Another day, another pharmacy, but Saintfield Pharmacy (aka Trevor Baird Ltd) stands out in my mind…read morefor three reasons: 1) It's right beside the Post Office. Like properly adjacent...there's not even a wall dividing the two. Pharmacy and Post Office = one and the same. Novel, I thought. And useful, except the Post Office wasn't open when I was in. Ah well. 2) They have a quite a significant jewellery / handbag selection...lots of those little charm bracelets that seem to be *everywhere*. Really pretty stuff too - gorgeous patent bags in a variety of colours. And this is a pharmacy remember! 3) The young girl who served me had the most stunning gel nails, and despite her protests, she really was managing rather well with them on. Gosh, I am such a girl... I did purchase a smoothie shower gel thingamajig, which was apparently the most forgettable aspect of the visit, as I didn't even notice until last night that I didn't have a clue where it had gone. Oopies... Great pharmacy though. As pharmacies go.

A handy chemist in city centre. Avoid the big prescriptions queue in Boots with this smaller,…read morepersonal service. The pharmacist is pretty friendly and offers lots of over the counter advice for minor ailments. For a small shop it's well stocked with lots of both sex toiletries, makeup and domestic products. There are always v good deals on things like toothpaste, facewipes and deodorants. Good selection of health brands like linwoods, biona, PhD and maximuscle. Protein bars like PhD, Quest and ON are from £1.49. Yankee candles also available. General chemist staff as helpful and friendly.

No it's not the predominant health care provider in the US but in fact a large chain of chemists…read moreand pharmacies across the north. This store does the usual plethora of over the counter products along with a full prescription pharmacy. I only noticed after walking around the city looking for the best place to buy whey protein. The time when muscle building was a prerogative has been and gone but back then it seemed fitting. Holland and Barrett was often the haunt of many looking to stock up on huge great tubs of the awfully flavoured nonsense, but prices here rivalled. £18 for a large tub of whey, banana flavoured. Loverly.

Superdrug is a really chemist popular chain store that sell a really wide range of personal care…read moreproducts. They have been opened in Northern ireland since 1991. They have a no animal testing charter, which is something that's really commendable these days. As a laydee I have reason to pop in to pick up all manner of hair and beauty products. I think this store are really good for finding bargains on things like shampoo and make-up ranges. I'm definitely a fan of this store as they offer a much cheaper alternative to boots.

Superdrug is undoubtedly the best UK high street health and beauty retailer. Their products are…read moreexceptionally excellent in quality and economically priced. Additionally all their own brand items carry the leaping bunny symbol indicating clearly they are certified by Cruelty Free International. I visit Superdrug frequently to pick up their exclusive range of 'B' makeup which is vegan. It's an amazing cosmetics range and outstanding quality with the B makeup Primer being the best I've ever tried. The lipsticks and nail polishes come in a vast array of colours too and the eyeshadows are beautiful to use. All Superdrug own brand products are clearly labelled, highlighting if they are suitable for vegetarians and vegans. In particular the Vitamin E skincare, sun care and dry skin ranges are awesome. An ethical super store!

I really like this branch in the Gordon's chain. I will go on record as saying that this is…read morepossibly the most immaculate pharmacy style shop that there is around: the shop always seems to be dazzlingly clean and the stock is always fronted well so the shop always looks in great condition. The store has the usual blend of hygiene and health and beauty products that you would expect, with a good range of special offers in all product ranges. There is a pharmacy inside which is very handy, being a 2 minute walk from the health centre just up the hill. There is a good perfume section and some home electric items, and has all the things you would want from a store like this. If only the staff were more cheery, but I know someone who worked here and the owners are apparently v very strict and banter is kept at a minimum!

Isn't it just typical that when you break your sunglasses, the sun decides to come out? When I…read moreaccidentally snapped the arm off my £1 Primark specs, I figured I'd be ok until next summer. But oh no, the very next just *had* to be on of the sunniest days of the summer. And I was stuck in Saintfield, blinded by the light, so to speak. Oooh, fun times. Gordons is one of my favourite chemists anyway, but it's gone up a whole lot more in my estimation now. Not only do they stock excellent makeup wipes for a mere 99p, or indeed stock a whole lot of other things for 99p, but they do a rather nice selection of sunglasses. Bingo! A pair were spotted, tried on, complimented (by my sister) and purchased alongside half the shop...I needed to purchase some 'necessities' too you see. I had initially thought the sunnies were going to be £5, which was decent enough for a category three pair of shades. When I got to the till, however, they came up at £2.50 - half price! Ooooh, I wasn't half a happy bunny. Never did I even consider Gordons for a pair of glasses, but it seems these places do everything these days, and ridiculously cheap prices too. Oh Gordons, how I love you...

This is a little pharmacy within an estate community, the staff are a very pleasant and happy to…read morehelp you with anything you need. The pharmastist is happy to help you,to advise if its something they can help with via over the counter medicine or if you need to see a doctor. All in all a great family pharmacy.

Medicare (Fiztroy) lower Ormeau Road is a prescribing pharmacist located right next door to Ormeau…read moreHealth Centre. Hence it's convenient for picking up prescriptions, however it can be extremely busy so be prepared for a wait on occasion. It's a very good Pharmacist and worth a visit to get advice and medicine for minor ailments before heading to your Doctor. Sells a range of cosmetics, perfume and beauty products as well.

