Oh right, so that's its name. To be honest despite years of this being my local newsagents I've…read morenever had a reason, nay the downright tenacity to glance up and get to know this place as anything other than that shop by mine that has everything. An outsider venturing here would fail to be impressed as it bears little difference to a billion little newsagents up and down the high streets of Britain but, for the most part, they're all equally brilliant. Where else can you burst in five minutes to closing time on a Christmas Eve demanding medium-slice bread and be answered with what you asked for, as opposed to a smack in the mouth? I'm just gutted I wasn't alive in 1905, when the building was used as a 'chronometer manufactory'. What the hell do either of those two words mean? Answers on a postcard.

Ah, the local newsagents. Can't live with them and can't live without them. (Actually, I guess you…read morecould live with them if you hollowed out a space in the cold drinks shelf.) This one is pretty small but it offers the basics, and you'll find drinks and snacks as well as magazines and newspapers. It's not too far from the station so it's handy if you need to run and grab something.

Staying on the subject of love, peace and understanding, News From Nowhere is Liverpool's longest…read morerunning community bookshop. A not-for-profit organisation run by a workers co-operative, it's a welcoming environment with friendly staff committed to social change. As you'd expect from their window displays, the emphasis is firmly on books that inspire and empower people to make positive change to the world. There's a decent section of fiction along one wall of the shop but really, News From Nowhere is the place to go if you're looking for books on politics, activism, the environment, human rights, animal rights, peace, global equality, feminism, sexuality, gay, lesbian and queer culture, spirituality, Jewish diaspora, health and well being or world fiction. They also stock roots and world music CDs and have a notice-board advertising community events, meetings and demonstrations. In a world that's becoming more corporate and generic by the minute, News From Nowhere offers genuine and life-affirming food for thought.

News From Nowhere is a radical bookshop situated at the top end of the trendy Bold Street. It has a…read morewide variety of books, in many genres including fiction, gay and lesbian, feminism and women, masculinity and men, politics, philosophy, spirituality, sexuality, Liverpool, media and culture, arts and photography and so many more! The staff really helpful and knowledgeable about what they stock - which makes a change, as so many of the big chain bookshops don't have a clue. I recommend checking out the website as you can also order from there, but then you miss out on the dusty smell of the shop. It appeals a lot more to the average consumer now with a wider range of popular goods. There's all sorts of little pieces such as some funky postcards.

Despite it's famous locale, this is just a normal newsagents and you will find pretty much all the…read moresame newsagent items you'd expect to find anywhere else. I didn't really see anything particularly out of the ordinary here. Just one of those "carry on" situations. :)

The Echo is remarkable. It can take anybody involved in either a global news story or historical…read moreevent and before you can say 'but, hang on...' they've found a link that connects them to Liverpool. Obviously the exceptions are people who have stated they aren't that fussed on the city/the north. Then all connections are hurled out the window and the bastard becomes about as linked to Liverpool as Pocahontas was to Robert Mugabe. You've got to love the Echo though. It's a proper paper and everything but it always feels one hurried deadline away from publishing a story about your next door neighbour, Brenda (yes yours specifically) who can't find the remote control or wants to know the answer to five across. It's the most mainstream, provincial paper in Britain. Also on some days, for reasons seemingly governed by the heavens, you'll find stories and photos involving people known to you personally. I like those days. Makes me feel popular. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to check for my surname in the obituaries. It's a hobby of mine.

The Echo is the local paper serving the Liverpool area. There are other smaller local papers but…read morethis is the best of them. The Echo is available to buy 5 days a week and there are 3 editions each day. Every day has a different special focus for example a jobs section on Thursday and Monday. There are also editions focusing on entertainment, sports and cars. The echo has various sections which appear in each edition such as classified ads, letters, crosswords, sports, horoscopes, health, announcements and many more. The news is focused on the local area rather than national news, unless it is something very important. It is a good paper to find out about issues in your local area which may impact on you. The Echo is available in every newsagents you go into in the Liverpool area. The only time you would not be able to buy it is if they run out which can sometimes happen. There are also a few street vendors left who sell the echo, shouting eck-oooooooooooooo periodically. The Echo is a great paper but can be a little lacking in reporting national news stories.

Aleef Newsagents is a mini newsagents in St. John's Precinct. It is usually a place where you would…read morego in a rush whether you wish to buy some sweets, newspaper or some tobacco. For a newsagents of this size, it does well to stock all the essentials you would expect a typical newsagents to have. In addition, they have a variety of Liverpool postcards and few items of memorabilia such as sketches of familiar faces all at reasonable prices. This is by far the tiniest newsagents I have been to but Aleef News is a smart and well presented shop where there is efficient service and hardly any queues. The only thing I would say, is that they don't have a lottery machine!