Incredible art store. I was blown away by how well stocked the store is. I loved the top floor with…read morecool crafts and unique art gifts to purchase. The second floor had every art supplies I could dream of, and the bottom floor was an amazing selection of paper and canvas. Truly a great art store for all

Incredible place, but dangerous at the same time as you could easily spend a lot of money in here!…read more The first time I popped in was when I needed a few items for an event and I thought I'd gamble on Fred Aldous having the stuff I needed - they did! Anything you need for arts & craft or decorations they have it and with some good choice! I've now been in a few times when I need to pick up bits and bobs or essentials for work i.e. scissors etc. Loads of interesting present and gift ideas in here as well so if you're out and about birthday shopping or it's coming up to christmas - I'd say Fred Aldous is a great option with some similar style stuff to Oklahoma! Most of the stuff here is well priced and I've always been fairly surprised that my total wasn't higher when purchasing as I think the interior and style gives off an expensive vibe but really it's good value for money! A short simple review for a top NQ shop!

This branch of Clintons is on the Lower Floor of the Manchester Arndale, it is basically next to…read moreLush and underneath Gap, opposite G-Star Raw. It is a fairly large store and is one of 360 branches the Clintons brand has in the UK, and one of 11 branches in just over 10 miles from this location which is quite an interesting statistic for a retailer specialising in novelty gifts and cards. Mainly when buying greetings cards, I use online retailers such as Funky Pigeon or use physical bricks and mortar stores such as Card Factory, who have two locations within a minute or two of this location on foot, also in the Manchester Arndale, I decided to visit Clintons to see how they stacked up - and sadly it didn't seem that they stacked up too well. The store has a slightly old-fashioned feel to it, yet there is a decent selection overall and the store is quite large however the prices seem to be much more expensive than other retailers such as Card Factory or buying cards from a supermarket, and some of the prices seem to be high enough that you'd associate them with personalised and bespoke cards, rather than pretty generic ones. The novelty gifts were scattered around the store, not in a specific area exactly in parts, prices seemed to go from average and competitive to slightly higher yet again. If you're in a rush and want to get a last minute basic card, this is a decent shout but if you have more time or you're looking to save some money on a card this probably isn't the place for you - I didn't find the quality of the cards to be too impressive to warrant the pricing, so these factors including overall feel of the store warrant just a two-star rating for Clintons at Manchester Arndale.

I remember, growing up in a small Northern market town, there was an independent card shop that,…read moreweirdly, sold a range of 'naughty' items. Like a provincial Ann Summers with a section for bereavement cards. It was really weird, looking back, that they had pink riding crops hanging alongside the Forever Friends mugs, but I guess it's just part of the charm of it having been an independent business. That shop serviced the town's needs for cards and second-rate erotic merchandise until the long-vacant Motor World shop got a make over. A Clinton Cards makeover. The local people were predictably outraged and the independent card shop decided to up their game. They painted the entire exterior of their little shop Pepto-Bismol pink and did mail-outs about the evil of Clinton Cards. It was all a bit mad really. Me, I wasn't that fussed as I was banned from the independent card shop at the age of 12 for unsuccessfully shoplifting a strawberry-scented gel pen, so I was glad that finally there would be a place where, if I so wished, I could buy cards without fear of being arrested. Of course, once I saw the homogenised crap that Clinton Cards sell, I was no more heartened. And a good ten years later, Clinton Cards is still totally rubbish. And their Arndale store is pretty much the worst place in the world. For a start, it is always messy. Not in a fun and kooky boutique kind of way, I like that kind of messy. It's messy in a way that seems to suggest that, gasp, Clinton Cards don't care about the shoppers and their experience. Thusly, instead of having wrapping paper, ribbons and gift tags all together while cards are over there somewhere, they seem to have organised everything into 'themes'. So you have your cutesy crap (Tatty Teddy etc), your tarty crap (wrapping paper with shoes on, and bits of diamante and feather boa on everything), your psychedelic crap (it's crap, and it's psychedelic...what more can I say?) and then, a very small corner for dad crap (any manly type stuff; brown paper and cards with labradors on them). Wandering round looking for plain crepe paper, I was struck by the ugliness and weirdness of all the Clinton crap. Witness; a card in the tarty crap section, depicting a pair of sexy legs in stilettos. Who am I gonna buy that ugly piece of crap for? A man who likes legs? No. A girl who...has legs? No. Useless. As well as being confusingly laid out and messy, this branch of Clinton Cards has some of the rudest staff I have ever experienced. But even if they treated me like a Maharajah, there's still no way I'm going back here. You need a card? Go to Paperchase or Oklahoma, or make one yourself. You need a wine-bottle-box with a bra on it? Come to Clinton Cards...

