The Tesco website crashed this morning as hundreds of thousands of people tried to book delivery slots for Christmas.
Shoppers queued up at the crack of dawn to bag their slot, which were meant to be available to book from 6am.
But many people logged in to find themselves at the back of a queue of almost 300,000 people.
Tesco has acknowledged that the website was receiving a 'high number of visits' once its festive bookings opened and that it was 'working hard to fix it'.
Tesco opened its Christmas delivery slots this morning. Credit: Ben Stevens / Parsons Media
Several people compared the virtual queue to book slots to the struggle to get Glastonbury tickets, or this weekend's mad scenes when Peter Kay tickets went on sale.
Another wrote: "Also. How boring am I? Didn't queue for Glastonbury. Didn't bother with Peter Kay tickets. But Tesco Christmas food shop? There with (jingle) bells on. What a time to be alive."
One person tweeted: "I'm at the stage of life where I don't queue for glasto tickets but for Tesco delivery slots," alongside a screenshot that showed them in a queue position of 182,618.
Someone else asked: "Is Peter Kay performing at Tesco this Christmas?"
Some disgruntled shoppers asked if Tesco had opened the booking early, as they logged on right on time to find themselves at the back of enormous queues.
Someone said: "what time did the queue to book a Christmas delivery slot open, as we were only told slots available from 6am, so now I am 75000+.In the queue! If I was made aware a queue was open earlier, I would have joined earlier than I did."
Another tweeted: "Thanks @Tesco for another Christmas delivery farce. ‘Priority’ slots released at 6. Joins queue at 5.45am. Get to number 70000 something, app refreshes and kicks me out. Now 150000ish. Glad I’m paying for the privilege of delivery saver."
One person wrote: "Truly unbelievable @Tesco.You send me an email informing me that Christmas Delivery slots open up at 6am so I log in 5 minutes to 6am only to find a queue with 112,000 people in it already. As a disabled person who relies on a delivery, why do it like this?"
One asked: "Is anyone actually got passed this point in the @Tesco queue? Finally getting through after being 100,000 odds from before 6 and now getting this. Wonder what the point in delivery saver is when you can't get the slots sorted at Christmas."
Tesco has said: "We're sorry that you're experiencing an issue with our app whilst booking your slot this morning. We’re currently seeing a high number of visits to our Grocery & Clubcard app and some customers are temporarily having difficulty logging on or placing orders.
"We are aware of the issue and we're working hard to fix it. In the meantime, we'd recommend using the website to place your order."
Featured image: Tesco
Shopping
East-Asian inspired lifestyle brand KENJI confirms new Leeds store
If you're a fan of a blind box, then you're going to love this.
Because very soon, we'll be able to get our hands on a range of quirky gifts, collectable toys and cute character merchandise as popular lifestyle brand KENJI prepares to open a new store at White Rose Shopping Centre.
And just in time for us to get stuck into the Christmas shopping.
KENJI brings together East Asian-inspired design, playful characters, and lifestyle products perfect for gifting and collecting.
The new White Rose store will invite guests to enter the world of their original and exclusive characters including Underverse, Caw-Ji, and Capybara Pon Pon, as well as browsing delightful collections including stationery, toys, accessories, and snacks.
The brand-new store has been created to be a playful and immersive space, with areas dedicated to blind box collectables, character capsule collections, keyrings, and accessories alongside a character statue photo spot.
Steven Foster, Centre Director at White Rose Shopping Centre, said: “We’re excited to welcome KENJI to our retail line-up at White Rose. The brand perfectly reflects the UK’s growing interest in East Asian pop culture, and makes getting to know new characters and collections fun, immersive, and accessible.
“We know our guests will enjoy KENJI’s unique new store, a perfect addition to White Rose in the run up to the festive season, and we look forward to sharing an opening date soon.”
Eddie Shepherd, Managing Director of Kenji, said: “We’re delighted to bring the KENJI brand and experience to Leeds White Rose, and feel our brand is a very complementary partner for the centre. Our UK retail expansion plan had earmarked the centre for a number of years, and we’re thrilled to be opening here before the end of the year.”
We're not sure of the exact opening date just yet, but we'll keep you updated as and when we know more.
Viral Yorkshire shop urges visitors to avoid weekends as huge queues form
Clementine Hall
A viral apothecary shop in Yorkshire has warned visitors about huge queues forming outside its doors, urging people to visit during the week if they want to avoid the crowds.
The Cabinet of Curiosities in Haworth has become a popular destination for those looking to really get into the autumn spirit.
And it seems like there's a lot of people who are looking to do so, as huge queues have been forming along the quaint cobbled streets of Haworth.
So much so, that owner Carolin had to issue a statement via The Cabinet of Curiosities Instagram page.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
It reads: "Weekends in Haworth have become particularly busy during Autumn and we are so grateful to all those lovely souls who have patiently queued to visit the shop.
"We are so honoured that you are happy to wait to come in to our magical apothecary shop, and I can’t quite believe it when I look out of the windows and see the queue snaking up the cobbles. Be assured that the queue does move fast and it makes for a far more pleasurable visit if there are fewer people in the shop at once.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
"If you would rather avoid the busy times it’s best to visit during the week if you can. Our shop is open 7 days a week 10-5, but to make sure all the shops in Haworth are open then Wednesday, Thursday and Friday are probably the best days to visit.
"We are doing our best to keep up with restocking and our fabulous workshop witches are busy blending, filling and packing every day to keep to keep the shelves stocked. We are humbled and forever grateful that you love our little shoppe, and hope you enjoy your potions and your visit to The Cabinet of Curiosities."
Daisy Jackson -
15th November 2022 
