Show someone you care with the age-old tradition of a festive box of delights.
For centuries, hampers have brought tidings of comfort and joy at Christmastime. Bountiful and generous, they are often very useful for the beleaguered hostess, too. Even Ebeneezer Scrooge had spotted the value of the idea by the end of A Christmas Carol, plying the Cratchits as he did with a turkey.
Of course, you can compile your own hamper, filling it with things you’ve made or sourced. But if that is not for you, we’ve rounded up the finest hampers on the market this year. (And we’ve been careful to keep them under £150, for obvious reasons).
The Sweets Box, £135
Getting a table at the swanky River Café may be like pulling teeth, but a box of its favourite Italian sweets can be yours at the click of a button. Make somebody’s Christmas with a Large Panettone Classico, some River Cafe Walnut & Chocolate Cantucci, some River Cafe Chocolate Dipped Candied Peel, a box of La Molina x The River Cafe Chocolate Truffles and some Pietro Romanengo Fruit Jellies in orange, lemon, strawberry, apricot, raspberry and pear. Buon Natale!
Farmhouse Breakfast Hamper, £50
Daylesford rarely hits the wrong note – and their Farmhouse Breakfast Hamper is no exception to the rule. This typically tasteful collection contains everything you need for a slap-up British breakfast – streaky bacon, Blue Legbar eggs, sourdough, salted butter, whole milk, strawberry jam and juice. What you lose in a romantic wicker basket, you gain in a smart, navy, reusable cool bag.
The Vegan Christmas Hamper, £125
Although at least three per cent of the global population is vegan, the concept still freaks many people out. What do you give a vegan? How do you feed a vegan? And so on. Selfridges comes to the rescue this Christmas with its Vegan Christmas Hamper. There are treats aplenty in this smart wicker hamper, including a classic vegan panettone, some vegan chocolate fruit and nut fudge, a jar of Cherry & Sherry jam, a packet of Selfridges Selection Festive Christmas Morning ground coffee, some Turkish Delight, a Cherry & Sherry Christmas pudding and some mulled wine.
12 Days of Christmas Luxury Gift Box, £115
This Christmas, the GWG award-winning company Biscuiteers is selling a luxury gift box of its festive, lemon-iced biscuits. Like all that Biscuiteers produces, it is as pretty as a picture. Even better: it comes with a bottle of the (genuinely delicious) English sparkling wine, Gusborne.
The Piccadilly Hamper, £100
Having pretty much invented the concept in the 1730, Fortnum & Mason is the undisputed king of the Christmas hamper. We love their Piccadilly Hamper for quintessentially representing the brand. With its chutneys, jams, dreamy tins of biscuits, tea and exquisite truffles, this wicker wonder will please the grouchiest Grinch.
Felix and Isabelle Suitcase Hamper, £99
With typical whimsy, a Liberty “hamper” is, in fact, a charming suitcase. This one contains a quartet of celebratory goodies, including Van Nahmen Sparkling Juicy Tea, Quince, Baked Sweet Chilli Peanuts & Cashews, Fudge Kitchen Himalayan Salted Caramels and a tin of Liberty Heritage All-Butter Shortbread Biscuits. Long after the treats are gone, the suitcase will live on.
After Dinner Delights Hamper, £75
This veteran Edinburgh delicatessen, established in 1934, sure knows how to curate a happy moment. Their After Dinner Delights Hamper (in a box tied up with ribbon) has the wherewithal for a seriously indulgent Christmas evening. A very good bottle of medium-sweet wine mingles happily with pistachio and almond cantucci, unctuous nougat and chocolate-covered Piedmont hazlenuts. Just add low lights and a roaring fire.
Festive Favourites Hamper, £100
Fenwick gives great hamper, as a department store of its historical standing absolutely should. Their clever elves have thought through exactly what you might want at each point on Christmas Day and packed it all in a traditional wicker basket. Tea and coffee to start, chutneys to add colour to lunch, mince pies for teatime and then a Christmas pudding and bottle of port to round off the day. Just as it should be.
