67 REFLECTIONS ON SAINSBURYS CAMDEN TOWN

67goingon50 explores Sainsburys Camden Town

to be updated summer 2018

Without a car, 67 shops mainly at major supermarkets on convenient bus routes:  Morrisons, M&S and Waitrose.  Sainsbury's has always seemed just that little bit too much out of the way.  However, a batch of generous Sainsbury's gift vouchers from friends had 67 taking a closer look at the Camden Town branch.  

It's a spacious store, well-lit, fairly well-organised and clean.  Staff are friendly and helpful.  The shelves are tidy and reasonably well-stocked though there can be inconvenient gaps.   

Prices are reasonable and there are decent bargains.  It's cheaper than Waitrose or M&S but Morrison's has the edge on price.  Nearly everything on my shopping list was cheaper at Morrisons and the bargains were better.  

Sainsbury's does score highly at the butcher's counter.  The Blogger bought aged Scottish rump steaks, Hampshire pork chop and some shin of beef.  It was all excellent, on a par with an upmarket local butcher.  The pork was exceptional -- exquisitely tender and delicious.  One might go out of one's way just for the pork.

Another outstanding item was Saturday doughnuts (the doughnuts during the rest of the week don't seem to be the same recipe).  The sugared ring doughnuts are enough to make anyone fall off an eating plan and at 5 for 70 pence are a terrific bargain.  Filled doughnuts are also available.  Strangely, the doughnuts are as good as those Morrisons used to sell, but no longer does...though Morrisons still sell decent doughnuts.

Sainsbury's offers a wide selection of organic products at good prices but the blogger was not impressed by some of them.

Sainsbury's used to have the best economy tinned tuna ever but it wasn't possible to check current quality; on three visits, the relevant shelf was cleaned out.  (Aug 2017 - Basics tuna is back on the shelves and it is still the best ever!) 

Another area where Sainsbury's gets a plus is in providing both family sized and small-household packages on the produce and fresh meat counters.  

If Sainsbury's were more convenient, 67 would have no qualms visiting more often.

But there are a couple of drawbacks.

Most supermarket shoppers go through a list then take a more leisurely look at the week's bargains.  It's nice therefore to stop for coffee and a sit-down before or after the shop and, before heading home, a visit to the facilities. 

Not Possible at Sainsbury's Camden town. Unbelievably.  The nearest public loos are 10-minutes away at a burger outlet.  What do mums with kids do?  And older people?

While 67 can survive without coffee and a break, the lack of loos, inside or out, is astonishing.  And that, more than anything else, means Morrisons, M&S and Waitrose retain my loyalty.  

67 still gets gifted Sainsbury's vouchers and will happily buy more of its meat and (occasionally) doughnuts.  But Sorry, Sainsbury's Camden Town -- the high number of nice staff doesn't make up for a lack of customer comforts.    

(Note: Some large Sainsbury's do have loos and eating/drinking areas.)


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DISCLAIMER: The author accepts no liability for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided.  Any information not sourced to a second party is the copyright of the blogger.