Picture it: an hour between classes, not long enough to wander home, and a hunger for a no-nonsense lunch. What to eat? If a meal deal is your answer, I’m with you, but where from? I should clarify, there are great independent places to get a lunchtime deal, like the Union of Genius soup cafe on Forrest Road, but here we are strictly talking supermarkets (and none of that ‘premium deal’ nonsense). And for those of you studying at King’s, I apologise – on my one and only visit, I consumed two pre-exam hash browns, so no meal deal wisdom to impart.
Let’s begin with Tesco on Nicolson Street. Close to George Square with a reduced section for the ages, looking promising. One thing stands out to me regarding the meal deal: the crisp selection. If this is your go-to snack, Tesco has anything you could want. Personally, I’m a salt and vinegar Big Hoops guy, although I’ve been wrongly advised that this is an odd choice. There are some good alternative main options, salads if you please, and at £3.95 (with Clubcard), Tesco is a safe bet. Perhaps you’re at New College and feeling bougie. Say no more; see you at M&S. I was somewhat sceptical of its financial appeal to students, but fear not, Unidays to the rescue. With a 25 per cent discount, I found myself at Waverley Station, and I was pleasantly surprised. High quality, with a great variety of options, M&S becomes a very tempting choice, as long as you’re in the area – and for £4.85, their discounted meal deal starts to seem like a steal. I’ve heard that Pret A Manger is joining the game, so we’ll see if they can put forward a deal that doesn’t cost me an arm and a leg (I’m not optimistic).
That said, I am a creature of habit, and old faithful provides. Only a hop, skip, and a jump from George Square, my beloved Sainsbury’s awaits on Middle Meadow Walk come lunchtime. If you’re willing to fend off seemingly the rest of Edinburgh, you’re met with a substantial bakery section, sandwich variation, and plenty of snack options. As with Tesco, you can include a coffee from a Costa machine as your drink! The wraps are also noticeably larger than at other supermarkets, so I’m sold. This is the Lionel Messi of meal deal supermarkets: small in stature, always magical, and you’ll one day tell your grandkids how amazing it was. If you’re feeling especially wild you could even have it at Edinburgh Futures Institute: the world is your £3.75 oyster.
Image by Alice Locker.