Russells

I think Russell’s is one of the best convenience shops in Belfast and this is largely due to the fact there’s a very well stocked off license section instore selling a great range of wines, beers and ciders.
Other than booze you’ll find bread, olives, hummus, sandwiches, crips, nibbles, chocolates, snacks, some frozen and chilled foods plus magazines and newspapers in Russell’s. A one stop shop for all your needs!

This place is a wee bit like PRINCE or the artist formerly know as Prince, bare with me here I have a reason for making this daft statement. Formerly known as Russells Cellars they’ve now dropped the Cellars as they want to appear more current and chart in the top 50 (that last bit was made up) — much like our old pal Prince did. See, told you that was going somewhere.
Anyway, this morning I was undertaking some pre 9am arts and crafts and I needed a few bits of equipment (scissors and tape) so I popped in to Russells to grab them. At first I couldn’t find what I was looking for but turns out they keep these items behind the counter. The diversity in stock sort of sums up Russells — they literally sell everything from wine to polly pockets — hear that students, they sell stationery, so stop asking your mates to borrow a pen in lectures and go buy some here.
Price wise it’s pretty good value, this is because it competes with The Centra a few doors down but the major difference is that it sells booze.
All in all a good ‘jack of all trades’ convenience store. Good name change too, I think it works.

A good shop with a range of foods for lunch or for snacks. The hot food selection is quite good and you can grab some hot snacks that are packed and all so that you can grab them and go if you’re in a hurry. They have sausage rolls, breakfast baps, burgers, jambons, steak slices, and more. They also make up sandwiches and baguettes which look tasty. Good to stop by for a cheap and quick lunch to go.

This is a pretty new shop that is extremely popular with students due to its convenient location on Botanic Avenue. It is right by Clements and all the other wee bistros and cafés that make up the main student thoroughfare. This is a pretty handy wee shop because it allows you to do a pretty good sized shop without heading all the way into town to pick up groceries.
As well as having a good sized grocery store, there is also a good sized off licence here and its usually pretty well stocked. This again, makes this place extremely handy for students who live in the Holy Lands or around the University. The prices in the offy are pretty standard for what you get in offys around town and you’ll be able to pick up a pretty decent carryout.
The staff here are friendly enough, usually students who are working part time to work there way through Uni. They’re usually helpful, not that you’ll need much help to be honest. Its location is handy as well.
All in all pretty good.

If I’m going to get asked for ID I want to be applying for a VISA of some sort in a foreign land where there is no Irish or UK embassy. If I’m 24, have a degree of facial hair and an alcohol and time effected face and physique I do not expect a spotty youngster to ask me my age…
I understand the lambasted nonsense pumped into every bar and off license in the UK, the façade of nonsense, that if you are particularly vigilant you’ll not only stop under age drinking but stop low level crime, robbery, murder and terrorism as a whole.
Ok, I’m being slightly melodramatic but if I end up getting turned away on a busy day, queue for 10mins before a guy eight years younger than me questions my ages…
Anyway, the range is poor. The usual beer, wine and spirits at fairly exorbitant prices.

This store has only recently been opened, having been a closed, old looking outlet for way too long on Botanic Avenue. The new Russells does not differ greatly from that of other Russells scattered about the country, but what it does provide is a new fresher shop on what is a hugely student area. The offers in the shop target students and taxi drivers (i.e. coffee, tea, newspaper offer) and also have a little off-​licence which though the offers will not match that of supermarkets, it is cheaper than some off-​licences.
It’s a great shop with a fantastic array of baked and fresh goods. Well stocked. Vast improvement on what was there before. Good job!