There comes a time in every young adult's life when they realise they're simply not a student…read moreanymore, and your standard 3 for £12 plonk or multipack beer from Bargain Booze ain't going to cut it. You need something special. Why, you're a grown-up, you've a good job, you pay bills, you rent your own place, you're in a proper relationship and you're having people over. You want these people to have something a bit different to remember your soiree by. Well thank you Carringtons for shouldering that responsibility. Walking around this shop is like being six again and cooing over the Pick 'n' Mix at Woolworths, only this time you know how much everything costs because you're paying for it yourself. Yep, the rush of guilt from tugging on Mum's hand and whinging at her way back then comes soaring over again. Anyway, during my first introduction to Carringtons, I had a request that was both specific and vague in equal measure. I needed local beers, European beers, some nice Prosecco and a good gin. I had bugger all to worry about in the very capable hands of Rosco. He immediately packed up a couple of bottles of Prosecco into a box for me, took me round the shop pointing out some great beers, and when it came to the gin he said, 'Can you come tomorrow or do you need this for tonight? We've got a Brockmans delivery coming and that's great gin.' I was most certainly free the next day, and any yelper who made it to the Yelp Summer Stunner (http://vimeo.com/28057905) will know how amazing that is. Thanks to the introduction from Carringtons, we brought Brockmans to the Manchester masses! They've a spot in Didsbury Village too, and they're certainly the place to go if you love your Brewdog beers (I know several Mancunians who do). The service is great, the staff are knowledgeable and they love what they do. Can't say fairer than that for a great independent booze specialist!

If you're tired of smart price vodka and wine in cartons just labelled 'Australian Red Wine' then I…read morecan definitely recommend a trip to Carringtons. Stocking a range of boutique beers, handpicked wines and high-end spirits there is something here to suit all tastes. It may be a little bit pricey, as has been noted, but for that special occasion, gift or even a little treat for yourself (Just a couple of well-deserved bottles of Konig Ludwig Weissbier) Carringtons is perfect. The staff are knowledgeable about what they're selling - I know because I once worked at an off licence at home and I had absolutely no clue about what I was selling. I can sense the genuine opinion in their voice. They're not pushing three for twos or trying to make you buy lager by the case, they are happy to make recommendations according to your budget and personal taste. They run wine tastings and even a blog, how many branches of Threshers or Bargain Booze do you know that can say that.

One Stop is located in the main bit of Withington, near the nice cafés like Fuel and the banks…read more There's not really anything that remarkable or even unremarkable about this place, its got all of your basic sweets, crisps and basic groceries. There are a few greetings cards which is useful. What is very not useful in One Stop is how the newspapers and magazines are at entirely different end of the shop. I didn't like this, One Stop, and it made finding my Guardian hard. I panicked suddenly, and thought "Oh! Do they only sell Mizz and Heat and stuff but not the Guardian?" But then it was ok, and I realised that the papers were back near the door. Then I tried to pay for my paper and the nice girl behind the counter was having a nightmare restocking the scratch cards which were falling about all over the place, meaning that it took ages to get served. All of this for a Guardian.

In my Withington days, a visit to One Stop was a rare thing, fraught ith much disappointment. "They…read moreonly have frozen mince, and NO potatoes!" hissed the boyf once, when I'd sent him out to get ingredients for hungover shepherds' pie, and all the other shops were closed. Y'see, that's the only time anyone's likely to go to One Stop, when Somerfield and the butchers and the fruit and veg shop are allll closed. Because their name is a lie. Yes, it's a one-stop-shop for all things cheap-boozy, but in all other areas it fails miserably. A word, then, about the booze. It is OK. They often have decent deals on booze, one of which is a nice wine, Ogio, which is around £9, but One Stop occasionally sell it for £4. It's not exactly exclusive, as you can get it in other shops, but I've never known anywhere put it on offer as much as One Stop. The big cardboard boxes of beer (crate? case?) are also usually on offer for around £8. Good for BBQs or, y'know, stocking up the fridge. While the food section is appalling, the household essentials section is just that, essential. Bog roll, washing up liquid, cat litter. It's usually well-stocked and all quite reasonable value. In short, One Stop is a no-no unless you're desperate, but then, I guess, it is a bit of a saviour. Just make sure if you want to make a hungover shepherds' pie, to buy the ingredients the day before...

