I was advised that I could find some different spices and seasoning in this shop and I have to say…read moreAston Mini Market is pretty handy indeed. This mini corner shop next to the Aston University sells practically everything you need or not. In my way back to Walsall I usually stop by to check what is the new deal. The service is pretty friendly, even for a usually busy convenience store like this. Aston Mini Market is also open until late during the week, which is always a little help. For a homesick (food sick, actually!) person, I was quite impressive to find some selection of fresh fruit that I normally don't have at my local supermarket. That probably makes the visit to Aston Mini Market even worthier. One curious things about this local shop is, with no doubt, the range of tobacco items. I don't smoke but I felt like I was missing something when I spotted their variety of cigarettes and cigars. You also find newspapers, flowers and other daily need products at Aston Mini Market. Very useful for students living nearby it, for sure.

This is a mini market selling various foods, especially foods that are from different parts of the…read moreworld. So this shop offers customers foods from India, the Caribbean and Africa; as well as the general foods, drinks and other general items. It is Aston's little supermarket and generally the store usually has a fair number of people going in and out. It's a pretty busy area due to the number of people who live there. Aston is a culturally diverse area so having a place like this means it's possible for those people from different cultural backgrounds to purchase products suitable to them. I'm always looking for shops located in areas such as; Aston, Handsworth or Witton that sell tropical foods and it's fair to say this store does. I did a quick little shopping in there the other day, when going through Aston and spent about £15 which bought me my weekly shop. In a normal supermarket I'd have to spend twice as much to get as many items as I did in this shop.

You might not save much here but it is the one when you need some late night provisions! Open 24…read morehours it is a good shout when wanting booze or cigarettes or even a midnight snack! The service is cool and there is much to choose from! I often make a pit stop en route after an evening on the town. A central, all night offy is always a good call. I would recommend to all of you night owls.

This place is a god send as a local resident…read more Open 24/7 - Yep, all day, everyday, it's great when you're stumbling home from a night out in search of something to nibble on or to keep the party going when you've ran out of supplies. It has a pretty decent selection of wines, spirits and beers, a small selection of fridge food, fresh milk etc and not too shabby amount of cupboard food and confectionery. If you find that your first choice of shop/supermarket is closed be sure to always give this place a go. It's not too expensive and sometimes cheaper than the big chains and tends to have some of the lesser known items that you could be looking for.

Sainsbury's Local at Brindleyplace is in a good location, it's opposite the tram stop and a short…read morewalk away from several hotels, including the Hilton Garden Inn, Novotel and Leonardo Royal, making it an ideal place to grab drinks and snacks to take back to your hotel. The overall look/feel of the store is similar to any Sainsbury's Local, it was easy to find what I was looking for. The shelves were reasonably well stocked, and a Costa Express coffee machine served hot drinks only. It was easy enough to get in and out of the store in a couple of minutes, using the Sainsbury's Smartshop app which allows you to scan items as you're walking around the store, and then you can pay via the app, scan the QR code in the exit area and head out. The prices are inflated because it is a convenience store, if you have more time you may want to head to the larger Morrisons in Edgbaston which is only a short ride away on the tram. The security guard at the front of the store came across as rude and felt like he was trying to intimidate customers and just made me feel uncomfortable when I was doing nothing wrong. 3* - Pretty typical Sainsbury's Local, very useful location for a convenience store is the highlight to write home about.

Just had a refit and well designed it is. Noticeably more stock and more automatic pay points. Much…read moreimproved.

In the 70s and 80s this store was a Co-operative Food Store so it is great after so many years to…read morehave it back as a convenience store. There is a FREE Cash Machine and sells Newspapers/Magazines/Beer&Wine and a range of snacks and read meals. Open until 10pm most nights.

It's not too often that you come across a business which is an off licence, newsagents and purveyor…read moreof foods all in one. However, that is precisely what is on offer at Eastside Stores in Digbeth. Baguettes, wraps and cobs hot or cold are available all day which means that on a busy lunch hour you can grab your paper and some handmade food in one foul swoop, which certainly beats traipsing to a big supermarket for a lacklustre meal deal. I'm happy to report that the baguettes here are more than adequate so you won't be heading back to the office with a rumbling belly and a disappointed look on your face. So if time is of the essence then Eastside Stores is definitely a place I suggest you pay a visit to.

