A FEAST FOR BOTH THE EYES AND THE PALATE - NEW SUPERMARKET OPENS IN ECCLES

Eccles saw the opening of it's latest supermarket last week when Show Market UK finally threw open it's doors to customers.

The store is directly opposite Aldi supermarket on Church Street and originally opened as a Tesco store in the mid 1960s and has since been a video rental store and a motor spares shop amongst other things,

I called in today to see what all the fuss was about and I have to say that I was astounded at the variety of stock that is available on it's shelves and if your a foodie or a budding MasterChef then this is the store for you.

There is an in-store bakery which bakes fresh bread in the evening and is piping hot on the shelves for 8am and throughout the day, as well as bread there are mouth watering cakes, pastries and halal cookies, well worth a visit just to see the visual display on show.

I was pleased to see they they have an instore butchery department, selling fresh chicken, beef, steaks, chops etc, I spoke to the trained butchers there, who told me that they would be delighted to chop the meat to a customers specification and hand them cooking tips.

Fresh fruit and vegetables are available with a selection of exotic vegetables, which to be honest I had heard of but had never seen, trust me it's an education just walking around the store, Msanraw cheese in glass jar, anyone?

The shelves are stocked with not only traditional tinned English foods, but a vast selection of Indian and Asian foods, I had no idea, there were so many types of flour, Chakki , Atta, Ragi, Juwar are just a few stocked, Ghee butter, Lassi milk and a staggering amount of rices and cooking materials.

Alcohol is not sold in the store, but it does have a large selection of soft drinks including non alcoholic Guinness called Malta! I kid you not.

I spoke to the shop Manager, Monica who told me that they are delighted with the way the reception that the shop has received from it's many customers and the staff are more than happy to chat with you about the array of world foods on the shelves.

The shop also has a wide range of frozen goods in its freezer cabinets for your perusal.

The store is open from 8am until 9pm every day of the week and I heartily recommend that you pay it a visit if not only to marvel at the wonderful selection of world food, and did I mention the cakes department?