This place does exactly what it says on the tin. Well, not the tin, the front door. It is a…read morecomputer game store that sells all sorts of games, consoles, accessories, books and everything else that your inner nerd could possibly want or desire. As well as selling stuff they also buy your stuff off you once you have completed it or got bored with it or whatever so thats a pretty good service and they give you a pretty good price. If you like games and what not then you can't go bad at this place. The shop itself is nice and light and the staff are polite and really know what they're talking about.

Games sell as you would expect from such a shop sells computer games, consoles, books and any…read moreaccessories. The staff are friendly in this store and will help you out of you're not too sure what you're looking for. They also have games charts which help you pick out the most popular games. I've only really had reason to get anything from a Games store for a former boyfriend, when I tracked down an elusive (at the time) Nintendo Wii and the Zelda game, which looked pretty cool. I sat through it all Christmas!! I don't really have a clue about computer games, I once drove round the race track for mario kart the wrong way round. Although I did win a bunch of lads at Streetfighter one night, but I think it was cuz I was drunk and kept pressing all the buttons frantically and round-house kicked their collective testosterone into another stratosphere!

Popped in here on Boxing Day to see if there were any bargains on offer. To be honest it's not…read moresomewhere I'd usually visit but I was feeling festive so decided I wouldn't fight it. The shop is extremely opulent with the staff matching the smart, elegant feeling of the place. There were plenty of staff ready to help us but we were just in for a look. There's a small male section but the store is primarily aimed at girls who love sparkles! Quite high end so make sure you have plenty of cash on you if you're visiting. Can't really find many faults with the store at all - just not really my scene!

Oh yes please! A shop dedicated to selling bags, hells yeah! GD1 Accessories is a small but…read moreblimmin' brilliant shop which sells a range of designer and fashion handbags. Although it's more often than not I'm only browsing in this shop, it doesn't make me love it any less! The bags on sale include he likes of Radley etc and although sometimes I'll shop in here and not see a thing I even remotely like, other times I'll come and I will literally want to buy everything in the shop! It's times like this when I know I have a handbag obsession and need to leave the shop pronto before my bank balance and I fall out big time! Anyway, this branch in the Abbey Centre is the smaller sister version of a larger branch on Belfast's College Street (think out the back of Boots) and a small local shop it has become quite popular with shoppers.

Finaghy News as it is now known is the latest version of the local newsagent that has been there…read morefor as long as I can remember. I have fond memories of running in here to buy penny chews during a game of 'hide and seek' as an 8 year old and although it has changed in name and shelves have been switched around over the years the shop is still run by the same family and still has some of the same faces working there that would reach up and get me the 'special' sweets I couldnt reach if I had enough pocket money as a little school boy. Stocking all the usual goods like milk, bread, eggs, newspapers etc the shop will always have a place in the local community and will surely keep its place as one of the cornerstones of Finaghy crossroads.

In the midst of hopping on and off buses, listening to my younger sister reminisce about times gone…read moreby (she used to go to school in the area), and us hoofing it from place to place on a somewhat humid (yet sunny) day in south Belfast, I was in dire need of a refreshment. Just the one, mind you. Finaghy News was that beacon of light in the mist of humidity, hollering at us to come yonder and buy an ice lolly from its decent supply. And that is precisely what we did (whilst my sister reminisced even further), as I picked up a raspberry flavoured lolly, and my sister chose a chocolate and mint one. I also selected a magazine from a decent range, and purchased the goods, before stepping outside to enjoy my ice lolly. [while being attacked by wasps] Thankfully the fifty pence's worth of lolly didn't mind being prematurely binned, and by this stage, both the raspberry flavour and the newsagents had served their purpose, so all was good.

Is there one of these awesome stores in every little town in Co. Down? There blooming well should…read morebe! How I wish I were a child again (I notice I'm saying that a lot these days) What a magical feeling it must be to climb the stairs of Stewart Miller's and know that you are basically going into Santa's grotto - have you ever seen so many toys shoved and stacked into one top floor - I haven't I can tell ye! Not only is it toy heaven upstairs but downstairs is like a child's dream - sweets, chocolate, crisps and wrapping paper - well, they ahve to stock something for adults! Seriously though, if you need a newspaper, your lotto, a card, a fine nibbed marker in florescent green, a book on horses or a tub of Roses then this is the place for you. Make sure you spend over a fiver if you want to use your debit card though as they won't take it unless you do. Stewart Miller I salute you.

One of my favourite shops in newtownards, all the childhood memories of getting a new subbuteo team…read moreor some sweets and the latest beano mag, then the dreaded stationary shop at the end of the summer holidays to the present day browsing books and looking at toys for my son and gifts for others. Its remained unchanged and that's because Stewart millers works so well and has got something to offer everyone. Christmas time is great in Stewart millers too and its one of the best shops in ards.

For a film buff, a good film store is a necessity and so I am more than thankful that I have this…read moreHMV on my doorstep. Although certainly the Belfast branch is about three times at big if not bigger, this branch still is able to pack in a fair deal. HMV sell films, CDs, games, accessories, books, clothing and the likes. Mainly I use this place for stocking up on Sale item DVDs but I've often found it great for putting my hands on some great books that you don't see in most places. Sometimes I find the staff in here a bit abrupt but that is mostly at times when the shop is busy, when it's quiet they are more than helpful and willing to assist you find whatever you're after. HMV also offer than great discount card where you can use your points for money off purchases in the HMV store. A good, much needed shop around the area.

Toy-land, meets book-land, meets card-land, meets magazine-land meets chocolate-and-sweets-land. On…read moreany visit to the Abbeycentre, my husband and I always gravitate to this shop, me for the magazines and large choice of books and novels, him for, you guessed it - the sweeties. Lord, does he have a sweet tooth. Stewart Millar offers many kinds of deals and offers on well known brands of sweets and chocolate, so cheap sometimes that I have to look at the expiry date to check that it's all above board - and their books are good value too, in particular their lifestyle books and recipe book selection. There is always plenty of staff on the tills (it is a busy shop!) and you never have to wait long in the queue for the till. I would imagine for parents its quite a good place to buy games and toys also.

The Academy is a news agents just at the corner of Hillman Street on the Antrim Road. This…read moreestablished local news agent has been here for a very long time. It's a family run business which always appears to have a few generations working behind the till or restocking the shelves. A few years ago it used to contain a huge collection of greetings cards for all occasions, although this have shrunk a little. The shop stocks all daily papers, has a large magazine section, a small range of tinned goods and also sells stationary. They went through a bit of a revamp, moving the counter from one side of the store to the other. I'm not sure of the point of this, but I suppose it's been around for so long, they just fancied a change!