Made early raid on the shops today and I can report...

[clary]

...not too busy!

I was worried everyone would be out buying everything they now need as not going to family - but Aldi, not busy at all, shelves stocked; Morrisons busy but fine, also lots of stock.

Managed to get all veg (24 Dec date but fine) and everything I needed apart from some fruit and my Christmas flowers, plus the butcher on 23 Dec. My three huge bags at Aldi only cost £40! Feeling a bit smug now.

But also wanted to say to anyone panicking - don't, it's all fine.

Dh went to M&S (well, it’s Chriiiiiiiistmas!) first thing, and it was stocked to the rafters with turkeys.

Will give the other supermarkets a wide berth: I went to Asda at 9.30pm last week and it was quite crowded and unfortunately quite a few people without masks and barging.

We're tier 2, Tesco was packed with customers queuing to go into various aisles and Asda was busy but not quite as bad. This was about 10ish.

I'm not sure when to do mine. I have to fit around when DH is working because there is no way in hell that I am taking a 2yo and 5yo to the supermarket during Xmas week. I'm thinking either late Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning. I'm dreading it tbh.

If Aldi is busy I'll avoid and go 4am Tuesday. Da swimming at 6 and so I can go and then come home and take him and catch up on sleep whilst he's there!

Tier 4 here.

I have a food delivery booked for Xmas eve but I noticed last night they had substituted the gammon I ordered for a less nice one so I popped into a shop to pick up a turkey because I was worried they’d run out. The turkey section was busy but all the shelves were well stocked so I didn’t feel the need to buy anything else. I think my children are hoping that we won’t get the sprouts we ordered.

DH just back from Asda tier 4 and all fine, secured a turkey (we weren’t planning to be at home). All nice and calm and no queue.

Went to waitrose today, no problems. A little busy and a short line to go in, but no shortages.

Had a delivery this morning. Driver was telling me it was carnage last night. He said he’s got a lot of subs today.

London is empty.
The streets and stores are deserted. They are all in Hull.

I tried on Wednesday afternoon, all the Xmas food was use by 18th/19th, bloody pointless. Tried again yesterday, most dated 23rd. No wonder the shops will be rammed next week, people want in date food!

I have it in authority that yesterday a Sainsbury in Cardiff was being hammered.

Tier 4 Sainsburys at 3pm. Not busy.

Tier 2 - small town. DH reported no problems at Asda but he didn't look at the toilet roll aisle. We have a "who gives a crap subscription" but I would have looked out of curiosity. If friends/family can't get loo roll we can help them too. Which is good.

Most importantly I have plenty of teabags and soya and almond milks. Where there is tea there is hope. 😂

Morrisons this afternoon. I will be going but only want a couple of things that are extremely unlikely to have been panic bought.
Our "All plants" meal subscription arrives tomorrow so evening meals are fine. Our subscriptions have been a blessing during covid.

Don't panic buy. Please. It leads to wasted food and the most vulnerable going short.

Just to clarify I know the OP isn't panic buying my plea was a general one. ❤️

Waitrose was ok at 11am. Too many people around the turkeys and chickens though. Managed to get a chicken with use by date of 27th.
Loads of staff at the checkout so I didn't need to queue.

My general plea is to go on your own if you possibly can. 2 bickering adults and 3 sulky kids to a trolley isn't necessary or helpful at any Christmas, let alone this one.

I nearly lost my shit in Aldi today. Everyone crowding around you, leaning over, masks under noses. I felt like screaming get the fuck away from me!! I'm waiting patiently for someone to move, so wait your turn too!!

And I'm tier 4, big Covid hotspot in Kent, and shopping showed clearly why it is spreading so easily!

I've been updating my Tesco order which is due to arrive tomorrow evening and watching as more and more items go out of stock and become unavailable. Fresh stuff like meat and veg is ok but anything like snacks and chocolates that are vaguely christmassy are doomed I'm now thinking in person trip to a supermarket is going to be needed to pick up cupboard things but the whole point of booking a delivery with Tesco was to avoid going there in person! If anyone has a delivery with Tesco due I'd definitely check unavailable items

thecrow I found that my nice gammon was now out of stock for my Sainsbury’s order. I can live without gammon but bought a turkey Saturday because that’s harder to live with. I’m too frightened to check my Sainsbury’s order now in case it’s all gone.

London that's awful. Masks under the nose are especially worthy of stink eye.

I must say, bar one teen with trousers hanging around his bum, non mask wearing, everyone in our waitrose and tesco has been really good.

@TheAnswerIsCake

I’m wondering if those of you saying it isn’t too busy are in tier 1/2/3 vs tier 4?

We are in Tier 4, and apart from 5 mins queuing to get into M&S it was just a normal christmas week shopping experience with fully stocked shelves. I popped into Sainsbury's too and no queue or crowds there this morning.

Went to Sainsbury's Chichester (tier 2) at 7.45, it was fairly busy and got busier as I left at 9.30, but it just felt like everyone was doing normal Christmas food shopping to me, there was no element of panic like there was in March. There's a few shopping threads on MN this morning and they're all saying the same thing thank God.

DH went to get a mop & wrapping paper. M&S was fine, Aldi had a long queue. Tier 4 London

I’ve done Aldi and Waitrose today. Both had queues but we’re ok inside.