'I went to the region's best charity shop and couldn't believe what I got for under £20'

There are many trinkets, treasures and pre-loved treats to be found in any of the hundreds of charity shops dotted around the country.

But one store in Bolton holds the esteemed position of the best of them all.

Bolton Hospice charity shop, on Hillview Road in Astley Bridge has been awarded best in the North West by the Charity Retail Association.

In recognition of the honour, I decided to head down with £20 in my pocket to see for myself whether it really was the best in the North - and to find out what I could buy without breaking the bank.

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Arriving at the Bolton Hospice shop, my first impressions were that it was mightier than I had been expecting - and far from the usual charity shop you might expect on the high street.

Divided into two, the unit features a charity shop on one side and a community cafe on the other, both run entirely by volunteers. Whilst the smell of fresh toast tried very hard to lure me right into the café, I managed to resist the immediate temptation.

I headed straight to the aisles to see what I should spend my £20 with.

The first thing that caught my attention when I walked in was the abundance of Christmas-themed items - with tinsel, cards, gifts and Santa-themed all up for the offering. Being a recent cat uncle, my eyes immediately latched onto a festive pet costume that’s new with tags for £2. The cat’s going to wear it for about two seconds and hate me forever for it, but it was impossible to resist and went in my shopping bag right away.

Steering away from the festive aisles, there were then rows and rows of clothes - ranging from children's, easily broken up into ages and genders, to men's and women's. Here, I spot a jazzy little jacket for my seven-year-old niece for just £2.50 and I’m drawn to just how reasonable the prices seem to be - considering some of the pretty eye-watering price tags I've seen in the few charity shops I’ve been in over the last few months.

I have a look around the rest of the clothes sections and whilst I do spot a cute Harry Potter robe and tie for £4 and a kid’s adidas jacket priced similarly, there's not really anything that catches my attention. But in-between the aisles, there’s a few crates full of brand new, still packaged clothes from Avon, including the likes of pyjamas, scarfs, hats and gloves.

Whilst sizes are very limited, I pick up a nice wine red hat and scarf set priced at £5. It looks thick and fluffy, and will be perfect for the wintery months, so I decide it will go nicely as a Christmas present for a family member - I’ve just not decided who yet. Better yet, trying to compare how much it would cost if bought direct, the cheapest I could find it online was for £12.

Over in the toys and games section, I find a little family-friendly trivia quiz set that’s just 80p. I’m sure it will get played a couple of times over the Christmas holidays.

There’s also a range of dolls, teddies, board games, and play sets on offer for reasonable prices too.

Whilst looking through the books, I spot an unpriced John Cooper Clarke poem book that looks brand new. Its front cover is a little worn, but the pages inside still have that fresh book smell to it, which suggests to me it’s something that has sadly been on someone’s shelf unread. When I go up to the counter to ask how much it is, the £1 price point is enough for me to keep hold of it.

Near the books, there’s a homeware section that, putting it politely, varies in taste. Whilst the ‘be a Flamingo in a flock of pigeons’ sign and the 'face lift fund' piggy bank get an internal eye roll from me, I'm sure it will find a loving home in no time. However, there’s a row of suitcases below that do pique my interest.

Amongst them, priced between £3 and £6, is a decent black case that could be good for short-haul trips. It’s not brand new by any stretch of the imagination, but it’s clearly only been used a handful of times. And, considering it’s just £3, it has all its stitchings, zips and compartments still in order.

Heading to the counter, I’m greeted by more Christmas items including a cute glittery candle. Whilst it’s still in its original packaging, there’s nothing to suggest what scent it is possessing, but at £3, i’m sure it’ll be another good present addition somewhere along the line.

With my total coming up to £17.30, I’ve managed to come out with a nice bit of change from my £20. What sticks in my mind most about my visit is just how affordable things are and how most items on sale are in very good condition, if not still brand new.

With the bit of spare cash left over, I’ve decided that means that there is now more than enough reason now for me to go and explore the café next door. Ordering a pot of tea and a toasted teacake, at a total of £4.70, I sit down and take in the surroundings.

The café serves a range of HM Pasties, breakfasts, sandwiches and homemade cakes, with the server telling me the Eccles Cakes were served up warm earlier in the day because they were so freshly made.

When the goblet of tea arrives in a very fancy pot and saucer situation, I hear others in the café, who are very obviously regulars, talking to each other about their day. It’s here where I realise why this charity shop has been voted the best in the North West. Firstly, it’s not everyday you get a café inside a charity shop, but, secondly, it’s clear it’s held dear to the community.

The regulars talk to the volunteers as if they are best friends, recalling what they’ve just bought in the shop or what they’ve donated themselves this week, whilst checking up on each other. Another, hearing that a new menu is on the way, is making her opinion heard that the selection of sandwiches must not, under any circumstances, be changed.

In announcing the winners of The UK’s Favourite Charity Shop Awards, Robin Osterley, Chief Executive of the Charity Retail Association, spoke about how the number of votes for shops in each region highlighted ‘what these wonderful organisations mean to the local community’.

Spending just half an hour in the Bolton Hospice charity shop (and café), I can see that it certainly means a lot here - and is a truly special place where you might just also happen to come across a few bargains too. Plus, the cakes look great.