Sorry, need another recommendation (UK Film source)

RattyMouse · Jun 18, 2013

I thought I'd get my film in the UK instead of Paris. Problem is, I dont know where. I land in London Heathrow and then immediately get taken by car to a small town called Bury St. Edmund. Can I get Ilford film in any ol' Tesco shop? I could make do with just Ilford film but would prefer some Fuji color film like 400H or Provia 400X. Where might I find something like that in a small town? And what might the cost/roll be?

Thank you very much.

David Allen · Jun 18, 2013

Your best bet would be to order online from Silverprint or Process Supplies (both based in London) and get it sent to your address in Bury St. Edmund. The train from Bury St. Edmund to London (via Ipswich) take a bit more than 2 hours and is expensive - so not worth it unless you want to visit London as well.

Silverprint:

http://www.silverprint.co.uk/

Process Supplies:

http://www.processuk.net/

Also, if you are spending a bit of time in the UK, you should check out the UK-based Film and Darkroom Users Forum:

http://www.film-and-darkroom-user.org.uk/forum/fadu_front_page.php

Bests,

David
www.dsallen.de

pdeeh · Jun 18, 2013

You'll be extremely lucky to find anything like that in "bricks and mortar" in the UK outside London, or the larger cities.

. You might get some Fuji C200 or suchlike in Tesco, or if you're very lucky indeed perhaps some " consumer" Kodak or Fuji in a large branch of Boots.

I'd guess your best bet is to get hold of Silverprint or Ag Photo or one of the other larger UK etailers, explain your situation and see if they are willing to take order for delivery to Bury.

Alex Muir · Jun 18, 2013

You could try doing an Internet search for camera or photographic shops in or near Bury St Edmunds. I'm not familiar with that area, but you never know what might be nearby. Apologies if you have already tried this! Alex

Ricardo Miranda · Jun 18, 2013

There is a Poundland shop in Bury St. Edmund at:
Bury St Edmunds
24-26 Cornhill
Bury St. Edmunds
Suffolk
IP33 1DY

They normally sell Agfaphoto Vista+ 200 for £1/roll. They also have shops on nearby Cambridge, Newmarket, Thetford and Ipswich.
It seems there is a Jessops there, but I wouldn't expect them to have film and, even if they have, it would be on the expensive side.
There might be some other shops selling film.
My suggestion is to mail order from AG Photographic, Silverprint, Discount Films Direct or Mailshots.

paul_c5x4 · Jun 18, 2013

RattyMouse said:
Can I get Ilford film in any ol' Tesco shop? I could make do with just Ilford film but would prefer some Fuji color film like 400H or Provia 400X.

Film from Tesco - Definitely not. You might find a 99p store with a few rolls of 35mm, but don't count on it.. (one quick phonecall later) Sneezums, 10 Cornhill, Bury St. Edmunds carry stocks of FP4+, HP5+, and some Kodak (in 35mm only). Typical price for FP4+ is £5.99 (35mm 36exp) and £7.03 (120 roll).

If you an get a little further up the road to Norwich, we can find a wider selection for you, including Fuji - The cheapest shop for Ilford in Norwich is only open four days a week and is closing for a short period at the end of the month. PM me if you need any further help in that area.

RattyMouse · Jun 18, 2013

paul_c5x4 said:
Film from Tesco - Definitely not. You might find a 99p store with a few rolls of 35mm, but don't count on it.. (one quick phonecall later) Sneezums, 10 Cornhill, Bury St. Edmunds carry stocks of FP4+, HP5+, and some Kodak (in 35mm only). Typical price for FP4+ is £5.99 (35mm 36exp) and £7.03 (120 roll).

If you an get a little further up the road to Norwich, we can find a wider selection for you, including Fuji - The cheapest shop for Ilford in Norwich is only open four days a week and is closing for a short period at the end of the month. PM me if you need any further help in that area.

PM sent!

