All supermarkets should be shut down to allow local businesses to flourish.
However, they can be handy, and their welcoming somewhat bland, soothing assurances sometimes what's needed. It is good to have the selection that is along the Old Kent Road and nearby. Of course, you have to 'shop around' to get to know their various strengths and weaknesses so here is a useful guide to the experience of some of the big shops around here.
The criteria upon which they shall be judged are loosely as follows (with room for any additional miscellaneous information):
- location and ease of access
- opening hours 'experience'
- are there small trollies easily available?
- are the staff happy?
- what music is playing?
- is there a cafe? Is there a pharmacy?
- how many tills are available?
- what is the product they do best that the others don't do?
- are they expensive / what are the sandwiches like (the two are related).
- location and ease of access
- opening hours 'experience'
- are there small trollies easily available?
- are the staff happy?
- what music is playing?
- is there a cafe? Is there a pharmacy?
- how many tills are available?
- what is the product they do best that the others don't do?
- are they expensive / what are the sandwiches like (the two are related).
When Aldi was opened it was a bit of unusual, the layout welcoming in its no-frills approach, similar to the also European Lidl described by Sean Lock "They've kept everything basic haven't they, it's less a supermarket and more like some kind of famine relief centre". It felt like we were a bit of a testing ground for them. Now of course they've grown, do an entertainingly strange variety of seasonal products along with the usual (e.g. equestrian gear) and everyone goes there.
It's just off the Old Kent Road with a (small-ish) car park and next to main route bus stops so can be arrived at no problem. They open at 8am now days and usually a queue is forming before. The trollies are never a struggle to detach but have a smooth sliding mechanism for your pound or token of choice (Aldi 25 year anniversary ones were available). The staff seem happy (although there was a very brusque, busy lady for a while, but she left) in the way they often are in a smaller place where they know people. There is no music or cafe and definitely no pharmacist (though of course they sell a few tablets by the till) nor a bakery but the croissants they do are quite good. The best product is either the Salmon and Lemon fishcakes (when available) which have much more fish in than any others, or the Sea Salt crackers (both their own range). They're not too expensive, probably as expected. Sandwiches correspondingly okay. Now have a cash machine in store, are handy and nice to have available, and will probably keep growing.
It's just off the Old Kent Road with a (small-ish) car park and next to main route bus stops so can be arrived at no problem. They open at 8am now days and usually a queue is forming before. The trollies are never a struggle to detach but have a smooth sliding mechanism for your pound or token of choice (Aldi 25 year anniversary ones were available). The staff seem happy (although there was a very brusque, busy lady for a while, but she left) in the way they often are in a smaller place where they know people. There is no music or cafe and definitely no pharmacist (though of course they sell a few tablets by the till) nor a bakery but the croissants they do are quite good. The best product is either the Salmon and Lemon fishcakes (when available) which have much more fish in than any others, or the Sea Salt crackers (both their own range). They're not too expensive, probably as expected. Sandwiches correspondingly okay. Now have a cash machine in store, are handy and nice to have available, and will probably keep growing.
Asda
A few bus stops down is the English Wal-Mart. Similarly close to the road it also has a bigger car park and petrol now. They open longer hours than Aldi but as usual the pharmacy opens a bit later. There's a Subway with some seating, where I saw I think Lib Dems, certainly some political group, held a little meeting once. Also Caroline Pidgeon has been seen in here, buying vegetables. Plenty of trollies (though the plastic baskets are a bit flimsy) that don't make you struggle too much. The staff seem largely happy, certainly friendly and helpful, and seem to get on with each other. There is a DJ somewhere, sometimes playing 80s hits, like Yazoo 'Don't Go'. and some other quite well known songs. Plenty of tills, bookended by self-service areas. The best thing might be their own tuna & sweetcorn for some reason - sometimes it's all runny and corn, others you get a nice lump of tuna. And the taste is kind of nice. Strange. Middling in price, sandwiches okay if you pick out a nice one. Many students from local schools seem to stock up on chocolate for lunch every weekday morning here. They used to do a good not-Moleskine plain page notebook but they don't any more, much to their shame. Nevertheless, steady.