Often I am caught unawares, on my way to my studio on Fazeley Street with no supplies... it will be…read morea long night recording without any booze or pot noodles. Thankfully, Eastside Stores is on my route. Situated at the far end of Digbeth High Street away from town, it's a typical convenience store that stocks all the usual stuff, magazines, papers, basic groceries, sweets, alcohol and even a few fresh sandwiches and snacks. It's reasonably priced but be warned that they don't take cards there and the nearest cash machine is back up the other end of the high street.

This is a standard convenience store and stocks all of the usual items that you would expect; some…read morefood, snacks, a few household items, newspapers, alcohol and tobacco. I have been in a couple of times when I have been in Harborne. The chap who works there or who owns it seems really friendly and chatty. Several times he has made small talk with me, which is nice as it makes me want to pop back in here. I have always found what I needed in here, which is usually just some chocolate and something like milk to take back home. The prices are fairly reasonable for a convenience store and I have been to more expensive stores in the area. Overall, I like this store because the service is great and it has been convenient for me.

The old motto of writing about what you know rings true here (and for the next few reviews) as…read moreHarborne Convenience is very much my local shop. Open from early morning until at least 10pm every night this isn't somewhere you'd travel miles to visit but if you live nearby it's a great place to purchase things like compost or barbeque briquettes. They are also notable for stocking a good range of real-ales, an extensive selection of doggie treats (which get the seal of approval from Dave the greyhound) and the man who runs it is a really nice chap who often compliments us on how well Dave is looking and very much lives by the adage 'the show must go on'. Not only does the shop stay open at Christmas and New Year but perhaps most memorably of all through a recent power cut where thanks to a torch-lit fetching service the people of Northfield Road were able to continue to make their essential purchases of booze, fags and Monster Munch.

This is a bit of a jack-of-all-trades convenience store with a 'cafe' and dry-cleaning service…read moreavailable. They stock all of your typical convenience store goods; milk, eggs, bread, cereal and so on. It comes in handy when I'm on my way into the Jewellery Quarter and need to pick up something on the go. The cafe isn't one that I would choose to go to - Rosella's a bit of a weird amalgamation of services that leaves it all a bit substandard. Anyway it fulfils it's purpose of being a convenience store, as does the cafe - so perhaps the cafe is best described as more of a convenience cafe. It's not the most extraordinary of establishment that you'll ever visit (in case you were expecting that) - but it's prototypical, reliable convenience store to get a mars bar and a pint of milk when passing by or in your slippers.

For such a residential street, it is surprising that this 'corner shop' isn't open longer hours. In…read morefact, many times I've walked past this shop in the middle of George Street, underneath a big block of flats and it appears closed. It doesn't open till 9am, however, it is very handy to have something close by if I run out. We've been in their for supplies to ease of a cold as well as basics such as eggs and bread when we've been caught short. Service is always good. They also have dry cleaning from here now and it's a point to collect post if you're out during the day. There is a cafe in there and I'm not sure if the attached pizza take away is ever open but I may find out one day!

Spar on Brindley Place is a decent-sized unit, the store is modern and much more attractive…read moreaesthetically than most other SPAR stores I have visited in the past, it also includes a coffee machine and counter from Philpotts. The location is good, it's quite central within the Brindley Place area of Birmingham and a short walk away from the Hilton Garden Inn. I did find the prices to be a little high, even for a convenience store, making it much more expensive than the Sainsbury's Local around the corner. The selection in the store seemed fine, they did have a selection of brands in most areas including milk - many SPAR stores just sell their own brand of milk, but this one sells Cravendale which is useful for me (although the price is very inflated). 3* - A modern convenience store in a useful location, normally open until 11 PM, although the prices are offputting.

If you are a fan of having to carry your ID everywhere and of the Sun newspaper then this is the…read moreperfect Spar for you.....let me explain! Now I like to think I am looking ok approaching 30 but I am under no illusion that I do not look 17 anymore....or 25 really but on occasions I have been refused service of alcohol here due to not having ID. I fully respect the laws surrounding alcohol and its consumption but surely you have to use your discretion at points.....this Spar does not seem to do so if you are going to buy a beer or bottle of wine on your way home......don't forget your passport or driving licence! The latter half of my opening statement is due to the fact that if you go into this Spar later in the evening you can get a free Sun newspaper. Totally not my thing but I mean sometimes I will take one......incase I need to clean the windows in the flat! I find that newspaper is the best way to get glass clean with a decent glass cleaner on! Kim and Aggie have taught me well! Other than that there is a basic selection of food and drinks here....everything you would expect for a local shop with the hidden surprise of a Subway at the back. Overall decent.