I think we have all reached the end of our tethers regarding this pandemic. Boredom has been redefined and I know I’m not the only one counting down the days until we can, go shopping, eat out, visit the cinema and above all get sweaty and grind up against each other on the dance floor again.

Unfortunately, for now, the height of the social calendar consists of going to the supermarket. There are actually many similarities between going to the club and hitting up your local supermarket, a long queue outside, going past a ‘bouncer’ as you go in, a wide range of clientele, some of them even play the same music!

Here’s a list of some of the must see supermarkets that you simply must attend this lockdown!

Lidl - Big on quality, Lidl on price

This humble supermarket is not necessarily the most luxurious of venues, but it has a lot to offer. Although beware, anyone still going strong with their New Year’s Resolution diets, the bakery is hard to walk past without being tempted by a plethora of indulgent aromas

The middle aisle is also a famous location, where you too can drop an easy 60 quid on items you perceive as ‘essential’ but you know deep down you don’t need them, much like that 4th round of jäger bombs at Revs. The dress code is smart casual, and who knows, you may just meet the love of your life as you both reach for the same packet of Mini Stroopwafels (who am I kidding that’s just my other hand). 

My rating: 4/5

Tesco - Every Little Helps

Tesco is the Pryzm of all supermarkets, multiple chains, comes in many formats - express, metro, extra… we love the range. Is it a big Tesco day or a little Tesco day? I personally enjoy the fact that confectionary is always on special offer in Tesco, so you know you’re going to get a good deal when you’re on your third sweet haul of the week. On the plus side, there is an abundance of locations which means you really can remain anonymous whilst on essential trips to purchase your snacks.

My rating: 4/5

Sainsbury’s - Try Something New Today

For me, the Sainsbury’s tag line will always be Live Well For Less - sorry to the copywriting team that worked on the new one, *Simon Cowell voice* ‘it’s a no from me’. I have a soft spot for Sainsbury’s, despite the fact orange is my least favourite colour, Sainsbury’s wins for me. I’ve always viewed Sainsbury’s as an experience, a destination, a must see location, where I can get lost for hours and hours and hours. I love the book aisle, the music aisle, the clothes aisle, the toy aisle, the homeware aisle, there really is something for everyone. I was overjoyed when I heard about the partnership with Argos - another prime location. For me, Sainsbury’s is more than a supermarket, it’s more like a one stop shop for everything you’ll ever need, they’re so reliable and they’ve always had my back. I actually feel like if I had the choice out of the club and Sainsbury’s I’d still pick Sainsbury’s.

My rating: 5/5

M&S - This is not just Food, this is M&S food

The tag line is iconic and we all know it! The adverts have been making us drool for years and the food lives up to the representation. Despite the fact that out of all of the supermarkets listed M&S has the least amount of locations, the clout is still there and they still do deserve honourable mention. The Dine In For £10 meal deals are the height of luxury and sophistication (probably something to bear in mind for this coming Valentine’s Day). There’s something about the air in M&S that reminds you that you’re worth it and it is absolutely okay to spend £7 on a sandwich and packet of crisps for lunch. M&S truly gives me boujee wine bar vibes, you literally blink and you’ve spent £100. The ‘treat yourself’ mantra really comes into play whilst perusing the aisles and you do start to feel like the best, most proper, most elite version of yourself (although I do believe it is black tie optional now). 

My rating: 3/5

Other supermarkets that still deserve honourable mention but didn’t quite make my list are: Morrison’s (I refuse to go there unless they change the logo, similarly to how I wouldn’t be caught dead at Tiger Tiger). However, I cannot deny that the café is exquisite (I miss you).

Aldi, they should change their tag line from ‘Everyday Amazing’ to ‘Everyday Disappointing’ us by being a lame bakery-less version of Lidl. However, the prices are hard to beat.

Asda, purely because George has had some truly iconic celeb collaborations, from Mary-Kate and Ashley to Miley Cyrus, although regarding food shopping I’d rather hit up ole faithful Sainsbury’s.

Overall, despite the fact that supermarkets offer us so much and at such fabulous prices depending on whatever mood we may be in… or however generous we may feel on any given day, I promise that we will have other options of places to go soon!

Words by Shen Djafer