New Scotmid layout

[Guest]

My first visit to the store since the revamp. Wow, what an improvement! Better layout, better range of products and much better presentation. Doing away with the butchery section makes sense. It took up a lot of space and who wants to buy supermarket meat when you have got a first-rate award-winning butcher around the corner? Continue to be impressed with the range of organic produce. The organic milk is a steal at 35p (and did you know that buying the small carton works out cheaper than the large one?)

This used to be a terrible shop. Dirty, drab, old fridges that broke down regularly, out of date food on display, poorly trained staff etc. Now we have a local supermarket we deserve. Let's just hope they keep up the standards. Scotmid deserves a lot of credit for their support of the community as well. Support your local shops - we have a great fishmonger, an excellent deli and many others deserving of your patronage. Would like to see a re-launched, more vibrant, pro-active traders association though. The response from local traders recently to the offer from the Council of FREE marketing help was frankly pathetic, which I can assure you did their cause no good at all.

[Guest]

They still don't sell jalapeno chillies tho.

[Guest]

Only one place in town for chillies. Has to be Lupe Pintos in Leven Street. Try one or two of the chipotle variety in your spag bol. Back on the Portobello front, wouldn't it be nice to have one or two new shops that were not:

a) charity shops
b) takeways
c) bookies
d) pubs

PS Anyone hear the rumour about Pizza Hut moving in? Just what we need - more junk food! (Yeah, so sue me - I've no money anyway!)

[chris]

[Guest]

[angigael]

[Susan]

Hi,

In reply to Bob's query about Pizza Hut.

They have recently applied for Planning Permission in the old Clydesdale Bank property, 195 Portobello High Street.

Susan

[Guest]

PAS objecting on grounds of over-provision I believe.

[Guest]

Oh no..! Pizza Hut..! We want local restaurants, for local people.

Cafe Oop's weekend menu is excellent. Went there with a couple of friends last month, and thoroughly enjoyed it.

It's BYOB, with only £1 per head for corkage, so it works out at excellent value.

[Guest]

Agree totally. Death to junk food and all who purvey it!

Keep hearing good reports about Cafe Oop! Maybe we could start a 'Portobello Online' restaurant review section? As a self-confessed 'foodie' I always fancied the chance to be a food critic. It would be a short run though! Seriously, I think the success of their weekend menu (at a commendably reasonable price) is proof that there are opportunities for quality restaurants in Portobello. What we don't need is Pizza Hut, McDonalds etc.

Recommended reading: 'Fast Food Nation' by Eric Schlosser

[Jamesie]

[Guest]