If you are wanting alcoholic beverages at a cheaper price then this is the store to visit! There is…read moremany stores throughout the UK and this one is a popular one that often has the specials shown online, on tv, in magazines and in leaflets that many other local branches don't have. The staff in the store in Rainhill are friendly and helpful and they will gladly order goods in for you if they have run out of the stock you want. A side road is situated outside, although it must be stated that is a busy road with lots of people wanting to park by the shops and therefore parking is often not easy.

What to say about Bargain Booze in Cheddleton, as they are all pretty much the same really, aren't…read morethey? This one is, as expected, very busy on Friday and Saturday nights. However, it is the only place in Cheddleton apart from the One Stop that sells alcohol so that's not surprising. It is conveniently located on the main road, with parking available to the side, so easy to access. it has the usual range of wines, beer, spirits, soft drinks and sweets and chocolates, and the service is quite friendly for the type of shop - probably because it is in a village location. All in all, it does exactly what is says on the tin - sells booze at bargain prices!

very good shop ,, reasonable pricess ,, very friendly staff always ready to have a natter with you…read more, very clean , overall a good place to shop

It might have been before the hour of 9am that I first ventured into this Sainsbury's Local, a…read morerecent addition to Withington's little village, but good lord, even if I was totally compus mentus I'd have been baffled upon entry. A fierce competitor of Copson Street's Co-Op and the nearby One Stop, this little mini market has the thankless task of appealing to a mix of students, young professionals who just want to be on the cusp of Didsbury, locals and OAPs. Fair play. But it's so confusing! The space they've used is pretty, for sure (the above apartments look like they could be stunning), and the car park's kept clean as a whistle, but they've tried to ram as much as poss into one tiny box. Thus the aisles are incredibly narrow, and for some reason the charcoal-coloured flooring makes it feel really unusual and disorientating. I think this is merely years of associating supermarkets with pale patterned floors. Nevertheless I managed to find my three boxes of fresh juice for £4 and that saw me right. Given its size there's not the greatest variety; however if you're in need of something simple last minute it's certainly a contender. It's unlikely that I'd go out of my way to hit this Sainsbury's as opposed to the conscience-friendly Co-Op round the corner, but on a sleepy post-swim morning and being right on my bus route, I'll sure find it handy from time to time.

I can safely say that Sale has been crying out for a decent wine bar for ages - Altrincham,…read moreChorlton, Didsbury or the city centre were our only local alternatives. Not any longer. The owner of an established wine distributor has turned around a former solicitor's office on Northenden Road into a sleek yet welcoming wine bar & shop and the town's oenophiles have rejoiced. With a large selection of wines (still and sparkling) and spirits from around the world there's something for all tastes. The staff are on hand to help out if you're not sure what you'd like. Alternatively, order a bottle and enjoy it whilst sat in one of the comfy booths with repurposed cinema seats. The corkage is £7 per bottle. Platters of cheese and/or meats are £7-£8. There's also a selection of bottled beers, ciders and soft drinks to drink in or buy and take away. They've immediately become our new local. Welcome to the neighbourhood :)

Awful experience. Jammed between a couple practically having sex at the table & lads shouting &…read morescreaming & shouting that it was going to be a great night!, tables literally 2 inches apart. Was told that my drink would be brought to me, but after about 10; minutes seeing the waitress chatting at the bar, I got up to order my drink (again), was told "oh this is your prosecco" which had been waiting at the bar getting warm for 10 minutes. Paid at the bar using Google pay, but when we left an employee ran after us down Heaton Moor road shouting "excuse me, there's a prosecco that hasn't been paid for!". So embarrassed, never ever felt so humiliated in my life! Will never go here again. Wanted a nice quiet evening, drinking nice wine, ended up being humiliated. Would give zero stars if I could!

Lovely specialized craft beer bar & shop in the centre of Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent. I just visited…read morelast Monday - there were a dozen keg beers, a couple of handpumped ales and many more national & international bottled and canned craft beers available - something for everyone! The friendly staff recommended several cans and a keg beer to me (American style PAs and a Porter), and they were all excellent. Prices are moderate, and you can buy a keg or handpumped ale in 1/3, 1/2, 3/4 or full pint. There aren't very many craft beer bars in this town - this seems to be the best of them. It's just a short walk e.g. from the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery, Stoke's only real tourist attraction. Highly recommended!