Well, it is true. Iceland is leaving Stoke. The rumours have been around for a while but next Saturday (23rd January 2021) is their last day.

I shall miss it, as will a lot of other local people. For those without cars Trent Vale or Hanley are a long way to get their products.

But it takes me back to when they opened along with the long lamented Kwik Save. For a long time we had two Kwik Save’s in town and often when one didn’t have the item you wanted the other did. I suppose it is similar to today when Bargain Buys and Poundstretcher are owned by the same company but have different products.

It has very strongly been rumoured that Lidl will be taking over the Iceland site. Though as yet I have not been able to confirm this. If it happens it is likely that Stoke’s Lidl will get more different products, as I have found in their larger Newcastle store.

Will we get a better service? It remains to be seen but I, for one, will miss Iceland’s frozen fish pie which I try to keep in as a failsafe!