• Added: 4th of September 2008
• Area: Oxford
• Category: Food and Drink

Oxford OX4 1UT
01865 447600

Iss said
Shopping Right Can Save You Money
I think it will only be a short time before we will be able to buy a family car or even a house with our weekly shopping from Tesco because at the moment they seem to sell absolutely everything else.
The products are good and if you go to the larger stores like the Tesco Extras then the ranges the have are much wider. I know there are many surveys that say that the likes of Aldi or Lidl are cheaper and to some extent they are right, but it depends on what items you buy from Tescos and in my experience if you shop right, Tescos can be cheaper than the other two.
To shop right I suppose you need to understand how supermarkets operate. Their profitable products are set at eye level so most people will grab those products. You also have the so called “bargains” on the ends of the aisles to catch people as they slow down to go round the corner. But is you look around eleswhere down the aisles you may find a better bargain.
Take time to look around and you may suddenly find the cheaper items on the bottom shelf out of the eye line which many people miss. Select those and you save money. Also don’t ignore their value ranges either because some of those items are exceptional value.

• Added: 4th of September 2008
• Area: Marylebone
• Category: Restaurants

London W1U 1QR
020 7409 0111

Iss said
Modelled on the Ramen Bars of Japan
I love Wagamama because it is dining with a difference. The restaurants are apparently modelled on the Ramen bars that have been very popular in Japan for many years where everything is very cleanly presented and basic and the customers sit on benches with long tables.
The cuisine is very oriental with loads of side dishes and noodles and rice with everything. Service is quick because they take your order electronically which is then beamed to the kitchen and they almost begin cooking your meal before the waitress has finished taking your order.
The can also serve a variety of drinks with your meal but it can be really good value to just drink the endless supply of green tea that they offer because it is free.

• Added: 4th of September 2008
• Area: Kilburn
• Category: Shopping

London NW6 4HJ

Iss said
Politics Aside, This Place Is Really Cheap
Primark have has some bad press recently over so called slave labour. But it is difficult to compare our values and cultures with those of an eastern country without being bias.
So keeping the politics aside with the sometimes bias reporting, basically the items that Primark sell are amazingly cheap, so cheap that it is often easier to thrown the item away and get a new one from Primark rather than getting it repaired. The quality is not brilliant but you definitely get what you pay for and if they are so bad there are still plenty of people who will shop there because it saves you money and who wants to pay a fortune for a top or outfit when you can get it here for a few quid.
They specialise in kids and women’s clothing and the clothing is practical and in some ways fashionable as well. They also sell household items like towels and things really cheaply.

• Added: 4th of September 2008
• Area: Lisson Grove
• Category: Food and Drink

London NW1 6JR
020 7724 7467

Iss said
More Expensive Than Their Main Branches
Marks and Spencers seemed to jump onto the bandwagon after Tesco Metros and Expresses to try and take on the local convenience store market with their smaller local stores that specialise only in Marks and Spencer’s food, hence the name.
The items they sell are a more limited edition of what you would find in the food sections of their larger stores and seemed to be mainly aimed at the quick meal type market or lunchtime food type articles. It is not really the place to go if you were doing a full weekly shop but it is ideal if you just wanted a few items or to grab some lunch or a quick meal.
A further point to note is that even though they sell the same items as they would in their main stores, the prices of the items in these sub braches is slightly more than those found in the main branches.

• Added: 4th of September 2008
• Area: Barbican
• Category: Shopping

London EC2M 6XQ

Iss said
Good Quality Clothing
This chain of stores has really picked itself up of late because at one time not so long ago it was really starting to go downhill. They then seemed to change their focus and have now started to sell some really fashionable items of clothing and their food side has also started to become very popular, which is strange because their food isn’t the cheapest but it is the best quality in my opinion.
I’ve always liked M&S because the clothing was always good quality and well made and I presume that almost every woman in the UK must have some item of M&S underwear in their draw somewhere, such was their hold and quality reputation in the UK woman’s underwear department.
Men’s and children’s clothing are equally well made and throughout the stores their prices are relatively cheap.

