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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:
Elliejojo · 22/12/2018 13:07

We went to a retail park this morning, it was like a normal Saturday, easy to park and only one or two people in front of us in the queue.

drinkswineoutofamug · 22/12/2018 13:09

Went to aldi this morning. Found a parking space right away. Town busy but no major queues. Forgot the sprout so nipping up to our local Tesco metro later.

flameycakes · 22/12/2018 13:21

I was in Asda 6.30 this morning, it wasn't overly busy, got through the till pretty fast, got out at 7.30 when everyone started turning up x

Touchmybum · 22/12/2018 13:21

Sainsburys was fine yesterday evening. Nice delivery man just left off my order too. Refuse to set foot in a shop again pre-Christmas.

ScreamingValenta · 22/12/2018 13:25

Tesco was a bit busier than usual for a Saturday, but not awful. Only one person ahead of us in the queue when we came to pay. The car park seemed fuller than the shop - but there are no other shops on the site.

WinkyisbackontheButterBeer · 22/12/2018 13:26

Oh god. I don’t get paid until Christmas Eve so cant go until then. It’s going to be horrific isn’t it? Sad

ScreamingValenta · 22/12/2018 13:27

Winky I reckon tomorrow will be worse than Monday.

chocolateworshipper · 22/12/2018 13:37

DH wanted to go into town just after 11. I was trying to convince him that it was an insane idea, but incredibly there was no queue to get into the car park!

Upsy1981 · 22/12/2018 13:42

Lovely at 6am! DH and DD have just popped into town now for some last bits so will see how it is now.

GobblersKnob · 22/12/2018 13:44

Been into city centre (major city) and done some last bits, was quite quiet I thought for last weekend before.

HalloumiGus · 22/12/2018 13:47

I think a lot of people went yesterday instead. I did our food shop yesterday and it was all very calm apart from the teatime rush. Going to walk into our little town for a coffee and buy a couple of last minute gifts but this is always our most chilled day over Christmas.

AcrossthePond55 · 22/12/2018 13:55

I live semi-rurally in the US. Was at our local coffee place yesterday and someone was saying that they got off the freeway at the nearest shopping centre and when they turned into the parking lot, they simply turned around and left. She said the parking lot looked like Dante's Inferno and if it was that bad simply looking for a spot, she didn't want to go anywhere near the shops.

DH has volunteered to pick up the fresh veg and last minute items on Sunday or Monday so I'm DONE with shopping and plan to stay buried here in the country.

NoWordForFluffy · 22/12/2018 14:06

Our town centre was really busy yesterday, especially M&S. Traffic surrounding the town was seriously busy too.

Liverpool centre wasn't too bad at 9am today, but there were some queues for shops before they opened and I bet it's hellish right now, as it's always busy, even when it's not Christmas!

TheFirstOHN · 22/12/2018 14:06

When the local (premier league) football team is playing at home, the traffic is problematic at the best of times. The football ground is next to the hospital and my workplace (too far away to walk) is 1/4 mile from both.

Add in traffic for the shopping centre and retail parks, and it's near gridlock. A couple of weekends ago there was a two hour queue to leave the supermarket car park.

HaudYerWheestHen · 22/12/2018 14:12

We went to Marks and Spencer yesterday and it was crazy busy. I was really surprised at how horrendously rude people were. I must have been shoved out of the way a dozen times in M&S by little old ladies who would arm barge me and jump in the queue ahead of us with a scowl and a huff. I was really surprised! Rude shits!

You don't get that nonsense in Aldi and Tesco!

Notquiteagandt · 22/12/2018 14:14

Really quiet just been m&s and waitrose. Carparks where full but tills at most 2 people deep. Felt busy but not unbarable. No ques or anything to get in the carpark. Shelves filled no gaps.

Was plesantly surprised. Can only think be busier tomorrow and monday.

Knittink · 22/12/2018 14:14

I went to Asda yesterday afternoon. Not much busier than normal. Went into town this morning for a last couple of presents. Less busy than a normal Saturday!

DaysOfCurlySpencer · 22/12/2018 14:23

bigbluebus, would you like me to send you a k for Christmas Grin?

NoWordForFluffy · 22/12/2018 14:32

&HaudYerWheestHen, if it wasn't for your user name suggesting you're a good couple of hundred miles' away, I'd say you'd been into the same M&S as me yesterday!

Thecurtainsofdestiny · 22/12/2018 14:38

I was in Lidl at between 9.30 and 10am

İt was very quiet.

outforawalkbitch2018 · 22/12/2018 14:42

I've just been to our local Tesco (we go this time every week) and if anything it was quieter than usual Hmm

I was fully prepared to be fighting off the hoards but it was fine

ShesABelter · 22/12/2018 14:45

Yesterday was super busy here. Today it's fine. No traffic queues. Towns fairly quiet compared to even a normal day.

Flutternotsoshy · 22/12/2018 14:56

Popped into Lidl at 1:40 today. Same as a normal Saturday. No problems parking (except the idiot who was going the wrong way round a one way system)

Going farm shop in the morning for veg

JennyOnAPlate · 22/12/2018 14:58

I'm dithering over whether to go this evening (would need to be about 6) or first thing tomorrow. No doubt whichever I decide will turn out to be the wrong thing and it will be hell.

HollySwift · 22/12/2018 14:59

We’ve just been into central Portsmouth and I’ve seen it busier at non Christmas times tbh. The traffic wasn’t even bad!

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