Holly or not ?

I saw this when we were in a friends garden but not really sure what it is. It certainly looks like holly leaves, but there very small (no more than 1/2 inch long) and has clumps of spikes on the stems as well as spikes on the leaves. As they haven't lived there very long they dont know much about it, but they think it flowered earlier in the year but cant remember what colour though. Dont know if its any help but it is a shrub about 5ft tall, and seems to be evergreen.
Any ideas anybody
Thanks Nigel

 

looks a bit berberis like to me

 

Yes, it looks like Berberis Darwinii (Darwin's Barberry) to me.

Not Berberis Darwinni I've just checked the one in my garden, the leaves though similar only have three thorns on each.

 

Berberis I'm fairly sure, but not B.darwinii as the leaves look too large. I'd go for B. calliantha or B. buxifolia.

Photo of B. calliantha here >
http://www.joycreek.com/571-012D4.htm