OVERWINTERING ON THE ALGARVE?

[Pauljenny]

If you crave all this things familiar, there's a supermarket in Almancil, on the main drag, called THE FOOD SHOP.
It's massive and packed with UK brands of goods.
Pork pies, Bisto, Bacon, even Tide and Omo. Andrex toilet rolls... The lot.

The deal is that they buy cheap stocks direct from the producers, that has a limited sell by date.

We bought Foodstuffs with about 6 weeks use by dates.
Even delicious Bury Black puddings.



Well worth a Shufty.

 

[Nabsim]

Bit like the 'Company Shop' over here then huh? Well except they give you free stuff as well. We have had to get ANOTHER freezer now Caz has discovered them. Mind you, 6Kg of chicken breast for £3 is a bit too good to pass up, especially since dogs eat a lot of chicken

 

[Tezza33]

Bit like the 'Company Shop' over here then huh? Well except they give you free stuff as well. We have had to get ANOTHER freezer now Caz has discovered them. Mind you, 6Kg of chicken breast for £3 is a bit too good to pass up, especially since dogs eat a lot of chicken

We have a Company Shop local to us, it is in Long Eaton which is about 5 miles away, well worth having a card, we don't go in unless shopping in Long Eaton but when we do we just get the bargains, if there is one of these near you get a card if you can

Surplus Food & Goods Redistributor | Company Shop Group

As the UK's leading surplus redistributor, we've built up the infrastructure, logistics and expertise to handle all kinds of products and challenges.

www.companyshopgroup.co.uk

 

[Pauljenny]

Best not to turn up in a big ,shiny, new motorhome, though.

 

[Moonraker 2]

But surely going away is in order to get away from " all things familiar" ???

 

[REC]

A friend in Portugal sent me a list of stuff to bring over for her. Her local "British food shop" sells Branston pickle for €9.50 (£2.34 for double sized jar here) Birds custard powder €4.98 (1.89) and cranberry sauce €4.99 (49p) and as for teabags I can get 1200 for same price as she pays for 80-120!
Tempting to fill the van up and do a boot fair!

 

[Pauljenny]

Yeah.
But when you're looking at a crusty pork pie, for the first time in 3 years, ... Money means nothing.
Didn't get so carried away by the Andrex bog rolls. Mind you.

 

[Mothership]

If you crave all this things familiar, there's a supermarket in Almancil, on the main drag, called THE FOOD SHOP.
It's massive and packed with UK brands of goods.
Pork pies, Bisto, Bacon, even Tide and Omo. Andrex toilet rolls... The lot.

The deal is that they buy cheap stocks direct from the producers, that has a limited sell by date.

We bought Foodstuffs with about 6 weeks use by dates.
Even delicious Bury Black puddings.



Well worth a Shufty.

Why would you!!!, you're in Portugal, you have the freshest vegetables. freshest fish, fabulous local delicacies and you want our crap!!!!!

 

[Trotter]

Why would you!!!, you're in Portugal, you have the freshest vegetables. freshest fish, fabulous local delicacies and you want our crap!!!!!

Spose, it’s a case of, You can take the boy out of London, but you can’t take London out of the boy.
(Insert any town, city, area of your choice. The meaning would never change)
All down to comfort food and nostalgia.

 

[REC]

Spose, it’s a case of, You can take the boy out of London, but you can’t take London out of the boy.
(Insert any town, city, area of your choice. The meaning would never change)
All down to comfort food and nostalgia.

Our friend also craves fray bentos pies
I think comfort food when abroad for a long period becomes more important. He makes lovely food, including pork pies and bacon but hankers after these from his childhood. Marmite and English tea would be my thing. ...

 

[Robmac]

Spose, it’s a case of, You can take the boy out of London, but you can’t take London out of the boy.

I don't suppose you get many Pie 'n Mash shops or Jellied Eel stalls in Portugal Del.

I do miss that from my 20 years of working in London, and of course the Bagels from Brick Lane.

 

[Trotter]

Our friend also craves fray bentos pies

Coincidentally, on Radio 4 yesterday, there was a piece about, kids today, asking the wrinklies in there family to make recordings about their childhood memories, from the dark ages. When we could play in the street, walk unaccompanied to the park. That sort of stuff.
Nic said, if our grandkids asked their parents for their memories. Both would say, “Dads dinners, when Mum was working. Shop bought pie, Fray Bentos, mash potatoes peas and black gravy.

We had that last night. The pie? One from Lidl. That was the only change. Every thing else.? Nectar of the Gods.

 

[Trotter]

I don't suppose you get many Pie 'n Mash shops or Jellied Eel stalls in Portugal Del.

I do miss that from my 20 years of working in London, and of course the Bagels from Brick Lane.

Hot eels from Menzies, Petticoat Lane. mmmmmm

 

[Pauljenny]

Why would you!!!, you're in Portugal, you have the freshest vegetables. freshest fish, fabulous local delicacies and you want our crap!!!!!

Quite...
We live out in the sticks, with no chance of getting back to UK.
The medics said avoid all public transport. It's a 40 mile round trip. After 3 years of Long covid treatment, we no longer drive.

The shop, itself, is right in the middle of the millionaire, golfing area, The Gold Coast.

The villa staff have to ensure that everything is in line with their employer's requirements , when they private jet in , for a golf weekend

Most have little contact or desire to explore the interior.
We certainly wouldn't go there for our monthly shop.

But once a year, late November,
It's nice to have the traditional Xmas stuff, to share with friends.

 

[Nigel M]

Hi there, newish member here. Wife (Elaine) and I returned last year after 10 years living close to Almancil (Quarteira) because the wife was missing the grandkids too much. Bought another motorhome (Rollerteam Zafiro) so we could satisfy our lust for travel. The British Food Store opened up by Tesco before br3xit but they sold it to another company when br3xit stopped them easily exporting to goods to Portugal. I know it sounds mad to eat english food in Portugal but even though the Portuguese food is fantastic and cheap, every now and then it is a real luxury to have a full english breakfast or a pork pie. The prices in the British Food S|tore are not cheap obviously but as a special treat its worth it.

 

[Winterskp]

And now for something completely different . . .

Just been alerted to uzo.pt by expats Steve and Alex. It's a new kid on the mobile phone block. Currently €8 a month for unlimited everything, free roaming in the EU and UK so you can use whatever's left of the credit on your way home!
eSIM available apparently though I haven't found details on the web.

 

[Pauljenny]

Nice, but beware .....

Some European sims don't fit UK phones.
Try before you buy.

 

[Phantom]

And now for something completely different . . .

Just been alerted to uzo.pt by expats Steve and Alex. It's a new kid on the mobile phone block. Currently €8 a month for unlimited everything, free roaming in the EU and UK so you can use whatever's left of the credit on your way home!
eSIM available apparently though I haven't found details on the web.

"Mobile Internet can be used while roaming in the countries mentioned above, and a Fair Usage Policy (FUP) of 30GB will apply to the 100GB plan and 60GB to the unlimited GB plan."