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Original poster

Home Bargains - Tom Kitchin cookware and READY MEALS

24 replies

likelysuspect · 09/11/2026 20:24

My god, OH likes buying beige and so I picked up some meat pies in Home Bargains for him, steak and then also chicken and something (leek?)

By Tom Kitchin. I have bought some of his cookware in there and didnt think at this time that it was a bit odd that a Michelin starred chef was selling pots and pans in what is essentially the Woolies replacement

Anyway, I picked up these pies for him and I always try a bit of his dinner even though its beneath me (!), my god I loved them.

So then Ive bought OH some other ready meals, the fish pie and a curry, really really nice. Bit salty but then I use quite high salt levels in my own cooking.

So Im sat there with my batch cooking (which would give Kitchin a run for his money to be fair) and OH is eating cheapo Michelin star chef ready meals. Bizarre.

I find it quite a strange combo, like if the Roux brothers started making spag bol for Poundland or something.

Im surprised its so nice as well.

OP posts:
faeriesandelves · 09/11/2026 21:22

Which HB is this please for the pies as my one only has a small chilled section with basics!!

Katemax82 · 09/11/2026 22:29

My daughter only likes his chips..no other brand

NotAnotherScarf · 09/11/2026 22:32

Op he's not personally banging out the pies from his kitchen in his 3 bed semi. He's approved the ingredients for the price point and stuck his name on it.

Just like Bernard Mathews wasn't breading all the turkey twislers and Stella McCartney wasn't slicing courgettes for her veggie stuff

Original poster
likelysuspect · 09/11/2026 23:11

NotAnotherScarf · 09/11/2026 22:32

Op he's not personally banging out the pies from his kitchen in his 3 bed semi. He's approved the ingredients for the price point and stuck his name on it.

Just like Bernard Mathews wasn't breading all the turkey twislers and Stella McCartney wasn't slicing courgettes for her veggie stuff

Well to be fair, Im not sure there was someone called Bernard Matthews was there?

And poor old Stella makes dresses out of courgettes, not burgers.

OP posts:
IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 10/11/2026 07:13

Bernard Matthews was a real person, and real Norfolk turkey farmer. Anyone with a tv in the 1970s & 80s will remember his “bootiful” TV adverts with him standing in his fields.

Equally, Linda McCartney (& Paul) were the driving force behind her vegetarian convenience food brand in the late 90s in conjunction with one of the big frozen food brands. Ross I think. The McCartneys were famously vegetarian, at a time it was t that common. She released a veggie cook book first. The sausages and pies followed.

Both brands are now owned by big brands, after their famous face founders deaths, but they were both real people, really involved. TBF, I’m not sure Linda was actually chopping courgettes.

Now Aunt Bessie…

Original poster
likelysuspect · 10/11/2026 07:34

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 10/11/2026 07:13

Bernard Matthews was a real person, and real Norfolk turkey farmer. Anyone with a tv in the 1970s & 80s will remember his “bootiful” TV adverts with him standing in his fields.

Equally, Linda McCartney (& Paul) were the driving force behind her vegetarian convenience food brand in the late 90s in conjunction with one of the big frozen food brands. Ross I think. The McCartneys were famously vegetarian, at a time it was t that common. She released a veggie cook book first. The sausages and pies followed.

Both brands are now owned by big brands, after their famous face founders deaths, but they were both real people, really involved. TBF, I’m not sure Linda was actually chopping courgettes.

Now Aunt Bessie…

I remember the ads. I thought he was an actor?

Sorry Bernie.

OP posts:
EnjoythemoneyJane · 10/11/2026 07:44

My perception (though I might be wrong) is that celeb endorsed products that end up in Home Bargains are usually discontinued end-of-line stuff, or ranges that haven’t done particularly well in their original setting, not collaborations with HB. I’d stock up on your DH’s Kitchin pies because once they’re gone, they won’t be back!

TrickorTreacle · 10/11/2026 08:01

Ready meals belong in either chilled or frozen and I've never known Home Bargains to stock chilled or frozen. It's mostly a hardware store but any food it does stock is shelf food - cereals, jars, tins, bread, snacks, soft drinks and alcoholic drinks.

You might be thinking of B&M Bargains which does stock chilled and frozen.

At least you said Home Bargains though, not Home and Bargains.

Katyapup · 10/11/2026 08:04

TrickorTreacle · 10/11/2026 08:01

Ready meals belong in either chilled or frozen and I've never known Home Bargains to stock chilled or frozen. It's mostly a hardware store but any food it does stock is shelf food - cereals, jars, tins, bread, snacks, soft drinks and alcoholic drinks.

You might be thinking of B&M Bargains which does stock chilled and frozen.

At least you said Home Bargains though, not Home and Bargains.

We have a Home Bargains with a freezer section and a B&M (that doesn't) 🤷‍♀️

Bjorkdidit · 10/11/2026 08:38

TrickorTreacle · 10/11/2026 08:01

Ready meals belong in either chilled or frozen and I've never known Home Bargains to stock chilled or frozen. It's mostly a hardware store but any food it does stock is shelf food - cereals, jars, tins, bread, snacks, soft drinks and alcoholic drinks.

You might be thinking of B&M Bargains which does stock chilled and frozen.

At least you said Home Bargains though, not Home and Bargains.