• Added: 4th of September 2008
• Area: Huntingdon
• Category: Restaurants

Huntingdon PE28 4NE

Iss said
Good But Very Hidden Away
This place is hidden way down a track off the main road and would be difficult to find normally because it isn’t well signposted from the road. But once there it is a really nice place next to a river.
What makes it really appealing is that it also has a running stream and waterfall which goes down one side of the building and underneath before running into the river and it is all viewed through specially placed windows inside the pub.
It does have a good reputation for pub food which seems to be it’s main source of business since most of the space around the various oak beam lined alcoves and different floor levels is dedicated to tables for diners.
The food is good and well presented and very tasty. The place also seems to be very popular with families, especially at lunchtimes at the weekends when many go here for the lunchtime menus.

• Added: 4th of September 2008
• Area: Stevenage
• Category: Restaurants

Stevenage SG1 2UA

Iss said
Big Portions!!!!
If you have not been in to a Frankie and Bennys before it is basically an american and italian themed diner which is styled from the 1950s. Think of The Fonz for those of you that are old enough to remember and you’ll get roughly what I mean.
The emphasis is basically on having a fun time, especially with families and young children, with upbeat music playing in the background and many things to do for the kids to keep them occupied.
I’ve been in 3 of these restaurants now and never really had anything bad about them. Service is fast and the staff are very friendly. The only point I would say is that if you are planning to go for a meal then don’t plan to eat beforehand on the day because the portions are huge. Personal favourite is the Frankie and Bennys New York Chicken, but there are many other fantastic dishes to choose from.

• Added: 4th of September 2008
• Area: Nuneaton
• Category: Shopping

Nuneaton CV11 5JP

Iss said
Hidden Secrets
Woolworths is always cheap and cheerful and one of the few places left that still does pick and mix sweets which my kids love. They seem to be moving away from the CD and DVD market, probably being unable to compete with the likes of HMV or Virgin Megastore.
As well as the toys and stationary items I’ve often bought some items from their home ware department which seems to be a bit of a hidden secret with many people because the items they sell are quite cheap.
Quality is not brilliant and the reliability of the electrical items can apparently be questionable, I’ve not had any problems myself, but they are so cheap that they are very much disposable when they go wrong and you can just go out and buy another one to replace it.
Their kids clothing ranges are also very good, especially when you want to get items for the little ones to go back to school.

• Added: 4th of September 2008
• Area: Leyton
• Category: Food and Drink

London E10 5NH

Iss said
Great Clothing Ranges
This is a large branch of the Asda stores and hence has all the extra sections like the pharmacy, opticians, home electricals and clothing.
Besides the fantastic food and all the other homeware items and electricals that they sell, Asda also have a fantastic clothing line under their George label which was probably the
When the kids need to go back to school this is really the place to go to kit them out with shirts, shoes, trousers and skirts because their pricing is really realistic and cheap which is great value when your kids outgrow your new purchases within 6 months and you have to go out and buy again.
For the price the quality is fantastic and they wash really well, especially the jumpers which don’t really shrink as you often find with most cheap woollen items.

• Added: 4th of September 2008
• Area: Camden Town
• Category: Cafes and Coffee Shops

London NW1 9DL
020 7482 5024

Iss said
Best Tasting Food in London?
This is definitely a tourist trap but it is equally brilliant for anyone just visiting London for the day. You might have to wait in a queue just to get in but the end result is well worth the wait.
Loud foot tapping head nodding music, but not deafening and continuous music videos playing on large screens. The food is also exceptional and some of the best tasting that I have found in London. Portions are large and costs are reasonable, probably slightly higher then you would expect but this is London and it is a tourist trap venue.
That said, prices are fairly cheap in comparison to other similar London venues.