Grocery Stores in Reading, Berkshire

“It was my first visit to this cafe. I was happy to see the Food Hygiene Rating of 5 on the door, which is dated Sept 2024. I was greeted by a friendly staff member with a smile and it made me feel very welcome.

I ordered a Create Your Own Breakfast. I chose my 5 items from a good selection of items on their menu board. The lady then mentioned that it comes with a Tea or Coffee. As I don’t drink either Tea or Coffee, I asked whether I could have a Hot Chocolate instead. I was surprised to be told that I would have to pay £2.75 extra in full for a regular cup of Hot Chocolate, rather than the difference between the cost of a Tea/Coffee (£1.50) and the Hot Chocolate (£2.75), of which the difference would have been £1.25. (Which is what I am used to at other cafes I have visited).

As I felt that this was unfair and I wasn’t prepared to pay the £2.75 in full, I had my breakfast without a drink, which again wasn’t what I would have wanted, as I would have really appreciated a drink accompanyjng my Full English Breakfast.

I personally would have expected to pay an extra £1.00 or £1.50 maximum for the UPGRADE from a Tea/Coffee and the Hot Chocolate, as that would have been a better option as that is what other cafes in my local area would have done.

After my meal, she gave me a QR code to leave a review, so as it was my first visit and I visit Reading regularly, I thought I should be honest and leave a constructive review. I hope that they take this minor issue on board for my next visit.

Ultimately, I would be happy to eat here again as the food and service was great and it seems quite a popular place. 4 out of 5 from me, it would have been 5 out of 5, if it wasn’t for the pricing issue on the upgrade to the hot chocolate.

All the best to the staff here and see you again soon! ?

Parking: On road pay and display and permit holders only bays.”

“It's a big place, was bigger than I thought it would be the layout is a bit hectic but that could just be as it was my first visit they opened another till straight away too when it got a bit busier”

“Quick and easy shopping venue.
Used to like the loyalty scheme but having seen that of rivals think Sainsbury's is not the best.
Costs are noticably increasing.
Sporadic nectar reductions on products.
Yes it has changed Oct 23
Major aisle relocations and deep cleaning of vacated bays. Astonishing how grubby under the bays had developed.
Certainly changes in prices of items Feb 2024. Small cost items rising by large percentage usually values rounded by rounded sticker prices 20p 50p etc
Also some products staying priced the same but size/portion decreased.”

“Staff are really helpful and the store was well stocked and clean. I would potentially say it has less choice than Lidl but not a massive issue. Loads and loads of parking!”

“Good place to go for shopping for necessities and for snacks I often go to buy snacks good prices can be found.also excellent customer service given when in need for a iteam or help.”

“Consistently surprises me with reasonably priced groceries and bakery and homeware & clothes. Main shopping supermarket for us for day to day meat, veg, cheeses etc & drinks and desert. Highly recommended.”

“First time in this store, initial impression was of narrow aisles & not as light as other Waitrose stores I have used.
Wide range of meals & other foodstuffs but limited selection of ready made sandwiches.
Staff friendly and helpful.”

“Normally I wouldn’t be bothered by noise. However someone had their counting scanner at full volume and I didn’t stay for a full shop just grabbed a quick snack instead”

“Good shopping experience. Good variety of products which differ from other suppliers and at great prices. I go there most days now because of mentioned above. Ample parking, trolleys and baskets are available. To make the experience better, there is a Lidl next door!”

“Very convenient and friendly place to get good quality food without all the unnecessary packaging. Just take your old containers (weigh them empty and write the weight on the side if you can). Then go and fill up and pay by the weight you want. Good bread and other bits too.”

“Lovely dependable supermarket with friendly and helpful staff however busy and overstretched they are. I particularly want to praise Mack the security guard who has been a long time worker there. My family have shopped in this branch since at least the mid 1990s. Mack is a familiar sight, clearly committed to his job and teammates and with a professional yet friendly approach to customers.Yesterday I left my wallet on a self service till and Mack ran to my bus stop to return it. What a hero! He should at least be employee of the month. Thank you sooo much?”

“M and s in the station is great. You can always get nice food. However one slight piece of constructive feedback is when they closed On strike days. I had no where to go and it was not helpful and I think they could have stayed open for business reasons and to help the community. I have to say though the staff are amazing. They always help you with your bags. Always well stocked. Really nice littler treasure trove in the station.”

