Fishmonger flexing his €uro mussels
Euro fever is sweeping across Europe. But has it reached Islington yet? The Highbury & Islington Express sent young reporters from the Children's Express news agency, to Angel to see if they could spend Europe's newest, head-line grabbing currency.
| I’m really pleased to make my first Euro sale. It’s really easy to use. |
Our mission: to find somewhere on Upper Street (Islington) that actually stocked the Euro. Four banks all turned us away, saying we needed to order in advance. But we persevered and the friendly staff at Thomas Cook helped us on our way by supplying us a brand new crisp ten euro note each (around £6.25).
But the big question was: would we be able to spend them?
We hit the jackpot at V Shop, although the assistant at first turned us away. But once his colleague pointed out the currency converter on the till we proudly made our first euro purchase - the current Robbie Williams single. It cost €3.87. The exchange rate was slightly worse than at Thomas Cook.
Sales assistant Dan Cundy told us: "I'm really pleased to make my first Euro sale. It's really easy to use."
We also give a big thumbs up to Hollister's Shellfish on Chapel Street Market. Victor Hollister happily took our five euro note in exchange for 32 crabsticks. They'd normally cost three pounds in Stirling. He proudly displayed the note on his stall and told us: "We know we're all going to end up with them eventually, so why not take them now?"
Some of Victor's customers didn't agree though, heckling him for taking the new currency.
We had expected to be able to buy our lunch at Marks and Spencer but were sadly disappointed. It took three members of staff to come to the conclusion that the Angel store wasn't yet geared up for Europe. The company later informed us the Angel branch will be able to accept the new currency soon.
Although no other stores accepted our notes, there was a lot of excitement from both sales staff and customers handling the new currency for the first time.
We caused quite a stir in Burger King, but still couldn't get any food. Staff crowded round us in Superdrug, telling us they hoped to accept the Euro soon. So too did the salesman in the Carphone Warehouse. The assistant in The Link looked baffled and the one in Woolworths didn't even seem to know what the Euro was.
So had our Euro spending spree been a success?
Zak, 14, wasn't so sure: "I expected better. It should be policy for all international companies to accept the Euro."
Benjamina, 14, disagrees: "Shops should chose whether they want to accept the Euro or not until Britain signs up to it."
Ella 12 says: "I would have expected more than one shop in Angel to take our cash. But I can understand why they don't."
About the team
This article was produced by Zak Garner-Purkis, 14, Benjamina Avro-Oririwa, 14, and Ella Parry-Davies, 12. It was published in the Highbury & Islington Express.
Should we join the Euro?
Young people give their views.
