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Original poster

So, how bad is it near you?

141 replies

LoudestRoar · 22/12/2018 11:32

DH was in Asda by 8am thos morning, and he said it was carnage.

The local town centre has had hour long queues for the car parks the last couple of days, with warnings it's going to be worse this weekend.
Luckily, we're all done now, but is any one else stuck in the chaos?

OP posts:
TheFifthKey · 22/12/2018 11:33

I went to Lidl at 10am - it’s hard to park there on a Saturday at the best of times but there were loads of spaces, strolled around a very well-stocked shop and joined a short queue where I had a nice chat with an unstressed cashier. Back home in 5 mins. Almost disappointing!

Earlywalker · 22/12/2018 11:35

The local Tesco had cars queing to get in out onto the road and a roundabout! I need to go as I’m stressing how last minute I’m leaving it but can’t face it yet

onestitchaway · 22/12/2018 11:38

DD and I went in to town yesterday. I was dreading it but apart from a short 5/10 minute wait for a parking space it wasn’t that bad at all. Food shopping I did online and apart from chocolate milk everything was there. Poor kids Xmas Wink

formerbabe · 22/12/2018 11:40

I've been to three supermarkets this morning! Aldi was packed...m&s busy but not too bad and Sainsbury's was like any other weekend really.

Pinkyponkcustard · 22/12/2018 11:45

Horrendous in Aldi - people queuing out of the door to get in!

Not bad at our local big out of town retail park though.

KeysHairbandNotepad · 22/12/2018 11:47

Pretty bad here. Went to our local shopping centre (central London) for a few essentials yesterday and it was rammed.

Saturdaycartoon · 22/12/2018 11:48

Enjoying my hair appointment that I booked at 9.30 this morning and heading for nails after which I tried to book and they said just to drop in. So absolutely fine!

ShepherdsPipeCarol · 22/12/2018 11:53

I work in a department store. It is busy today, but it was busier this time yesterday.

bigbluebus · 22/12/2018 11:58

We went into town at 9.00am this morning. I pared in Lidl car par - there were no spaces which is unusual - had to wait for someone to back out of one - but the store itself was quieter than I expected. They had 4 tills open though which is more than usual.
DH went to the butcher and the baer and both had "a steady stream" of customers.

DoveSecret · 22/12/2018 12:08

Usual Saturday morning. I only went down to buy stuff I couldn’t get at Aldi. In and out in minutes.

Even went to the garden centre ti buy decorations for next year as they were 75% off!

MeetOnTheSIedge · 22/12/2018 12:09

Last year I did my supermarket shopping at 8am on Christmas Eve and it was lovely and quiet, been quiet all week at the local big town centre. Avoiding shopping today though.

BalthazarsAThirstyBitch · 22/12/2018 12:10

Asda at 8am looked like a plague of locusts had a attacked, luckily I only popped in to get a couple of bits I’d missed of my click and collect. Sainsbury’s was filling up fast at 8.15 but again I only popped in to pick up an order. Hopefully I’m done with shops until the new year, I can’t stand busy shops, turns me into the Grinch.

LoniceraJaponica · 22/12/2018 12:10

I went yesterday Grin

AllYeFaithful · 22/12/2018 12:11

Local big Sainsbury’s wasn’t any busier than usual

Lwmommy · 22/12/2018 12:12

Asda in Leicester was carnage, trolleys at dawn, mind your ankles and shelves looked like the apocalypse had hit.

Oddsocksandmeatballs · 22/12/2018 12:12

Very quiet, no problems parking, shopping done, no huge queues at the tills, roads clear.

happypotamus · 22/12/2018 12:16

We went to the supermarket yesterday afternoon. It was fine. Usually takes 20-30mins to get off the car park (it's new, only been open a few weeks, god knows why they designed it to be like that), but didn't yesterday. DH has just gone back for things we got have got from our local corner shop or done without Confused. He also talked about going into the city centre, and totally expects these experiences to be easy Hmm. Will see what tales of carnage he has to tell when he returns.

BrendasUmbrella · 22/12/2018 12:20

Heaving in Tesco but the lines moved quickly. I have to pick the turkey up at 10am tomorrow. I'm dreading it.

KindergartenKop · 22/12/2018 12:21

My son wanted to go to the supermarket today just for a ride in the trolley. I declined. My Ocado shop is coming tomorrow. Cue interesting substitution threads.

DontDribbleOnTheCarpet · 22/12/2018 12:21

I went yesterday and I'm not going again until after New Year! Experience tells me it will be horrific and the same people filling two trollies each today will be back on Boxing Day for more.

Hen2018 · 22/12/2018 12:23

I haven’t popped in the shop yet today. Sometimes there can be 10 people in at once!

An hours round trip to the nearest supermarket but I’ve got everything in now.

ohwellinthatcasetryprunes · 22/12/2018 12:23

Went to my local Morrisons at about 9.15 this morning, and the car park was three-quarters empty. The only queue I saw was the lorries waiting to unload round the back. Got all the veg, drinks and a few other bits and pieces no trouble at all, and there was only one person in the queue in front of me. The person on the checkout said I'd timed it just right as it had been really busy earlier on, and I had hit a lull Grin

Dahlietta · 22/12/2018 12:24

I was at Waitrose in town at 9am. It was fine - like 11am on a normal Saturday. Town itself was quiet enough. I left at 10:30 and there were still spaces in the car park, which is not always the case on a Saturday. Weird.

RedPandaMama · 22/12/2018 12:26

Not going out in the car today as Google maps says bad traffic. We live in a small town (has a Tesco, Wilko, Home Bargains all walkable) so going to pick up bits from there. The proper town is about a 15 min drive usually, with 4 huge car parks. Yesterday took me 30 mins to drive there plus 20 mins to wait for a parking space. Mayhem and not doing that again! Came home and ordered everything I needed on Amazon prime. Grin

Lattesforlife · 22/12/2018 12:27

I just went for a coffee at Costa and noticed the Aldi car park was practically empty... decided to take advantage, it was empty with shelves fully stocked. Ds was a little bugger regardless but I’m not leaving the house now till new year. Wooohooo!