Up until my relatively recent move to Manchester, I only ever went to the same optician that I have…read morevisited since I was a child. Basically, I didn't trust anyone else to give me the same quality of customer care (or, having said that, the right prescription). As I have an awkward face for glasses, with a stupidly narrow nose, I typically find that nothing really fits very well, and so my old optician used to order in vast arrays of spectacles for me to try on, then spent ages trying to find the right pair. I never thought I'd find another optician that would offer such great service. In the main, I was right. I tried Specsavers, Vision Express, D & A, etc etc etc, and generally came across disinterested salespeople who had no interest or idea of what they were doing. That all changed one morning when I went to Didsbury Eyecare, a place I had been wary of because it looked a bit too trendy and expensive. But I was so so wrong. The sales assistant was extremely helpful and pointed my towards several styles that would suit. He then told me that they would have more stock arriving during the next week, and advised me to wait in case some of those were more suitable. There was no pressure to buy, just encouragement to choose the right glasses to suit. When I did find a pair I liked, I was pleased to find that they were not too expensive after all (£300 for frames and the thinnest lenses they could order - my eyes are awful so the lenses are always costly). All in all, I was very pleased with my experience here. The choice of glasses was exceptional, the customer care was extremely good, and I went away feeling very satisfied. In fact, if I had more money to spend on glasses, I'd go back to get another pair.

nice and friendly people jaydev & vidya brahmbhattread more

A bit like Habitat, on a miniature scale this is a stylish interiors and gift shop in Didsbury…read morevillage. Prices aren't cheap, but you pay for quality, style and original designs. From sofas, beds and Dining room furniture, to candles, cookware and framed artwork there's a range to suit most young fashionable home lovers. I love browsing this shop on a Saturday afternoon just to look at all the retro gadgets and bits and pieces that you can find, there's always something new in. They also stock cards, gift wrap and stationary. Perfect for gifts, or just for spoiling yourself 'because you're worth it'.

Handy house wares shop in the middle of Didsbury's high street selling a large range of items from…read morebeds, sofa's, rugs, lamps, picture frames, plates and cutlery, to bedroom furniture and kitchen accessories. Luckily at the time of writing, they are having a huge clearance sale (70% of a lot of items) so it's quite possible you can bag a bargain if your currently looking to adding a household items into you home. I nearly got carried away and coveted a 'snazzy' range of Alessi cutlery/table accessories (given a cheeky glass of wine or two beforehand I may indeed have found myself in the red over daft salt and pepper pots). House Shop is akin to an independent, suburban habitat the furniture and accessories are similar to those found in that particular store, though with seemingly lower prices. At the back of the store is the bed section (tis indeed like a Tardis in here) with designs ranging from 'Po Mo Tokyo' to 'Ironic Quaker'...or so I gathered. With more mugs than the Daily Mail readership and a card section to slightly concern Clinton's (the greeting card store not the Presidency obsessed US couple) the House shop provides a decent niche for home furnishing in this neck of the woods. Currently this business has opened up to nine stores in the North West (from a few in South Manchester to as far flung as Windermere in the lakes). Whilst I was browsing I happened across a pizza stone which I'd been after for years! Works an absolute treat. We have Italian relatives over next weekend so I'm gonna see if I can impress them with my crispy bottoms

this is one of the cutest thrift stores I have been in and I love the fact that they had a whole…read morebookstore on the other side separated between the clothes and HomeGoods, 10/10

Another day, another Oxfam, and another Oxfam that is 100% defined by its location. In this case,…read moreDidsbury. Home of the well-dressed, the well-heeled and the well-read. This wee shop takes in a normal Oxfam and an Oxfamm bookshop, and is jolly well stocked on all counts. To the bookshop first, which has a great window display of signed first editions. None of them hugely lucrative or historically important, but still pretty cool. Inside, the sections are clearly demarcated and all well stocked and, more importantly, alphabetised. The crime/thriller section is, as in all charity shops everywhere amen, very good; full of your latest Cornwells, McDermids, Ludlums and whathaveyou, as well as a brand new Charlaine Harris box set for £15 (the True Blood books, to the uninitiated). The general fiction section, too, is well-stocked, and te Literature section is modest but respectable. In glass cases around the place you will find rarer and older books, including an early edition of Pride and Prej for £100; nice if you're a wealthy person with an Austen habit. The other side, selling the usual second hand bric a brac and fairtrade shizzle, is solidly good, carrying a lot of Topshop, Pringle and Coast clothes, and a lot of jolly nice smart menswear. The homeware and bric-a-brac section is pleasingly mad. Wine glasses sit beside ugly china tat and Chinese urns. This Oxfam has a very convenient drop-off point; a well-manned back room that will happily take your bags of stuff, and help you to 'tag your bag' so that Oxfam can claim Giftaid on all the stuff they sell. Oxfam Didsbury; a better class of customer, and a better class of second hand stuff.

STAY CLEAR. Due today to put in our kitchen. Had to go to…read morepremises in Didsbury to confirm our worse fears. They had gone into administration and we have lost all our money. Check out their history in Companies House - wish we had. Not the first time they pulled this stunt. They will of course reply saying that they have no record of us as a customer (check out other reviews). Facebook me and I'll be happy to provide proof. For independent proof contact their administrators Leonard CURTIS (Bury) and they will confirm that they are dealing with their current scam and dealt with their last. The telling thing is that there were no assets left to dispose of among their creditors - a planned exit.

I recently had a new kitchen fitted by Earle and Ginger Didsbury. What can I say? The service was…read moreexcellent, no question too silly and Mike and Vinny managed the project meticulously from the outset. I now have more space than ever - thanks to the magic corners and my pull out pantry is brilliant - I can get to all the jars at the back now! Thank you so much Earle and Ginger, if I ever move house I know who will be doing my kitchen. Keep up the good work!

My glasses are spectacular. I've not seen a selection of glasses as good in this area of the…read morecountry. I paid more than expected but that's now long forgotten and they are more than worth it anyway. At least as important as vanity the prescription is the best I've ever had and the consultation itself was informative - I actually have a good insight (excuse the pun) in to what's going on with my eyes. I enjoyed good friendly conversation with the staff and I'm modest enough to admit she chose my frames not me!

The only place I go for my glasses!! They are amazing, love these guys. They don't just sell your…read moreaverage eyewear brands- really cool designers and collaborative pieces so if you want a pair of really cool specs, go here. I dropped by because of reviews on Yelp, wasn't going to buy anything necessarily but came out with a really nice pair of Oliver Peoples/ Garrett Leight sunglasses. They were no means cheap but they fitted them just perfectly. Unfortunately I lost them in Austin Texas and didn't know whether I'd be able to get another pair. They ordered them back in and gave me a discount on the original price for me since I was basically buying them twice. I also ordered a pair of lenses for my old Ray Bans, they're so helpful and quick to respond to emails. Very chatty, know about your face shape and what suits, but don't do the hard sell. If you're looking for cheap then go to your average high street store but if you've saved a few bob it's a good investment.