I live in the north of england and have no problem spending 90% of my salary through my Amex. Food Shopping, fuel, hair dressing, BA tickets, hotel bills, nail bar, clothes shopping Debenhams, (not M&S tho), boots, high street restaurants, all my paypal purchases, mobile phone bills.

I have found that unless you ask you wont know. I was told by one high street retailer that they dont advertise that they take Amex because of the fee's they have to pay - but they do accept it.