Shopping in Northern Ireland

KhanTheMan · 30-11-2008 12:47PM

Bond-007 wrote: »

I wonder what Biffos reaction to the exodus will be?

Himself and Gormley will probably tax intelligence.

Meathlass · 30-11-2008 02:09PM

Heading up to the North on Dec 8th (I know, possibly worst day but only one that suits). Travelling from South Dublin and want to go to an Asda (will go to Sainburys too but Asda sounds as if it has better offers) and an electrical shop like Currys/Dixons. Newry sounds like it has everything but not worth the hassle. Not interested in clothes so the outlet store at Banbridge is not appealing. Have been in Armagh town before and apart from Sainburys it's very poor shopping wise. Maybe the outskirts of Belfast or Lisburn might suit but I don't know any of the shopping areas up there. I've been trying to look up Westwood shopping centre in Belfast online but to no avail. Anyone any ideas?

beolight · 30-11-2008 02:26PM

Heading up to the North on Dec 8th (I know, possibly worst day but only one that suits). Travelling from South Dublin and want to go to an Asda (will go to Sainburys too but Asda sounds as if it has better offers) and an electrical shop like Currys/Dixons. Newry sounds like it has everything but not worth the hassle. Not interested in clothes so the outlet store at Banbridge is not appealing. Have been in Armagh town before and apart from Sainburys it's very poor shopping wise. Maybe the outskirts of Belfast or Lisburn might suit but I don't know any of the shopping areas up there. I've been trying to look up Westwood shopping centre in Belfast online but to no avail. Anyone any ideas?

already been asked/answered on this thread countless times

anyways avoid newry not worth the hassle

westwood is basically just an asda, you will pass sprucefield retail on way
sainsburys,b+q,currys,argos,toys r us next home store mioght be open now also and marks and spencers across the road(you need to drive to it)

up the road from asda westwood is curleys which offers some cracking deals on groceries, there is also a lidi or aldoi beside asda but not in same car park

griffdaddy · 30-11-2008 02:46PM

beolight wrote: »

already been asked/answered on this thread countless times

anyways avoid newry not worth the hassle

westwood is basically just an asda, you will pass sprucefield retail on way
sainsburys,b+q,currys,argos,toys r us next home store mioght be open now also and marks and spencers across the road(you need to drive to it)

up the road from asda westwood is curleys which offers some cracking deals on groceries, there is also a lidi or aldoi beside asda but not in same car park

In all fairness the thread is 63 pages longs, it's hard to get the relevant information out of it. If you go further up north, towards Belfast maybe, would there less queues later in teh day and still as good a selection of stuff?

spareman · 30-11-2008 02:51PM

Rashers72 wrote: »

A lot of shops were offering £1 for €1, unfortunately none of those shops sold anything I wanted to buy.
Dunnes and a few others were offering 0.85c to the £1.

Dunnes Stores Swords - High School musical kids duvet = EUR25
Dunnes Stores Newry - High School musical kids duvet = GBP15, so at their exchange rate = EUR17.65.

With the excessive margins being charged by Irish Retailers, even those operating in both countries, is it any wonder people are fed up with being ripped off.
This is way way beyond VAT/wage/etc. differences.
They probably even came into the country in the same container.:mad:

PS - was in Dublin city centre yesterday. Noticed on the train on the way home, how while there were lots of people, much fewer bags then previous Christmas.

Dunnes Stores Cornelscourt - High School musical kids duvet = EUR10
Just bought this this morning.

beolight · 30-11-2008 03:42PM

griffdaddy wrote: »

In all fairness the thread is 63 pages longs, it's hard to get the relevant information out of it. If you go further up north, towards Belfast maybe, would there less queues later in teh day and still as good a selection of stuff?

Yeah i know

maybe somebody with graphic knowhow could draw up a map with the main shopping locations indicated which could be stickied (anybody from northern ireland economic development board reading this?)

once you pass newry you wont encounter any queues and the shelfs wont be as ravaged looking as sainsburys in newry is

Meathlass · 30-11-2008 04:03PM

Thanks guys, I have read the thread, I've even taken notes and printed out a map of the north but my internet connection is only dial up and tends to drop out a lot so very frustrating. Also there have being lots of examples of people contradicting each other and offical store websites over whether there are stores in particular locations. It's also hard to know sometimes if people are taking about individual towns or retail parks on motorways several miles outside them. I'm ashamed to say that my geography of Northern Ireland is terrible so I was just looking for a bit of help from people living up there or who've shopped there recently. Leaning towards Sprucefield park now outside Lisburn

milly4ever · 30-11-2008 04:07PM

Meathlass wrote: »