RattyMouse · Jun 18, 2013

Ricardo Miranda said:
There is a Poundland shop in Bury St. Edmund at:
Bury St Edmunds
24-26 Cornhill
Bury St. Edmunds
Suffolk
IP33 1DY

They normally sell Agfaphoto Vista+ 200 for £1/roll. They also have shops on nearby Cambridge, Newmarket, Thetford and Ipswich.
It seems there is a Jessops there, but I wouldn't expect them to have film and, even if they have, it would be on the expensive side.
There might be some other shops selling film.
My suggestion is to mail order from AG Photographic, Silverprint, Discount Films Direct or Mailshots.

How long to ship a mail order delivery?

Ricardo Miranda · Jun 18, 2013

It depends on Post Office or courier. Standard deliveries normally take 1-3 days. I've had them delivered in less than 24 hours, but I'm in London.

mr rusty · Jun 18, 2013

I second, (third?) the recommendation to place an order online or even over the phone and get them to deliver to wherever you are staying. Most suppliers will do express 24hour delivery, although usually a bit more expensive. I think you will be given the run-around trying to find film over the counter.

How about http://www.harmanexpress.com/ for Ilford?

railwayman3 · Jun 18, 2013

Not seen any film at all in Tesco. Sainsbury, Morrison or any of the big supermarkets for at least a year (used to look for any cheapy end-of-range stuff, but even that has gone).
Boots may have some color neg (in an emergency), but have not seen any Ilford in our local branches for a year or so.
£1-a-roll Agfa Vista 200 is sometimes in Poundland, but don't rely on them having stock.
Best follow others advice and organise something via mail order, then you'll get exactly what you want without wasting time.

Edit - Royal Mail offer a "guaranteed next day delivery" service, but the postage is relatively expensive.

wilfbiffherb · Jun 18, 2013

order from ag photographic. if you order before 1pm it will be with you the following day. ilford films are £3.48 a roll! i defy you to find film cheaper! i dont work there by the way.

pdeeh · Jun 18, 2013

wilfbiffherb said:
ilford films are £3.48 a roll!

not on the pages I'm looking at ... HP5 for instance is 4.79 or 3.98 respectively for 135 & 120, and even buying in 10s won't get near the price you're quoting; I can't see any of the other Ilford films at Ag for 3.48 either.

Or are you suggesting this is an ex-VAT price and rattymouse may be able to get a VAT rebate?

Xpres · Jun 19, 2013

Is your car allowed to stop on the way from Heathrow to Bury? If you're traveling during office hours there are places on the way where you could stop off for supplies.

Brac · Jun 20, 2013

It seems to be the case now that supermarkets here no longer stock film, or if they do it certainly won't be black & white film. Branches of Boots are the most likely places in towns to stock film, now that camera shops are rapidly disappearing. Whether they have black & white I don't know. They certainly used to carry some Ilford & sometimes Kodak. There is a Boots in Bury St Edmunds at 11-13 Cornhill. Why not phone them from London and see what they have? Tel 01284 701516.

railwayman3 · Jun 20, 2013

Brac said:
It seems to be the case now that supermarkets here no longer stock film, or if they do it certainly won't be black & white film. Branches of Boots are the most likely places in towns to stock film, now that camera shops are rapidly disappearing. Whether they have black & white I don't know. They certainly used to carry some Ilford & sometimes Kodak. There is a Boots in Bury St Edmunds at 11-13 Cornhill. Why not phone them from London and see what they have? Tel 01284 701516.

Don't rely on Boots having any particular film without checking first....I'm in their large branches in Nottingham and Sheffield fairly regularly and the stocks of any film (rarely more than half-a-dozen B&W) are minimal, at least on the shelves. My two smaller local branches now stock only basic consumer color negative. But perhaps you could ask if they can order some in for you to pick up at a specific time?

Kokoro · Jun 20, 2013

Tesco near me sell packs of three Fuji C200 for £8. Two high-street stores of Boots sell both Kodak and Fuji and own-brand but they only ever display about three rolls of each at a time. Boots currently have a buy one, get one half price offer on film.

Sorry, need another recommendation (UK Film source)

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency