars, newspapers, milk. I believe it even has a coffee machine in there. I'm afraid I don't know the name of the guy who runs it, but he's a very amiable proprietor who never seems to have a day off and will always say hello or wave to you even if you're walking on the other side of the street. I don't live round there anymore, but whenever I drop by for a paper or a drink if I'm in the area, there always seems to be one of my old neighbours stood in there by the till having a chat and passing the time of day. It's that kind of place, and that kind of place is very hard to find these days.

I've been popping in and out of this shop since I was about 10 years old. My earliest memory of the…read moreplace is when Granddad lived around the corner on Dyas Road and would always pick up his Evening Mail from there. I find it very satisfying that the shop is still there and looks pretty much as I remember it as a kid. Whilst it's changed hands a few times over the years it's still a reassuring fixture of the Kingstanding Road. These days I drop in once a month or so to buy tobacco, or some other 'essential' (is tobacco an essential?) as I pass through Kingstanding. As well as a newsagent this is also an off licence - it wasn't like that in my Granddad's day! - so, if the mood takes you, you can always pick up a beer or two for a reasonable price.

Selling a wide range of newspapers, magazines and everyday household items, this small…read morenewsagent-come-convenience store is a handy place to stop by whenever you're passing through Kingstanding. A large public car park is located just over the road, for shoppers visiting the Hawthorn shopping centre and several bus stops are within walking distance. Inside, the store is clean, spacious and very well organised. Though small in size, logical organisation and lack of makeshift shelving make ensure that the store never feels cramped, and friendly staff make every visit here a pleasant one. The prices are surprisingly good too.

This high street newsagent's is located just opposite the Horse and Jockey pub, near the entrance…read moreto Sutton Coldfield Town Centre. It stocks a wide variety of magazines, groceries and drinks, and even offers a frozen section and a large selection of wines and beers. Off-road parking is available, but very limited and prices are respectable. The newsagent's alcohol selection is particularly impressive, with prices slightly undercutting local off licences and lots of bulk-buy offers available. The shop's interior is of a decent size and staff are fairly friendly, but the shelves are thick with dust, the hand-written price tags are grubby and unappealing, and the whole store feels unclean and uninviting.

This small, licensed newsagent is far, far from a 'superstore' as its name suggests, but it does…read morestock a decent selection of foods, drinks and household essentials. The inside is grubby and unclean, with messy shelves and a floor which looks as if it hasn't been cleaned in a long while, and the loud music piped throughout the store is both unnecessary and unappealing for such an environment. Additionally, the wine and beer selection is pricey and very disappointing and the staff are a little unfriendly and difficult to talk to. On the plus side, however, the store benefits from an excellent selection of pet food, which though not very big, offers big-name brands at very low prices. On my visit, I bought a 12 pack of Whiskas cat food sachets for just £3.95, over £1 cheaper than I would've usually paid at my local Tesco. VMB News Superstore isn't exactly the cleanest, or the friendliest of convenience stores in Kingstanding, but it does offer some great deals and a good selection of high quality products.

well all i can say is when shit, disrespectful people use that store and push in the queue and get…read moreserved buy the staff first and your standing there telling them whats happening they don't seem to give a S**T, and do NOTHING about it and just say sorry! even when your in the right, none of there staff gives a F**K about there other customers patiently waiting in line! its happened to me twice, I'm sick of it but i carn't do anything about it cause that's the closest shop to me to get electric from late at night, so I'm stuck with the shitty service they give!! sort it out guys! you bunch of pussies, stand up for the good customers who wait in line patiently!, you have that power at that time use it ffs!!!!

Offering a superb range of newspapers and magazines and positioned within walking distance of a…read morelarge car park and several bus stops, this handy newsagents is a great place to stop by if ever you're passing through Kingstanding. Thanks to an extensive pic 'n' mix selection and a wide variety of crisps and snacks, the store is great for kids and those with a sweet tooth, and offers several rare specialist magazines for avid readers. Super News has a small £1 section laden with soap, shower gel, washing-up liquid and other essentials, and drinks and crisps are all on 2 for 1 deals. I visited recently to buy Empire magazine and ended up picking up a few household necessities along the way! This handy local store is a great place to stop by in between changing buses, just be weary of long queues, as Super News can get incredibly busy sometimes, especially around midday.

Offering a huge selection of groceries, drinks, pet supplies and more, and benefitting from…read morefriendly service, helpful staff and a stellar location, this local corner shop is a real gem. The store's interior is spacious, well stocked and logically laid out and everything seems clean and pleasant. The staff are welcoming and willing to assist customers when prompted and there is ample space for street parking outside the building. I visited this handy convenience store whilst passing, hunting for pet food for my girlfriend's new puppy. I was both surprised and impressed at the store's diverse range of pet supplies, and the prices weren't too bad either. I'd definitely visit again.

Offering remarkably cheap wine, beer and spirits, and delivering friendly customer service, this…read morelocal drinks store is pleasant, well-priced and definitely worth stopping by on a visit to Sutton Coldfield town centre. This deceptively spacious off-license really opens up on entry. It appears small from the outside, but in actuality, it offers two large rooms, stacked from wall-to-wall with a wide range of alcoholic beverages. The wine is very cheap in comparison with high street supermarkets and many beers are on bulk-buy offers. On my visit, the guy running shift was welcoming and friendly and I bought a large bottle of Disaronno for just £12! Some aisles in the store are narrow and feel a little claustrophobic, but C. Michael's Drink Store cannot be knocked for its great value, large stock and pleasant customer service. I'd definitely visit again.

Around the world in 80 beers, the World Cup of booze, the UN of bottled lager.... Biere, bier,…read morecerveza. Well, you get the idea. The biggest draw of the store is not only the range, but the sheer scope. We can all name a favourite bottled brew from Spain, Mexico, Thailand, France, Germany, Italy, Holland and Belgium. Many could name two, perhaps also listing their fave from Portugal, perhaps Greece or Japan. But this offy adds, to the already heady mix, beer from Cambodia, Cyprus, Austria and Zanzibar, among others. While the shop front may seem to not promise an awful lot - and of course, if you want a Twix, Lambrini or scratchings, you can still fill your boots - It remains a treat for connoisseurs, whether their heads are turned by a funny label or something straddling the line between full-body and light crispness. This isn't all smart-Alec code for a drunk's paradise, it's genuine - this place is effectively a beer boutique. You could do worse than shop here for the man who thinks he has everything. When was the last time he sunk a brew from Africa?