Holland and Barrett

[Rebbecca]

Does anyone ever shop here? I went in today and they had loads of vegan food.

I bought a Jerky Veg Pasty and Porkless Pork Pie, both of which were fantastic and I will be buying again. Also, they were only like £1 or something each.

I found that the company that does them is here: http://www.xfoodco.com/gallery.htm

Anyone else tried these?

[purpleflipflop]

not tried them but will do. Always buy the Frys sausages and burgers from H & B and a jumbo sos roll - yum! Yes, they're great aren't they, not sure what II'd do without H & B!

[Jiffy]

I've always found the porkless pies to be very dry, like chewing a blanket in fact.

[Buddha Belly]

They are a bit dry but ok to grab when in rush somewhere there are no other options. Which there is not in Letchworth.

[pavotrouge]

I love them! Got a Cornish Pasty the other day and found out they taste about the same as my homemade ones

[Buddha Belly]

I have to say, our local H&B are really good. The staff there are really friendly and always take time to talk to you personally. They signed my petition for animal aid, which they are not officially allowed to do at work and are just wonderful people.

[gogs67]

I've always found the porkless pies to be very dry, like chewing a blanket in fact.

Loads of ketchup!

[cxmnz]

I've not been into an H&B for ages (must be about a year now), but they sold some really good sausages last time I was there under their own brand - really nicely seasoned and a good texture.

[f2097]

I often pop into H&B for lunch if I've not had the time to bring something into work. The italiano veg pasty is the best (pasta in a pasty shouldnt work but it does *drool*). I kinda went for a couple of weeks of eating one every day and spending lots of money on things I don't need like plamil chocolate, vegan fudge, gillian mckeith smoothies etc.. Now I try to restrict myself

Their shop in Southampton can be a bit random tho, usually they are really nice but one time I went in and there was no staff around and a wierd man sitting on a stool near the till who stared at me and after about 5 mins said he would go to look for someone, in the end I gave up and left my stuff at the till :S Its the kind of shop where there can be 3 staff members two customers and you still have to wait 10min+ to get to the front of the queue.

[beanstew]

I've not been into an H&B for ages (must be about a year now), but they sold some really good sausages last time I was there under their own brand - really nicely seasoned and a good texture.

Oh yes! Those sausages are great. I use them to make sausage and mushroom sandwiches. *drool*

[Festered]

I like the SOSrolls

[cedarblue]

i'm not sure about their slogan, "go for the price, stay for the advice".

i went in to buy some pinenuts yesterday, £4.99 for 100gm, neals yard brand....

...i bought 100gm from sainsburys for £1.75 in the end.


and the chiller had nothing in it but some drinks.

[Mr Flibble]

Is there a list of which of the fresh stuff H&B sell is vegan?

IIRC none of it (than the stuff that is alpro/redwoods etc) is marked.

[fiamma]

i went in to buy some pinenuts yesterday, £4.99 for 100gm, neals yard brand....

Pine nuts are expensive generally, cedar; I was told "no-one gathers them any more", whatever that means...

My local supermarket (Carrefour) has a 500g bag on sale for €28.90

[Big Good Wolf]

Check the labels on the pasties first.
At least one of them has powdered cream in it.

I noticed last time I was in there that some of the Blackfriars flapjacks are now labelled as Vegan.

I heard once that H&B was owned by Booker, who also own Sun Valley. Any updates or confirmation on that ?

[pusskins]

I noticed last time I was in there that some of the Blackfriars flapjacks are now labelled as Vegan.

I noticed that too. Before, you had to look closely at the label - it did say vegan, but you had to check. Now they have big stickers, which is fab!

H&B have been rolling out new labelling for a lot of their food items, now saying if it is suitable for vegans

[jojomojo]

went there this morning and theyd just reduced there sos rolls and porkless pies coz they were near sell by....... thats my tea sorted!
got some cheezly too .... have never had it before so looking forward to some of that too

[Ms_Derious]

Pine nuts are expensive generally, cedar; I was told "no-one gathers them any more", whatever that means...

I had a go at gathering my own once. It did not go well.

I tend to sub in with sunflower seeds or something else cheaper now. I can't really defend the cost of them.

I noticed that too. Before, you had to look closely at the label - it did say vegan, but you had to check. Now they have big stickers, which is fab!

H&B have been rolling out new labelling for a lot of their food items, now saying if it is suitable for vegans

That's really good

Julian Graves (sp) on the other hand, seem to have gone backwards... so I don't shop their so much anymore.

[smallhelen]

I pop onto H & B at least once every two weeks, and the one in Brum has started stocking the new Redwood foods - burgers which are vegan AND gluten free (so both me and OH can eat them), and Hot Dogs (which are only vegan, so I get to eat them all myself ). I also stock up on cheesey things and flapjacks, and spend more than I expect!!
I have a bit of a weakness for the Sos Roll, too......

[beanstew]

I love the chocolate marzipan bars they do especially the orange flavoured one.

[smallhelen]

Mmmmmmm, marzipan. I'd forgotten about those bars. I try to limit how many I buy, cos I always feel a little bit guilty after eating them.
Not as guilty as when I bought some dairy-free fudge. Delicious!!

