BigTom said:
Riverside was also fairly unimpressive when I checked it out last year. Never been to any of the society events, quite fancy checking them out at some point.
Just back.
Riverside was a disappointment tbh. Really hard to find, tucked in the back of a garden centre.
The tanks were large and exceedingly clean. Not a dead fish in sight but the stock had been run right down. Some hints of more interesting stuff but most tanks had only a handful of fish. I don't think they can be doing very well, especially since the massive new looking dobbies is right next door with a very busy aquatics section.
Plants were few and "lame fish shop selection" standard. They did stock the eheim filter range thou which is nice to see if people need spares for those. The dobbies next door had the standard tropica range they stock.
Maidenhead i'm a bit more positive about then Tom. Although I agree it is a poor choice of location. Passing trade will be non existent and unless a fish keeper reads PFK or gets told about it they will never find out it exists.
Dry goods as expected were decent and I was happy to see they stocked Unipac gravels and sands. Something i'd been harassing local shops to do for ages. Hardscape was more disappointing with no redmoor and I did not see any rock supplies.
Fish wise like Tom said was pretty standard fare, although in large amounts and looking healthy in the new tanks (although not very well coloured up probably due to acclimatisation). BUT there was plenty of extra space for additional stocking and after a quick discussion with staff they did say since they were not allowed to sell any fish currently they had started with the basics with the managers aim to add more odd balls and diversity later. So on that grounds I'm hopeful for the future and currently they are on par with the best of the other local shops (oddly in my mind the P@H in kinaird park) for the choice and better for health. They even stocked red nosed shrimp which i've not seen for a while locally. Also have to say they had the stock nicely divided, tetras, barbs, etc etc and I have to repeat, plenty of space for more.
Plants was less encouraging with a small unit filled with Aquafleur range (4 for £12 etc). I asked if they were going to stock other types but the staff member could not tell me (maybe someone with a more established maidenhead shop can enlighten us if they do range Tropica etc). The was a crypt that sparked my interest but overall I'd say that P@H Kinaird with their Tropica range (and i've been told the ablity to orderfrom the full tropica list) and good multibuy prices or the Dobbies out on the bypass with their custom dobbies Tropica stock but fresher plants due to rapid turn over, are better for Edinburgh plant lovers.
Still i'm going to go Maidenhead again when i've got some more time and see if I can "steer" the management in a more UKAPS friendly direction.
Again I think i've been spoilt by OutsideInside with their Tropica, Dennerle, Aquafleur and their own custom European plant suppliers, whom could and regularly would get anything and everything plant related.
Oh I took a photo of the MH shop.