5 years have passed since I was last here.. Unfortunately time has not served this place well…read more Deciding to meet up before an event for some breccy I was not quite prepared for the upcoming events. The decor is still quite homely however the seating is still very close, to a point where my friend could not even sit opposite me due to the narrow gap between the chair and table. Embarrassment set aside I went to grab some menus to find there was none. I was informed by a waitress that I had to read off the wall..so for ease I took several pictures of the menu to enable my friend to browse with ease. The menu was limited, I mean when I think of breccy I imagine eggs to be present at the very least. But no this was eggless, baconless with just options of toast, avocado, and nothing inspiring really..also there were NO PRICES. Walking up to the till I was acknowledged by a grumpy guy. Perhaps he needed a Smile latte. Anyway I ordered a cold brew along with the avocado on toast, paying extra for some additional smoked salmon. After choosing what fresh bread I wanted, he slapped me with a £12 bill.. I was gobsmacked.. Returning to my seat I reassured myself " This is going to be the best avocado on toast ever". So the cold brew arrived with a fresh piece of orange floating in it. It was pleasing to note that the brew making is still top notch. Now the food itself.. this arrived on two pieces of toast, half a pear sliced on each piece with a sliver of smoked salmon. This was dressed with a light mixture of chili and lemon. My friends beans and toast was deconstructed, she had to make it up herself...this was I think £6-8 ...for beans on toast.. I found my victuals tasty enough but could not justify the price, £5.99 would have been more realistic at best. Anyway overall the service was poor, the lack of important details such as no physical menus, napkins, prices, inquiries if the food was okay and lack of logical seating. I might pop in for a coffee to take away but this I doubt.

Was happy to find this place after rather miserably trudging round the Northern Quarter in the rain…read morelooking for somewhere to sit down and have a hot drink. It has a comforting well maintained ambience (even the basement loo!) and the staff are extremely friendly. I really like the broad wooden table in the middle of the coffee area, feels calming and comfortable to sit at! I tried the Marrakesh loose leaf mint tea which was very nice although not as good a fresh mint tea - when I return next I'll try the peppermint instead. They have some lunch in a jar meals which is a fun concept although I'm not sure the actual contents would be that exciting. But it's a nice touch, also like the jugs of water with orange slices and sugar syrup. Shops like this which contain loads of really overpriced unnecessary home items I normally just dismiss as selling tat but for some reason the stuff here entranced me, especially cushions featuring a dog saying "Bonjour" /holding a French flag in its mouth (srsly I don't know why I found this so cute) and a wire basket for £18 which I for some reason felt I really need in my life. My friend felt the same about a set of colourful plastic spoons...I don't what this place does to you but I enjoyed it!

Let's get one thing straight first. I love stationery. I enjoy stationery I don't even need. If I…read morehave to do a lot of writing, I prefer tipped pens as opposed to ballpoint, in as vast a variety of colours as possible. Now, we all know we can get multipacks of these at the local supermarket or pound shop, but it just doesn't feel quite the same as purchasing something from the bevy of office supply loveliness that is Paperchase. One thing you'll always notice when standing outside this humongous, triple-floor branch in the centre of Manchester is not the Big Issue seller, although that might make you feel a little guilty for overspending on that eraser shaped like a flower or that Dalmatian print stapler. No, the biggest wow factor is the window display. They darn well make the most of it. And it's seasonal too, whether it's that phrase that strikes fear and depression into the hearts of children between the ages of five and sixteen and teachers everywhere, 'Back to School', or Mother's Day, Father's Day, Easter, Christmas, Valentine's Day... Paperchase will always via the medium of magical window dressing find a reason for you to buy stationery. I'd seriously recommend this branch over any of the weeny little concessions in Kendal's or Selfridges. You've got way more choice. But this isn't just a place for quirky little diaries, fluorescent pink post-its, pencils in every colour of the rainbow, stickers, iPod covers, damask wrapping paper, furry pencil cases and heart-shaped calculators. There's so much more. It has one of the biggest and best greeting card selections I've ever seen. There are gifts aplenty for the friend who has everything. There are home storage solutions. Pretty boxes. Lunchboxes. Tupperware. You can even buy pet supplies. Little random toys for stocking fillers. Toddle on up the stairs and find an entire floor dedicated to art supplies. There's even furniture, clocks, mirrors... I could go on. But I won't. Go see for yourself. I'm telling you, you'll walk in with the aim of buying a simple mobile phone cradle for your office desk and you'll come away with five different photo frames in five different shapes. You have been warned...

Now January has started it's only a matter of days before retailers swap their discounted Christmas…read morecards for Valentine's Day cards! One of the best places to go looking for cool cards and wrapping paper is Paperchase. They stock sweet, witty, playful and kitsch cards from a variety of designers and a brilliant array of notebooks, journals, address books, recipe cards, pens and stationary. This being their biggest store in the North West, there's also good quality paints, pastels, paper, card and brushes for artists upstairs. Before you get too carried away and fill your basket full of goodies - check out the prices as some of the Japanese papers and pastels are pretty steep.

