B&M

[No Ney Never]

Used to be markedly cheaper than the main supermarkets, doesn't seem to be that much difference these days on many items.
The wife wants another one of those stringy chairs they have in at the moment in their garden summer range, I don't find them comfortable.
Do you shop there?

[mdd2]

Isn’t that store group closing some outlets and struggling?
On another note I see Which? is saying club card offers from Tesco May be illegal

[Burnley1989]

Used to be markedly cheaper than the main supermarkets, doesn't seem to be that much difference these days on many items.
The wife wants another one of those stringy chairs they have in at the moment in their garden summer range, I don't find them comfortable.
Do you shop there?

Literally said the same to the mrs last week! Did my usual type of visit, nip in for a certain item and filled a basket. I actually found most things more expensive than Tesco

[4midable]

Home bargains is the one

[pompeyclaret]

The Mrs loves a shop in these sort of shops.

Call it Barry & Mike's, what it's known as in our house now, clearly bored wondering around their stores making stuff up!

[4midable]

B and M is just as bad as iceland
Both rip off merchants

[LeadBelly]

I always think of this outfit as Butlers and Mitchells
I'm retired and dont have a car so I shop frequently (via shanks's pony) for small amounts- especially fruit/veg (raw ingredients generally) so this isn't a place I spend a lot of money.

There's an outlet next to the Morrisons where I do most of my fruit/veg shopping so I do call in there, I find it very good for various birdfeed stuff (suet balls/pellets, seeds etc)- and I'm using quite a lot of that at the moment with breeding birds/ fledglings growing rapidly.

I also occasionally buy traditional-type sweets there (got a pack of blackcurrant and liquorice there yesterday); have also bought the odd household item such as bathmats/ towels when I've spotted something in a colour that suits but not bought such items on quality alone.

With provisions shops, it's horses for courses with me - I use all the shops I can walk to within 2.5 miles call at each one for the things that I find best there.

[DCWat]

I always think of this outfit as Butlers and Mitchells
I'm retired and dont have a car so I shop frequently (via shanks's pony) for small amounts- especially fruit/veg (raw ingredients generally) so this isn't a place I spend a lot of money.

There's an outlet next to the Morrisons where I do most of my fruit/veg shopping so I do call in there, I find it very good for various birdfeed stuff (suet balls/pellets, seeds etc)- and I'm using quite a lot of that at the moment with breeding birds/ fledglings growing rapidly.

I also occasionally buy traditional-type sweets there (got a pack of blackcurrant and liquorice there yesterday); have also bought the odd household item such as bathmats/ towels when I've spotted something in a colour that suits but not bought such items on quality alone.

With provisions shops, it's horses for courses with me - I use all the shops I can walk to within 2.5 miles call at each one for the things that I find best there.

Without going to a shop that weighs out sweets, it’s the only place that I know that sells Lions Midget Gems - far superior to the Basset’s ones, who for some strange reason did away with the ‘black ones’ in favour of blackcurrant.

[Burnley1989]

Without going to a shop that weighs out sweets, it’s the only place that I know that sells Lions Midget Gems - far superior to the Basset’s ones, who for some strange reason did away with the ‘black ones’ in favour of blackcurrant.

A lot of supermarkets sell the lions sports mixtures/footballs
They’re the proper original ones, but I also prefer midget gems and the Maynards are ok if you put them in the fridge and toughen them up, but still nowhere near as good.
Big fan of poor bens as well

[DCWat]

A lot of supermarkets sell the lions sports mixtures/footballs
They’re the proper original ones, but I also prefer midget gems and the Maynards are ok if you put them in the fridge and toughen them up, but still nowhere near as good.
Big fan of poor bens as well

Poor Bens - now that’s a good sweet!!

[evensteadiereddie]

I prefer S and M.
Oh sorry, wrong board.

[Jakubclaret]

B&M is ok for certain items it depends what you want, sure a few quid can be saved here or there shopping at different places for different items, but time can also be wasted as well with that approach, I prefer to just go in & get everything I need, instead of p1ssballing about here there & everywhere trying to save a few quid

[GetIntoEm]

Cheaper than a day out to the zoo, and guaranteed to be more wildlife. Horrendous place

[dougcollins]

Best thing about B & M is that it's the only regular retailer who has the 7.5% Nigerian export Guinness.

Don't knock it til you've tried it.

[elwaclaret]

The Mrs loves a shop in these sort of shops.

Call it Barry & Mike's, what it's known as in our house now, clearly bored wondering around their stores making stuff up!

It was named after the married couple who opened the store in Cleveleys. Made a fortune (my auntie was a neighbour)… as it started growing (several years later) they divorced acrimoniously. Not sure what happened after that (my auntie moved) and lost touch as they were fighting in court for the stores.

[Jakubclaret]

Best thing about B & M is that it's the only regular retailer who has the 7.5% Nigerian export Guinness.

Don't knock it til you've tried it.

They also do the strongest lager in the UK that I’ve come across called faxe at 10% volume, other posters might know stronger 1s that I haven’t come across, I think crest was the same but doesn’t seem to be around any more.

[Swizzlestick]

Best thing about B & M is that it's the only regular retailer who has the 7.5% Nigerian export Guinness.

Don't knock it til you've tried it.

Booths sell it too if you’re feeling a bit flush.

