Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I have not bought even a single sprout yet for Xmas dinner….

41 replies

Donewiththisshit · 23/12/2025 14:33

For various reasons I have a 2 hour window from 4-6pm to buy EVERYTHING for Xmas dinner.
For those of you who have been out today which supermarket would you send me to in order to have the best chance of success?
p.s I am definitely being unreasonable leaving it this late but that’s a whole other thread …

OP posts:
Hollowvoice · 23/12/2025 14:37

I was in a medium sized Sainsbury's earlier and they had a good selection of everything
(Along with some very annoying people but there's no avoiding that!)

Lennonjingles · 23/12/2025 14:40

Tesco has plenty of cheap 15p veg, but not a great choice for turkeys, no Christmas cake, but plenty of mince pies.

MissFritton65 · 23/12/2025 14:48

I've just been to Aldi and it was quiet. The check out staff said they couldn't believe how quiet it had been all day!

Mulledjuice · 23/12/2025 14:56

It's going to totally depend on where you live! Just been to a Saturday-busy Sainsburys, an empty Lidl (well stocked shelves) and a mental M&S.

Librariesrule · 23/12/2025 15:07

I was in Sainsbury's at 8.30am and they had plenty of everything including fresh turkeys.
Good luck

NeedsRenovation · 23/12/2025 15:12

Our local M and S was like a frenzied food drop to the starving in a siege. There were people trampling on one another in front of the party food.

GretaGip · 23/12/2025 15:16

Gosh I bought my sprouts in mid November and they've been on a gentle simmer since then.

SilentNight2025 · 23/12/2025 15:17

The shops aren’t too bad today and they have far more veg than they can ever sell.

Jasnah · 23/12/2025 15:22

Most major supermarkets have tonnes of veg for 5p a pack. I got carrots, sprouts, swede and parsnips that way.
Morrisons around here had a huge selection of turkey and beef, but no offal or salmon if you need that.
Loads of cheese, snacks and picky bits left there, too. The only thing it was thin on the ground on were cleaning products.

UtterlyUnimaginativeUsername · 23/12/2025 15:24

I hope you mean for 2026? Because the sprouts for this christmas should have been on weeks ago.

Sparkletastic · 23/12/2025 15:26

GretaGip · 23/12/2025 15:16

Gosh I bought my sprouts in mid November and they've been on a gentle simmer since then.

🤣

RealEagle · 23/12/2025 15:27

No swedes at all in sainsbury’s or m n s near me .

Applespearsandpeaches · 23/12/2025 15:37

My local Sainsbury’s this morning was quieter than a typical Saturday afternoon, very well stocked (except unleaded petrol of all things) and actually quite pleasant. Think there were almost more staff than shoppers. I was only looking for a few things but there was definitely more than enough choice - especially if you don’t have your heart set on one very niche limited edition item. If you just wanted a turkey crown and the usual trimmings it would’ve been pretty easy.

summervile · 23/12/2025 15:38

Aldi on outskirts of Brum was pretty quiet at lunchtime today.

ArcticGrass · 23/12/2025 15:44

We are going to pop out about 7.30pm -ish and try M&S - I walked through it at lunchtime and it was absolute madness so I'm hoping it might have calmed down a bit by then.

We are cooking for 10 - but they are all reasonably laid back and no one is going to be that bothered if we miss something in particular as long as there is wine in the house and roast parsnips.

Sugarfish · 23/12/2025 15:52

Aldi at midday had piles of everything and staff were constantly topping up the shelves

RubberyChicken · 23/12/2025 16:22

RealEagle · 23/12/2025 15:27

No swedes at all in sainsbury’s or m n s near me .

Same for me, although there were a few Danes in sainsbury

Endofyear · 23/12/2025 16:24

We went to Morrisons about 11 today and got everything we needed, not too busy either!

JoshLymanSwagger · 23/12/2025 16:39

We were in Morrisons at 6am, loads of veg and turkeys etc and pretty quiet...then we drove to Tesco and it was mental.
The shops are shut for ONE DAY and once again people are behaving like it's the end of days.🤯

LadyMonicaBaddingham · 23/12/2025 16:45

GretaGip · 23/12/2025 15:16

Gosh I bought my sprouts in mid November and they've been on a gentle simmer since then.

😂😂😂😂😂😂

boulevardofbrokendreamss · 23/12/2025 16:51

M & S had everything, I’m just back. It was full of people but no one buying so till queues were fine

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 23/12/2025 16:55

RubberyChicken · 23/12/2025 16:22

Same for me, although there were a few Danes in sainsbury

Show quote history
Grin

I was in Sainsbury's Lewisham earlier to get a few things I'd forgotten about. It seemed pretty well stocked at that point but tbh I was laser focussed on peanut butter and lard.

TheMadGardener · 23/12/2025 17:01

I went to a big Co-op, which was peaceful and had lots of stuff, and then for some extra bits to an M & S food shop, which was busier than usual but OK. I then drove past the big Tesco which had queues stretching way out of the car park, so I was glad I avoided that.
My sister, in another town, said the big Sainsburys was manic and there were lots of people standing by the dairy counter making phone calls to report that the clotted cream was all gone (we're in the West Country, you need it on your Christmas pudding). DSis then went to the nearest farm shop which still had clotted cream, phew!

cheesychipsontheoche · 23/12/2025 17:03

Aldi had everything and all turkeys were a minimum half price. That along with 5p veg made my day tbh

BCBird · 23/12/2025 17:06

I went to M and S yesterday. People queuing yo.get in. I thought oh no. It was a great system because we queued outside but it was fine inside.