Let's be honest, flowers can't erase a stupid argument or replace a family heirloom you've smashed…read more They can however, help you get out of the dog-house and back into your loved one's good books. The trick is, you need to buy as big a bouquet as you can carry and you need to hand-deliver them with a humble apology, a big hug and an even bigger kiss. I can't help you with the last three but I can recommend you get the flowers from The Northern Flower. Situated on Tib Street in the Northern Quarter, it's a cracking little florist that sells a small but brilliant selection of everything from roses, lillies and gerberas to birds of paradise, exotic flowers and big plants. Everything is reasonably priced, the staff are friendly and accomodating and they also sell a small selection of wine and champagne. Good luck and god speed!

If I need flowers I head here. They for a while had a tiny little pug puppy, being a man I usually…read moredon't fall for such pathetic things, but this thing is cute, like definition of cute. Any way northern flower is a small shop front that hosts all manner of lovely green matter. At different times of the year they keep all varietys of plants from orchids to the very cool carnivorous plants including pitcher plants and monkey traps (they dangle down and have been known to catch monkeys in their huge pitcher mouths). The folk behind the counter (always one girl whenever I'm there) knows her stuff inside out and can advise you on an easy to care for birthday present, gift for the girlfriend all the way to more technical beasts such as the before mentioned.

Ever wanted a frying pan that makes heart-shaped eggs? How…read moreabout a grill that makes toast with religious figures engraved on? Or a polka dot suitcase with a smaller polka dot case inside? In short, Oklahoma's Gift shop is a living and breathing homage to the art of Kitsch ahd Colourful accessories. There's big items like lampshades and clocks hanging from the walls and ceiling, wallpapers and posters behind the main counter and dozens of shelves and tables stacked high with all kinds of weird and wonderful nonsense. One of my favourite items is the old American Popcorn Machine filled with jewellery and the desk overflowing with stationary, plastic moustaches and candy cigarettes.

I have wanted to go to Oklahoma for at least a year now and just never got around to it! Eventually…read moretoday was the day...and I was not disappointed at all! This quirky and cutesy store was everything I dreamed of! I couldn't wait to let my purse loose and I was didn't leave empty handed! This place is great for knick knacks, xmas presents and homely decor for those (like me) that are obsessed with kitchenware, signs and much much more! I was careful and only bought a little Christmas tree decoration (part of a family tradition) I buy my Mum one each year and this winter it will be an addition of a cute glass bottle with a wish and fairy (glitter) floating around inside! Picture to follow...

Have you ever heard of the expression: "its better to give than to receive"? Well although i DO…read moreenjoy receiving pressies, there is something so satisfying in buying a friend or family member something original, wrapping it up and watching their faces when they open it. The problem is that there is always something to celebrate, some birthday to buy for, some wedding to attend. Add that to Mother's day, Father's day, Christmas, Easter,Valentines ....the list is endless, it is exhausting coming up with gift ideas. Sometimes when I am lacking in inspiration, I toddle off to The Trafford Centre and The Gift Company never fails to let me down. Unusual artwork and animals crafted out of metal make for great, unique gifts. I bought a friend who enjoys the odd bottle of vino one of The Gift Company's metal guitar player bottle holders for £10 and she adored it. To be honest, it was the most interesting present she got amongst the tubs of body butter and bath bombs other people bombarded her with. This shop also sells stunning candle sets with scents like: cranberry and spiced oranges , and chocolate and caramel fudge- you don't know whether to burn them or eat them.There are patchwork animals and the sweetest teddy bears in outfits for only £3!! The Gift Company also specialises in furniture that is hand crafted from American Oak and Mango wood and a large coffee table will set you back £175. I like shops with a price range for everybody and this store certainly has it all.

These guys produced one of the most beautiful bouquets I have ever ordered before. They will add…read moreLittle touches that really make a difference such as diamante pins and butterflies. The owners are really passionate about flower arranging and will give you tips on how to get the best out of your flowers. The shop is beautiful and flowers are always fresh. If your looking to really impress someone this should be your first port of call.

Row's petals is absolutely gorgeous. It isn't just a florist. Yes, they sell flowers, plants and…read morevases, but they also offer giftware, candles, balloons, teddies, hand-made cards and even antique furniture! It's like walking into someone's private residence. The flowers themselves are stunning. Always fresh and always well arranged, they're hand-tied, accessorised and posed in purpose-made bags. You can tell that this place is an all-woman show, and I love that.

Fantastic little shop for all your spiritual needs . Amazing long lasting essential oils and…read morefragrance sticks/cones to make your home smell amazing. Fantastic range of gifts and items for someone needing something a little different. Owners are really friendly and always happy to help and advise . Fantastic Reiki and spiritual reading also make fab gifts and the help relax you so much would recommend. Events are here as well with special guests so check them out when you can . I'd also recommend Marcus if you need a reiki session my daughter was helped by these sessions . So glad this amazing little gem of a shop is on my doorstep.

Fantastic shop . Sue and Marcus are so friendly always happy to help give you alternative ideas for…read moregifts . Fantastic range of products for all ages . Love everything from the psychic nights to the readings and reiki to the aromatherapy and cards . Always lots of choice . One of my favourite shops