The General Chat Room

[oddoneout]

One of the stores in question did have more of a problem in that there is a travellers' site(legal) 5 minutes walk away down the road. I don't know how many signed up for or otherwise used a MyWaitrose card but their presence in store was not always appreciated even before the free coffee.....The opening of one of the so-called discount stores nearby seems to have largely resolved the issue.
I always thought it was a somewhat naive ploy and have not been surprised that modifications have had to be made, but a bit more thought beforehand could have prevented that unfortunate situation. Requiring a purchase of food in the cafe to get a free drink seems reasonable,(and has been going for quite some time) although I have on several occasions had to point out that needing a gluten-free option as I do their choice is limited and sometimes non-existent, necessitating a bit of a kerfuffle. I don't like cardboard buckets of hot drinks, especially tea, so like to have the civilised china cup cafe option on my infrequent forays -single person shopping doesn't justify regular 20 mile round trips when most of what I need is available within 5 minutes walk or drive of home!

[BBMmk2]

I submit that it's one for Waitrose...

The town where I live, there's a new Waitrose being built. Near the train station and just a stones throw away from Sainsbury's(!). I hear they are in a bit of financial trouble, so whether they'll ever open this branch or not, I beggar belief!

[Nick Armstrong]

I beggar belief!

[BBMmk2]

The real ale selection is rather good!

[BBMmk2]

The real ale selection is rather good!

I can't wait for the time when I can go into a pub, have a meal(which I o anyway), but be able to have a few beers with it! Ah, absolute bliss, that would be!

[ahinton]

The town where I live, there's a new Waitrose being built. Near the train station and just a stones throw away from Sainsbury's(!). I hear they are in a bit of financial trouble, so whether they'll ever open this branch or not, I beggar belief!

Waitrose hase been pushing forward with a massive expansion programme over several years now. I wouldn't say that they're "in a bit of financial trouble" per se; it's more a case that their most recent results have been the worst in years, but they seem to have managed better than most supermarkets over the longer term. Whether and to what extent its latest figures might represent a downward trend I do not know and only time will tell.

[Serial_Apologist]

The town where I live, there's a new Waitrose being built. Near the train station and just a stones throw away from Sainsbury's(!). I hear they are in a bit of financial trouble, so whether they'll ever open this branch or not, I beggar belief!

Located opposite and to the west of the Haywards Heath railway station (or train station as one is presumably supposed to say today, in correct American parlance) is, or was, the Hayworth Hotel, where I remember having worked for a fortnight back in 1966. On being ushered into the east-facing upstairs bedrooms, guests were informed just how lucky they were, since they would receive the morning sunshine; those being placed in the rear rooms were told that they were the the lucky ones, as that side of the building was shielded from the sounds of passing trains! I have fond memories of that brief secondment, and of seeing "Dr Terror's House of Horrors" (X Cert) with Peter Cushing at the local cinema. I wonder if that establishment still exists.

[Stanfordian]

The town where I live, there's a new Waitrose being built. Near the train station and just a stones throw away from Sainsbury's(!). I hear they are in a bit of financial trouble, so whether they'll ever open this branch or not, I beggar belief!

Hiya maestro,

In my town the Booths supermarket which was the main place to shop is virtually empty now as shoppers have decamped to the new Lidl. It's the same scenario in the neighbouring large town where the shoppers have largely left Sainsburys for a new Aldi.

From my regular trips to Germany they don't seem to have the supermarkets of the size of Tesco, Asda, Waitrose, Morrisons, Sainsburys. They have the budget supermarkets such as Lidl, Netto, Aldi, Ulrich, Kaiser then there is a big gap to the upmarket Department Stores in cities that have food halls like Karstadt, Galeria Kaufhof, KaDeWe.

In many German cities and large towns the massive ‘Saturn’ a German chain of electronics stores that sells household appliances, home entertainment, computers, cameras and media such as CDs and DVDs. Saturn which is always packed is in a handful of European counties but not the U.K. as far as I know which surprises me greatly.

[Bryn]

Waitrose hase been pushing forward with a massive expansion programme over several years now. I wouldn't say that they're "in a bit of financial trouble" per se; it's more a case that their most recent results have been the worst in years, but they seem to have managed better than most supermarkets over the longer term. Whether and to what extent its latest figures might represent a downward trend I do not know and only time will tell.

Shock horror! From Monday I am going to have to spend twice as much each day to get my 'free' copy of the Guardian on weekdays. I might have to cut down on reading misprints. At my local branches they are still happy to issue me with a disposable coffee cup on presentation of my "My Waitrose" card prior to shopping. Such is the dire financial mess they find themselves in. Oh, and yes, they are still doing relatively better than the 'big four'. Oh, and on two recent occasions the checkout partner has provided me with a free lightweight plastic carrier bag.

[Pianorak]

Waitrose - As of 1 Nov you have to spend £10 Mon-Fri (instead of the current £5) to get your free copy of The Times - other papers are available.

[Serial_Apologist]

Waitrose - As of 1 Nov you have to spend £10 Mon-Fri (instead of the current £5) to get your free copy of The Times - other papers are available.

I might just give the nearest Waitrose a go next week as a birthday present to myself. In the 12 years I've lived up here I have not shopped there (Beckenham) despited its being closer (3 miles away) than my nearest Tesco superstore (4 miles).

[vinteuil]

... I am lucky enough to have a waitrose within 500 yards, so that if I have an urgent need for a vacherin du Haut-Doubs* I don't need to go into town to la Fromagerie † .

Buying a vacherin and something else probably earns me enough credit for a free coffee. But I think the coffee we make at home is probably better so I've never asked...


* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vacherin


† http://www.lafromagerie.co.uk/cheeses/

[Zucchini]

You're always looking to impress us with your carefully nurtured projection of 1930s sophistication, vinteuil, however in this case I must join you:

Extraordinary but true! I was thinking only 2 days ago that I want a box of vacherin mont d'or now it's in our local cheese shop again.

Best served baked in the spruce box, topped with white wine, wrapped in foil IMO (as long as box is stapled not glued!). Do you agree. Yummy so yummy.

[vinteuil]

You're always looking to impress us with your carefully nurtured projection of 1930s sophistication, vinteuil,

... I'm clearly an abject failure here - I've been trying to nurture a projection of 1780s sophistication...

Extraordinary but true! I was thinking only 2 days ago that I want a box of vacherin mont d'or now it's in our local cheese shop again.

Best served baked in the spruce box, topped with white wine, wrapped in foil IMO (as long as box is stapled not glued!). Do you agree. Yummy so yummy.

... it's always good to see them back in the shops. They're truly seasonal (September to May) when the cows are down from the alpine pastures.

I think I prefer them as is, rather than baked - but baked is good too

[BBMmk2]

Located opposite and to the west of the Haywards Heath railway station (or train station as one is presumably supposed to say today, in correct American parlance) is, or was, the Hayworth Hotel, where I remember having worked for a fortnight back in 1966. On being ushered into the east-facing upstairs bedrooms, guests were informed just how lucky they were, since they would receive the morning sunshine; those being placed in the rear rooms were told that they were the the lucky ones, as that side of the building was shielded from the sounds of passing trains! I have fond memories of that brief secondment, and of seeing "Dr Terror's House of Horrors" (X Cert) with Peter Cushing at the local cinema. I wonder if that establishment still exists.

Hiya SA! I was only 10 yrs old back then! Yes, The Heyworth, known for under age drinking etc as well, iirr! alas no more. Demolished and a garage put in it its place and alas the local cinema had the same fate as well. There is a Londis store there now and an office block, very boring! But further down there, towards the station, there is a music shop! Beggar's belief!!