[Hendrickxz]

Boyes in Padiham stocks the full range of Lion gums at a quid a packet. Got to be Lion, anything else doesn't really hit the mark.

[pauliopaulio]

Best thing about B & M is that it's the only regular retailer who has the 7.5% Nigerian export Guinness.

Don't knock it til you've tried it.

You can get it in Burnley Tesco and Asda? In Tesco it’s in the other countries area near the bakery and in Asda it’s in the beer aisle itself.

It is lovely stuff though - richer and sweeter than the normal stuff. It’s the equivalent of port vs red wine

[burnmark]

It was named after the married couple who opened the store in Cleveleys. Made a fortune (my auntie was a neighbour)… as it started growing (several years later) they divorced acrimoniously. Not sure what happened after that (my auntie moved) and lost touch as they were fighting in court for the stores.

Can always remember my grandma and grandad driving over to Cleveleys regularly and telling us the wonder that was B and M!

[equinox]

They started off knocking out clearance (short dated) stuff at heavily discounted prices, you'd buy things you didn't really need because it was so cheap, now there's probably 1 in 100 items that's a 'bargain'.

[Jakubclaret]

Booths sell it too if you’re feeling a bit flush.

I go to booths in garstang occasionally they stock a good selection of real ales.

[Clarets4me]

I go to Booths in Garstang occasionally, they stock a good selection of real ales.

I see them as the " Waitrose " of Lancashire ...

Not cheap, but very high quality produce all round and a great supporter of local producers . All their tomatoes are British between May & September for example, and they have daily deliveries of New Potatoes " dug at 3am this morning " ...

[Jakubclaret]

I see them as the " Waitrose " of Lancashire ...

Not cheap, but very high quality produce all round and a great supporter of local producers . All their tomatoes are British between May & September for example, and they have daily deliveries of New Potatoes " dug at 3am this morning " ...

You get what you pay for, I like the castle dairy butter & Latham's cakes amongst other things, I'm a 1 stop shop man so I'll get everything in 1 go.

[IanMcL]

I used to buy multiple Branston Baked Beans, Sugar, chocolate and coca cola for my partner. Now all beaten elsewhere. Pity. Used to charge my car too but then their charger broke and never repaired.

[Vino blanco]

It was named after the married couple who opened the store in Cleveleys. Made a fortune (my auntie was a neighbour)… as it started growing (several years later) they divorced acrimoniously. Not sure what happened after that (my auntie moved) and lost touch as they were fighting in court for the stores.

A quick google says it was formed in Clevelys by Malcolm Billington and Bryan Mayman and first traded as Billington & Mayman. I suppose they could be a gay couple who entered into a civil marriage but I can't find any details. Google also tells me B&M was a struggling retail grocery business before it was bought out in 2004 by the successful business men, Bobby and Simon Arora. I suppose this is how the married couple made their money before their acrimonious divorce.

[Blondeclaret]

A quick google says it was formed in Clevelys by Malcolm Billington and Bryan Mayman and first traded as Billington & Mayman. I suppose they could be a gay couple who entered into a civil marriage but I can't find any details. Google also tells me B&M was a struggling retail grocery business before it was bought out in 2004 by the successful business men, Bobby and Simon Arora. I suppose this is how the married couple made their money before their acrimonious divorce.

Malcolm spent his last years living in the village of Hambleton Over Wyre, he used to come into the shop where I worked, he was a lovely man and had a sweet tooth.

[elwaclaret]

A quick google says it was formed in Clevelys by Malcolm Billington and Bryan Mayman and first traded as Billington & Mayman. I suppose they could be a gay couple who entered into a civil marriage but I can't find any details. Google also tells me B&M was a struggling retail grocery business before it was bought out in 2004 by the successful business men, Bobby and Simon Arora. I suppose this is how the married couple made their money before their acrimonious divorce.

May do but it was something like Bob and Marie. The names have probably been changed following the acrimonious divorce I spoke of. It was definitely a married couple (long before same sex marriages were legal). I never met them but walked past their not quite mansion many times walking the dogs, and my auntie and uncle knew them well enough to stop for a chat.

[Vino blanco]

May do but it was something like Bob and Marie. The names have probably been changed following the acrimonious divorce I spoke of. It was definitely a married couple (long before same sex marriages were legal). I never met them but walked past their not quite mansion many times walking the dogs, and my auntie and uncle knew them well enough to stop for a chat.

I’m a bit confused now. Was it named after Billington & May, the founders of the company and its trading name before coming B&M, or some couple called Bob and Marie?

[Vino blanco]

Sorry Billington and Mayman.

[elwaclaret]

Sorry Billington and Mayman.

Nothing to be sorry about, may be second names thinking about it Bob and Linda have sprung into mind since, anyway definitely a married couple before they expanded out of Cleveleys.

[rob63]

It was named after the married couple who opened the store in Cleveleys. Made a fortune (my auntie was a neighbour)… as it started growing (several years later) they divorced acrimoniously. Not sure what happened after that (my auntie moved) and lost touch as they were fighting in court for the stores.

Used to call in while we were over there. It was the old place behind the club, absolutely heaving if you went in the months leading up to Xmas. It was that packed that you could only travel at the speed of everyone else, which was governed by how fast the antiquated tills operated. Reminded me of the original Taskers in Burnley. I heard the divorce story too.