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In Buxton, Derbyshire there is a gorgeous family run store.
It's one of my favourite shops.
One is taken back in time when stepping through the front door. The inside is full of original features, fixtures and fittings.
The merchandise is also from a different era. Mostly a gentleman's outfitters, but still full of goodies for other family members.
Which is your favourite store?
Binners can't play because we all know his favourite.
Amazon
Aldi.
Wilco’s - it’s what Woolworths used to be like years ago, before they lost sight of what people went shopping there for.
Waterstones - I like books, and I like to browse.
Toppings Books - even better, they’ll serve a cup of tea while you’re browsing through the shelves.
it’s what Woolworths used to be like years ago, before they lost sight of what people went shopping there for.
Except no records or electric equipment but yes.
Decathlon, Aldi and the Chinese supermarket in cowcaddens.
TFM on the rabbit run
Subvert in Casvegas Xscape was my favourite shop, was gutted when it closed down. I pretty have to shop on line now as theres nowhere near me that sells stuff (clothes) I like.
Down The Line in hayle.
So much goodness.
Camden Coffee Shop when I lived in that London
https://blankboxcoffee.com/roaster/camden-coffee-shop/
My two local hardware shops. One is very good for everything and anything and out come various boxes to rummage through. The other isn't quite as well stocked, but recently popped in for some fine torx screwdrivers (SRAM brake bleed port sized) and they had a set of 5 for a fiver.
If you can't buy it on Donny market, it's not worth buying.
So they said, not quite as true as it used to be, but still life in the place. We have fantastic quality butchers, fishmongers, bakers, pies, cheesestalls, and a ton of non food with some excellent bespoke and repair craftsmen still clinging on in the face of Amazon and the supermarkets. Almost never go in these days, but I do love the smell of a saddlery, Wildsmiths is our local, across from the market, piled high with fancy wellies and miles of leather straps for holding down a horsey girl.
Nearly forgot Becketts, proper old school local hardware store. Fork handles? No problem. Need one of something? No problem, or weigh the screws by the half pound. If you're a regular and know the correct nod and wink, he'll fetch some of the old stock of Nitromors or weedkiller that actually works from the cellar. Super little shop, third generation I think now the old boy has retired.
My two local hardware shops.
That's a great call. Although we only have the one, it's got 90% of everything you need for any household job. It's maybe a little more expensive than your B&Q or Wickies, but they are at least 4 miles away on the opposite side of our local town. Weaverham Hardware is a 2 minute walk away. Or twice that with a couple of large bags of compost, (why I don't just take my wheelbarrow...)
GMaps link
Nothing decent left withing miles of me unfortunately.
Corry's butcher in Bramhall
Corson hardware, probably more chance of seeing a wildcat or lost otter than seeing a customer walk in. Situated on the main drag in Stockbridge Edinburgh. I read the owner is rude to folk and maybe doesn't open anytime at the weekend, premises must be worth a lot where it is
Powells Garden and Forestry.
We head over a couple of times a year, passing several so called competitors, but they have all the stuff, don't look at you blankly when asking for stuff not in front of you, most things can be fixed and there isn't much obsolescence, a forestry place that actually stocks and knows its forestry stuff.
They have done the job, know the stresses machinery is put under and the work around.
Used to be in a double garage of TARDIS capacity and now bursting out of an industrial shed.
Ha corsons. There is a website devoted to the game of corsons.
Bills tools in the barras is ace.
For comedy value it has to be Spencers of Wells. It's a small grocers, of the kind that are meant to be open early until late, 7 days a week, yet, in reality, it is only open from 10-4 on weekdays and closes for lunch for an hour.
It's also opposite a medium sized Tesco and three doors down from a Spar.
I've never seen anyone go in there, and all of the products in the window have faded through age. Half of the signs in the window are for brands that no longer exist (Rowntree, Fry's Chocolate, etc).
I have no idea how it survives, but it is an amazing relic.
JP
The bookshop in Salts Mill. Great space, fab selection, wonderful smell.
Liberty of London. Chock full of ace things I'd never actually buy.
There is a drapers in Aberfeldy if you are looking for 14th Feb lingerie maybe give it a miss unless big pants with sturdy bra is required, Wolesley string pants and vest combo.
Its worth a look you will get a laugh as it is so stuck in time
I’m spoiled where I live. I don’t know if Sesame Street was a thing over here, but it feels like I live on-set sometimes.