Update: 6 July: good air-conditioning.
A few bus stops down is the English Wal-Mart. Similarly close to the road it also has a bigger car park and petrol now. They open longer hours than Aldi but as usual the pharmacy opens a bit later. There's a Subway with some seating, where I saw I think Lib Dems, certainly some political group, held a little meeting once. Also Caroline Pidgeon has been seen in here, buying vegetables. Plenty of trollies (though the plastic baskets are a bit flimsy) that don't make you struggle too much. The staff seem largely happy, certainly friendly and helpful, and seem to get on with each other. There is a DJ somewhere, sometimes playing 80s hits, like Yazoo 'Don't Go'. and some other quite well known songs. Plenty of tills, bookended by self-service areas. The best thing might be their own tuna & sweetcorn for some reason - sometimes it's all runny and corn, others you get a nice lump of tuna. And the taste is kind of nice. Strange. Middling in price, sandwiches okay if you pick out a nice one. Many students from local schools seem to stock up on chocolate for lunch every weekday morning here. They used to do a good not-Moleskine plain page notebook but they don't any more, much to their shame. Nevertheless, steady.
Update: 6 July: good air-conditioning.
Tesco (Old Kent Road)
Not the one at Surrey Quays which is also near, that slightly but noticeably more successful older sibling. This is a bit on from Asda, on the other side of the road. Opposite(ish) the Thomas A Becket, and signalled by that mobile-topped metal pyramid. Trollies available, sometimes a bit stuck but not too bad - actually usually better than Surrey Quays. The average staff happiness level is raised by the non-stop young Irish lady who seems to get on very well with everyone especially regular customers, enjoys her job and provides most of the upbeat soundtrack to shopping here. There was a cafe, but they shut it. There is a pharmacy and Dunkin' Donuts. Plenty of tills starting early, but the store and self-service open earlier for people getting a sandwich, which will probably be good. At Surrey Quays their chicken and sausage one is good. They probably do it here too, but not sure. Possibly best all-round shop? The best thing might be the occasional treat of their Finest Houmous with the sunflower seeds and I think onions at the bottom. Also their own sausage rolls (NOT 'Hog Roast...') are good. Update: So is the falafel wrap (also available in meal deal).
Not the one at Surrey Quays which is also near, that slightly but noticeably more successful older sibling. This is a bit on from Asda, on the other side of the road. Opposite(ish) the Thomas A Becket, and signalled by that mobile-topped metal pyramid. Trollies available, sometimes a bit stuck but not too bad - actually usually better than Surrey Quays. The average staff happiness level is raised by the non-stop young Irish lady who seems to get on very well with everyone especially regular customers, enjoys her job and provides most of the upbeat soundtrack to shopping here. There was a cafe, but they shut it. There is a pharmacy and Dunkin' Donuts. Plenty of tills starting early, but the store and self-service open earlier for people getting a sandwich, which will probably be good. At Surrey Quays their chicken and sausage one is good. They probably do it here too, but not sure. Possibly best all-round shop? The best thing might be the occasional treat of their Finest Houmous with the sunflower seeds and I think onions at the bottom. Also their own sausage rolls (NOT 'Hog Roast...') are good. Update: So is the falafel wrap (also available in meal deal).
I don't so often go to Lidl, by the flyover. So...