“Friendly staff, stocked very well and super organised. They also offer Evri parcel returns. Plenty of free two hour parking for the disabled and general at the rear of the shop. The car park also has clothing donation banks - a set of three which is most handy.”

“Lovely.is so
Good lots off stuff there clowns ducks and other. Prices are very good especially the pikachu headphones plus don't get then I want them!!!!! But better go to lomdos and buy there mega cool water gun and buy there lottery wow! Also buy londis man's shoes and babushka kisses his feet and cheek saying *have a great say at londis babe!!!”

“These days it is hard to find a garage that keeps it's forecourt clean. Elmer Green never disappoints as I feel safe rocking up to the pumps with my bike knowing there won't be any diesel spills to slip up on. Reasonable price for petrol given the current market and a shop full of goodies to help my waistband grow.”

“Love shopping here. Team are fantastic (always!) Well done! Small moment of outstanding service. My son is fascinated by the fish counter and was given a small fish by the Waitrose fishmonger. So kind and unexpected. Superstar. Makes me want to keep coming back. Thank you and keep up the great service :)”

“As the name says it's a warehouse so the quantity must be more. Atleast you have to take 3 items mostly around 10 pounds for mix and match products under same company. All kind of frozen foods are avilable. Ice creams, beverages. They sell vegetables also.For 1 quantity I don't think it's a good choice but for bulk ,as I said at lest 3 it's a very good choice.Ready to eat are also avilable.”

“Global Foods is an Asian supermarket that feels like a boon for Indians. They sell everything from India groceries to a wide range of Indian products. Indian vegetables are fresh (drumsticks, lady's finger, bitter gourd and quite a lot of other Indian veggies). A few varieties of greens are available. You can get all cereals including varieties of rice. They also sell pulses, coconuts, malted drinks and a wide range of food powders and ready to cook food items. You also can buy frozen naan and parathas from them. They also sell some Puja items and Ayurvedic medicines. You can also find some tasty snacks at the billing counter. And, there is a lot more that I may have missed. The shop is well maintained but is slightly overpriced. But, the quality and range of products is definitely noteworthy.”

“Good place to shop, only my second visit but will be visiting more often now. Helpful staff, the young lad on the checkout was so polite and friendly. Well worth the visit.”

“unmanned 24 hour petrol station with usually the lowest petrol prices in the area (ignoring costco where you have to be a member). there are call buttons for issues and I assume disabled drivers but not sure what hours these operate.”

“I am rather addicted to Sainsburys in Reading town centre. They are not too big, have an extensive range and reasonable prices. What saddens me is the lack of free range chicken and far too much non free range so I have to buy it at M & S. Also won't clean up their entrance as I have asked. Wont stock smalll size Bertolli spread like they used to large size too big. Oh Justin King put it back again when he was CEO.”

“Best iceland I've been to for a long time .shelves were well stocked aswell as the freezers .Nice clean store .only downer was the young boy on the till who looked and sounded very bored”

“Nice, clean, and well-presented shop. Polite, friendly staff. Good range of products. There's nearly always a decent selection of reduced items, where you can grab some great bargains. There's a cash machine outside and a wheelchair accessible ramp. Lots of free car parking nearby.”

“A good branch of Co-op. Friendly, helpful staff. Well-stocked shelves. There's a cash machine just outside. There's a decent amount of free parking available behind the store. This is accessible via an alleyway next to the entrance.”

“This co-op is amazing, staff are so friendly and helpful. As a Community staff nurse working in the area during this horrible time, the staff have gone out of their way to assist in any way they can and they always have a smile on their face.Highly recommend!!!”

“Overall great store people who work here are very friendly One woman paid for my petrol when i didn't have enough. only bad thing is that the toilet 9 times out of ten has a fat log in it. also 3 pound for 1 bag of chocolate is a disgrace”

“Returned an electric throw which was faulty but no receipt. They were amazing. Apparently faulty electric goods bought within 12 months must be refunded legally. So refreshing to have such good customer care. The manager Carla was brilliant. Thanks Lidl”

“This supermarket is quite neat and tidy, and the goods are neatly arranged.The price of many products at the computer checkout is different from that on the shelf, and there is no time to change.”

“Reading Zabka is full of interesting and tasty polish food. Every now and then, I enjoy visiting to see what I can buy.Next to the "Mr Cod halfway up Oford Road," it is very accesablw by bus”