The mass swell of shoppers across the border continues, and with Christmas fast approaching, it’s going to turn into a flood.
Today’s Pricewatch questions the difference in prices in major supermarkets operating in the Republic and the north, pointing out that a recent Consumer Association of Ireland (CAI) survey showed that a basket of goods in [...]

Tesco in rip-off shock. Surprise, surprise. This morning’s Irish Times reports that Tesco, despite their much publicised Change for Good campaign, remain 18% dearer in the Republic of Ireland than across the border.
The survey carried out by the Consumer Choice magazine found that some items were up to 37% more expensive down south. In a [...]

Bored in my sick bed (sniff, poor me, etc etc), I did some price comparisons on Lidl in the Republic of Ireland and Lidl in Northern Ireland. As you’ll see, there isn’t price parity, but the sterling/ euro difference isn’t too severe:

Northern Ireland’s Health Promotions Agency has launched a new website: EnjoyHealthyEating.info, which aims to encourage people to home-cook their own healthy food.  Conor Pope covers it in today’s Irish Times, and you may notice a quote from me in the article.
I think it’s a great initiative but wonder if you’d be able to get good [...]

The sneaky price hikes of Irish supermarkets are risibly predictable. Last month, when Superquinn in Dundalk announced it was closing down with the loss of over 67 jobs, I felt very bad for the workers who are losing their jobs. So it was strange to find myself shopping in a big supermarket in Northern Ireland [...]

Finding a restaurant to cater for over 20 adults and a rakeload of children is nigh-on impossible in Ireland. We have this absurd idea that children can only be a nuisance when eating out, rather than vital participants in any food culture.
I’ve no intention of ever having any kids, so I’ve no drum to beat. [...]

The Irish Times today covers the restaurant scene in Belfast, reporting that it has already been negatively affected by the recession.  The well-known Rankin group have closed all of their outlets except for their original Cayenne restaurant.
The piece is light on recommendations but does mention a two-course lunch in the Level Seven Restaurant at the [...]

There are exchange rate advantages in the North beyond supermarket booze and tins of Celebrations: eating well in high-end restaurants. 
Paolo Tullio writes in the Independent today about The Mitre - the house restaurant of the Culloden Hotel, Holywood, Co Down. He loved their three-course menu for only £40, and it also sounds like he [...]

The Southerners-to-Newry shopping exodus made the New York Times today. The New York Times! Clearly the absence of Irish shoppers filling their wheelie suitcases with Abercrombie hoodies has sent shockwaves through the New York economy.
Have you been to Newry to participate in the excitement? And by excitement, I obviously mean getting into a knock-down [...]