Forum Topic

Lidl in The Oaks

Popped into Lidl this morning (opened today) and very quiet, and then popped back later in the day, and it was busy!  So nice to see people walking around the Oaks, and great to see people shopping in Lidl!

Helen New ● 2356d29 Comments

So true! It's almost like people have forgotten that it's alright to say something is OK, too. Lidl won't solve everything in your life, but it's not bad, either!

Malcolm Pacey ● 2319d

Bravo Don! It is rather disappointing to see so many people complaining about improvements to Acton. Some people cannot be pleased. I for one, LOVE LIDL and Wilko on the doorstep. Just to add to the constant conspiracy theory around Waitrose and M&S - nothing to do with The Oaks - it is well known they both struggle in the current economic climate. Give it some time, someone will fill the space and make The Oaks even more attractive.

Kathleen Kelber ● 2334d

Why pay a premium for a unit at the front when everyone knows what's in a Lidl and will happily walk to the back? Those Germans ain't stupid - they won't fork out money for things they don't need.

Malcolm Pacey ● 2335d

I couldn't agree more.Acton deserves all the help it can get to improve as a shopping area that's got variety and is safe and interesting for all.The centre will fill - patience dear locals!The car park is often very busy - so more people can get into ActonThere are new homes for new Acton residents.So what if there is no toilet - if there was then it wouldn't take long before people moan about the conditions and hygiene needing a team of 4 to clean it.Why no Seating - wait till it's full but if seating is provided please don't moan about youngsters sitting there drinking and smoking - OK?Prefer Hanwell LIDL - bye-bye then!!Don't like LIDL vegetables - so what - don't knock choice - go to Morrison or the abundance of superb middle eastern shopsWhat a fresh change

Don Tanswell ● 2335d

Oh dear! Given the small shop floor area of Lidl and the population size it is intended to serve it is totally obvious that the store would not be able to cope. Same thing happened at Shepherds Bush before they realised their mistake and expanded the shop. They seem to be slow learners.There’s a concept in economics called ration by misery - they seem to be operating that.

Roy Thomas ● 2344d

Lidl today was horrible - massive queues, heaving with people, nothing on the shelves and no staff. I promptly left and went to Morrisons.

Chris Hurley ● 2346d

Is Mark’s Simply Food coming to the Oaks?It’s just that someone mentioned they were actively fitting it out....

Roy Thomas ● 2347d

A problem we have with Lidl is that, unlike most other supermarkets, they display their prices on the shelf *above* the item rather than below it, which can create surprises at the checkout.

Peter Evans ● 2348d

Sell by dates?  What are they?www.lovefoodhatewaste.comGet the app.  Learn about food labelling and how to waste less food including best ways to store various foods.  Save money and save the environment.5 tips from Martin Lewis.

Philippa Bond ● 2348d

I shopped for the first time in a LIDL in the UK in The Oaks. I was mesmerised by the low prices compared to where I usually shop, which is Sainsbury  in Chiswick. I had not been expecting fresh produce so I was pleasantly surprised by both the choice and the quality. Lidl has a different business model to the main super-markets which is to specialise in a narrower range of items, topped up by specials. This is why they are cheap and I am thankful for this store in its location. I for one am happy with this additional choice for people in Acton.

Louis Bradshaw ● 2349d

Something new in the area but people still find reason to moan, give me strength

Peter Thornton ● 2349d

I prefer the Hanwell Lidl. For starters the car park is outside and no fear of being mugged  No long steep escalator to get to the store either ! . Secondly,  more variety of foods on  offer . Lots of fruit and veg. Spoilt for choice.And very, very fresh.

Beryl Bashford ● 2349d

Poor excuse for a super market. The quality of fruit and veg terrible. The produce I bought was off in a day ...rotten tomatoes and celery.No organic, eggs and milk. The manager said it will change with customer demand. No sell by dates on many of the fresh produce....Hope everyone else is satisfied with the quality.

Linda Tubby ● 2350d

I get the impression that Lidl's MO is to change their range frequently, so you can't rely on a particular item being in stock. When I was there, people were wandering around looking at what was on offer rather than doing a 'normal' shop.From their web site: 'you'll find great offers on a changing range of fruit and vegetables every single week.' That implies they are more focused on offers than on keeping a wide variety of produce in stock. They did have all the veg I wanted yesterday - cauliflowers, sweet potatoes etc - but no veggie burgers (that I could see) so I went to Morrisons.

Norman Redfern ● 2351d

I'm asking not about the price of the fruit and veg but about the variety available.

Susan Kelly ● 2351d

The fruit and veg is pretty much the same price as Morrisons.  That's as far as I got. Had to leave. There was the most awful smell in there yesterday.  Perhaps it's cos it's so new.

Apple Leiper ● 2351d

They give quite a small area over to fruit and veg and it's not easy to find everything. The cauliflowers, for example, were in cardboard boxes on the floor, not on shelves. Definitely not as good a range as Morrisons, though the quality looked OK.

Norman Redfern ● 2351d

What's the actual fruit and veg like? When I went into the West Ealing branch once it was basically apples and cabbage.

Susan Kelly ● 2351d

Had a look round Lidl this morning. The impression I get is that it's a good place to shop if you eat a lot of meat, but it's maybe 10 years behind the other supermarkets in its offerings for vegetarians and vegans. I realise I'm not in their target demographic but I'm still surprised that they don't think there's a demand for veggie and vegan food in 2019.

Norman Redfern ● 2351d

If you enter from the car park they are straight ahead as you enter the mall....once the mall is full, the dynamics of the space will change...

Louis Bradshaw ● 2353d

It's a shame that the functioning Lidl and Wilko stores are rather tucked round the corner, with a dark and empty unit in full view at the end of the underground mall. Was this being reserved for Waitrose?

Peter Evans ● 2353d

Lidl sells the best salmon slices I have ever tasted in my 30 years of existence. Oh and the croissant twisters are delicious too! The Hanwell branch sells out quick for both these 2 items.

Naweed Shams ● 2354d

Reasonably priced food that's very good quality. Frozen raspberries, 40% more content for the same price. Cottage cheese (proper stuff, not the usual watery mess) at less than half the price when you keep in mind the weight per tub. 500gr pack of excellent ground coffee for £2.40 - I could go on and on and on...

Urs Esser ● 2355d

'We find that Lidl's self checkout is often quicker, even with a fairly big shop, than queuing at a regular till.'That's true everywhere.

Susan Kelly ● 2355d

What has this Lidl got that Morrison’s hasn’t?

Alastair Banton ● 2355d

Yes. When we were there this afternoon the self checkout minder leapt forward to take the security tab off our bottle of xxx and confirmed that we were over 18 as we'd indicated on the screen. I couldn't find any special offer chainsaws, but they did have some discounted hake!  We find that Lidl's self checkout is often quicker, even with a fairly big shop, than queuing at a regular till.

Peter Evans ● 2355d

Is there a member of staff at the self checkouts for 'restricted' goods? Only people say that wine is one of the things they're good for.

Susan Kelly ● 2355d

There are a 3 or 4 normal tills and plenty of self checkout. No issues last night. You will find they have fewer tills as they are modelled on their German concept at not packing your bags on the tills, but putting everything back in your trolley taking your time bagging your shopping in a dedicated area behind the tills. Obviously that does not seem to work here in the UK. Anyway, was a pleasant shop last night. Good range of products too. I think Morrisons will feel that the competitor is now on the door step.

Kathleen Kelber ● 2356d

Were there enough tills open? Because that's one of the big problems I have with Lidl: being expected to queue for ages to pay.

Susan Kelly ● 2356d