Emmaus Mossley

This ‘charity superstore’ in an old cotton mill is a secondhand shopper’s dream – and a lot more besides. Run by homelessness charity Emmaus, it houses 26 residents who, alongside a place to live, get the support, training and opportunities they need to move forward in life. Together with local volunteers, they help run the superstore, while becoming part of a welcoming, caring community.

Secondhand furniture

It’s a big place so give yourself plenty of time to explore – especially if you fancy staying for a cup of tea and a toastie in the café. The ground floor is devoted to furniture with a wide range of clean, good-quality sofas, beds, tables and chests of drawers, at price points for all budgets. Everything is donated so you never know what you’ll find from one week to the next. There’s also a collectables room which is open on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday, where you’ll find vintage and rare items.

Preloved books, clothes and more

Head upstairs and the place really comes to life. Bunting, bicycles and Chinese lanterns hang from the ceiling and the mill floor is split into a series of mini shops. There’s vinyl, and books; toys; glassware and kitchenware; clothes, accessories and jewellery; bric-a-brac; and haberdashery and craft materials. There are also handmade items from the weekly upcycling group that meets here – patchwork blankets, knitted hats and so on.

Prices are on the cheaper side – the clothes tend to be high street and supermarket brands rather than designer or vintage, though they sometimes have a dedicated rack for more sought-after pieces. It’s well worth a rummage either way – I got a pair of RonHill running shorts for £3, and I spotted M&S, Topshop, Boden and Zara amongst the fast fashion.

Emmaus Mossley is all about reusing, recycling and finding a better way of doing things. If you like feel-good thrifting, it’s for you.