Thanks guys, I have read the thread, I've even taken notes and printed out a map of the north but my internet connection is only dial up and tends to drop out a lot so very frustrating. Also there have being lots of examples of people contradicting each other and offical store websites over whether there are stores in particular locations. It's also hard to know sometimes if people are taking about individual towns or retail parks on motorways several miles outside them. I'm ashamed to say that my geography of Northern Ireland is terrible so I was just looking for a bit of help from people living up there or who've shopped there recently. Leaning towards Sprucefield park now outside Lisburn

Once you're at Sprucefield you are practically in Belfast, and all the main supermarkets are there, along with Ikea,so you can take your pick.

Meathlass · 30-11-2008 04:11PM

milly4ever wrote: »

Once you're at Sprucefield you are practically in Belfast, and all the main supermarkets are there, along with Ikea,so you can take your pick.

Thanks, Milly, Are those supermarkets outside the city though, would like to be back in Dublin by 4pm at the latest as I've to drive to Cork that evening so dont' want to end up in the centre of Belfast. Did someone mention that the Ikea has an asda opposite it?

iPoker · 30-11-2008 04:18PM

Alot of contradictory views! Could someone familiar with NI indicate the best location in NI for grocery shopping, alcohol, and clothes/music, etc.

We're coming from South Dub, will leave about 6am, not too sensitive to distance/time. Would like a shopping centre that has everything.

Where's the best place to go?

tabatha · 30-11-2008 04:25PM

beolight wrote: »

Yeah i know

maybe somebody with graphic knowhow could draw up a map with the main shopping locations indicated which could be stickied (anybody from northern ireland economic development board reading this?)

once you pass newry you wont encounter any queues and the shelfs wont be as ravaged looking as sainsburys in newry is

this is a fantastic idea

boopolo · 30-11-2008 05:14PM

copacetic wrote: »

3 hour delays at the moment on the M1 backing up from Newry! Ouch.

This is very much exagerated.

Left Leixlip at 10.40am (had a sleep on)
Was parked up in Westwood SC, Belfast at 2.10.

90mins to get through Newry (and I was not one of the Irish reg car that drove up the hard shoulder).

The spirits in Asda were almost 40% cheaper(maybe more) than down south. IE 2 70cl bottles of Tia Maria for £18. As soon as the shelves were emptying they were filling them up again.

darc · 30-11-2008 05:26PM

domkk wrote: »

Ireland got their independance from the UK, and look now at all people now from the REPUBLIC going to shop in the UK (across the border)which they wanted their independance from.
Mainly both juristictions are largely dominated by British retailers and yet the government are saying where is everyones sense of patrionism...does that mean shop in a British retailler or Dunnes in the south and get fleeced or go up north and see instant bargains. Even Dunnes in Newry was cheaper then here.
Wake up the people in power you wanted independance and now you cant compete and as usual its constant whinging.
what would this country be like if it hadnt got independance but still had it identity.
After all look at all the football jerseys worn Tv channels watched etc and yet the few still say "feckin brits" while walkin around tesco or ext etc.

On a polital point - up to 15 years ago, no-one in ulster including most nationalists wanted to be part fo the republic due to high taxes, high unemployment etc etc - but they would shop down here because it was a lot cheaper - then it changed and we were all happy - now its gone the other way due to UK **** economy - but this will change again and maybe sooenr than some think. If Gordon Brown's gamble pays off, sterling will be back at 70p in a few months. Also in april the UK will be lashing huge extra duties on all a lcohol & fuel as per pre budget staement last week. - Estimates (according to financial times last week) are @ £3 per bottle of spirits & £1 bottle wine & 50p beer.

My guess, things will be a lot more even next year.

iPoker · 30-11-2008 05:26PM

decided to hit belfast next saturday.

where's best to park near the city centre, but also close to an asda/sainsbury, etc/

boopolo · 30-11-2008 05:26PM

iPoker wrote: »

Alot of contradictory views! Could someone familiar with NI indicate the best location in NI for grocery shopping, alcohol, and clothes/music, etc.

We're coming from South Dub, will leave about 6am, not too sensitive to distance/time. Would like a shopping centre that has everything.

Where's the best place to go?

