Big shop, good deal

bullinn1

Some kind person suggested that I post this here:

We generally shop in the usual places but we have to buy for a wedding type party and expect to spend £500+ on food and booze, any advice on the best place for best deal please ?

MandM90

It depends what kind of stuff you’re buying. I think Aldi/Lidl are great for good value booze but sometimes harder to find the party stuff...unless you’re making lots from scratch in which case it’s probably the cheapest.

Could you try plugging your list into Mysupermarket.com and see who comes out top?

freyasmum

Depending where you are, you might be better doing a booze cruise! Even into England, if you live in Scotland.

freyasmum

With regards food, what type of stuff are you having? Sit down, served meal or buffet?

Iceland are quite handy for frozen party bits if it's for a buffet.

PollyWollyDoodle

If you're buying for large numbers have you considered something like Costco, if you are near one? There is a joining fee but you'll be able to get catering-size portions, which might give you a lower price overall.

Dclutterchique

PollyWollyDoodle wrote: »

If you're buying for large numbers have you considered something like Costco, if you are near one? There is a joining fee but you'll be able to get catering-size portions, which might give you a lower price overall.

Like Polly, I was also going to suggest a Cash and Carry. Here's the membership requirements for Costco (and I suspect others may be similar). https://www.costco.co.uk/membership-individual-requirements


You may even be able find a friend or relative who's a member and can 'purchase' on your behalf. (You may have to issue them an invite/upgrade as a thank you, but it might be worth doing.)

bullinn1

Thank you all for such helpful advice, sadly we don't have a Costco within 40 miles, too late for a booze cruise but Aldi/Lidl is a good suggestion. Good of you to take the time. Roger (E Sussex)

buildersdaughter

I would definitely do comparisons and consider going to more than one shop. Rope in others to help if you can.
It's unclear what style of catering you are doing, but I would look at independent shops as well. I live in the East Midlands, and for various reasons we end up doing family dos most years that run at that sort of cost. I can get the following at independent stores, better quality & similar price to most supermarkets:
Excellent cold meat platters from my butcher, and wonderful sausages & bacon if doing rolls.
Greengrocer (who supplies local pubs and restaurants) gives me wholesale prices
Bakers 15-20% discount
Cheese stall at the local market similar
Wine merchant will do sale or return, 12% discount. Before you think that is 'posh' their basic very decent wine is £5.50 a bottle - discount doesn't quite get it to Aldi / Lidl prices but not bad (and they deliver)! Last time we had a do he gave us 36 bottles of short-dated cider for free.
Local brewery will do a deal on beer.

If that sounds like too much hassle, or not relevant in your neck of the woods, then I'd definitely get a fair bit at Lidl - their cold meat & fish are very good. They also sell part-baked bread. I usually cater for the bread i think I will need - then rather than over-allow, I get some part-baked for back up.

I'd also think carefully about booze - at most dos (although not always at weddings) people turn up with some. I have friends on a budget who give a lovely Xmas 'thank you' do every years and buy no booze at all - we drink whatever turns up!

Nelski

Depending on the occasion I would look at M+S for their party platters. may not be as cheap as some have suggested but will save you a lot of time faffing around

https://www.marksandspencer.com/l/food-to-order/party-food-and-sandwiches

Mr_Singleton

A wedding is a special occasion which hopefully is a once in a lifetime experience. I don’t personally think that Lidl/Aldi sets the right sort of tone.

timehastoldme

Unessescary debt isn't a great tone to start a marriage with either.

We did ours with a wedding cake made of cheese (bought as rounds from Sainsbury's) and duplicating the Waitrose magazine buffet suggestions (cheddar and gooseberry chutney mini rolls etc)?but with Aldi ingredients. Had a village fete vibe, very cheerful, relatively cheap.