Forum Topic

Get queuing!

A five-hour queue for Mackens this morning from all accounts. I saw it winding up to the High Road and down Mayfield. That's a lot of turkeys (other non-gobbling varieties of meat are available). Richard Osman tweeted that he hadn't seen queues this long in Chiswick since 'the great falafel shortage of 2007'.Merry Christmas!

Gordon McDonald ● 2134d20 Comments

It was like that at 07:00

Carl Wynne ● 2134d

Queue was 160m and average progress 50cm/minute so i think your 5 hours about right, I did not wait to find out.

John Hall ● 2134d

As someone else said on Twitter: 'Don't worry if you think you've lost your sense of taste; you're just eating turkey'.

Susan Kelly ● 2134d

Haha Susan!!Ginger Pig on the Askew Road is the same.

Georgina Flint ● 2134d

Why leave it until Christmas Eve to buy your meat?

Vanessa Smith ● 2134d

Exactly.  We got ours delivered yesterday (says he smugly.)

Alastair Banton ● 2134d

We got our bird - a cockerel, on Monday, the gammon joint last week and picked the rib of beef up yesterday, just look at the dates on things, then there's no need to leave everything so late. All veg happily sitting outside in a nice cool garage, fruit in fridge booze and chocolates to hand. Possets to make today along with the traditional Christmas Eve Mary Berry Fish Pie. A Very Merry Christmas to All - and fingers crossed for a much improved 2021.

Vanessa Smith ● 2134d

Possets!  Great choice for preparing in advance.  One of my specialities.  But this year it’s poached pears in red wine which I made this morning.Yes, may everybody have a great Christmas and a much less disturbing 2021.

Alastair Banton ● 2134d

Friend said from mayfield avenue it took 1.5 hrs. If it was 5 hrs your be around goldhawk road

Julian Pavey ● 2134d

shhhh.. don't tell anyone...  Macken's deliver..

Stuart Kerr ● 2134d

I think I just did, Stu.

Alastair Banton ● 2134d

YepI just never understand why you would spend the last day and possibly first free work day before xmas queuing when it can be delivered.

Julian Pavey ● 2134d

Because Mackens is more than a butcher. It's an Aladdin's cave.

Robert Fish ● 2134d

It took three hours from High Road Brasserie to get to the shop yesterday afternoon. I was 'just' picking up a pre-ordered bird but the queue also contained new purchasers wanting a bit of this and some of those and a slightly larger piece of that, which explained why it took so long.  But supplies of cocktail sausages and mulled wine kept the queue sociable, and many friendships developed, such that I think the Queue of 2020 is planning a reunion at the same time next year!

Peter Evans ● 2134d

Gammon, Vanessa? Is your face red?

Robert Fish ● 2134d

“It's an Aladdin's cave  “Sure is.  Like I said a few weeks back, their Stornaway black pudding is the best in town - and they've just announced on their website, the Macsween haggis has arrived. Not sure if Macken's do faggots though.  Never seen them on display.  Delinquent daughter, who shows loyalty to no one and even sacked me from my position at Head Chef, picked up excellent faggots from the farmer's market on Sunday.  Traitor!!!!

Stuart Kerr ● 2134d

Our Christmas plans were changed quite dramatically this year after we went into Tier 4 last weekend. Whereas we would have ordered well in advance, as in previous years, we  needed to queue yesterday or today for the freshest meat and poultry  rather than buy frozen. I think quite a few people would have found  themselves in a similar situation. That said I would never queue for turkey as I find it tastes the same frozen or fresh and it’s not a taste I particularly like. And it hangs around for days on end..

Stewart Jones ● 2134d

Hope everyone was socially distancing whilst eating and drinking in the queue now we’re in tier 4.

Maggie Dodge ● 2134d

My son's girlfirend went home just hours before the Tier 4 was announced so cannot now come for Christmas. My brother in law who is on his own had to re-arrange his Christmas - so he was coming to us, this morning he 'phoned with the mother and father of a cold, so is staying at home.This year, we've had the washing machine, dishwasher and shower go west, not to mention the cafetiere getting smashed, the alternator on my car and my husband's starter motor both packing up and just for good measure the CD player packed up yesterday (no playing the Phil Spector Christmas Album this year!) - at least we're still here and chugging along.

Vanessa Smith ● 2133d

Queuing?? The shops were only closed for one day!! Is it me or what?

Juliet Hogg ● 2132d