Only found this shop due to Past Times closing and it is nearby. Knockout perfumes and aromas exude…read morefrom the door as you pass by, which leads to you to have a perusal. Well worth it too, for their are some bargains to be had, especially in todays economic climate!! Made up baskets and bags of all sorts of goodies to be had at reduced prices. I use these smellies in my garage and shed! but fun.

This shop is now the 'Yankee Candle Shop'. It has a huge range of Yankee Candles and all the…read moreaccessories such as tart holders, votive holders etc. If anyone hasn't tried Yankee candles before I highly recommend them. The scent (of most) of the candles is gorgeous and lasts for a very long time. I have had one of their big candles and burnt it regularly for hours at a time and it has lasted for at least 8 months. The shop has a 'scent of the month' and this is always at a 25% discount. If you belong to their loyalty scheme you get invited to events at the shop. Although the candles seem initially expensive they are good value for money as they last such a long time.

It has everything that I could possibly want for my house. For real! I love everything in there…read more They have amazing stuff from tableware to woodenware, textiles and enamelware, from glassware to tea pots, jugs and mugs on a shop with such a nice decoration and pleasant staff that makes a shopping experience being so good. The shop is really cool, on a building with a lovely colour and all the wonderful things are organized in a neatly and tidy way that makes it even harder to resist. Ok, I couldn't decide on what to buy (luggage restrictions - but good for my wallet, otherwise I would just bought everything!!) so I had to go one second time to check again and buy as much as I could! Thus, two times on the same day and they already knew me! Oh well, is just the way it is, but they were friendly, chatty and their product knowledge is amazing. So, feel free to go around, buy all you need (and what you don't need but there are so many awesome things that is just impossible not to) and try not spending all your money! Totally worth it.

Utility is a fun little shop selling all those household items you didn't realise you needed until…read moreyou walked through the doors. Their philosophy is supplying goods that are both attractive and hard waring, the name of the shop and the idea being drawn from WWII rationing. They have a large range of bakeware, storage pots, utensils, dining ware, aprons and tea towels. Some items even come with explanations in case their use isn't obvious. I came away with a couple of old fashioned preservation bottles and a nifty little device to stop teapots dripping - a highly original Christmas present and lots of fun while the recipient tries to guess the function of said gift! The shop owner is really friendly and loves a chat as you browse. They also have an on-line shop if you're not local but still want to check out what they have to offer.

Drove past this place so many times I lost count and always wondered what was inside! When we…read morefinally made it in I couldn't believe it, had such amazing products of antique furniture and odds and ends as well as a cafe! Had an amazing lunch and ended up leaving with some gorgeous indian throws, will certainly be back and will bring the hubby next time, apparantly they do live music too!

This is a huge building filled with unusual and slightly exotic furniture and furnishings. Whether…read moreyou're looking for a new bed or a new kitchen table you will find many beautifully crafted articles and some quite unusual ones too. If you don't want to spend that much though it is also a lovely place to buy small gifts for Christmas including jewellery, scarves, ornamental trinkets and a nice range of greeting cards. Also on site there is a small plant shop and a cafe selling a range of teas, coffees, light lunches and a delicious section of cakes which I highly recommend.

I stayed away from UD for many years because I assumed that they would be super expensive for…read moreeverything [I think they quoted us for fence panels once and they were priced as if they were made of gold, but it was windy season] but when doing my kitchen renovations they were invaluable - they had things in much smaller quantities than Wickes [you could buy individual washers instead of a pack of five, for example] and the staff were knowledgeable, and friendly. Parking is a let down here, but otherwise it's a nice little shop with a lot going on inside.

This place is really a builders supply centre for the trade but they welcome the general public…read moretoo. They have tools for every occasion and unlike the local DIY shed, they made to last and the staff can explain how to use them. They also have a massive range of quality wood and other products which make them the first stop for me when I'm starting a project. Helpfully, they will deliver to the local area if you can't fit your purchases in your car. Their a bit more expensive than the local DIY shed, but there's a clear reason for this. One word of advice - avoid the 'boy' in favour of being served by the older staff... he takes ages to serve you and doesn't yet always know what he's talking about. Brilliant place in all other respects.

