Here we have a shop that sells, well, cards. Cards and party supplies that is…read more It's not quite Clintons in terms of quality or range but then also in terms of price, which is nice. It's much more of an independent store here but essentially the same sort of deal. If you're after a card for any occasion then you'll probably nip in here. If you're not after a card I doubt you'll be going to the Card Factory. They also have a range in small presents and accessories which are again not big in quality or price the same.

In a world where things are getting increasingly automated and less personal, it's refreshing to…read moresee independent businesses rising out strong above the rest. Having only been in the area since June this shop, run by a six strong craft collective is a unique glimpse at the production of some beautiful products. I think it's the shop split in half that makes Fig such an enjoyable place to poke my head in: half the shop given to racks for gifts and cards and the other half to the in house artists. I asked the always friendly staff what it is that stood them out above the rest. They can't stress enough the importance of products being hand crafted, on the spot. They say it's a very refreshing and unique approach to their work. Pop in and see for yourself.

Not to be confused with Sage, a shop of a similar name and nature a few doors down, Fig is a great…read morelittle find on Gloucester Road, choc-a-bloc full of beautiful arts, crafts and handmade delights including greeting cards, prints and jewellery. Made up of a small collective of local designers and artists, Fig is a fantastic place to go for gifts but also for inspiration to brighten up your own home. The felt embroidery of underwater scenes by Katy Tarling and quirky prints by Jane Orme are some of the highlights while the greeting cards are charming but at around £3 each are a little pricey. Although the listings on the website say this shop is only open Thursday to Saturday I recently popped in on a Monday morning so it's worth stopping by if you're in the area a the beginning of the week as opening hours may be changing.

Although Romantica is just down the road, a bit further up you will find Hallmark Romantica - which…read moreis essentially Romantica but without the gifts. This small shop sells cards, wrapping paper, gift bags and essentials for every occasion. It is a little pricey but there are some really beautiful cards. They have cards for every occasion and although it is expensive, you won't find nicer cards anywhere else. You will be sure to find the perfect card or wrapping paper here!

From the outside, this shop looks tired, dated and perhaps a little tacky. For this reason, I had…read morenever been in it until the other day despite walking past many times (and my boyfriend said he'd never been in for the same reason). I can't remember why we went in but once inside it was completely different to how I expected it to be. It is a really decent gift shop with a brilliant selection of stock - from cards ad wrapping paper to figurines (not tacky ones though, funky fashionable ones) and other funny stuff. Definitely was some stuff in there that I am going back to buy! The guy who owns it should change the sign on the front and make it more in keeping with what he stocks inside

I'm not sure what you can say about Clinton Cards, or any specialist card shop. I don't think I…read morehave ever found a card in this kind of shop but I do find them handy for party peripherals like balloons, ribbon and candles. This store in particular has the space to have a good stock of balloons and banners as well as some packet fancy dress costumes.

Not an art gallery in particular - although they do have some bits and bobs on the walls. You would…read morevisit here more to get your own art framed - either by them with a framing service or better (and cheaper) still to find the mount and frame to fit your picture. They have a wide selection of frames - verging on the old-fashioned side but I am getting particularly bored of the Ikea wooden box frames so that is fine by me - and a lot of mounts (the cardboard bit that sits between the glass and the picture. Choose the colour to bring out the best of your picture). They also have a lot of greetings cards to choose from. Again a little old-fashioned but certainly good enough to find what you need.

Cheap as you like, this place solves the ever-present problem of friends and family members…read moreconstantly turning a year older. I don't think people really keep cards, I certainly don't, so spending a load of dosh on something that's appreciated momentarily (and mostly for the thought anyway) seems pretty pointless to me. Step in Card Factory, with their range of economical Birthday, Valentines, Mother's Day, etc greetings. The best thing is, the cards from this place don't actually look that cheap, so no one will accuse you of being tight and not really caring that they're now 32, or whatever. Great.

