The Danish-owned chain has 21 branches in the UK – and it has everything you could ever need, from furniture and home decor to sweets and stationery
Shopping can be a real drain on the purse strings these days, especially when it comes to furniture and home goods. Everyday items like kitchen utensils, crockery, pots, and pans can feel like an uninspiring and pricey necessity.
For many, the go-to solution is a trip to IKEA. It’s a one-stop shop that somehow convinces you to load up your trolley with heaps of items you never realised you wanted or needed. However, if you can’t face the chaos that sometimes awaits behind the IKEA doors, then you might want to pay a visit to a much smaller shop boasting a very similar vibe.
Manchester Evening News writer James Holt recently stumbled upon Sostrene Grene, a Danish-owned retail chain with 21 branches in the UK. And after strolling around the Altrincham branch, he was left very impressed.
Immediately the first thing he noticed was its similarity to IKEA in terms of the layout. You’re guided in a clockwise loop from the entrance, to ensure you see each and every section of the varied store.
He said: “Delicious smells of scented candles and oils greeted me upon entering, with calming music playing in the background. It already instantly felt like it was going to be a serene shopping experience.”
Established in 2018, the store is a sanctuary for shoppers seeking tasteful gifts, charming trinkets, and an array of miscellaneous items, not to mention homewares, craft supplies, and furniture.
As James ventured further in, he was greeted by shelves adorned with pastel-hued vases, ceramic pots, notebooks, and tea towels. Nestled below were petite egg cups and Easter-themed gift boxes, all attractively priced under £10.
The shop floor then guides you towards an assortment of kitchenware, featuring chic jugs, bowls, plates, followed by cloths, towels, placemats, and glass jars. Rows upon rows of dishes, oven trays, and various baking trays are on display, each tagged with a modest price.
The store truly caters to every possible kitchen need.
Next, his favourite section – a wall dedicated to flavoured loose-leaf teas. DIY paper bags offer a selection of incredible flavours at just £1.78 a bag, including Twilight Glow (a blend of apple, lemongrass, and liquorice) and Forest Breeze (wild berries), complemented by metal tea strainers.
Sostrene Grene also serves as the ideal destination for those elusive small items that you can never seem to find – like napkin rings, nail clippers, kids’ craft kits, and egg cups. It’s a convenient one-stop shop that also doubles as a treasure trove for unique gift ideas.
The maze-like layout leads customers to an array of coloured wax candles, starting at a mere 80p. The next section is dedicated to arts and crafts, featuring paper bags, wrapping paper, cards, and various writing instruments.
It’s like a sweet shop for grown-ups, with items meticulously and attractively arranged on shelves in colour-coordinated displays, accompanied by mini chalkboards bearing handwritten prices. Large blank canvases, paintbrushes, and other craft supplies fill the wooden shelves from top to bottom.
The furniture section boasted chic chairs in various hues, priced reasonably between £50 and £100, along with bean bags, rugs, tables, cushions, footstools, and mirrors. While it may not offer as much variety as larger department stores and might not be the first choice for furniture shopping, its selection of colours and styles includes affordable pieces that would fit any home.
For typically pricey items like picture frames, canvases, and mirrors, the prices are surprisingly reasonable – starting from £3.38 for small photo frames to around £25 for a large mirror.
The store is brimming with adorable trinket boxes, candle holders, mirrors, lamps and a plethora of items you never knew you needed, such as back scratchers, egg cups, ceramic toilet brushes and rubber ice cube trays or cupcake tins, all neatly arranged on smaller shelves.
Customers can look forward to regular product updates and seasonal collections featuring modern interiors, hobby items, children’s toys, soft furnishings, kitchen accessories and more for occasions like Easter and Christmas.
For those who enjoy a leisurely browse without a specific goal in mind, this shop could be quite dangerous and leave you needing assistance with your bags. Much like for fans of Aldi’s middle aisle or B&M’s towering shelves, the shop virtually dictates what you need instead of the other way around.
James said: “It’s an extremely calming and pleasant shopping experience that doesn’t burn a hole in the wallet.”
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