There's a few sporting shops that have carved out a little enclave for themselves on Whitchurch…read moreRoad, and this one has to be my favourite. It is a really large outlet that is incredibly well stocked, with all manner of gear. You can even buy archery equipment here!!! (Not that this is what I come here for... I'm lethal enough without needing to resort to using something like a bow and arrow! My car is the only potentially dangerous piece of machinery that I'll allow myself to use... I give everything else a wide birth!) My needs that Cardiff Sportsgear meets are of a much more mundane variety. I come here for my swim suits, as I tend to call in at RatRigs, the surf shop just down the road, whilst I'm about it.. (RatRigs have a sale on a the moment, and so I called into both last week to scoop up a couple of bargains. Sadly, Cardiff Sportsgear didn't have what I was looking for in my size on this occasion, (a Speedo with long legs, like the type of suit that competitive swimmers wear... something that is proving nigh on impossible to find)... The staff were really helpful, and said that if I knew exactly what I wanted, then they would happily order it for me. Great service!

Wowee! Whatever sport you're into you will undoubtedly be incredibly impressed by Cardiff…read moreSportsgear. They offer: racquets, cricket gear, pool table, gym equipment, riding helmets, wetsuits, and so much more! Whenever I come in here with friends we like to play a game of how many sports we can count (at least 25 last count). The staff are all incredibly friendly and know their stock well (surprising considering how big this place is). The only thing they don't have much in the way of is, gym clothes, which is ironically the only thing I need.

Independent Sports shops are always a gift and a curse. Gift, because they stock specialist…read moreequipment your not going to find in any of the chains round Cardiff. So your into archery? Yep got that, Need a cup for your 'precious'? Yep, you get the point. What's bad is that they are going to be more expensive here unfortunately. Under armour etc seem to have that extra little kick to their already over priced tags that makes me go elsewhere for my essentials. But as said, if you are looking for something more specific this would be the best place to start.

This is a pretty good sized Matalan near Abbey Wood in North Bristol. It has tons of fashionable,…read moreaffordable clothes for men, women and the kids, as well as a limited selection of home wares. Matalan's clothes are generally pretty cheap, but the quality is pretty low too, so it's great for kids clothes (as they grow out of them so quickly) or for things that you'll probably not want to wear next year. The place is always busy, especially when they've got a sale on, or in the run up to Christmas, so be prepared to queue for 15 mins to pay for your items when it's really busy (we've had a trolley full of stuff and left it there, as the queue was so bad once!). Parking is free, and this is not usually a problem, except for the dreaded Christmas period when the whole retail park is mobbed.

This Matalan sells, children's and adults clothes, home wares, dvds, and books. when ever I have…read moregone there it seems quite well staffed and the items are reasonably priced. It is near, Woolworths, tTJ Hughes, Pets At Home, JJB, Brantanos, Next and Mc Donalds.

Extremely professional and helpful staff. They provide gait analysis, for a fee or complimentary…read morewith purchase of a pair of running shoes. The gait analysis includes video analysis while running on a treadmill and very patient explanation of the assessment and recommendations. Good selection of shoes and athletic wear.

Park Street is hardly short on independent and vintage shops, but one of the best of the bunch is…read moreClothing Federation. Sat halfway up the hill, this shop is equally good for girls and boys stocking a range of dresses, jeans, shoes, belts, sunglasses, hats and jewellery. At a price that won't break the bank, it's a great place to pick up something for weekend that no one else will have. The girl's accessories are particularly good, with some stylish handbags in fifties and sixties styles. The quality of the goods can vary, so check them out thoroughly before you buy. If your budget is limited - head towards the reduced section at the back where you'll need to rummage to find the hidden gems.

This shop is much better for accessories than for clothes. If you're after earrings, bangles,…read morebelts, badges, rings, this is your place. It's all very affordable and student-friendly. For clothes, it doesn't always come up trumps. It has some market-stall style boho stuff, but then quite a lot of very cheap-feeling tops and jackets. It's got quick turnover, though, so it's always worth a look to see what the new stuff is. It's split down the middle into men's and women's sections, and the whole front half of the shop is taken up with accessories, rather like a big jewellery market stall. The shopping atmosphere isn't particularly glamorous; it can feel a bit dark and dingy. I think for clothes I'd always prefer to shop in BS8 down the road, but for accessories this place would always be high on my list.

