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Shopping in Northern Ireland

mohenley · 2008-10-08 09:22:41

Just wondering if anyone has been up the north recently for shopping and if there are still good bargains? I was thinking of going to Newry in next few weeks (live in Kildare) but Sainsburys is more expensive than other supermarkets with exception of waitrose (from scotland so know that sainsburys always slightly dearer),…

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#92 16-10-2008 2:00pm

TarfHead

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smashey wrote: »

Be careful when approaching Makro. While it is on the left of the M1 as you approach Belfast, you need to go right at the next exit.

Please clarify.

IIRC, the next exit is Kings Hall. Down the off-ramp to roundabout. A right will bring you under the M1 to another roundabout. Straight ahead is Malone Road & access to Boucher Road. Keeping right at this 2nd roundabout leads you back to M1 heading South.

Or does it ?

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#93 16-10-2008 2:01pm

Gosh

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DonJose wrote: »

"The Minister for Finance has said an increase in the number of people travelling North of the border to do their shopping had made things 'very, very difficult' when he was framing the Budget."

And then he adds .5% on to our VAT . Complete twat IMHO!!

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#94 16-10-2008 2:14pm

smashey

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TarfHead wrote: »

Please clarify.

IIRC, the next exit is Kings Hall. Down the off-ramp to roundabout. A right will bring you under the M1 to another roundabout. Straight ahead is Malone Road & access to Boucher Road. Keeping right at this 2nd roundabout leads you back to M1 heading South.

Or does it ?

It will also take you back under the M1 past Makro.

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#95 16-10-2008 2:33pm

helpme07

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£8 for 70cl bottle of smirnoff vodka in tesco's at the minute. offer ends Oct 19th

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#96 16-10-2008 2:41pm

okidoki987

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Be careful when approaching Makro.

They should have a sign for it on the motorway, I always miss the
turn for it

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#97 16-10-2008 2:42pm

dfcelt

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TarfHead wrote: »

Great post - thanks

AFAIK, Boucher Road is on RHS as you approach Belfast City while MAKRO is on LHS. Boucher Road is full of shops, especially DIY & Tile stores. DEKKO also used to be good for IKEA-style houseware.

As I said, Satnav helps.........until you hit roadworks, well used to the journey myself now. Can't remember road names though.

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#98 16-10-2008 3:27pm

Moonbeam

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7670658.stm

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#99 16-10-2008 4:40pm

bmaxi

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I posted this on another thread but it may be more suited here. According to the BBC, ASDA and BP are to reduce the price of petrol in N.I. to 99p/l, which at current conversion rates is cheaper than here.

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#100 16-10-2008 6:32pm

stooge

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Got myself two t-shirts at the weekend in a shop in banbridge. It was doing 1Euro = 1Pound and also a half price sale on the marked price.

The two t-shirts were marked at 5 each, then 50% off meant it was 5 for both. You could pay in Euro and get change back in sterling so I gave in a 20E note and got 15Sterling back. Daylight robbery on my part!

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#101 16-10-2008 6:54pm

Esel

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Easy Makro price conversion formula (rough but v. close): Add 50% for VAT inclusive price in Euros.

Not your ornery onager

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#102 16-10-2008 7:07pm

DublinWriter

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Bond-007 wrote: »

I would personally recommend avoiding Newry as the prices in Belfast/Lisburn are way cheaper than in Newry. Newry knows its market and knows how to charge.

Even for the big multiples? Doubt it.

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#103 16-10-2008 7:23pm

Stillnotworking

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Do you have to be a member to shop in Marko or can anyone just arrive there. Thanks

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#104 16-10-2008 7:25pm

Esel

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Some good bargains in Makro alright:

42" Sharp LCD Freeview 1080p LC42SB55E €750
500GB Lacie external HDD €60
Acer Aspire 7515 Notebook 15.4" Intel DC T2330 2MB RAM, 80GB HDD €420

Not your ornery onager

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#105 16-10-2008 7:27pm

Esel

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Stillnotworking wrote: »

Do you have to be a member to shop in Marko or can anyone just arrive there. Thanks

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=57595617&postcount=88

Not your ornery onager

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#106 16-10-2008 8:22pm

anotherlostie

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The only thing I know Makro for is that they sell cheap poor quality cheese. In The Apprentice last year, the teams had to sell English produce in France and one set of fools decided to buy cheese in Makro. They were castigated for this decision and, needless to say, the French shunned their cheese. So avoid their cheese!

On the topic of stores charging more in Newry than further North, I too would be surprised. I've shopped in Belfast, Sprucefield and Newry and never noticed a difference in prices.

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#107 16-10-2008 10:21pm

devil-80

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Anyone knows what is the current exchange rate in asda?

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#108 16-10-2008 11:03pm

muffler

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devil-80 wrote: »

Anyone knows what is the current exchange rate in asda?

Was in the Strabane store earlier and £1 = €0.807.

