WIBU to get a train just to stock up at Booths for Christmas?

[BoothsRun]

I love Booths and I haven’t been for a while. Unfortunately we don’t have one locally, just Waitrose(Which I also love) but I’m considering making a run to Booths and stocking up on their Christmas food, a few gifts and general bits. Partly for the fun of it and partly because I want to treat myself and family. There’s also a favourite deli of mine nearby that I could get some bits from too.

The train takes about 1 hour 20-30, Booths is 5 minutes walk from the train station and I’m 3 minutes walk away from the train station when I get home.

Would this work if I take cool bags and cool packs? I don’t drive so that isn’t an option.

Sounds like a cracking day OP. I’d make a day of it. I’d not take ice blocks…I’d take some empty plastic tubs and buy some bags of ice in the store. Takes the time pressure off the day.

Every place I've lived for the last 25 years has had a branch of Booths 😏

Agree, my husband has two office locations and, praise the Lord, it was the nearer to Booths one on the day the Christmas book came out. He was straight in there!

We do top up shops at Booths but we just get the book to ooh and ahh at and then never get any Christmas stuff. I've mooted a chicken parcel and a pudding but he's wedded to the Aldi roulade - which is no skin off my nose as his dad and I have Christmas pudding!

Has that been your criteria for moving?!

You think your life isn't exciting, im sat here jealous of you

Maybe a pallet load of Booths Christmas book needs to be delivered to Mumsnet HQ for people to get sent to them !

Thanks everyone and thanks too for the tips/suggestions. I wish that I could take you all with me.

I’m going to be controversial here and say that I would personally put it on a par or close enough to Waitrose. I enjoy both(And many other supermarkets) but I do appreciate Booths for the novelty factor, for the focus on local produce, they always have some really interesting items and I love their gifts which are especially appreciated by American friends and I do think that their cafes are better than Waitrose’s.

Oh yes and of course the Christmas book and tote bags.

<whispers> once a year in November I take the afternoon off work to visit the Lytham Booths, go for a walk along the sea front, have fish and chips and have a drive through Blackpool illuminations before driving home again, a journey of about 90 mins each way.

Also, earlier this year I was involved in a community event that meant I had to visit a certain town with a Booths every week for over 2 months at a time that coincided with having the pick of their yellow sticker reductions so I usually went in to see what bargains they had.

I am still wearing my black armband for Ripon branch...
Last year was marvellous; went as always on or near my birthday . Greeted by splendid chap at the door who was wiping baskets and trolleys.
"Good morning Madam..trolley or basket?"

Made my choice then into the store, feasting eyes on the jewel-bright colours of the stash of Christmas books...calling them a catalogue seems churlish somehow...

Then onto the deli counters and pop-up counters with affable staff offering tasty morsels of Christams fayre. Turkey and cranberry vol au vont? Don't mind if I do. Snifter of aged tawny port?? Ah go on then...

Always went home happy, sated skint and with the best almond croissants this side of the hemisphere

Definitely not unreasonable to do a special trip to Booths! We’re in central Scotland but DH occasionally has to travel to Derbyshire for work. He normally takes the train but he’s going in December so will stop at Booths and Cranstons in Penrith to stock up on lots of lovely things.

do it OP! My nearest supermarket is a booths and it makes me feel like the fanciest lady ever. It’s so good at Christmas. Enjoy.

Never heard of Booths, but do what you like @BoothsRun

I was very tempted to play jenga with their beautiful display of Christmas books.

I live 15 mins from Burscough Booths and have never visited and now I feel like I need to go ASAP! Weekend plans loading ...!

I live about a 25-minute drive from Burscough Booths, but it's a fiddly drive along country roads so I almost never bother. But the town I live in has a Waitrose, so I can buy fancy things there if I want!

It has Aldi right next door if you fancy a shopping juxtaposition! 🤣🤣

@StripedPillowcase I know, the worst is it’s now going to be a Tesco, like the north needs another bloody Tesco.

Is Ilkley not closer?? Or Settle?

Keswick takes ages.

@OldGothsFadeToGrey Ripon was an hour away, we often called in after a visit to fountains Abbey. Ilkley and Penrith are similar distance from me so I’ll see what else is on and make a day trip to one of them.

Sounds a lovely shopping day out. I would peruse Booths, do the other shops then finish up at Booths before go home. A shopping trolley or suitcase on wheels, and a normal backpack and I would be sorted.

sounds a lovely day!

LOL I wish...I was too poor to even go in there as a student and when I started my career 😆

Stop showing off.

I'd just online order nice food instead. Waitrose is as nice. There are a lot of independent suppliers for things like biscuits, smoked salmon, fancy meat and fish, artisan beers.

Or find a more local farm shop.

I don't personally rate booths enough to spend 3 hours on a train but i enjoy popping in if driving through the lakes but dont think its worth the money. When we had one near ds school (now sadly replaced by asda) we used to go get nice things for lunch but I felt overpriced, the quality was only so so and very small amounts for the money.

I'm seeing a business opportunity here - hire a bus and do a Booths trip for local people - quids in 😂 I have one 5 minutes walk away