Spar

On a fairly busy corner off Oxford, this Spar gets a pretty good volume of people going through it, and they know how to keep them coming back. Good selection of sandwiches for your lunch, loads of snacks and biscuits to choose from, some fruit and veg, other assorted convenience items. It’s a typical express-​style store if you just need to grab something quick and leave, and the lines never seem to be too long, even in peak times.

If you’re one of Manchester’s many thousands of students you’re probably quite acquainted with this Spar shop.
It’s the perfect stop off point to grab student essentials like beer, toilet roll, pot noodles and, well, more beer.
If it’s real beer deals you’re after then the massive Asda nearby is probably worth the trip, but this Spar has a few offers on as well. Conveniently located right by Manchester university and lots of student halls, this Spar does exactly what a Spar should do.

The Spar off Oxford Road is a bit of a mystery to those of us who shop there. Once you have managed to find it (it takes a bit of brain power and sign-​reading), it is a fairly well stocked little supermarket, which sells most of what you need.
I say most of. The biggest problem with this Spar is the fact that it does not sell some very basic items. Plain flour, for example. They sell self-​raising flour, bread flour — sometimes even gluten-​free flour, but not plain flour. Least, if they do, they did not sell it when I needed it. Still, for a small corner shop, it does the trick. It can be very busy at odd times, but normally, compared to the Sainsbury’s further up Oxford Road, it is quieter, and easier to shop in.
The shop itself is easy to navigate, with all the food laid out simply and logically. Getting around the shop is easy, and is disabled friendly, with the exception of the front of the shop, which is often, if not always taken up with impatient queue-​ers. It might be best to try and work around them with your shop, and not rely on getting round the bottom of the aisles. Just to stay on the safe side. These people can get angry when not being served.

I know its boring to review a Spar but I really really want to tell everyone about Spar’s own Blue Bear energy drinks.
For fans of energy drinks, the discovery of this beverage, the details of which I am about to impart to you, will be a significant moment in life.
Imitation Red Bull is widespread. This we know. We also know what every attempt is an absolute failure. From the attempt of one of the worlds largest companies, Coca-​Cola, with Relentless, to the efforts of LIDL and ALDI whose energy drinks cost 27p, all attempts to reproduce Red Bull have proven completely futile.
Now that has changed. Spar have not only created a cheap imitation of Red Bull that is tasty and effective, but they’ve actually managed to create the best energy drink in the world ever, usurping Red Bull in the very act of attempting to copy it.
Blue Bear energy drinks are apple and grape in flavor, and as the bubbles hit your mouth the gorgeous fruity but not too sweet taste fills your mouth with joy. Then you feel wide awake and focused for several hours. Unbelievable.
Its only a pound and thirty pence for 2 cans, and there is not only a sugar free option but a delicious cranberry option too. Better still, its available in large bottles so you can stock up!
Other than that, a Spar is a Spar.

What makes this Spar special is that it is a great save to students studying at the University Place and the computer clusters behind it! It’s the nearest convenience store and it’s very helpful when you need something to munch on, grab quick food, or medicines or even stationary. Unlike many other Spar’s this isn’t open 24 hours which makes it a little less favourite.
Other than that, it’s a good use to university students and the location is to credit for it.