Sainsbury's
Who do you think you are, eh? In the opposite direction, near (just) to New Cross Gate station and a main route bus stop is the popular art wall (currently home to Orko) that you pass on the way to Sainsbury's, which is situated back from the main road. If you have a car you could drive to the car park (which is currently in front of the store) or, unless you're running really low I guess, petrol station (which is in front of that by the main road) so basically the layout is back-to-front. If you walk or get off the bus early and go down Hatcham Park Road you arrive closer to the store, but only after navigating the strange double ramp left and right, leading up to the car park entrance. Some buses do stop right outside the store. It's not that bad to get to of course, but not the most accessible. They open at 8 now weekdays, usually meaning there's a queue. Plenty of trollies, a bit fiddly but not like Surrey Quays Tesco. The staff are friendly and helpful - they all are really, aren't they? They have their own restaurant where one day I might try the Breakfast Sandwich, and it apparently does nice stuff. The ham hock sandwich from the fridge is nice. They're a bit expensive but not that much, there's not much difference between them all and you just have to shop around really, and they get some of the local Goldsmiths student population so must have affordable stuff (and what the Local opposite the college, which was protested against, doesn't). However, the thing they probably do best is their croissants, which are sometimes an unnecessary purchase and should probably only be eaten once a fortnight, and similarly but-they're-nice Welshcakes (not their own, from Wales). All the meat and vegetables and fruit are good too. Good to have as it's slightly different, in a good way, from the others.
Who do you think you are, eh? In the opposite direction, near (just) to New Cross Gate station and a main route bus stop is the popular art wall (currently home to Orko) that you pass on the way to Sainsbury's, which is situated back from the main road. If you have a car you could drive to the car park (which is currently in front of the store) or, unless you're running really low I guess, petrol station (which is in front of that by the main road) so basically the layout is back-to-front. If you walk or get off the bus early and go down Hatcham Park Road you arrive closer to the store, but only after navigating the strange double ramp left and right, leading up to the car park entrance. Some buses do stop right outside the store. It's not that bad to get to of course, but not the most accessible. They open at 8 now weekdays, usually meaning there's a queue. Plenty of trollies, a bit fiddly but not like Surrey Quays Tesco. The staff are friendly and helpful - they all are really, aren't they? They have their own restaurant where one day I might try the Breakfast Sandwich, and it apparently does nice stuff. The ham hock sandwich from the fridge is nice. They're a bit expensive but not that much, there's not much difference between them all and you just have to shop around really, and they get some of the local Goldsmiths student population so must have affordable stuff (and what the Local opposite the college, which was protested against, doesn't). However, the thing they probably do best is their croissants, which are sometimes an unnecessary purchase and should probably only be eaten once a fortnight, and similarly but-they're-nice Welshcakes (not their own, from Wales). All the meat and vegetables and fruit are good too. Good to have as it's slightly different, in a good way, from the others.
Update: their plans for - sigh - redeveloping the store and area are seemingly much better than the developer's.
Not going to Waitrose from South Bermondsey yet so...
Morrison's
This feels posh because a) it's in Peckham, obviously and b) it's laid out a bit different, with air-conditioned fruit. Again, the overall welcome is raised by some real stars. They might be also be the reason for the store's popularity with older members of our community. A few of them will be outside the store, before opening at 8, discussing the morning ahead inside, consisting usually of a slow walk round, a chat at the tills while usually buying cakes and a newspaper and some time in the restaurant. Very pleasant. Buses stop nearby, a short walk is required through the big Aylesham Centre car park. Its 'nice' - make the most of it, before they knock it all down. Music is piped through, and there is a pharmacy. Trollies are there, topped up as quickly as he can manage by the diligent chap who keeps them that way (and has done for years). Also a couple of times had things others haven't. The best thing is possibly their own ready meals, maybe their own fresh stuff - deli, bakery etc.
This feels posh because a) it's in Peckham, obviously and b) it's laid out a bit different, with air-conditioned fruit. Again, the overall welcome is raised by some real stars. They might be also be the reason for the store's popularity with older members of our community. A few of them will be outside the store, before opening at 8, discussing the morning ahead inside, consisting usually of a slow walk round, a chat at the tills while usually buying cakes and a newspaper and some time in the restaurant. Very pleasant. Buses stop nearby, a short walk is required through the big Aylesham Centre car park. Its 'nice' - make the most of it, before they knock it all down. Music is piped through, and there is a pharmacy. Trollies are there, topped up as quickly as he can manage by the diligent chap who keeps them that way (and has done for years). Also a couple of times had things others haven't. The best thing is possibly their own ready meals, maybe their own fresh stuff - deli, bakery etc.
I hope you found this useful.
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