We are almost equidistant between a group of posh shops in Pontcanna and some “lower end” traditional shops in Canton, and I love them all.
The best of the lot, though, is the local hardware shop, which has been owned by the same man forever, and where we can go to get everything from a single bolt to new power tools, together with one of the butcher shops, where we get most of our meat, and especially our Christmas fowl and roast every year.
And that’s not even mentioning Troutmark Books in Castle Arcade, or the Pen Shop in one of the other arcades. Cardiff is pretty spoiled for choice, really.
Home and Bargain (or Home Bargains for all you wools...).
Morgan’s butcher in Petersfield.
Fantastic quality meat and the prices aren’t that far adrift of the supermarkets.
Millers Butchers in Caherciveen, best butcher I’ve been in and even though I stopped eating meat in February I still get drawn in to salivate over their hot dinners section and end up buying their veggie quiche. Proper old school, the only shop I’ve been in which closes the front doors and stops serving when a funeral leaves the church opposite.
I do like Liberty but I think my local deli is my fave. Quality coffee & lots of Italian food.
S&M Supplies, hardware shop, Macclesfield.
Never been in, but for sheer name comedy value it's hard to beat.
Coes in Ipswich. Up to date fashion retail with service and a good range. Used to have the old wire receipt delivery system but now uses a vacuum tube. Sign for goods on your credit account, none of this chip and PIN stuff.
There's a few.
Big shops:
Decathlon - Wonderful place, I can, and do spend far to much money there.
Aldi - Good food and the legendary middle aisle.
Small shops:
Anderson & Hill, Birmingham - A top class deli that also does the finest sarnies in Brum.
The Liquor Store, Birmingham - A borderline hipster clothing shop that also has a very nice secret bar.
Aubrey Allen, Leamington Spa - A top class butchers, great quality meat and good, friendly staff.
Piccadily Cobblers, Birmingham - If it's leather they will fix it. The quality of the work on shoes is magnificent.
Sadly this purveyor of amazing pork pies closed down on Saturday 🙁
And on the hardware theme, hard to beat this place.
Tong Garden Centre, which in recent years and new ownership has turned into the most mind-blowing garden centre imaginable..and it's still developing - I think the total cost of investment is £4m. It's impossible to visit there without buying something.
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kitchens
the shop in gloucester services
Cant beat a good pork pie
The bookshop in Salts Mill. Great space, fab selection, wonderful smell.
Came to post this one. I like the 1853 Gallery/Shop as well.
Nearly forgot Becketts, proper old school local hardware store. Fork handles? No problem. Need one of something? No problem, or weigh the screws by the half pound. If you’re a regular and know the correct nod and wink, he’ll fetch some of the old stock of Nitromors or weedkiller that actually works from the cellar. Super little shop, third generation I think now the old boy has retired.
Bloody 'ell, that takes me back. I grew up on one of the streets off Beckett Road, used to walk down there all the time. Haven't been there in a good 20 years, so I imagine it's a bit different, apart from the hardware shop.
Food aside, I love a good bookshop. Or a decent record shop. There's some good outdoor shops but they usually just remind me of all the stuff I want but can't afford. Bike shops are similar, but the ones near me aren't great anyway.
Not really a shop as such, but the Grainger market in Newcastle is a great place.
TK Max is my favourate store. Love it.
Chatsworth farm shop for meat, fish, bread and baked goodies. We have a handy discount.
Aldi in Bakewell for pretty much everything else.
Thornbridge Tap in Bakewell for posh beer, as sometimes it would just be too rude to pass when going to Aldi.
Tamarack Outdoors near Garstang is an awesome place for the more bushcrafty outdoor stuff, Tony and Mike are excellent, and the little room at the back with used stuff is a dangerous place to visit.
My LBS.
Robinson's in Stockbridge.
Peter Jones.
Amazon.
Unless you mean a physical shop. Then it would have to be TL Thomas builders merchant. That's the only physical shop I've been to in a decade.
I used to love Stanfords, the map shop in Covent Garden, when I was a pre-internet Londoner. It was my go to source of climbing, walking, travelling, pretty much everything, inspiration. Oh, and maps of course.
Also have fond memories of the mad old secondhand bookshop on Highgate Hill. Properly like something out of Harry Potter, all ancient, yellowed volumes and stuff you never imagined existed. It smelled of books. And yesterdays. Great place to visit as a kid.
I miss print.
Drivers in Northampton for clothes.
Velohaus in Northampton for bike servicing stuff I can do myself.
PMT music in Northampton for drum and music related stuff.
