If you can't afford the outfit you want from Retro Rehab, Oxfam Originals or American Graffiti -…read moreyou can always get your ass over to Abakhan Fabrics, buy a couple of yards and make your own! Spread over two floors, it's a fabric paradise with dozens of crates filled with off-cuts, cheap rolls and unusual fabrics. As well as kitsch, quirky and colourful cottons, there's fake fur, nylon, denim and all kinds of material. Upstairs and in the room at the back of the shop, they also sell patterns, buttons, zips, rolls of cotton and everything you'd need to make your own cat-suit or hot pants! Even better, almost everything they stock is cheap as chips.

If your an art student, into arts and crafts, fashion, sewing atc this is the place for you. Huge…read morevariety of fabrics and cut offs. A word of warning: make sure you know what your looking for or have a vague idea otherwise you will spends hours sifting through what looks like a little bit of a jumble sale. Prices are really decent and staff are really friendly and willing to help you choose/ measure any number of rolls/ cuts.

Good little in door market can get good range of local produced foods and veg, as well as fresh…read morefish meats and cheeses. All in all a good place to look around and take a break from all that tacky promenade stuff.

Blackpool's only town centre market. This is a mixed market, with food and clothing stalls…read moretogether, along with cafés and make up. Still well used by locals as there is a butcherery stall, fishmongers, cheese stall, fruit and veg, cooked meats and a wholefood and nut stall. Open 6 days a week, but does open on Sundays during the Illuminations (Sept & Oct). Some of the older stalls have now closed, but there is a new piercing and jewellery stall opened and a used book exchange. Worth a visit, even if it's just for a browse and a latte at one of the cafés.

I didn't expect this tobe so sprawling!!!…read more Good gosh! I have been to the Manchester number, that has the same glorious big wire bins of fabric perweight. You need time and patience, and it is a bit of a hobby shop with much of the printed cotton and the like, but the are some treats if you dig. Excellent haberdashery, coffee shop on site, decent parking, little barns of yarn and wool, it's impressive to say the least. The main reason I am giving them five stars is because of the sheer excellence of their customer service. I called around several places trying to track down a rush stock of crin/horsehair braid. I rang stoke first, who I know used to stock the stuff, and they directed me to here, I chatted, they checked, they had, and reserved the stuff for me, knowing that I was still ringing round as emergency wedding dress help, they offered rushed posting, all sorts, but with me needing it same day it resulted in a sunny Saturday drive. They recognised my voice from the phone, were kind, cheerful and helpful, absolutely lovely ladies, and meant that one of my best friends could finish her beautiful wedding dress.

This place was a delightful little treasure trove to fuel the creative soul. From wool to fabrics,…read moreand a wide variety of crafting materials, you could probably find anything you desired here amongst the array of small barn like buildings. It's nicely laid out, with plenty of spaces to explore, and also has a really lovely cafe serving great food. I enjoyed a hot pork and stuffing bap, and then took home a giant scone with cream for later. They do a wide selection of hot and cold food and of course, home baked cakes. All very reasonably priced. So, if you're a crafter, it's definitely a great place to visit, find stock, and enjoy tea and cake too!

Incredible art store. I was blown away by how well stocked the store is. I loved the top floor with…read morecool crafts and unique art gifts to purchase. The second floor had every art supplies I could dream of, and the bottom floor was an amazing selection of paper and canvas. Truly a great art store for all

Incredible place, but dangerous at the same time as you could easily spend a lot of money in here!…read more The first time I popped in was when I needed a few items for an event and I thought I'd gamble on Fred Aldous having the stuff I needed - they did! Anything you need for arts & craft or decorations they have it and with some good choice! I've now been in a few times when I need to pick up bits and bobs or essentials for work i.e. scissors etc. Loads of interesting present and gift ideas in here as well so if you're out and about birthday shopping or it's coming up to christmas - I'd say Fred Aldous is a great option with some similar style stuff to Oklahoma! Most of the stuff here is well priced and I've always been fairly surprised that my total wasn't higher when purchasing as I think the interior and style gives off an expensive vibe but really it's good value for money! A short simple review for a top NQ shop!

This a gem of a shop wheither you are totally hopeless at sewing(like me) or a real expert(nothing…read morelike me!) you will get fantastic service, great advice(if needed-never forced on you) loads of fabric and patterns to choose from and a very friendly welcome. I am rubbish at anything crafty but occasionally need things from here. The level of service and welcome is exactly the same wheither you are buying something like wunderweb by the meter(I do this a lot!) or fabric and pattern for a dress. The lady that owns it is really helpful and listens to what you want rather than trying to sell stuff that you don't need. For a few years they have also had fancy dress items to buy such as hats, chest wigs(!) funny wigs and wings. That side of the business seems to be expanding but the fabric side of the shop is still going strong. This is a friendly, well run business with a real interest in helping their customers.

If you ever take a ride on a bus, you are bound to overhear little old ladies rant on about: A) the…read moreprice of a good piece of tongue ( cow tongue from the butcher's you mucky lot) and B) the lack of haberdashers any more. They obviously haven't discovered Bon Fabrics in Urmston Town Centre- perhaps one of the last of a dying breed. This is a proper material shop where reams of cotton and voile are cut to order in front of your very eyes. And there are buttons!! Now, buttons are the bane of my life; I don't know why but if there is a button around, you can guarantee that it will pop off in my presence. Maybe I am the David Blaine of the haberdashery world? Perhaps I just magic them off clothes by mind control and without laying one manicured finger on them. Well whatever it is , I ALWAYS need buttons and Bon Fabrics comes to my rescue. There is something strangely comforting about standing around yards of fabric and bales of wool. It might be a latent repressed memory of being a contented baby stuffed into home- made matinee jackets and bootees by my talented Aunty Joyce. Who knows? It is certainly not my intention to patronise the older generation at all. Knitting is now a Hollywood craze and a birdie tells me that Gwyneth is a bit partial to a knit one pearl one. Bon Fabrics does not just cater to those in the twilight of their lives, it has a whole array of fancy-dress outfits for children and adults. You can barely move in this shop at Christmas and Easter time when harassed mothers are forced to make outfits for their little darlings' school plays and Easter Bonnet Parades. I particularly like Bon Fabrics at Halloween when my inner vamp ( or vampire) starts bearing its fangs. Whether I require a wig, facepaints or other accessories, this shop will have it. Service can be quite slow as the ladies who run the shop like to give their undivided attention to their customers for as long as it takes, and no disrespect, but it CAN take a long time. This can be a touch frustrating when all you need to buy is a yard of ribbon for 50p. I would not say that the owners are brimming over with amicability either. They are serious sewers who rarely crack a smile. However, I have returned here again and again- well I always need buttons. P.S. try saying haberdashery when you have had a few drinks- I seem to say have a daiquiri. Odd that!