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OS food shopping in London SE5/SE15
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Bargain_Rzl
Posts: 6,254 Forumite
I was wondering if anybody who lives in southeast London might be able to advise me. (I did debate posting this on the "Local Moneysaving - England" board but it's really a specifically OS question, and usually when I post on the England board nobody takes any notice!)
I recently moved to Camberwell SE5, though right on the border with Peckham SE15 - pretty much equidistant from the main shopping areas of Peckham and Camberwell. It is a very multi ethnic area (esp. African, Afro-Caribbean and Chinese) and one of the reasons I wanted to live there was for the huge variety of "old style" shops - independent grocers, bakers, greengrocers, butchers and fishmongers. However I've found that since I moved there I've become overwhelmed by the sheer volume of choice, and although I've already been doing a lot of random price comparisons, I was wondering whether anybody can recommend particular shops. For example, a lot of the butchers seem to be of the "discount frozen meat" variety, when I'd prefer to be shopping at a proper family butcher. I work very near Borough Market but the prices there are high.
Also there's the age old "where to buy white vinegar" question. The most easily accessible Chinese supermarket to me sells 5 litre cartons for £4.69, which I thought was good until I read the thing in Thrifty Ways for Modern Days which said some Chinese supermarkets do 5 litres for around £2! :eek:
Any advice at all on which shops to use/avoid would be welcome.
I recently moved to Camberwell SE5, though right on the border with Peckham SE15 - pretty much equidistant from the main shopping areas of Peckham and Camberwell. It is a very multi ethnic area (esp. African, Afro-Caribbean and Chinese) and one of the reasons I wanted to live there was for the huge variety of "old style" shops - independent grocers, bakers, greengrocers, butchers and fishmongers. However I've found that since I moved there I've become overwhelmed by the sheer volume of choice, and although I've already been doing a lot of random price comparisons, I was wondering whether anybody can recommend particular shops. For example, a lot of the butchers seem to be of the "discount frozen meat" variety, when I'd prefer to be shopping at a proper family butcher. I work very near Borough Market but the prices there are high.
Also there's the age old "where to buy white vinegar" question. The most easily accessible Chinese supermarket to me sells 5 litre cartons for £4.69, which I thought was good until I read the thing in Thrifty Ways for Modern Days which said some Chinese supermarkets do 5 litres for around £2! :eek:
Any advice at all on which shops to use/avoid would be welcome.


MURPHY'S NO MORE PIES CLUB MEMBER #124
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I live in East Dulwich which is not that far away. I dont travel that far away from Peckham and East Dulwich, I know what you mean by being slightly overwhelmed.
The shops you are talking about certainly do look a little scary and I haven't bought anything from them apart from some seriously good veg. I think I prefer to use Morrisons in Peckham- just seems a little safer for meat.
East Dulwich has a very famous butchers which specialises in organic meat. Aparently Jamie Oliver buys his meat there and there is always a huge queue outside. I'm not sure its particularly useful for budgeting- it really is a special event type butcher. There is also another family style butcher at the top of East Dulwich which is fine.
One thing I will say is travel to Lewisham for the market for amazingly cheap veg. They have scoops of whatever veg for a pound and there are also some smaller family butchers around. I picked up a huge Duck for £5.00 and regularly make a special effort to pick up veg from the market. I haven't found anywhere else which offers 10/12 huge bell peppers for £!.
Hope this helps a tiny bit!0 -
Thanks Wanno! I know Lewisham well, used to live round there a few years ago, and I have heard that the market is still excellent for fruit and veg so will try that. It's only a bus ride away, after all.
I get the impression that a lot of the ethnic supermarkets in Peckham are probably very good for pulses, oils, grains and spices, but a lot of the veggies seem quite expensive
Morrison's in Peckham has been my supermarket of choice since I moved, and their basic prices seem very good value (have never had a Morrison's as my main supermarket before) though they don't tend to have as good yellow-sticker reductions as other supermarkets.
It is certainly useful to know about the butchers in East Dulwich, expensive or not - can you give me the addresses, or at least the street names? The other place I have been meaning to try is the butcher on Great Suffolk Street, SE1, near my office, which is listed on BigBarn and which I've seen recommended on a local website.
Thanks again :AOperation Get in Shape
MURPHY'S NO MORE PIES CLUB MEMBER #1240 -
The butcher is called: William Rose Butchers and its 126 Lordship Lane.
I think the veggies are cheaper than supermarkets. And in peckham you neevr know what wierd and wonderful stuff is on display!0 -
You must live round the corner from my mum
- she's a very old-style shopper and cook. She gets all her veg from Choumert Road market, experiments a lot with ethnic supermarkets for spices, sauces etc. They like Sophocles bakers at Camberwell Green for bread, also some of the West Indian bakers shops in Peckham do lovely bread. She does buy some of her meat in the halal butchers (not the frozen places) but tends to buy it from farm shops outside of London when possible which I guess means she hasn't found anywhere she really likes. I'll tell her about the place on Lordship Lane though.
That man is richest whose pleasures are cheapest. Henry David Thoreau0 -
you also have east lane market which is thursday sat and sunday some good stalls which have been there years its off the walworth road.Before you point fingers,make sure your hands are clean !;)0
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You're also in easy bus distance of Brixton Market which is definitely worth a visit, I've heard they're especially good for fishThat man is richest whose pleasures are cheapest. Henry David Thoreau0
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Spiddy100 - thanks! That's exactly the sort of info I was after.
Thanks also for mentioning fish. I knew Brixton Market existed but didn't realise it had such a good reputation for fish. I really want to start cooking with fish more, so will pay a visit sometime in the next couple of weeks.
Davsidipp, I think you mean East Street - yes, I'd noticed that being there. Am I right in thinking it's mainly fruit & veg, plus non food items? Anyway, it's on my way to work (or at weekends it's only a 20-minute walk from me) so I have been meaning to try it. Thanks for that.Operation Get in Shape
MURPHY'S NO MORE PIES CLUB MEMBER #1240 -
hi bargain east lane is an old saying as i grew up in camberwell 30 years ago i lived in warner road where the bus garage is, east st has wet fish stall as well some days . sundays a nd saturdays they sell a variety of goods plants clothes and if anyone is my age will remember sarsparilla soft drink stall i dont know if its still there but give east st a go.Before you point fingers,make sure your hands are clean !;)0
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Hi Bargain Rzl,
we must pretty close to each other..
I live closer to Oval but still walk able to Camberwell..
lets see..
William Rose is great.. I go up there most Saturdays I picked up some oxtail, 4 boar sausages, a pork tenderloin, 2 quails 1 pheasant a handful of chopped venison and some cheese for £18.
It is like a mini borough market but you always have to queue. I am also on the hunt for a good fish monger, the Chinese store on Denmark hill ( next to Woolworths) has a small fresh fish section, I had some fish there in the summer and it was fine.. Not a huge selection though..
I plan to go up to Peckham sometime this weekend and brave the meat shops… I have heard you get some great prices but I have never tried it out.
Let me know if you find anything else around the area.. I am always on the lookout for gems in our little SE5 haven..
BTW- best Chinese in London is called Lamoon on Denmark Hill, best Indian is New Delawarshim (sp?) on New Camberwell Road..0 -
If you decide to visit Lewisham market there is an excellent local butcher on your way - Peter James in Ewhurst Road, Crofton Park. Also does fish as there is a dearth of fish shops in the area.
He makes lovely sausages.
Am a non-meat eating vegetarian myself but often pop in as he also sells the local honey.
Valerie0
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