[beanstew]

Oh yeah. The fudge! I had some for the first time a couple of weeks ago. It was super yummy.

[everdream]

Mmmm marzipan! Must get some next time I go in!

[KayJay]

and the chiller had nothing in it but some drinks.

I've been into 2 different branches of H&B in the last week and noticed that both of them have removed the chilled food and replaced it with drinks I hope it's not a permanent thing as it's the only health food shop in town now.

I'll email them to see what they say....

[jimmeh]

A huge section of my local H&B has been cleared to make way for Gillian McKeith branded products. Seems like she's taken the old packets, stuck a pic of herself on the front, and doubled the price.

[*live*&*let*live]

^ I really don't get why people spend soooo much on 'her' items. Like you say it's just branding. She isn't a real nutritionist, DR or whatever! Granted her programmes were entertaining (omitting the poo part) and I loved seeing all that fresh fruit and veg etc. But the thing is things are sooo much cheaper and for the same thing! I guess it's all about the brand not the product. Which is a shame

[Jiffy]

I could never buy her stuff, I'd keep having flashbacks to her camel - like sour visage.

[Daffodil]

I love the chocolate marzipan bars they do especially the orange flavoured one.

i 2nd that.... only discovered them this week...can't wait to get there to buy more yummy

[*live*&*let*live]

I could never buy her stuff, I'd keep having flashbacks to her camel - like sour visage.

I never saw her camel, I presume we are on the same page I am glad I didn't see it, but when did you?!

[jimmeh]

ha ha! omg I thought that too. I think Jiffy means her camel-like face

[Mr Flibble]

me three. A very disturbing image came into my mind.

[*live*&*let*live]

Oh F**King hell! What a major faux pas!!! Mind you I am nearly wetting myself laughing. (too much info I know)

[pusskins]

I love the chocolate marzipan bars they do especially the orange flavoured one.

i 2nd that.... only discovered them this week...can't wait to get there to buy more yummy

Oohhhh! I 3rd, 4th and 5th that! I only just 'discovered' it (i.e. ate it for the first time) last week, and it is bloody gorgeous Nom nom nom...

I never saw her camel, I presume we are on the same page I am glad I didn't see it, but when did you?!

LOL I'm glad this got cleared up, because I thought what presumably the majority of other people thought! Plus, it wouldn't be too much of a surprise, anyways

[KayJay]

Update - I e-mailed H&B re their chilled selection and had this reply....

"Thank you for your message

We are reviewing the chilled and frozen range at the moment and will be in the near future introducing a new products. We are not going to be discontinuing the range."

Happy days! Fingers crossed they'll keep a good range of vegan options

[*live*&*let*live]

LOL I'm glad this got cleared up, because I thought what presumably the majority of other people thought! Plus, it wouldn't be too much of a surprise, anyways

Whaaaaat?! I have a camel that I take with me everywhere, it's the latest accessory don't cha no?! Oh didn't you mean that kind of camel?

[robb]

I found a (frozen) vegan cheesecake in my local H&B today!!

£4 for 500g.

So I bought one.

[firstandthen]

Update - I e-mailed H&B re their chilled selection and had this reply....

"Thank you for your message

We are reviewing the chilled and frozen range at the moment and will be in the near future introducing a new products. We are not going to be discontinuing the range."

Happy days! Fingers crossed they'll keep a good range of vegan options

Oooooh, INTERESTING.

Good thing to because the chilled section had been looking rather lacklustre of late.

[BlackCats]

I found a (frozen) vegan cheesecake in my local H&B today!! £4 for 500g. So I bought one.

What brand was it? Did it have fruit on top or was it the other kind.

I always buy SOS rolls and jars of Plamil mayo from Holland and Barrett. I buy those vegan smarties from there quite often too. I sometimes buy fake meat and cheese from there as well. I like that pate too, the Cauldron one and the ones in the toothpaste-type tubes.

[robb]

What brand was it? Did it have fruit on top or was it the other kind.

Mama Cucina. Strawberry flavoured. Not really any fruit on top (well, about half a strawberry...)

[BlackCats]

Thanks. Also which H&B was it? Camden?

[robb]

Yes.

I just tried to cut it up so that I could defrost it slice by slice, but it didn't work - so I'm going to have to eat it all in one go.

[*live*&*let*live]

Awwww what a shame!

[Ms_Derious]

Yes.

I just tried to cut it up so that I could defrost it slice by slice, but it didn't work - so I'm going to have to eat it all in one go.

Ya don't think it would survive being posted to me then?

Shucks!

[robb]

Heh heh.

I did manage to cut it into quarters on my second attempt. So I now have a quarter of it (enough for two slices) deforsting in my fridge.

[*live*&*let*live]

^ now now - there is no need to backtrack - no-one here things of you as a cute little vegan piggie.

*oink*

[robb]

You're right there. No one thinks of me as a cute or little anything...

[*live*&*let*live]

aahhhh well you heard it here first on the vegan forum

[robb]

One slice down. Seven to go.

It's nice. But it's not a patch on resturant cheesecakes. (Or Destiny's. )

[Marrers]

You're right there. No one thinks of me as a cute or little anything...

I've often heard you called (and referred to you as) a little s**t . . .

[robb]