Tesco - Edgbaston - 10th April 2014

A trip to Tesco in Edgbaston was on the cards this time and I wanted to see if it can surprise me after feeling really disappointed with the supermarket when I was a fresher at the University of Birmingham.

So, what is it like? The criteria is as follows.

1. Clean - yes, in general.
2. Friendly staff - Generally okay.
3. Aisle width - wide enough for two big trolleys to pass through.
4. Everything I was looking for was in stock - Generally well stocked and got the goods I wanted. Clotted cream is also available at £1.95 per tub, which is Tesco's finest.
5. Extras: pharmacy/opticians/specialist food/petrol station - There is a fishmonger with an okay variety of fish, a Hot Deli with mostly roast chicken, a deli, and a halal butcher which is a new addition to the superstore. A pharmacy is also available and a small petrol station exists. It's quite cheap at 126.9p per litre.
6. Fresh produce with long sell-by dates - Yes, in general. There are reduced items (going towards out of date) which sell at mostly one third off.
7. Opening Hours - 6am to 12:00am Monday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm Sunday. Quite disappointing to be fair considering it's near Broad Street. Should really be 24 hours.
8. Speed of till-processing - Quite a few manned tills though not enough in my opinion. Fortunately, it wasn't busy so I didn't have long to wait.
9. Self-service tills available - Available and at two ends (back and front ends)
10. Parking facilities - Yes with a three hour parking restriction which is more than adequate even if you need to have a meal at the cafe. The multi storey car park is a bit of a disappointment though. Although I found a space easily, the layout looked old and dark.
11. Value for money - Part of the big four supermarkets, Tesco's prices are quite good. Some items were more expensive though so watch out.
12. Organic produce - available if you want them.
13. Cash machine or cash back - Two Tesco Bank cash machines are available inside Tesco and they do offer cashback.
14. Pedestrian access - yes and are step free.

Overall, I am still disappointed with Tesco's superstore format. The L shape format feels as if it is two small stores stuck together. It just looks wrong and some of the aisles look all over the place. I am not a fan of this supermarket and am never going to be even if it has everything I wanted.

Rating: 5 out of 10