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Original poster

If you could live very close to one shop, which would it be?

237 replies

JMSA · 31/01/2026 14:19

I can’t lie, Home Bargains. I just love it.

OP posts:
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SorcererGaheris · 05/05/2026 15:47

Either Watkins Bookshop (London) or Courtyard Books (Glastonbury.) My two favourite occult bookshops.

cupfinalchaos · 05/05/2026 15:17

Harrods!

Allseeingallknowing · 05/05/2026 15:07

M&S

CoffeeCantata · 05/05/2026 13:48

Station Mill Antiques in Chipping Norton - just the best antiques and interiors emporium in the world!

But I'd be in debtors' prison if I lived anywhere near it.

Crikeyalmighty · 05/05/2026 13:43

When we lived in Copenhagen the thinks I really missed were M&S , TK Maxx and Boots - they do have plenty of chemists but an awful lot you simply cant buy over the counter and they simply don’t do ready meals - not that I want them all the time but when you can’t really get them it suddenly seems very inconvenient

LakieLady · 05/05/2026 09:26

Bulbsbulbsbulbs · 31/01/2026 14:50

M and S. I live in the countryside, a 50.minute drive from the nearest one. God I miss it, where I lived before it was a 10 minute walk.

I love the food Hall and I think the clothes are fab these days.

I'm about a 30 minute drive from an M&S, but our local BP petrol station shop is an M&S food shop, which is handy.

Massagetimemachine · 05/05/2026 09:12

Big Sainsbury’s

BIossomtoes · 05/05/2026 08:43

NormasArse · 04/05/2026 22:21

Booths is a two minute walk from my house. I often shop there, but I don’t get why it is so revered! There used to be lots of organic produce, but it’s getting less and less. There’s also an Aldi (right next door to Booths), which has some really interesting stuff in!

Show quote history

If you didn’t have access to Booths you’d understand. We used to make the Ripon store our first stop when we go to N Yorks on holiday. It’s the best of the best in the supermarket stakes.

NormasArse · 04/05/2026 22:21

HeadyLamarr · 31/01/2026 14:28

Booths. Although I'd be bankrupt within a year.

Booths is a two minute walk from my house. I often shop there, but I don’t get why it is so revered! There used to be lots of organic produce, but it’s getting less and less. There’s also an Aldi (right next door to Booths), which has some really interesting stuff in!

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 02/02/2026 21:01

Big Sainsbury’s
Waterstones
C&S Bakery in York

Speckly · 02/02/2026 20:03

Since reading this, DH and I have discussed the matter extensively over dinner and have decided on one of those giant Carrefour stores you get in France as they sell EVERYTHING and at decent prices 😊

RobinHumphries · 02/02/2026 18:18

Bravissimo

angela1952 · 02/02/2026 17:30

A decent butcher and fishmonger. There aren't either of these anywhere local and I only shop for two so supermarket meat doesn't really work for us.

TheLovelinessOfDemons · 02/02/2026 12:26

Lush.

Snakebite61 · 02/02/2026 08:30

JMSA · 31/01/2026 14:19

I can’t lie, Home Bargains. I just love it.

Lidl.

marshmallowfluffster · 02/02/2026 03:58

M&S food

I can’t really complain, I live a couple of miles from Lidl, Aldi and Asda. Morrisons and booths the same, Sainsburys and Tesco a bit further and Waitrose about 6 miles. B&M is 3 miles away and home bargains the same!

Hufflemuff · 02/02/2026 03:52

M&S food 💚

HelenaWaiting · 02/02/2026 03:10

SpiritOfEcstasy · 02/02/2026 02:46

I loved it all. The quality of their fresh fruit and veg. Their bakery and deli especially their almond stuffed olives. Great cheeses. And the free coffee. Great recipes too. I’m still making this nearly twenty years on 😂 https://www.waitrose.com/ecom/recipe/mediterranean-roasted-halloumi-with-basil-dressing My DDs loved attending their cookery school and they even hosted a GBBO party of one of my daughters birthdays …

They deliver to me. I once had to call them to ask them to let the driver know to be patient because I was on crutches having badly injured my leg. They sent me flowers.

BooneyBeautiful · 02/02/2026 03:04

LardoBurrows · 31/01/2026 14:45

Well, obviously it has to be Fortnum and Mason darling.

But until I win the Euro lottery, I will satisfy myself with a large Waitrose.

DD works just round the corner from The Royal Exchange, so I ask her to get Christmas and birthday presents from Fortnum and Mason for a family friend. When DD was little she always thought said friend was 'posh' (she isn't at all), so it's become a bit of standing joke now.

FrozenFebruary · 02/02/2026 03:04

SpiritOfEcstasy · 02/02/2026 02:46

I loved it all. The quality of their fresh fruit and veg. Their bakery and deli especially their almond stuffed olives. Great cheeses. And the free coffee. Great recipes too. I’m still making this nearly twenty years on 😂 https://www.waitrose.com/ecom/recipe/mediterranean-roasted-halloumi-with-basil-dressing My DDs loved attending their cookery school and they even hosted a GBBO party of one of my daughters birthdays …

That looks nice!

their recipes are online now,

maybe the ones I use (nearest 4) are all just too small to be impressive?!

I'll have to see where the nearest big one is. I think probably about half an hour away as it's with a John Lewis on the edge of a bigger town.

FrozenFebruary · 02/02/2026 02:55

I live a 5 minute walk one direction to wsitose
10 minute walk the other to the village, mini sainsburys, mini tesco, post office. Pubs, cafes, butchers & a fresh fish mongers (not for me as a vegetarian!) 2 Charity shops, a couple of card shops/newsagents. Laundrette. Drs. Hairdressers. Barbers. Numerous takeaway places. Vets.

a ten minute drive to massive m&s. Tesco. Next, sainsbury.

15/20 minute drive to pretty much everything else mentioned (except the specific individual places)

I don't think I'd want any of them any closer though thanks.

even when I couldn't drive for a couple of months, nor walk into the village there really wasn't anything I wanted any closer.

our village isn't a pretty one & doesnt have a 'high street' & I do miss that from living eksewhere though, so even though it's pretty practical here location wise, I still miss living somewhere more vibrant & pretty!

SpiritOfEcstasy · 02/02/2026 02:46

I loved it all. The quality of their fresh fruit and veg. Their bakery and deli especially their almond stuffed olives. Great cheeses. And the free coffee. Great recipes too. I’m still making this nearly twenty years on 😂 https://www.waitrose.com/ecom/recipe/mediterranean-roasted-halloumi-with-basil-dressing My DDs loved attending their cookery school and they even hosted a GBBO party of one of my daughters birthdays …

HelenaWaiting · 02/02/2026 02:41

Waitrose.

FrozenFebruary · 02/02/2026 02:39

SpiritOfEcstasy · 02/02/2026 02:03

Waitrose. I live in Ireland now and miss it so much 🙁

What do you miss?

I live a 5 minute walk from one but hardly ever go in there. I get my weekly shop kind frkm
Tesco.

they USED to have an own brand basil infused olive oil that was amazing, but they dropped it from their range.

oh & try other thing I lived was their olive rolls, but they changed them to 'long thin' sticks instead ' they're nowhere near as nice (I'm not supposed to eat bread & this does help🤣)

I'm vegetarian too.

but people always say 'Waitrose' & I'm not sure why?

Pinkwhales · 02/02/2026 02:39

I am very lucky as live within walking distance of Lidl (7 mins), Iceland, B&M, Aldi, Morrisons and independent shops (10 mins) plus a large Sainsbury's with an Argos (15 mins).
I mostly walk to the stores with my granny trolley. Wish we had an M&S though.