With competition from veteran chains like Boots, Superdrug or Semi-Chem many have marvelled over…read morethe success of Medicare chemists. However, I have not. My first experience of the chain was within Queen's Student Union where I would gleefully walk in with a full student loan and come out brandishing goods from perfume, tweezers and face packs. I found it difficult to control my purchasing needs when I entered this store as everything was really cheap and scented beautifully. However, I have mastered the art of spending wisely which helps as my nearest store is located on the Ormeau Road just a few minutes from my house. This particular Medicare has much more to offer than the smaller unit in Queen's Student Union as it has a full pharmacy counter to deal with all illnesses and drug prescriptions. Yet, because of its greater range and pharmacy counter this store can be particularly busy so do expect a queue. Same goes if you're planning to purchase something you don't want others to see...could be embarrassing when most residents of the Ormeau Road can see what's in your shopping basket.

Normally when I think of Boots I think of perfume, make-up and a chemist but the range of products…read moreand services boots offers has been growing at a phenomenal rate. It now offers photo development and even an opticians. It is becoming a one stop shop for everything. What I like about Boots is that it stocks major brands so you can be assured that what you are buying is the real deal in comparison to the likes of semi-chem. I recently called into the Boots in Castlecourt as I had really bad toothache and was going to pick up some gel for it. I went to the counter to pay when the girl advised me of a product they had that would work much better and was pretty much the same price. I bough the recommended gel and it worked wonders and I've recommended it to my friends. Purely because of the excellent customer service and advice I'd come back to this Boots of I had any ailments that could be sorted with over the counter drugs.

As a female, this Boot's store is great for make-up, hair products, make up brushes and other…read morerandom things that us girls have to fork out for for general upkeep! It really does offer excellent choice and stocks cool (but well overpriced) make-up brands like Urban Decay and Benefit- swooon! I also get my foundation in here which is Revlon Colurstay and works out about a tenner cheaper than when I buy it down south! Crazy! This particular one isn't stocked by many places, so I was delighted to find it in here. The make-up ranges are great and they also have every hair care prouduct you can think of. The John Frida Brilliant Brunette hair serum is only £6 and works wonders. Really recommended. Randomly they also offer a range of lunch sandwiches and pasta dishes for people popping in on their break. On the pharmacy end of things the staff are knowledgeable, helpful and polite. A great store, which has been recently refurbished, in a great location. Only thing is you're going to come out with empty pockets!

The second of two chemists in Dromore (on exactly the same street, practically opposite each…read moreother), Johnston's could not be more different from its neighbour. In a good way. Light, airy and spacious, Johnston's is on a par with the bigger chain stores, and all three of these factors definitely make for a much more enjoyable shopping experience. I could have run round the chemist freely, unafraid of bumping into a hair accessories stand, or a random bundle of nappies (which I didn't, just in case you're wondering). The staff exuded cheerfulness, but in a very professional way, and even the baby in the buggy in front of me appreciated the staff, shouting "bye, bye lady" over and over again to the pharmacist. Bless him. When I came to pay, I was met with a polite smile, and an hello, which was really lovely. Johnston's isn't a particularly expensive either, despite having the look of a more up market chemist chain. Buying your toiletries in here certainly won't break the bank, and I even noticed a basket of Sure deodorants for £1.25...just one of the many decent prices. Yes, a rather pleasing choice of pharmacy indeed.

Great range of medicines and quick service, you definitely feel welcome and valued as a customer.read more

One of a total of nine village pharmacies in Co. Antrim, the chemist in Whiteabbey could be worse,…read morebut it could be better. The staff at times seem some what snooty. I recently had to pay for a vaccination (for tick borne encephalitis, nasty I know!) and little did I know this would end up costing me £75! Had I known, I'm sure I would have gone with money in the bank, but jobless at the time and about to embark on a mission to Romania I was near enough broke. The woman looked at me like I had six heads. How dare I come to her shop with no money (Hello! It's a chemist!?!) I just wasn't too impressed. It used to be owned by the loveliest man called Mr Gracey. Ah back in those days I could have collected the script and paid in a few days, but oh no. Not on her watch! So they've definitely lost points there. Other than that, how different can any chemist be? It's certainly not got the lovely community feel of my local chemist (See Merville) so I don't think I'll be bothering with here any longer.

I was calling by with a friend for a quick collection for a prescription. My friend sat in his car…read morewaiting for me. It took a while before I was asked what I wanted and they were sterile in personality and not such a friendly face. They did all commuicate with each other for a while and after lots of questions they eventually said it wasn't in yet. After 2 phone calls and convincing them that it should be here, I eventually spent 30 minutes in total in that shop when my friend came in to see if I was still alive! The wee stocky woman (shop assitant) with the spikey hair was nasty looking, not helpful, very abrupt, tried to come across more important than she was. Thankfully the younger guy who was friendly and helpful did get the order, while the wee stocky woman walked off making excuses to the chemist and didn't even come back to speak or apologise to me. The young guy gave real good advice about how to double check about orders etc next time and really redeemed this store from getting no stars! Thanks matey!