I went to the bulk buying shop that's ‘just like Costco' but was shocked at what I found inside
I recently decided to check out Baileys DIY on Penarth Road in Cardiff and honestly, I wasn't sure what to expect. I'd heard it was like Costco but without the membership, so I thought I'd pop in and see what it was like. I expected for it to just be a few cases of Coca-Cola for a decent price range, but what I found inside actually shocked me to the core - and any fellow coffee lovers will understand where I'm coming from. But I'll get to that later.
What stands out when you go in to the building, which is a huge warehouse, is that it's a straightforward, no-frills kind of place. When I went in, there were maybe five other shoppers browsing, and it was actually quite peaceful for a store (a far cry away from my usual stomping ground in the local Lidl which is carnage 90% of the time).
There were loads of packs of soft drinks, and alcoholic drinks which you can buy in big bundles which would definitely save you money if you usually buy them individually. For money-saving tips, sign up to our Money newsletter here
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But I was hit by how much variety there is, and some of the drinks which stood out to me were the J20 mocktails, where you could get a pack of 12 for just £1.49 which is an amazing bargain and perfect for health conscious Gen Z.
I'd thought before going that it would only be big packs of beer, snacks or maybe useful family bits and bob so it was nice to say there was a good in-between.
But the real shocker was the freezer section. I spotted Little Moons (the trendy mochi ice creams everyone raves about) in the Sweet and Salty popcorn flavour for just 99p. Meanwhile, across the road at Clare Foods, the creamy coconut flavour is £4.99. It felt like I'd just uncovered a proper bargain goldmine, and four years ago when they were at peak popularity, this would shake the internet to its core.
And then there were the frozen items I'd never seen before. A full English breakfast, frozen and ready to chuck in the air fryer? Wild. And then, tucked away in the freezer, was something I genuinely didn't expect and left me craning over the side to get a better look - a frozen Costa Coffee Carrot Cake.
The sweets section itself deserves a special mention. It was like a treasure hunt, with loads of things you wouldn't find in a standard supermarket that make it impossible not to grab a couple of things 'just to try", like the Broken Biscuit Assortment.
The children's aisle was another standout. Among the usual toys and games sits the biggest teddy bears you've ever seen. If you've been to Cardiff's Winter Wonderland you will probably recognise them - those huge prizes from the fairground games that everyone secretly hopes to win.
And here they were, just sitting in Baileys for the pretty price of £69.99 waiting to be taken home by someone either playing a joke on their flat mate or possibly an unlucky parent whose child has some impeccable pester power skills.
They had loads of other bits for children too, from fluffy pink unicorns to plastic water guns, so if any millennials are wishing they could take their kids around Toys 'R' Us and re-live their childhood, this could be the perfect alternative.
Overall, it was much better and far more interesting than I'd expected. Not every item is dirt cheap, with more of a focus on quantity and variety throughout the shop as you can pretty much pick up any household essential, but almost everything I saw looked like really decent value for money.
If you're in Cardiff and haven't been yet, I'd definitely recommend giving it a go. Whether you're after a bargain, bulk snacks, or just need a new spot to visit during these colder days to see what random frozen gems you can find, Baileys DIY is definitely worth a visit. Just don't blame me when you end up walking out with three tubs of Little Moons, a case of tonic, and a breakfast you didn't even know you needed.
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