Iceland eyesore

[computedshorty]

What is POSH?

poshness n.

Word History: "Oh yes, Mater, we had a posh time of it down there." So in Punch for September 25, 1918, do we find the first recorded instance posh, meaning "smart and fashionable." A popular theory holds that it is derived from the initials of "Port Out, Starboard Home," the cooler, and thus more expensive, side of ships traveling between England and India in the mid-19th century. The acronym POSH was supposedly stamped on the tickets of first-class passengers traveling on that side of ships owned by the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company. No known evidence supports this theory, however. Another word posh was 19th- and early 20th-century British slang for "money," specifically "a halfpenny, cash of small value." This word is borrowed from the Romany word p?h, "half," which was used in combinations such as p?hera, "halfpenny." Posh, also meaning "a dandy," is recorded in two dictionaries of slang, published in 1890 and 1902, although this particular posh may be still another word. This word or these words are, however, much more likely to be the source of posh than "Port Out, Starboard Home," although the latter source certainly has caught the public's etymological fancy.

It could also refer to the owners of newer buildings that were built with the toilet inside the house, where the older ones had a shed at the bottom of the garden: Position Of Shit House. This might be the reason for the snobbery

[Nicholas]

The Minkey.

I'm old school ED,I don't particularly like Iceland and don't shop there and it is a bit ugly. Every time I have passed it seems half empty and I can't imagine it lasting too long in my opinion.The majority of the clientele in ED would be more suited to a Waitrose/M&S and thats a fact. Open your eyes. Im not sure if the local food stores would be too happy.

(The Person who started this thread hope your having a laugh)

Most people in ED would love a Waitrose including me and i'm no snob!

[Cassius]

Lidl do excellent Dornfelder not found in most supermarkets and have been known to do Icewine very reasonably at Christmas. I've never actually tried wine from Iceland but will have a look next time I go in there.

[The Minkey]

Fair enough, Nicholas - though I can't help but think it will stay as long as it's making money. When that stops happening, it won't be long for that site.

[Pearson]

This, a retail experts view of Iceland:

"He (food writer Jay Rayner) put it down to demographics and perception. Iceland now competes directly with the value supermarkets such as Aldi and Lidl, which have successfully broadened their customer base by making middle England feel terribly clever at finding the odd item at a bargain price. Yet, many of us, me included, can?t see beyond Iceland?s long-standing reputation for processed rather than fresh food."

"I know there are many families strapped for cash and Iceland probably helps a lot in their weekly budgeting but I would love to see it assisting in guiding people how to eat cheaply but nutritiously. Iceland announced record profits last year, so it may be happy enough"

[DJKillaQueen]

The majority of the clientele in ED would be more suited to a Waitrose/M&S and thats a fact

Complete assumption based on no facts whatsoever. ED is not just a bunch of owner occupier residential streets. There are are many people on low incomes, pensioners, social housing tenants, and those seeing most of their salaries going on private rents.

It's comments like that that highlight just how effing up their own asses some snobby people really are.

[Alec John Moore]

I've always considered that "convenience" is a key factor in determining where we shop for groceries. I quite like the theory of being able to shop around for grocery bargains but can you imagine the "inconvenience" of hopping on the 12 with a couple of reusable bags, stopping off at Netto, then maybe some fresh fruit and veg from the stalls on Rye Lane, battling through the crowds to Lidl for some wine and then hopping on the 37 to LL and popping in to Iceland while averting one's gaze from the brutal architecture to pick up some oven chips for a ?1. Yer arms would be slightly longer by the end of it. Our reality is a weekly trip to Sainsbo's DKH topped up with weekday evening visits to our friendly local store on Barry Road - they do organic stuff, too.

[Ridgley]

Yet again I agree with DJKQ on this topic

[The Minkey]

As do I.

[Maccers]

This has to be the funniest thread I have ever read on the Forum.

Bring on the ED class war!

Would DJKillaQueen volunteer as leader of the militant anti-Waitrose crowd? Maybe Pearson could front up the right...

[cate]

Agree with DJKQ. It's convenient and it's there. Salaries are also going on stupidly high gas and electricity bills. Bought some coconut water for 50 pence a tin. I hardly ever buy their frozen stuff except fish fingers but get milk, butter and dairy products, plus crumpets (2 packs for a quid) and potato scones. They had tins of Ambrosia custard which was 2 for a quid. Ocado is 81p each.

[AlexC]

Maccers Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> This has to be the funniest thread I have ever

> read on the Forum.

>

> Bring on the ED class war!

>

> Would DJKillaQueen volunteer as leader of the

> militant anti-Waitrose crowd? Maybe Pearson could

> front up the right...

This is indeed turning into a classic thread.

I'd love a Waitrose in ED but then I do have a vested interest as I work for them (well John Lewis Partnership, but same thing)....so ignore me! I just want somewhere close by to use my discount card. :)

[plimsoul]

it's a neighbourhood with a real mix, posh poor, cheap expensive. all of you get off your high horses. great if waitrose comes, great that iceland is there. plus, don't blame the op here, troll or no troll it takes little to get this tired and boring argument going on this forum.

ed is full of choice and has benefitted from an influx of new families. there's still choice, the fry up sits alongside the palmerston etc..

all of you sound like squabbling kids in the playground. only in england in 2010 would you still have a class war going on.

[DaveR]

It's not fundamnetally about class, it's about money. As DJKQ points out, there are lots of people on low or average incomes in ED, but that also means low disposable incomes, so less weight in the local economy. Iceland does fine because even if you have a low disposable income you still need to buy food, and Iceland clearly serves a local market. However, Iceland is in a minority on LL in being a 'downmarket' brand because most of the money being spent in ED is being spent by a proportion of locals (prob not a majority) with a lot of disposable income.

So, Iceland. It's not the most attractive building, but ED is (in truth) an architecturally unremarkable place, so WTF. I don't shop there, but the list of shops where I don't go is a long one, and I'm not agitating for any of them to close (although obviously I'll grumble about gift/candle/wanky shops). So, no opinion.

[mockney piers]

"but ED is (in truth) an architecturally unremarkable place"

Spot on. The East Dulwich tourist board should consider "East Dulwich, hey it's no Castle Combe, but then it's no Stevenage Town Centre either".

And much as I love the place, noone else in London has even heard of it, unless they pass through it on the way from Penge, which isn't saying an awful lot is it.

[cate]

I seem to remember a thread on here once complaining that the Blue Mountain used Iceland milk.

[Keef]

Do they use frozen cows?

[cate]

Ho Ho Ho. No, really, someone complained. They seemed to think it should be of higher quality or something..not sure what the point of the posting was.

[Sue]

Perhaps the Blue Mountain had run out of their normal organic, free-range milk gathered from a specified herd of local cows, and had had to pick up a pint or two from Iceland, their nearest supplier :))

[DulwichFox]

Someone here will be telling me next that Iceland English Breakfast Tea.

(If they happen to sell it) isn't grown in England.

[The Minkey]

Hate to break it to you..

[Tibbs]

I do not think a waitrose or M&S would be such a terrible thing, have any of you actually looked at the price comparisons in these stores vs Iceland. It may surprise you to find their is not much dofference! They both have value ranges.... Now calm down at this suggestion.... Take a look at the ingredients. I would rather buy fresh organic wholesome foods and cook meals from scratch especially as I have 3 young boys to feed and my husband. My roast chicken yes ?10 (for organi free range which seems expensive) roughly from borough Market or waitrose makes a roast dinner for us all, sandwiches for lunch, chicken soup and chicken curry. Same goes for roast lamb and beef. I shop for what is on offer and plan my menu round that, not ready made "meals" crisps and biscuits (check out delia for cheaper home made healthier alternatives to pre packaged). It is not about snobbery it is about quality, most of the food in Iceland is shocking, the co-op is a few doors down which offers a better range, but if you want cheaper better food, buy better and do not waste a thing! I may be shot down for these comments but I grew up on the fens we were taught to cook well eat well and know what you are eating, and before you jump on me about time, most meals take the same time to cook and or prepare than an Iceland meal or buffet takes to heat up. Saissahe rolls take 5 mins to make and 15 to cook make your own and taste test you will never go back.... Yummy!

[Pearson]

^ooh, can i come round to yours for dinner pls?

I don't care what anyone else may say, you are spot on!

I wouldn't put cheap petrol in my Ferrari after all ;)

[zeban]

Tibbs Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I do not think a waitrose or M&S would be such a

> terrible thing, have any of you actually looked at

> the price comparisons in these stores vs Iceland.

> It may surprise you to find their is not much

> dofference! They both have value ranges.... Now

> calm down at this suggestion.... Take a look at

> the ingredients. I would rather buy fresh organic

> wholesome foods and cook meals from scratch

> especially as I have 3 young boys to feed and my

> husband. My roast chicken yes ?10 (for organi free

> range which seems expensive) roughly from borough

> Market or waitrose makes a roast dinner for us

> all, sandwiches for lunch, chicken soup and

> chicken curry. Same goes for roast lamb and beef.

> I shop for what is on offer and plan my menu round

> that, not ready made "meals" crisps and biscuits

> (check out delia for cheaper home made healthier

> alternatives to pre packaged). It is not about

> snobbery it is about quality, most of the food in

> Iceland is shocking, the co-op is a few doors down

> which offers a better range, but if you want

> cheaper better food, buy better and do not waste a

> thing! I may be shot down for these comments but I

> grew up on the fens we were taught to cook well

> eat well and know what you are eating, and before

> you jump on me about time, most meals take the

> same time to cook and or prepare than an Iceland

> meal or buffet takes to heat up. Saissahe rolls

> take 5 mins to make and 15 to cook make your own

> and taste test you will never go back.... Yummy!

Here here Tibbs, I completely agree with you. I'd love a Waitrose and I'm on a tiny budget, but I cook from fresh, from scratch, and buy simple good quality and healthy ingredients that shops like Iceland just don't stock/cater for. It's hard sometimes when you're on a budget and you want to eat healthily so I'm not going to pretend it isn't, but it is possible if you shop around (which I do) and you will find that most supermarkets price match now anyway, including as Tibbs says, Waitrose. I used to live in North London and they had a Waitrose in Holloway- some people would say that Holloway isn't exactly Chelsea but it did well there along with all other stores including Iceland!

I'm not saying get rid of Iceland but the argument for Waitrose is nothing to do with snobbery and I welcome anything that can offer me a greater choice of products, and quality fresh ingredients at a competitive price(unlike the ridiculously overpriced 'deli's' on LL (I know they have a place in the community so I'm not saying they should go).

Sainsbury's is ok, but I tend to find they have so much of the same thing, and the quality of some things that are not the cheapest sometimes astounds me- bruised apples for example, being sold at full price.

[nancyse15]

William Rose free range chickens are cheaper than Sainsbury's!