This is the kind of vintage emporium in which it's possible to lose whole afternoons as you rummage…read morethrough racks of incredible dresses, shirts and velvet jackets in colours you never thought possible and 1970s patterns that make your eyes go funny, and shelves of incredible aviators, braces, gloves, belts and badges, every item more mesmerising and tempting than the last. And that's before you reach the glorious, plush nook at the back of the shop where dozens of fur coats, leather jackets and bags brush against each other, giving a rustling call for you to drape them over your shoulders. It's hard to leave RePsycho, mainly because it is, actually, quite hard to leave; it's very cramped and stuffed with stock from ceiling to floor, wall to wall, and it can become a bit of a slalom if more than two people are inside. It's also awkward getting out if you're the only person in there and you haven't bought anything. It's the kind of small boutiquey environment that's staffed by people who are intensely passionate about what they're selling, so you can't really slip out empty-handed without offering a slightly grovelling "thank you", wearing your best "I'm sorry" expression as you open the door. Of course, as with any vintage shop, you get the best experience when you're prepared to invest time looking through all the racks and all the shelves and battling through lots of questionable stuff in order to find something gorgeous at a price you're willing to pay. RePsycho is one of those shops that can provide hours of silly fun if you take a friend and play dress-ups (and do your best to stop worrying about the shop assistant hearing you talking about how hideous some of the things are), but it's also good for intensive, solitary shopping when you're on a quest for those perfect Betty Draper-esque white court shoes.

I usually loathe vintage clothing shops. They make me feel more frumpy than a royal and further…read morefrom the likes of Alexa Chung and Agyness Deyn than a square meal. However, RePsycho manages to be kooky, great value and truly a beacon of style rather than just pretentious. It is not for those who like to cruise well-ordered rails and peel pristine items off their hangers, however, as there is something of a jumble sale feel to the mess within. But there are great bargains to be had, from cool Paddington Bear-style bags to amazing 80s garb and just lived-in enough cowboy boots. As usual I never emerge from here looking remotely cool but if you do have an eye for how to put a good outfit together, or a really cool Mod party to go to then this is the must-see haunt for you.

Contrary to all the high end bike shops that cater to those who want to buy flashy gadgetry bikes,…read moreFred Baker Cycles is such a breath of relief. Relief that a normal, homely, down to earth cycle shop exists. The staff here are always friendly and they let you wander around the shop at your own pace, and are always happy to help you out with any biking issue you've got and can't get your head around! They also participate in the work cycle scheme. This shop is deceptively big - it is very long and goes all the way back, full of bikes and their spares. A great, family run business.

Fred Baker Cycles is a fantastic little family run bike shop on Cheltenham Road. It's a father and…read moreson operation, originally set up by the father, who now is getting a little too long in the tooth, and has handed over the reins to his son. It's a while since I chatted to them about the legacy f the business, but I think they have been going for over thirty years... or something to that effect. As you'd expect from a family business, the motivation to open the shop came from a passion about bikes, or perhaps more accurately, a passion for what bikes allows the rider to do. I pay regular visits to the shop and I'm offered as much of a welcome if I'm coming in purely for advice as I am to buy something. Obviously businesses don't stay in business if they don't make money, but everybody at Fred Baker seems to be able to somehow balance their passion for bikes, their willingness to be of help, and making sales s that they continue to succeed commercially, whilst at the same time being incredibly helpful. They do a lot to inspire people to take up biking seriously.

I needed to pick up some cough meds while visiting Cardiff. This pharmacy was recommended by our…read moretour guide. Because I wasn't familiar with the brands, I got the assistance of a young lady who worked in the Medicine Dept. She asked thorough questions to make sure she recommended the right one. Although I went for the Pharmacy this store was quite large. There were cards, snacks, sandwiches and drinks. There also was a large assortment of beauty, hygiene and toiletry products. Probably even more departments in the back that I didn't see.

ABOSULETLY POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE !!! I was looking for a…read moremoisturiser and went up to one of the sales assistant and asked her if they sold a moisturiser which I had seen online. She looked at me rudely straight in the face and blanked me completely and didnt bother to give me an answer. She just turned around to her colleague and pretended that she was speaking about someone else in front of me to her colleague. I am a person from a minority ethnic background and I just know the motive was pure racism. I didn't bother saying anything more because did not want to cause any DRAMA. I just turned around and walked away, this ruined my mood and shopping experience in Boots.