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Covid

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Original poster

Have you been non-essential shopping yet and was it busy?

83 replies

PuzzledObserver · 17/04/2021 19:44

We went to Solihull yesterday - nearest big shopping centre, 15 miles away. Seriously exciting to get outside of home turf for the first time in months..... not that Solihull town centre is exciting in itself, just that it’s the furthest I’ve been from home since July.

I wouldn’t say it was particularly busy, either in the streets, or inside the shops we went in. Apart from Marks and Spencer - we had to dodge people in there.

Sad to see several empty shops. Especially since one of them was Cotswold Outdoor, which was our main reason for going there.

OP posts:

MargosKaftan · 18/04/2021 07:39

Well on Monday, dds Christmas money was burning a hole in her pocket, so we went to the independent toy shop in our small town, and it was lovely. (She bought a dog toy and a shiny notebook which is very precious apparently).

Then we had to walk past Oliver Bonas to get back to the car park and I accidentally bought 2 dresses. Both were midi lengths and as I'm short, I dont think if have ordered them on line, being able to try things on again is great.

If you are nervous, give it a week, or if you can go midweek, next week when the kids go back to school might be quieter.

MargosKaftan · 18/04/2021 07:44

Oh yes, Bluewater is not attractive for a trip when ill have to wear a mask the whole time and can't just go sit with a coffee for a break.

I do hope those big shopping centres can keep going until the end of June, but then the appeal of them is for this time of the year when the weather is changeable.

BigButtons · 18/04/2021 07:48

Went into Brighton on Friday and it was absolutely rammed.

Lulu1919 · 18/04/2021 08:01

I went to IKEA
no outside queue
Busy but not stupidly so

Not headed into any other shops yet ....

Marmite27 · 18/04/2021 08:02

Yes, and mostly no.

Had to queue for Clarke’s and Primark. But was only 10 minutes or so for each on the 15th.

Slayduggee · 18/04/2021 08:06

I went into Exeter yesterday and it was heaving. Long queues outside Zara and H&M. Very busy in Debenhams.

BatshitCrazyWoman · 18/04/2021 08:10

I went into Bromley town centre yesterday morning, the parts I saw (I stayed in the shopping centre) were normal early Saturday (I was there at 9 am) levels of busy.

It was great to be there - so happy to be getting back to normal.

Bluntpencil · 18/04/2021 08:17

Huge queues to get in Primark and shopping centres yesterday in Surrey

TimeForLunch · 18/04/2021 08:24

Oxford Street was quiet early on but got much busier late afternoon. Was good to be out and the outdoor restaurants and bars behind Oxford Street had a great atmosphere.

dottiedodah · 18/04/2021 08:41

Went out to smallish local town ,quite quiet .Got there early before 10 am .Surprised as Easter holidays here as well .Maybe still shopping online is the way to go for many people

SueSaid · 18/04/2021 09:56

No queues at all, except Primark. I don't mind a bit of cheap Primark tat but there's no way I'd queue to get it .

MRex · 18/04/2021 14:39

I went today, I couldn't resist. 3yo DS was blown away by the bookshop and wanted everything. Then we went to a very special toy shop where he kept saying "wow, oh wow, oh look, wow". He's excited to go again tomorrow. It was all fairly busy, but they're quite big and open so it didn't feel crowded. Pleasing numbers queuing at the tills.

The one way system in one large store was ludicrous though, I hadn't shopped at Christmas so didn't see it. We arrived at a floor with an entrance that had 2 exit routes and no entry route, so went in anyway (staff member waved us through), then wandered for ages trying to pick up a path that wouldn't lead us straight back out of the shop. Eventually I realised everyone else was just ignoring it, so I did too. I'm wondering if it was done as a practical joke or else how it went so wrong.

megletthesecond · 18/04/2021 15:12

Not yet. I'm waiting for the kids to go back to school tomorrow. The shops should be fairly quiet in the morning.

Original poster

PuzzledObserver · 18/04/2021 17:27

The first day shops were open I did the supermarket shop as usual - it is on one side of a retail park. On the way out I drove past TK Max, which had put out about 4 rows of queuing barriers. Nobody waiting.

By contrast, the local Saturday market, which reopened for food stalls only last summer and has been going ever since, has been really busy. And a few new stalls have cropped up as well, which is great.

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EggysMom · 18/04/2021 17:32

I love that everybody went to the city centre yesterday for non-essential shopping - my supermarket was delightfully empty, food shopping was bliss

DH and I went to a local charity shop today, just for a nosey. That's our idea of fun.

SilverGlitterBaubles · 18/04/2021 17:49

City centre where I live was heaving, lots of teens on half term queuing excitedly outside Primark, queuing also outside Zara and H&M. Restaurants and cafes also really busy with all tables outside full and people enjoying the spring sunshine. It was a joy to see some normality.

itsgettingwierd · 18/04/2021 18:00

I went to local industrial estate shops yesterday just to visit matalan.

It was surprisingly quiet!

Waxonwaxoff0 · 18/04/2021 20:50

I went to my local high street today to get some new shoes and a birthday card. I was the only person in both shops!

ConnieDobbs · 18/04/2021 21:14

I've been avoiding the shops because I assumed they would be rammed. I don't think I will go browsing the shops for fun till I've had two vaccines (not had one yet).

I did go to the charity shop but mainly to donate things (I bought a couple of things while I was there though)

cheninblanc · 18/04/2021 21:19

Been to bluewater twice, first thing Monday and again Thursday. It was heaving Monday but we really had no choice as my daughter needed a work uniform, local town today was really pleasant, quiet, easy and nice to wander round. We aren't big shoppers so that's it now for a few months!

Starlightstarbright1 · 18/04/2021 21:24

I went in the city Thursday, it eas slightly busier than a normal Thursday, walked straight in primark.

starfish4 · 18/04/2021 21:30

I went Friday morning. Much quieter than I was expecting and certainly quieter than pre-covid. Plenty of room in the shops and everyone was being careful and noticeably distancing. Great for me, not for the shops who need a good few months.

Original poster

PuzzledObserver · 18/04/2021 21:48

I feel I need to confess that I have recently gone the long way round (like, 10 miles instead of 2) purely in order to drive my car. I bought it in November, it’s lovely, and I’ve barely driven it.

OP posts:

Siepie · 19/04/2021 00:08

I’ve been in a couple of local shops and they were very quiet.

I ran through the city centre about 8am on Monday and there were already queues outside several shops! But a friend went mid-week and said it was fairly quiet, so I’ll probably venture out this week.

Toddlerteaplease · 19/04/2021 00:10

Yes. I went to York in Tuesday. And was really surprised how quiet it was. As was the outlet Centre. My local John Lewis also seems very quiet to me.

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