Save while you're shopping in Bexhill

Bargains are out there if you take time to look - so we ventured up Western Road to see what's available on the high street.

Peter Cox of Seafood has special offers every week and has started putting fish recipes out for customers so they can see what's available and how to cook it with minimum fuss or effort.

Recent bargains have included Rye Bay scallops according to Peter who was selling extra large ones at 1 each.

"It is the season for local scallops at the moment, and I am suggesting pan-fried scallops with prawns with a mango dipping sauce.

"I am introducing recipes to the shop and trying to keep it simple so people don't have to buy too much. Ideally I would like to do the recipes like flour-and-fry, with maybe one or two herbs, and keep it easy - I don't want too many ingredients."

Apart from scallops he has recently had a special offer on small lemon soles at 1.80 each, or two for 3, but offers change each week depending on what's available.

Butcher Derek Shaw also has a different special offer every week - it's always on the board outside the shop. it might be for instance be pork chops at 1.79p per lb, a saving of 60p per pound, or fresh chicken breast fillets at 2.39 per lb.

Shaun Piper commented: "People phone us each week to ask what the offer is - it definitely helps us because it brings people in and they hopefully buy the stuff as well."

Richard McDevitt runs Bexhill Fruit and Vegetable Market on the other side of Western Road and has items on offer every week following his delivery on Wednesday afternoons.

He said: "Customers like the promotions deals - everyone likes a deal, don't they? It just depends whether you can get them at the moment. But we do have our regulars who come in all the time."

Further up is Fruitique where owner Paul Cole has been trading for more than three years - although there has been a greengrocer on that site for 30 years in all.

He said: "We can compete with supermarkets now on price which is a good thing - and some shoppers are recognising that. In fact someone came in last week and said the lemons in Tesco were 1.79 for four - but we were doing them for only 1.

"We also have avocados at three for 1, which is the same as Asda.

"And we have been the same price as supermarkets on cucumbers for a long time.

"I would say to people - please shop local. We have good staff here and good produce, and we use as much local fruit and veg as we can, which comes in fresh twice a week.

"We try and use as much local food as we can to support the little farms that are still going."

A newcomer to Bexhill's high street is Pete's Discount, which is run by Pete Hatton. His savers this week include toilet rolls at 99p per pack of six, kitchen rolls at 99p for four, and black refuse sacks are 99p for 20. Colgate and Aquafresh toothpaste are both on offer at 1 each.

Peter stocks a variety of household goods, kitchenware, toys and seasonal items, and is looking to establish the business in town having re-located from Battle.

"It's taking time," he commented.

"But being a new shop, people have got to realise I am here."