waitrose

This is the most congested Waitrose I have been to, (and that includes the Waitrose on Kings Road, London.) Constantly busy, hard to find parking, rude customers. It is like a war zone. The staff are very patient and courteous (how they retain their polite composure is a miracle,) the produce on sale is excellent, but you have to deal with the following types of customers — aggressive mothers and children with no manners; aggressive retired bankers, lawyers, advertising men, foreign-​office worthies, accountants, and their equally rude, blousy wives bashing their trolleys into you; weekend yachting people with arrogant attitudes (the same smug cold types one endures at the local yacht club;) angry locals fed up with the incomers who are taking over their town. If you enjoy having to say «excuse me» every 3 metres, having your shop take three times longer than anywhere else; having your car dented by selfish people in the poorly designed parking lot; being exhausted and so relieved when you finally escape outside, then this is the perfect supermarket for you. The one plus is the self-​checkout, which reduces time-​exposure to the mostly unsmiling dreadful customers.

On the site of the former Safeways/​Morrisons, this is a large supermarket offering all the finest food and drink you would expect from Waitrose! There is a great instore butcher, who is very keen to help you try something new or recommend cheaper cuts and how to cook them! Let’s face it, Waitrose is quite an expensive place to shop, but they have started doing dine in for £10 and they have a nice selection of food included! If you like fish, the fish counter is appealing but not as friendly as the butcher! There is an instore bakery, but i’d rather use the bakers across the way! If you need a break after shopping the café by the entrance is reasonably priced and worth a look, very child friendly! You get 2hours free parking in the car park, they do have an attendant i noticed so be ware if you want to park and go elsewhere!