There is a big Asda here: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Westwood+Shopping+Centre,+Kennedy+Way,+Belfast+BT11,+United+Kingdom&sll=54.213861,-5.712891&sspn=0.127685,0.304871&ie=UTF8&cd=1&geocode=FR3JQAMdssqk_w&z=16&g=Westwood+Shopping+Centre,+Kennedy+Way,+Belfast+BT11,+United+Kingdom&iwloc=addr
It is Belfast (just off the M1) and about 45-55 mins from Newry (after getting by Newry).
Plenty of room in the carpark. Cheaper than Tesco. Continuely restocking shelves.

EDIT: On the way to there you could visit Sprucefield SC http://www.sprucefieldcentre.co.uk/retailers/ Their main hub is M&S. They are just before you go from the A1 on to M1 here: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Sprucefield+Shopping+Centre,+Lisburn+BT27,+United+Kingdom&sll=54.576129,-5.974524&sspn=0.003955,0.009527&ie=UTF8&cd=1&geocode=FShuPwMdGIij_w&ll=54.488588,-6.05999&spn=0.063417,0.152435&z=13

Boo

Johnny Bitte · 30-11-2008 05:51PM

Can anyone recommend anywhere else than newry it just I would rather avoid the traffic and crowds, Be going from Swords mid week after work prob 4:30 to 10 and would nt mind driving any extra 30mins if necessary.

kingshankly · 30-11-2008 06:07PM

The_Goose135 wrote: »

Can anyone recommend anywhere else than newry it just I would rather avoid the traffic and crowds, Be going from Swords mid week after work prob 4:30 to 10 and would nt mind driving any extra 30mins if necessary.

yeah dundalks quite quiet at the moment;)

thepoolgirl · 30-11-2008 06:14PM

PMSL

muffler · 30-11-2008 06:15PM

I believe that people coming from around the east coast should travel on to Belfast where it wont be as hectic. Why not even stay overnight? I think there is a promotion at the moment with some of the hotels doing a special rate for shoppers.

newmills · 30-11-2008 06:39PM

Lads just a quick one for you. Roughly less than an hour from newry is cookstown. On the way into cookstown there is a good sized asda on the left with a toymaster opposite it. The town itself has decent parking and a good range of shops as well as a decent enough street market on a saturday. There is a tesco and an m+s in it. On the way to cookstown is dungannon. It has a very good sized tesco and a sainsburys with ample parking at both. Also thy both have decent chemists with great savings on toiletries etc. Hope this helps.

Zigmund · 30-11-2008 06:41PM

They accept Laser cards up North, right?

Our man in Havana · 30-11-2008 06:50PM

No they don't.

Mint Sauce · 30-11-2008 06:53PM

if it has a mastro sign they will

redtom · 30-11-2008 07:11PM

Bond-007 wrote: »

No they don't.

Yes, they do - got a printer a while back no probs

mondeoman · 30-11-2008 07:12PM

irish-stew wrote: »

if it has a mastro sign they will

+1

have used my laser(mastro) card in newry loads of times:)

Our man in Havana · 30-11-2008 07:32PM

I have seen Sainsburys reject laser/maestro cards loads of times.

Maestro works ok in Boots and Evans.

Even if your card is branded as Maestro there is only a 50% chance of it being accepted.

danois · 30-11-2008 07:54PM

Are the shops in belfast doing the same deals like the £ for € and stuff or will you get better deals in newry??? I am going up on Thursday leaving wicklow at 7am so not sure if i should try avoid newry and head in further or if there are better deals to be got in newry. Any ideas???

boopolo · 30-11-2008 08:07PM

Sample drink items Asda Belfast vs. Tesco Maynooth

................................Asda......................Tesco
Jameson 700ml...........£12.48.....................€26.99
2 x Tia Maria 700ml...... £18 ......................€39.96
Baileys 700ml...............£10 ......................€18.60
24 x Heineken btl330...£14.98.....................€26.99
WKD blue/red 700ml.....£2.72......................€6.25

Do your own conversion:D

Other American piss beers like miller are much cheaper than heiniken

samo · 30-11-2008 08:12PM

Zigmund wrote: »

They accept Laser cards up North, right?

Cannot speak for all but used Laser in Sainsburys in Newry last Thursday - also Debenhams/Toysrus and all the Newry shops have all accepted it in recent weeks.

(as someone else pointed out - it needs to have the maestro symbol)

robo · 30-11-2008 08:28PM

boopolo wrote: »

Baileys 700ml...............£10 ......................€18.60

Baileys 1ltr in Sainsburys last weekend for £10 and I saw it in Dunnes today for €25 :eek:

Shopping in Northern Ireland

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