My favourite shops tend to be found on A-roads.... You know the ones, with the windows blocked out ... normally old Little Chefs.
🙂
That’s the only physical shop I’ve been to in a decade.
I call BS.
Another hardware store.
W C Baker & Son in Fleet, Hampshire.
Been around for over 100 years. Fantastic place.
Amazon, obviously and Lidl
Leyland SDM
Clutch cafe
Condor cycles
REI or, if in Scotland, Tiso is a good second place. Preferably the big one in Perth.
SJS Cycles. Only know it online but apparently it exists!
Aldi – Good food and the legendary middle aisle.
But it's not the Middle of Lidl, is it?
Stanford's is a good call. In the 70s I had a girlfriend whose dad was high up in the management there. Great shop - and still pretty good today.
I'll nominate Torry's Hardware shop in Warwick - funny how many of these are hardware shops, and Giant Store Leamington - the best of our LBSs.
A bit of a new one for me (after my last favourite shop closed down), but Uffe's Hopp Shop in Västerås is a great place. The owner has been in skydiving for a looooong time and it's a great place to visit and shop. You know that, if you buy from him, you get excellent, no nonsense support from someone that knows their stuff.
Big shop is Decathlon. Every time I visit I want to spend so much money on things I need, but don;t really need.
Local shop is our local hardware/homeware/bit of everything shop called Arkwrights. Dogs are welcome in the store and they get treats while they'r there, if they don't have something in they'll get it in for you within a couple of days. Loads of advice and helpfulness all round. The sort of shop that every small town needs. And in honour of their name they have an Open All Hours window display with till!
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Subvert in Casvegas Xscape was my favourite shop,
Subvert - the shop with the skatepark in the back. Nice idea.
TK Maxx - for odd stuff
Tesco
Ride on in Rawtenstall,always happy to chat about bikes and stuff, spent many an hour in there and also an awful lot of money
Booths supermarket, bit like Waitrose but more northern (fantastic selection of nice beers too)
Continuing the trend, my vote goes to Bishopston Hardware in Bristol - everything from seeds to sealant.
On the book front.
The book shop in Peebles is great. It's only existed since 1793 or something.
*pictures an empty room with all three volumes of encyclopedia Britannica on a table in the middle.*
Technically not a shop but the Sunspel and Cheaneys end of line / sample sales when they are held for a few days. Never leave empty handed
and Home Bargains - so damn cheap for toiletries and cleaning products etc.
Big shop... don't know what I'd do without our local Toolstation.
Small shop....The Little Pink Surf shop in Croyde.
Snapes of Cheadle Hulme.
Family run Hardware store selling allsorts for your home and garden.
Leakeys Books in Inverness - it's like a giant second hand version of Toppings
Dominic's Department Store in Victoria, Island of Gozo. House stuff and hardware, have never not had what I wanted leaving me with the impression that if they don't have it, you don't want it. Also, awesome customer service "Do you have.." "Probably, it'll be over there someplace", vague wave of arm, and it usually is
Merkan Bakery, Nadur, Gozo - no till and no shopkeeper, just take what you want and leave some money on the table. 2*45 cent breads, leave 1 Euro. 2*60 cent ftira, leave 1 Euro
Any Lego store and any bookshop. Barter Books in Hexham is a nice place to waste an hour or so.
Brocklehurst's in Bakewell. I daren't go anywhere near it, the quids just fly out of my pocket.
Any bookshop but my most favourite shop is the Trading Post and Pips Railway Carriage cafe at Lopen Head, off the A303 in Somerset. Stock up with local cider and the most amazing breakfast (or lunch) you will ever taste! As for cake ...... We have to visit everytime we are down there.
S&M Supplies, hardware shop, Macclesfield.
I think it’s closed down. It used to brighten up my morning when walking by it. Always wanted to go in and ask for a gimp mask. I have a very immature sense of humour.
Always wanted to go in and ask for a gimp mask. I have a very immature sense of humour.
..which, as anyone of culture knows, is the best 🙂
Big shops. Obviously Amazon (in spite of their probable evilness) and Aldi.
Locally? Got to be the Stamford cheese and Wine Cellar.
Although Willowbrook is also an ace local butcher / deli / cafe.
Cotswolds Outdoor is up there for me.
But my favourite shop has got to be JG Windows music shop in Central Arcade Newcastle. Such a glorious building, trading over 100 years and a massive range of musical instruments... https://www.jgwindows.com/about-us