Although billed as a garden centre, there is an important attitude here that lifts it above the…read morepansies and roses standard stuff and nearer to a proper nursery - they have a policy of trying to use mostly local growers. This means not only do you get some unusual plants making it a horticultural goodie bag for gardeners, but you also get plants that are used to the local climate. Plants range in size - there are some great specimen plants here to have a more instant garden feel as well as cheaper younger plants. All are in great condition with plenty of roots to the point where if you choose wisely you can split them and get two plants for the price of one. They have a bargain corner of those which have gone over but will come back in a few seasons or with a good pruning, so if you know your stuff then you can pick up a real bargain. The plants area outside is set out in handy sections - so if you have a shady corner where everything you plant dies then head to the back and there is a whole section of plants that will love that area. The staff are very happy to help, knowledgeable and perpetually cheery. The garden centre-y bit is well stocked, with the focus on what you can use now well-displayed. The cafe is always busy as the owners know that nothing goes better than pottering round a nursery with friends is to sit down and natter afterwards.

Cooperatively owned, Riverside Garden Centre is much better than it's more commercial peers…read more They've got an excellent (Bristol's largest, in fact) array of plants, both indoor and out, with a bargain section that I keep a sharp eye on. The emphasis is on locally sourced stuff, so you're unlikely to get something flown in from South Africa that's going to die within a fortnight. The staff are all chipper and friendly, and will answer your questions no matter how basic they are. The views over the River Avon and of the Suspension Bridge really are second to none. Add to this a café with absolutely scrumptious cake and you've got somewhere that's worth a visit even if you're not planning to pick up any plants (though that's not to say you won't).

Looks a bit like a yellow mess sat there on North street, in actual fact sells everything you've…read moreever needed and some things you haven't. By definition it's a hardware store, they describe themselves as selling 'all those thingummy bobs and what-you-ma-call-its' like brooms, cloths, screws, paint, brushes, bolts, polish, pet food etc, etc. Their DIY section including quality branded tools and ironmongery is second to none, with prices that surpass B&Q and knowledgeable staff to go with it. A good combo. Despite it's very traditional appeal and seemingly like it's stuck firmly in the 1970s (Open All Hours, anyone?) it's also a good place to get fireworks all year around (should you need them).

As you'd know if you read an earlier review of mine you could tell i'm a massive fan of shops like…read morethis. This one is especially brilliant because it feels like it's going to implode at any moment. I went in the other day and they had two people working in the shop and there were just 3 customers inside (me included) and I asked the chap inside if he had any Yellow electrical tape (at this point in my life I needed about 30 roles of the stuff! ... don't ask!). So there was this brilliant choreography as the 5 of us in the shop moved around each other to let the guy look for the electrical tape, it was crazy, messy, unmanigable, unthinkable, but boy, oh boy was it a joy to behold! Unfortunatley he wasn't able to find any electrical tape, but I was so pleased to have discovered this gem of a shop, I ended up buying a really thick bristled broom. Maybe I felt like I needed to offer some sort of thanks to the effort he had gone to in order to move around his shop to find an obscene amount of yellow electrical tape, or maybe I just needed a thick bristled broom...

Back in Action is a physiotherapy furniture store that I am a big fan of…read more The aim of their shop is to provide you and your home with furniture that doesn't strain your back, but ease it and keep it supple and flexible. I walked in here some time back, and had a great time trying out all the different types of furniture; like dining chairs with movable seats. Other than home furniture, they have things for kids, the office and back loving mattresses. When you're in here, the staff treat you really well and have no prejudgement against you (despite me wearing quite ratty jeans that day), and answer all your questions and explain lots about each piece of furniture you sit on. As someone who always has back pain, this shop is just perfect - now if only the prices were abit more perfect to match my bank account, then I would be in home heaven.

Perhaps not the most rivetting of places to review, but Bristol Flooring Bargains is worth putting…read moreon the map if and when floor politics should enter your life. My folks were visiting Bristol a while back and were on a mission to find a rug, which they promptly found here. Boasting a range of sophisticated rugs, the folks were spoilt for choice but eventually chose a handmade Moghal style number which cost around £120 and exuded quality and professional artistry. Bristol Flooring Bargains also sell vinyl and a huge selection of carpets. Laminate and wood can also be purchased here and the shop operates a free delivery service too. Expect good quality materials and prices which correlate.

I have used Bristol flooring on several occasions for carpet and Lino and have always found their…read moreservice to be excellent, the staff are all very friendly and knowledgable and they have a good selection of carpet and lino, their prices are very reasonable and you always feel like you are getting a good deal - A great local, independent business !

Such an astonishing showroom!! The fireplaces they have in stock are beautiful and the staff are…read moreextremely knowledgeable and prepared to answer any questions. Would definitely recommend them to everyone!

From the owner: Retailers and importers of unique handmade Indian furniture. Ranging in designs from Retro and…read morevintage through to Industrial. Manufactured in a variety of materials to include Mango wood, Teak wood and raw industrial Steel. Simply lush furniture

Located in the deepest depths of suburban Bedminster, The Natural Paint Store is an ethical little…read moreshop which sells a range of environmentally friendly products. Calling itself 'The Space', the store's objective is community based and focused on providing resources and services to locals. Here you can purchase not only natural paints, but Home Strip, simply Natural cleaners, Thermafleece and even personal care items such as Moon Times and recyclable nappies. The shop is currently undergoing work, which means that it is only open on Saturdays. However, the soon to be revamped store will see new products on sale such as woodburning stoves and wool thermal insulation. Obviously, products aren't cheap here. But if you can afford to do your bit to make the world a healthier place, this is a good place to start.

Absolutely brilliant service, great advice on what I needed. Lovely staff who were really punctual…read morewhen delivering our machine. 10/10

sensible shop, sensible stock, sensible prices with knowledgable and helpful owner snd staff. I…read morewouldn't go anywhere else.

I wonder if this particular branch gets far more custom than any of the other Brandon Tool Hire…read moreplaces just because of the brilliant grafitti on the walls by it that really draws your eye to it. From pressure washers to generators, you can get pretty much anything to help you get that landscaped garden finished, fill in that pot hole in your drive, or replace some lose draining on your roof, it's the next step up from B&Q and is any uber-handyman's dream. When you can get a miniture tower rather than putting together a ramshakle platfrom to stand on it just means it makes your jobs and tasks far much more simpler. If you are not sure what you need as well, or maybe know the sort of thing but not the exact specification they can help you in here, with a great knowledge of all equipment for all jobs you are sure to find the perfect piece for you.

My landlord swears by this place, he tells me that should i ever need to wash the walls of the…read moregarden then i should go hire myself a powerful pressure washer from Brandon Hire, i then reminded him that as long as i was paying him my rent that this was his job, he seemed to lose a little bit of his cockiness from that moment on. However, he was right about what a great service this guys offer. A good friend of mine is a keen artist, I wouldn't necessarily say great, just keen, and they decided that for their next masterpiece it would be esential to hire a cement mixer - so I gave them a lift to Brandon Hire and got what we were after. The price was reasonable, and the guys in store were very helpful - the only problem is I still haven't found out why the cement mixer was essential!