To do a Christmas food shop in person on 23rd?

We went to Morrisons yesterday around 2.30 pm and it was fairly quiet. Today we were in Marks around 11 am. Quite busy but not manic. The shelves were full
In both places. This is in Leeds.

Went to Aldi at 4 and got mostly everything I needed. Shelves constantly being restocked, poor staff nearly being trampled on, they do a sterling job.

I went to our local Tesco at 05:30 this morning, deserted ! Wonderful !

I did mine yesterday, at 5pm with 2 of my teens. The supermarket was no busier than a normal weekday evening, they had everything i wanted and needed, and i went to an manned till with no queue. Completely stressfree shopping. It was an absolute doddle. I was shocked!

My only advice would be to go really early. M&S at 11am had loads of empty freezers and empty shelves. I got a couple of my essential things taking the last one on the shelf. I know they may be restocking throughout the day, but with staffing levels as they are, I would not risk it.

I always go in person, my daughter loves to come, we always see people we know and it's quite jolly. I've never had a problem getting anything I want. Go early in the day for a big chicken. I'll be going on 22nd. Christmas Eve is when the big bargains are to be had...

I have always shopped on 23rd or 24 th depending on working days and never had a problem. I have ordered the turkey and sausage meat for pick up but notice that there are often frozen birds available last minute

You'll be able to buy things like chicken and mince pies with no difficulty at all on 23 December.

I realise this may not be the usual way, but I do mine latish Christmas Eve, other than the free range bird that I order from a local farm. The supermarkets shut around 7pm, I get there around 5. Never had an issue getting everything I need, the shelves are often being restocked ready for Boxing Day, and it's usually deserted, no queues. I have a big family two so usually have twenty plus people for Xmas lunch

I think you couldn't buy alcohol before 12pm.

There was a period after Sunday trading was introduced where alcohol sales were banned during certain times. I think it was because alcohol sales are subject to different legislation and it wasn't until alcohol licensing laws were revised that the restriction went away.

Me and DD always do the last xmas shop on either the 23rd or 24th at 6am as soon as the big sainsburys opens. It is always fully stocked and we get in before all the crowds arrive (it opens an hour earlier before xmas and I am not sure everyone realises!)
I slowly stock up on non perishables in the lead up to xmas and things that we really want but might go out of stock that I can put in the freezer.

Never had an issue and normally get pretty much everything. sometimes no satsumas for example but that is more because shops tend to offer horrible easy peelers or tangerines or clementines, none of which are a suitable alternative but that is another issue!

Yes, no restrictions of times to sell or minimum alcohol prices.

Though I do remember as a kid, seeing the booze aisles with barriers up. Can’t remember when this was or what time of the year it was.

When I was a child, my father worked in the City, and had a lot of business with the wholesale markets which were in Central London then ( Covent Garden, Billingsgate, Smithfield). He used to take my mother and me to Smithfield at three o’clock on Christmas Eve when they auctioned all the poultry, to buy our Christmas bird. Then we would have hot chocolate at one of the stalls ( he might have had something stronger).

So I don’t have much trouble with late Christmas shopping! I hope you get everything you need 🥂

I did this one year when my parents had not got any turkey when I arrived for Christmas. I did manage to fine one on but only in about the 5th supermarket I tried. I usually get meat in advance and freeze now...

Same here - as soon as store opens Xmas eve - have never had an issue getting the good we want. I usually buy a stuffed chicken so they are always in stock.

Hang on a minute, do English supermarkets sell booze 24/7?

In Scotland, it's only between 10am and 10pm so I couldn't go at 6am/midnight even if I wanted to.

I’ll be doing this. Expecting it to be horribly busy, but I’m also going away this weekend, so no choice. I do it most years, though- haven’t got a big enough fridge to stock up in advance!- and I’ve never had problems with things not being available.

We went round the shops last year as i missed the delivery slot. i was dreading it but it was great, everything we wanted on offer, some bargains to be had as well as a lot of food is dated 24th Dec!

We actually save more money by going on the 27th.

My parents never do online shopping for food as DM wants the best possible dates and she then can have a rummage through the yellow stickered items.

After Christmas is a good time to get lots of reductions - both Christmas and normal foods.

Never had a Xmas shop delivered because we live somewhere that still has a greengrocers and butchers so can get non- perishable stuff from the supermarket wells before - but I do enjoy the MN threads on Christmas eve from the people who've had their turkey substituted with lamb chops and all the presents they ordered have been refunded. With the usual bonkers reasoning that they booked their slot in September and therefore all items should have been available.

This is what we’ll be doing and I expect it will be fine. I’ve done either deliveries or click and collect the past few years, but there’s always a vital element or two missing meaning I have to go dashing round the shops last minute anyway.

We do have the turkey ordered and someone bringing desert, but need a gammon joint and all the veg and trimmings.

My friend ended up needing to go late afternoon Christmas Eve last year (they were due at relatives but was cancelled last minute due to illness) and she said it was quieter that it had been in weeks and she easily got everything she needed. Similarly, when I’ve gone first thing in the past it’s been absolutely heaving as everyone has the same idea.

All that said, I’m not brave enough to leave it any later so I’ll be there when the doors open on 23rd with the rest of the hordes!