Small is beautiful in guide to best independent shops

From a shop specialising in high-end chocolates to the "ukulele capital" of London, these are the best independent stores in the city.

They appear on a new website - Unchainedguide.com - that helps consumers ditch chain stores for businesses with individuality.

Unchainedguide.com has been set up by three young Londoners. Lea Simpson, her partner Dave Birss and their friend Pedro Garcia recommend everything from bespoke jewellers to fishmongers.

More than 500 shops on the list can be found via type of business or postcode. People with a sweet tooth are guided to the Paul A Young chocolate shops in Islington and the City, where specialties include salted caramels. Musicians in need of a ukulele or banjo are directed to the Duke of Uke in Spitalfields. The site's founders, who all live in east London, said they were "sick of the banality of chains".