What a lifesaver the Witzend Gallery on Trinity Street in Stalybridge has been. This small gallery…read moredisplays a fair number of paintings and offers a respected picture framing service but what I'm talking about is their amazing Book Search service. Whilst I was at university, they managed to find me various books for cheap including the weighty tomes of an Oxford Classical Dictionary and a Classical Atlas. Fair enough it wasn't as easy (for them) as a click on Amazon but, let's face it, with the ridiculous standard 10 days to allow for delivery on websites like that, I got them in the same amount of time if not quicker. I thankyou Witzend for your contribution to my esteemed education.

It doesn't matter how hard Apple and Amazon try to convince me that the iPad and Kindle are…read morerevolutionising reading. I can't imagine choosing an electronic device over the pleasure of paper and ink. I know it's not very environmentally friendly but ever since I was a nipper I've been addicted to books. Handily, this branch of Waterstones stocks most of the books I grew up reading from childhood favourites The Mr Men and Where The Wild Things Are to teenage favourites like JD Salinger's Catcher in The Rye and Ray Shell's Iced. The fiction section isn't quite as ambitious or extensive as the company's flagship Manchester store on Deansgate but there's still lots of classic and contemporary novels to fire your imagination. My last purchase from here? John Wray's Lowboy and Philipp Meyer's American Rust. Two tremendous novels that made me want to go out and buy the authors' next books. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWtpfyEAbGU&feature=related

I visited the Stockport branch of Waterstones yesterday, I pay Stockport a vistit roughly 3-5 times…read morea year and it is always a nice change from the overcrowding of Manchester city centre or the soviet-esque feel of Droylsden. The Waterstones is only a short walk from the bus stop and is placed conveniently on a corner so you don't walk past it, as I have done with other shops many a time. The shop like all Waterstones is very nicely decorated, no harsh flourescent lights or whitewashed walls to menace the eyes, the fact that all the books are on wooden shelves as opposed to creme metallic monstrosities is a bonus too. Waterstones has a wide selection of books whether you are after ancient greek philosophy or the latest ghost-written flannel by your favourite celebrity you are likely to find it here. The staff are virtually always cheerful and welcoming and are happy to help if you have any questions about a book you cannot find, their computer system isn't quite as cooperative. I did not buy anything yesterday, I am drowning in a sea of unread books at the moment so I thought better than to add to my burden. I did however buy a copy of the first series of Star Trek from HMV, perhaps more of that later.

W H smith in Stockport is located in the merseyway shopping centre just opposite woolworths…read more Downstairs there is a wide range of magazines, stationery items and craft items. Upstairs they sell books, games, dvds and music. The book shop is well stocked and the staff are knowledgable about the books. They often have buy one get one half priced offers on the books which is really good.

Ashton wh smith is the worst disrespectfull workers when im sending a package especially the indian…read morewomen that works there she is the worst loud mouth and worst attitude i have ever seen in a worker she starts arguing with you be talking to a diffrent worker she will just start talking inbetween for no reason instead of focusing on her own customer

A pretty nice WH Smith location for a small town, although it isn't the new-style, modern format…read morewhich is mainly in larger towns and cities, and shopping malls, it still remains a pretty good store, located inside Ashton-Under-Lyne's The Arcades' mall. The book selection is pretty good, it's the best bricks and mortar retailer in the town if you're looking for books, the prices obviously are more than Amazon. It also is home to a decent selection of stationary and the post-office. The typical old-fashioned WHSmith decor in older stores remains, the carpet is less than ideal as it looks ragged and dirty, I much prefer the wooden style floors in their newer stores. Still a pretty decent WH Smith location, useful location within the town offering some decent services. 3*

Amazing place that accepts you for being you. *Warning* @ Social Refuge where they treat you…read moredifferently if your not like them. I visited this coffee shop recently and left feeling pretty uncomfortable with how I was treated. From the moment I ordered, the staff came across as dismissive and noticeably colder toward me compared to other customers around me. There were a few interactions that felt unnecessarily sharp, and it gave the impression that I wasn't particularly welcome there. I want to be fair, but as a straight customer, the difference in tone and attitude didn't go unnoticed. Whether intentional or not, it made the experience feel exclusionary rather than inclusive. It's a shame because the space itself has a lot of personality, but the service made it hard to enjoy. I'd hope they work on creating a more welcoming environment for everyone.

I get the irony by starting with the quote "don't judge a book by its cover" but tbh this is…read moreexactly what I've been doing every time I've walked past this place in the past few months... Whether it was because the area of town is a bit random, the building a bit unattractive and me thinking it was more of a bookshop - something just seemed to be putting me off. But today in my meeting with Matt F we decided to give it a go and what a great decision it was! First off this place is huge and a labyrinth once inside - one half hipster bookshop, the other half cool cafe with a real nod to health (check out the menu on my pics). A really lovely environment with working fountain and a variety of places to sit. The food was excellent too - my breakfast pancakes were probably the best I've had in Manchester so far which is saying something. Quick note that they don't do sides - at one stage I thought I was going to turn into Jack Nicholson in '5 Easy Pieces' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wtfNE4z6a8 but thankfully the guy sorted us out with a side of toast after I asked nicely...repeatedly... Very friendly staff, great venue. I'll be back soon to work/eat/drink coffee/read a book - or all at the same time!