This is one of those shops where although the stock is modern and up-to-date you really get a feel…read moreof a time gone by. Complete with old style writing of the name on the frontage, this place takes things at a more traditional place. It is your guaranteed one stop in the area for all your DIY and gardening desires. From light bulbs, to compost to gardening gloves it's all down here. As you can imagine it's been here a while so it's not just seeds and slug pellets you can get here - but valuable knowledge and advice too! A wonderful little shop.

Like stepping back in time to 1950, you feel like Gary Sparrow (IMDb it), just don't go thinking if…read moreyou get two different woman pregnant it's not cheating just because they are in two different decades... Anyway, where was I...pretty classic, brilliant hardware store, where the staff (owners?) are always willing to help you, however DIY disabled you might be. I went in looking for a mop and after a long and thrilling discussion about whether to go for the 'Ferrari' of mops, made from cloth, or the 'Old-world' mop, made from string...I bought a sponge. The point of that story is, just imagine trying to have a conversation with the staff in a larger cooperate hardware store; some 16 year old moped driving rude boy would be as much use as a wet fart on laundry day. But it's not just mops and mop chat, oh no, I don't think any shop could pack more stock into a space this size. Spray paint, brass door knobs, hinges and a key cutting service all delivered by a fatherly bearded man. Perfect.

The handy man's dream- Travis Perkins sells everything you would need to build a house, or repair…read moreit at least. The oddly placed trade counter sits next to dominoes back from the street, and usually has a lorry backing out. This is your best spot to find tools and materials if you have just moved to in or are repairing some gone wrong DIY.

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.

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.

That's the last time I'll buy from this shop. I had to take…read moreback 2 face masks that were too small, very thin and clearly offer no protection. At first she only offered a credit note, so I had to insist on a full refund. When I pointed out that the masks were obviously not merchandisable she was surly and dismissive. I have always thought the shop was overpriced, but after checking the price of these masks I discover that they are imported for around 8p. They are on sale here for £5. I'm shocked that someone can look to mark up a substandard product supposedly offering protection from coronavirus to such a huge degree. And then be so rude to a customer. I'll not be returning.

If you're trying to buy less amazing incredible things you definitely have to have, probably best…read moreyou don't go in here. In Pearce's Hardware they sell literally just about everything. Tea pots, draught excluders, big chains, little chains, strong chains, weak chains, watering cans, mouse traps, glues, plugs, shower heads, thermos flasks, duct tape, plant food, umbrellas, staple guns and the largest, most impressive selection of toasters I have ever seen. Enough said.

Bristol Tools is a no nonsense store specialising in hand tools, but stocking a whole lot more. I…read morebought a spade here for £6.99 the other day, and so can vouch for the affordable prices they charge. But it's the sheer choice of products that impresses you most, many of which possess a latter day charm as well as a price tag to match. I'm sure that if I looked hard enough I'd find gold mining pans and twin handled lumberjack saws! If you can't find it here, then you won't get it anywhere else. Services include key cutting and blade sharpening, although if you bought your tools from here you won't need to use the latter so often. All of them are made using the finest steel and come replete, in most instances, with finely crafted wooden handles; there's no shonky steel and badly matching plastic moulded handles at this store - you'll have to go to Rajani's for those.

Much like the varnish they sell in their shop that does exactly as it says on the tin, if you need…read moreany tool in Bristol - Bristol Tools will have it. Having been on the same corner since 1973 the guys in here are incredibly knowledgeable. Every bit of DIY and every odd job about the house has always led me here. One of the things that really sets this shop out above the rest for me is how it is customer focussed in every sense. Their priority is getting you what you need. If they don't have what you want, for example, they'll call other hardware shops in Bristol before ordering it in. If they do have to order it in, it's always within 24 hours. The guys here are also very proud that they haven't 'sold out' to specialise in power tools. Like many businesses in the area they keep it traditional, local and very hands on.

Always outstanding customer service. Nothing is too much trouble. Thank you. A surprisingly good…read moreselection in a small Shop.

Another great hardware store on Gloucester Road…read more My girlfriend and I wanted some paint to paint a table we acquired. We popped in as I was sure I'd seen tins of paint last time I went in. Turns out they've got a full Dulux paint mixing machine with a paint chart - sorted! We picked our colours, gave them to matey-boy and then had a mooch while he mixed his magic. The shop is full of nic-nacs from flower bulbs, paint brushes, toilet seats, taps and washing up bowls. if you need it, they've probably got it. There always seems to be a lot of staff. Probably because they get asked lots of silly questions by people like myself, but there was no waiting around. All of the guys were really helpful. One had just come back from his stag do and was covered in fake tan - David Dickinson style - oh how we laughed! Bishopston Hardware is a great shop with great staff. It's so handy that it's at the end of my road!

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 didn't know about this place (despite the massive sign on Stokes Croft) until my flat needed…read moredecorating now I couldn't be without it! They will mix up in minutes any shade of paint from their range of thousands, at reasonable prices. They also have a wide range of wallpaper including posho designer stuff as well as a range of DIY gear (although some of this can be found cheaper elsewhere). They offered me a 10% discount card which has been well used and you also get Nectar points on your purchases. My only complaint is that as there are so many colours available they don't have the full range of samples on the display - you might need to ask to see swatches if you want a specific shade. Oh, and if you buy a sample tin for around £3/4 the price will be refunded when you buy the full tin.