Fairly generous as I seen the rate given at the end of the RTE news as being £1 = €0.79

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#109 17-10-2008 12:07am

kingshankly

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hi lads from dundalk married a woman from newry just on to give a few dos and donts.dunnes is generally cheaper than sainsburys(excluding items on special its located on monaghan street where you can park for 30 pence an hour you also have curleys off licence and iceland each side of it you also have a jjb,argos,tk max aswell.you also have super value on the main pedestrian street which was and might still be offering £ for€ but parking can be tricky and its not as cheap as dunnes .sainsburys can have some amazing deals but the shelves are empty by lunch it out sells the top 5 selling stores in the uk combined(heard that from a staff member)if your going for lunch would recommend bellinis top of monaghan street fine food and very reasonable if when coming into newry and the queue is bad there is a fine grey stone bungalow on the left turn left there and follow the road till you meet a crossroads take a right it brings you down at the lights best value for changing money would be the bureau in the buttercrane shopping centre where you have a marks and spencers penneys and dunnes clothes plus many more including ann summers the market opens tuesday thursday and saturdays on hill street not really worth a visit to be honest anyone looking for fireworks there are a couple of shops on the old road.try and be there by 10 on saturdays doesnt open till one on sundays its even mad during the week hope this is off help happy shopping

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#110 17-10-2008 12:22am

hellboy99

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DonJose wrote: »

"The Minister for Finance has said an increase in the number of people travelling North of the border to do their shopping had made things 'very, very difficult' when he was framing the Budget."

What a muppet, why does he think people are going up north to shop. If he was anyway of a decent minister he would be asking questions here in the south as to why it's cheaper up north even after you change you euro to sterling. Look at the price differences between Dunnes (my local have stop diplaying sterling prices on tags, i wonder why :rolleyes:), Argos, Curry's etc..

Lower the cost of living here you clown of a finance minister, they have in the UK and their in the same boat we're in at the minute economic wise.

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#111 17-10-2008 12:33am

kingshankly

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its shocking when you see the difference in the prices in dundalk we have 3 dunnes 2 tescos 1 superquinn 1 lidl 1 aldi(soon to be 2) and theres no one in them wonder why? i remember 7 or 8 years ago all the northerners coming down here to grocery shop due to strong pound and equal prices but prices in shops have spiraled since

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#112 17-10-2008 12:54am

hellboy99

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kingshankly wrote: »

its shocking when you see the difference in the prices in dundalk we have 3 dunnes 2 tescos 1 superquinn 1 lidl 1 aldi(soon to be 2) and theres no one in them wonder why? i remember 7 or 8 years ago all the northerners coming down here to grocery shop due to strong pound and equal prices but prices in shops have spiraled since

It's madness to think of the savings to be made with a 15 - 20 minute drive, things keep going the way they are even petrol will be cheaper up north soon.

I got an LCD TV a few weeks back in Currys up north for just under €1000, in Currys Dundalk the same TV was €1300. Some PS3 games going for £4.97 two weeks back in Currys in Newry, here in Currys Dundalk they were €30 - €60. Rip off Ireland !!

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#113 17-10-2008 11:38am

Lachlan Young Self-importance
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Im heading up next week, purely to stock up on drink for a housewarming. Where would people reccomend? Sainsburys in Newry or a little further afield?

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#114 17-10-2008 12:00pm

JDxtra

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Lachlan Young Self-importance wrote: »

Sainsburys in Newry or a little further afield?

No real need to go any further. It's not a massive off licence section in there, but they do have plenty of stock and regular offers (making it even more worthwhile!).

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#115 17-10-2008 1:23pm

kingshankly

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sainsburys is fine don't leave it too late to get down the drink aisle can be a bit hectic and hard to get a space by 11

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#116 17-10-2008 1:29pm

kingshankly

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sainsburys have 4 bottles of powerade for £2:89 buy 4 get 4 free works out at 8 bottles for €3:50 and it's €1:90 a bottle here

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#117 17-10-2008 3:53pm

Our man in Havana

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JDxtra wrote: »

No real need to go any further. It's not a massive off licence section in there, but they do have plenty of stock and regular offers (making it even more worthwhile!).

The better offers tend to be in Sprucefield and Belfast. Also the specials tend not to be totally gone by 11am. For the sake of an extra 30 mins drive the peace and quiet is worth it.

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#118 17-10-2008 5:22pm

ThOnda

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There is big off-license just across the river from Sainsburrys. Just go for a walk and compare prices in town :-)

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#119 17-10-2008 5:52pm

Stillnotworking

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esel wrote: »

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=57595617&postcount=88

Thanks, so I have to read all the posts in future. Sorry

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#120 17-10-2008 6:06pm

Stillnotworking

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esel wrote: »

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=57595617&postcount=88

Thanks, so I have to read all the posts in future. Sorry

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#121 17-10-2008 11:44pm

banchang

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kingshankly wrote: »

anyone looking for fireworks there are a couple of shops on the old road.try and be there by 10 on saturdays doesnt open till one on sundays its even mad during the week hope this is off help happy shopping

thanks for all your info

is jonesboro best for fireworks ?

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