The Card Factory is cheap and cheerful and I love it! I always resented Clinton's and Birthdays for…read morecharging £3 for a bit of cardboard with a pretty picture on it. In the Card Factory you can get pretty much the exact same card for a mere 59p!! This particular store is located in the centre of Broadmead. It is a small shop and they sure do cram a lot inside. It is constantly rammed packed too so you will find yourself breathing in tightly to squeeze past customers. There also isn't any real place to queue up so customers end up queuing next to the card displays which again causes a lot of deep sighs and mutters under their breathes from the other shoppers. Product wise, the Card Factory has an impressive range of sensible, flowery cards to rude and humorous ones. They also have a selection of gifts such as photo frames etc. It's so much better than Clinton's down the road and I reckon the quality of cards is just as high but at a 10th of the price. Note:- they accept credit cards, but your bill must come to over £5 so make sure you have some cash on you. Also be prepared for long queues at all times, especially in the run up to special events EG. Valentines day, Mother's day, Christmas etc.

This is the place to go in Bristol if you're planning or going to a fancy dress party - or indeed…read morejust about any party. It's easy to miss because it's not particularly striking and it's located on the busy A38, so if you aren't specifically looking for it you'd probably drive straight past. Once you're inside, however, it's a different story. It's stocked just about floor to ceiling with wrapping paper, pretty ribbons, party streamers, table displays, balloons, gift boxes, and cards and cake decorations for every occasion. Whether you're after birthday surprise banners, congratulations cards, or Easter chicks, you'll find it here. They also stock some excellent accessories for the Stag and Hen party markets - including a range of cheeky items to surprise the bride-to-be. But perhaps most exciting are the fantastic party costumes, whether you're looking for a complete Halloween outfit, or just some amusing accessories such as fake moustaches or wigs. Whether you want to dress up as a Mexican or a Medieval lady, a French maid or a Flower-power hippy, they've got it all - including a few saucy costumes, too. It's a while since I've been to Flingers, but when I did visit it was good fun, well-stocked and run by friendly staff.

Really love this shop, has everything you could possible want from fancy dress, children's parties…read moreto Weddings and balloon displays. Great customer service, very helpful. Will re-inflate balloons you've bought from other shops for a small charge

I was taken aback at the quality of this shop because from the outside it looks slightly pikey and…read morethat it might only have those horrible Forever Friends style cards in there. To my surprise they have those cards but much more besides - they have lots of different styles of card, with the ruder/younger market near the back and the 'traditional' sort of cards that your nan buys at the front. In addition to the cards there is a few shelves on the right hand side of the shop with Thorntons goods for sale - great for an extra gift or a last minute gesture if you've forgotten an occasion and had to run to the local shops for a token gift! They also have the separate truffles and licquer chocolates under glass at the counter which you can choose from. All in all it's saved me many a trip to The Mall/Broadmead to buy a decent card so you should have a look before travelling further for birthday cards.

I used to work near this shop so went in here many times to buy cards and gifts. They have a large…read moreselection of good quality cards for all occasions. They also have lots of gift wrap and gifts bags etc.. The gifts they have are quite often very quirky and unusual looking, there is things such as ornaments, picture frames, wedding gifts, christening gifts etc Also they sell Thorntons chocolates and have seasonal chocolates.

Gone are the days when Clinton Cards was the only place to go on the high street when you needed a…read moregreeting card or some wrapping paper. Now high streets across Britain are overrun with variations on a theme: brightly lit, tacky, depressing gift shops that persist in the peculiar belief that mugs make good birthday presents. This shop has nothing about it that sets it apart from any of the others, Cards Galore, Card Factory, Card Empire or whatever else the high street will come up with next. If this is what birthdays look like, I never want to have another one. Why does it all have to be so pink, glittery and disgusting? The flashing 40th birthday badges by the till really cemented how depressing this all is for me. I could imagine some drunk newly 40-year-old slumped in a chair at the end of the party, badge flashing bleakly... Anyway, if you need cards and wrappings and trimmings and all that stuff, do come here, obviously, because you'll find everything you need. It won't be a particular bargain here as opposed to any other card shop, so don't let the cheap appearance fool you.

Basically an alternative version of Clinton Cards, Birthdays sells tons of naff greetings cards,…read morecuddly bears and mugs, etc to people who either suffer from a lack of imagination or are just too busy to care. I'd always thought that this place was pretty cheap, but it turns out I was mistaken, as the unimaginative, cuddly bear emblazoned Mother's Day card I bought this afternoon, set me back a cool £3. Honestly, I'm not a cheapskate - I just can't stand card shops in general. I'm aware that £3 isn't exactly breaking the bank, but all the cards are basically the same, so you might as well head to Card Factory just down the road and pick up something for half the price.