Jugs is an ambitious name for a shop in Brighton and after sprinting across the road and nearly…read moregetting run over thinking I'd be able to buy some interesting DVDs, I realised it is in fact a furniture shop. (Just Interesting Gifts) If you want to turn your living room into something straight out of Slumdog Millionaire then this is the place for you. Beautiful carvings, pottery and lamps etc that would really set a place off. All the products are imported from sources abroad so definately haven't been knocked up in some hippies garage so if you want something authentic and original, this is the place for you.

I love the little carvings in this shop. Not because I would want them in my own home though, but…read morebecause they make a great tongue in cheek offering as a housewarming present or token gift. Is that wrong? From a monkey face carved into a tree stump to an elephant wine bottle holder, you're certainly not going to be trumped by your average Habitat gift bearer now are you?

Butlers is a lovely homeware store that I've just noticed has opened up near Tiger on North…read morestreet, (its probably been there for ages and I've over-looked it) sadly for me it's a tad on the small side, but they've still managed to provide a good range of products, handsome tableware, pretty things for the garden. As soon as I get my new table and chairs, I'm coming here to dress it, hopefully I'm not sounding too desperate housewife-y! Some of its very pretty and not too pricey. They have some fair deals in there at the moment but you will have to have a bit of a hunt about. If you're into 'jushing' up your home on holidays, they have some cute if slightly over-priced Easter paraphernalia for sale. They also sell the huge wine glasses I like in here for about £3 each and they have some swarve decanters on sale for cheap cheap cheap! Check out the website for better deals and more selection.

Fans of Paperchase's flagship stores in London and Manchester might be surprised by the size of…read moretheir Brighton branch. The small square footage means there's no room for the gorgeous range of pastels, paints and art paper the shop specialises in. Instead, there's a small selection of cool and quirky diaries, travel journals, stationary and giftware at the back of the store and a large selection of fab greeting cards at the front. The stock isn't as unique as in Malarkey in the North Laines but there's still a great range of birthday, good luck, get well and condolences cards as well as seasonal ranges like Christmas, Halloween and Valentines. Personally, I'm a big fan of the Bikini range they stock with 50s and 60s pin-up girls and boys covered in glitter.

I'd never heard of Paperchase before this afternoon, but I appear to be in the minority. The store…read morewas swarming with people who must have known the wealth of Christmas decorations, cards, and gift wrap that were going to be on sale. Prices were pretty decent - I picked out a really nice 'tree topper' for £4.50. Of course, the shop isn't always centred on Christmas supplies. They have a huge selection of notebooks, loose paper, pens, fancy mechanical pencils, art supplies, day planners, journals...everything to do with paper. I also saw some office décor - picture frames, small clocks and paperweights. I'll definitely remember this shop when I need more school supplies and the Christmas rush is over.

If I was dating someone who bought me a present from Octopus, I'd know instantly the relationship…read morewas never going to work. How? Octopus is full of the kind of cute and annoying homeware I loathe. There's umbrella with handles painted like cats heads. Cheese graters that resemble painted ladies in big skirts. Handbags that are shaped and painted like pandas. Jewellery boxes that are decorated like bad canal boats. And bike locks that double as toy snakes. Enough said? Thought so!

With so many unique gift stores, it's hard to find a unique-unique one, but Octopus was impressive…read more There sold things I have honestly never seen before. Half woman-half cheese grater, for instance. Ice scrapers, dust pans and scissors had been transformed into works of art; and the wall of cuckoo clocks released a variety of animals on the hour. The sales clerks were very friendly and helpful - I was immediately greeted, which I've noticed is a rarity, and I overheard one clerk advising a man on what his 25 year old daughter would probably enjoy. She was able to tell him which items were top sellers for that age group. Also impressive. So, it felt more like walking through a gallery - and several of the items would make great gifts and conversation starters.