University of Manchester Student Union Shop

The union shop has pretty much anything you could want or need when wandering about campus, plus some lovely staff which make any visits a hell of a lot nicer than they could be when you are hungover.
There is a good selection of sandwiches, snacks and drinks if you are popping by for lunch. Importantly, the Union Shop stocks fairtrade chocolate, snacks and colas — and boycotts Coca Cola, which makes for some ethnical munching and slurping.
Further towards the back you can find newspapers, magazines and plenty of stationary for a good price if you’ve forgotten a pen or are looking for a tidy set of highlighters. The shop also houses useful things like tampons, nail scissors, sewing kits and gaffa tape in case you are having some kind of small disaster. Closer to the counter there are official UoM hoodies and sweatshirts which come at a reasonable price and are well made.
My only issue is that it gets very busy and the queue very long, but other than that it is a perfect student shop.

Nothing relieves the abject tedium of the fourth lecture of the day than a lovely big bag of HarboTangfastics or Kiddies Super Mix; a big sugary wakeup, a reward for having made it this far into the day. The union provides these and more delicious sweet and savoury delights including the aforementioned giant gooey cookies and the hardcore library dweller’s breakfast of choice, the Ginster’s Mexican chicken pasty (so wrong, it’s right).
In addition the shop carries a range of reduced price newspapers (The Guardian, The Times, The Independent all for 40p a copy) and magazines (£1 off the cover price of NME and The Economist), stationary aplenty and a selection of University branded hoodies, sweatshirts and other clothing.
The decision by the union to not stock any Coca-​Cola or Nestle products (due to those companies alleged human rights abuses) does stick in the craw a little given that there has been no move to cease sales of tobacco products when the practises of those companies are, if anything, even more ethically questionable. Still, in the main, this retailer is a credit to the union and is definitely the one stop shop for you pre or post lecture needs.

The shop is reasonably large but the shelves are stocked in a very Eastern-​Bloc-​during-​the-​Cold-​War manner and there’s really very little on offer. They used to have address books and diaries with the University of Manchester coat of arms embossed in gold on the front which I really liked but their production must have been short lived as I haven’t seen any since last year. The shop does, however, have a pretty good range of pens and postal paraphernalia and magazines are subject to student discounts, if you can find any. They also sell a few items of official university merchandise such as hoodies and bags but, surprisingly, their range is really rather limited and so you’re better off heading to University Place or Blackwell’s. The sales assistants are generally friendly and helpful and the prices are reasonable.

Any review of The Manchester University Student’s Union Shop should begin with the most important point, and move down to the less significant aspects, so that is what I shall do. Where I have got this idea of a correct way to review the Manchester University Student’s Union Shop I do not know, but nonetheless, I have passed that value-​judgement, and will proceed forthwith to adhere to it, judging all ye who deviate.
First and foremost, beginning at the top, primarily, we must speak of the cookies. Amazing, juicy, beautiful, gorgeous, magnanimous (actually scratch the magnanimous) cookies. Chocolate Chip, Oats and Raisin, and Double Chocolate Chip. The cookie is a fantastic thing, but it must be correctly made. Too soft, and ’tis ruined, too crunchy, and ’tis ruined. These beautifully crafted cookies (that sell out by mid-​afternoon, except the oats and raisin ones obviously) are perfectly made with the ideal balance between squidge and crunch adroitly struck with aplomb. For less than a pound.
Next the stationary. Pens of every sort for a few pence. Whether you’re the type of person who likes a 0.2 millimetre nib or a larger 0.4, they have the pen for you here. Whether you’re an angry soul who writes in red or a stupid girl who writes in pink, they have the pen for you here. Nibs of all sizes is just one of the good points (no pun intended) of this exquisite stationary collection.
They also sell cards but these are rubbish.
Less significantly, they sell Danylion & Burdock, which is nice. They also sell staples to refill your stapler with. These can be accompanied with the purchase of a stapler, if you do not already have one to refill. Less significantly still, some of the staplers come with staples inside already, so you may not wish to buy additional staples at this stage. Even less significantly, these staples are silver.

You name it and its there!
This is a multipurpose store and hence its placing in the students union more than meets perfection! It has the usual corner shop knick-​knacks, and it has the basic bits that any Ryman’s would possess, infact way cheaper! I’m always happy buying my stationary completely guilt-​free here, considering the big stationary obssession that I seem to have!
They have very beautifully done arty cards for most ocassions or even plain ones, where in you can leave a pretty note to someone special! Apart from this they store sandwiches and baguettes which are a good bite in between your busy day and what better than you to pick it up just when you’re amidst important work at the Union!
So people if you haven’t noticed this place already, I’d say pop right in and maybe you’ll be equally thrilled to find the usual £4 pukka pads for just £2 here as me!