I frequent two Home Bargains, both of which sell fresh and frozen food. I will be looking out for these.

However, I suspect that, like a PP says, they're a discontinued product/failed launch so will be a one off. Enjoy them while they last. I get some great bargains and interesting things from both HB and Heron, but they are often never seen again.

BloodyFireworksAgain · 10/11/2026 08:57

TrickorTreacle · 10/11/2026 08:01

Ready meals belong in either chilled or frozen and I've never known Home Bargains to stock chilled or frozen. It's mostly a hardware store but any food it does stock is shelf food - cereals, jars, tins, bread, snacks, soft drinks and alcoholic drinks.

You might be thinking of B&M Bargains which does stock chilled and frozen.

At least you said Home Bargains though, not Home and Bargains.

Many Home Bargains do have chilled and freezer sections.

TrickorTreacle · 10/11/2026 12:32

Thanks for the above posters. I had to put it in ChatGPT and it agrees with the above posts, but where I live it's definitely the opposite way round!

Original poster
likelysuspect · 10/11/2026 18:35

TrickorTreacle · 10/11/2026 08:01

Ready meals belong in either chilled or frozen and I've never known Home Bargains to stock chilled or frozen. It's mostly a hardware store but any food it does stock is shelf food - cereals, jars, tins, bread, snacks, soft drinks and alcoholic drinks.

You might be thinking of B&M Bargains which does stock chilled and frozen.

At least you said Home Bargains though, not Home and Bargains.

Its Home Bargains I get me OH's pies in. And he likes a pie

If he is lucky, I go down a few standards and get him a Fray Bentos as well.

OP posts:
Electricsausages · 10/11/2026 18:55

Our nearest home bargains has fridges and freezers
i may have to put one of his pies to the test

cuckoolodger · 10/11/2026 19:21

Katemax82 · 09/11/2026 22:29

My daughter only likes his chips..no other brand

The black ones? I picked a bag up by chance three weeks ago as I knew we were out and it was the only shop I was going into. Did my DH and dd egg chips and beans and dd vanished into her room. Within 20 minutes both of them told me separately that they were the nicest skin on fries that I’d ever got and they only want those from now on. I’m now buying two bags a week as we all love them 😂. Will defo have to try the rest of the range.

cuckoolodger · 10/11/2026 19:25

TrickorTreacle · 10/11/2026 08:01

Ready meals belong in either chilled or frozen and I've never known Home Bargains to stock chilled or frozen. It's mostly a hardware store but any food it does stock is shelf food - cereals, jars, tins, bread, snacks, soft drinks and alcoholic drinks.

You might be thinking of B&M Bargains which does stock chilled and frozen.

At least you said Home Bargains though, not Home and Bargains.

It IS home and bargains in the area where it originated. I live near the original store and it WAS home and bargains for my entire childhood. It’s still called home and bargains in lots of places in the north.

faeriesandelves · 10/11/2026 20:56

Found a Home Bargains with freezers and stocked up OP. DH had the Tom Kitchen lasagne for a quick dinner and loved it ! Got the chips too but yet to try. Thanks.

Original poster
likelysuspect · 10/11/2026 21:18

faeriesandelves · 10/11/2026 20:56

Found a Home Bargains with freezers and stocked up OP. DH had the Tom Kitchen lasagne for a quick dinner and loved it ! Got the chips too but yet to try. Thanks.

Oh thats interesting, not sure Ive seen a lasagne. Not sure OH likes lasagne.

OP posts:
faeriesandelves · 10/11/2026 21:28

They had a good choice of TK frozen ready meals - steak & ale pies, chicken and leek pies, smoked salmon lasagne (not sure about that one) lasagne al forno, fish pie, cottage pies and chips in the London Colney branch.

Original poster
likelysuspect · 10/11/2026 21:55

And talk of the devil, OH has got home and is going to put one of his pies on. Nice.

Ive had a duck salad.

But I will still have a forkful of his pie later when I go sniffing round his dinner!!!

OP posts:
GoldenGail · 11/11/2026 22:37

TrickorTreacle · 10/11/2026 08:01

Ready meals belong in either chilled or frozen and I've never known Home Bargains to stock chilled or frozen. It's mostly a hardware store but any food it does stock is shelf food - cereals, jars, tins, bread, snacks, soft drinks and alcoholic drinks.

You might be thinking of B&M Bargains which does stock chilled and frozen.

At least you said Home Bargains though, not Home and Bargains.

MY Home Bargains has loads of fresh food, fruit and veg and freezers full of food at great prices. Their pies are delicious.

Blondeshavemorefun · 12/11/2026 13:59

TrickorTreacle · 10/11/2026 08:01

Ready meals belong in either chilled or frozen and I've never known Home Bargains to stock chilled or frozen. It's mostly a hardware store but any food it does stock is shelf food - cereals, jars, tins, bread, snacks, soft drinks and alcoholic drinks.

You might be thinking of B&M Bargains which does stock chilled and frozen.

At least you said Home Bargains though, not Home and Bargains.

My home bargains has a huge fridge and freezer of food stuff

their sweet and sour chicken/ balls in foil dishes is really nice

NoisyUmberBalonz · 12/11/2026 14:16

He's been forced to go low rent because he's a nasty bully and got caught. I've always found him sinister so I enjoy him eking out a living that he probably (hopefully)despises given his arrogance.

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