By Becky Ladenburg
October 2022
Of course, you can compile your own hamper, filling it with things you’ve made or sourced. But if that is not for you, we’ve rounded up the finest hampers on the market this year. (And we’ve been careful to keep them under £150, for obvious reasons).
RIVER CAFÉ
The Sweets Box, £135
Getting a table at the swanky River Café may be like pulling teeth, but a box of its favourite Italian sweets can be yours at the click of a button. Make somebody’s Christmas with a Large Panettone Classico, some River Cafe Walnut & Chocolate Cantucci, some River Cafe Chocolate Dipped Candied Peel, a box of La Molina x The River Cafe Chocolate Truffles and some Pietro Romanengo Fruit Jellies in orange, lemon, strawberry, apricot, raspberry and pear. Buon Natale!
DAYLESFORD ORGANIC
Farmhouse Breakfast Hamper, £50
Daylesford rarely hits the wrong note – and their Farmhouse Breakfast Hamper is no exception to the rule. This typically tasteful collection contains everything you need for a slap-up British breakfast – streaky bacon, Blue Legbar eggs, sourdough, salted butter, whole milk, strawberry jam and juice. What you lose in a romantic wicker basket, you gain in a smart, navy, reusable cool bag.
SELFRIDGES
The Vegan Christmas Hamper, £125
Although at least three per cent of the global population is vegan, the concept still freaks many people out. What do you give a vegan? How do you feed a vegan? And so on. Selfridges comes to the rescue this Christmas with its Vegan Christmas Hamper. There are treats aplenty in this smart wicker hamper, including a classic vegan panettone, some vegan chocolate fruit and nut fudge, a jar of Cherry & Sherry jam, a packet of Selfridges Selection Festive Christmas Morning ground coffee, some Turkish Delight, a Cherry & Sherry Christmas pudding and some mulled wine.
BISCUITEERS
12 Days of Christmas Luxury Gift Box, £115
This Christmas, the GWG award-winning company Biscuiteers is selling a luxury gift box of its festive, lemon-iced biscuits. Like all that Biscuiteers produces, it is as pretty as a picture. Even better: it comes with a bottle of the (genuinely delicious) English sparkling wine, Gusborne.
FORTNUM & MASON
The Piccadilly Hamper, £100
Having pretty much invented the concept in the 1730, Fortnum & Mason is the undisputed king of the Christmas hamper. We love their Piccadilly Hamper for quintessentially representing the brand. With its chutneys, jams, dreamy tins of biscuits, tea and exquisite truffles, this wicker wonder will please the grouchiest Grinch.
LIBERTY
Felix and Isabelle Suitcase Hamper, £99
With typical whimsy, a Liberty “hamper” is, in fact, a charming suitcase. This one contains a quartet of celebratory goodies, including Van Nahmen Sparkling Juicy Tea, Quince, Baked Sweet Chilli Peanuts & Cashews, Fudge Kitchen Himalayan Salted Caramels and a tin of Liberty Heritage All-Butter Shortbread Biscuits. Long after the treats are gone, the suitcase will live on.
VALVONA & CROLLA
After Dinner Delights Hamper, £75
This veteran Edinburgh delicatessen, established in 1934, sure knows how to curate a happy moment. Their After Dinner Delights Hamper (in a box tied up with ribbon) has the wherewithal for a seriously indulgent Christmas evening. A very good bottle of medium-sweet wine mingles happily with pistachio and almond cantucci, unctuous nougat and chocolate-covered Piedmont hazlenuts. Just add low lights and a roaring fire.
FENWICK
Festive Favourites Hamper, £100
Fenwick gives great hamper, as a department store of its historical standing absolutely should. Their clever elves have thought through exactly what you might want at each point on Christmas Day and packed it all in a traditional wicker basket. Tea and coffee to start, chutneys to add colour to lunch, mince pies for teatime and then a Christmas pudding and bottle of port to round off the day. Just as it should be.
By Becky Ladenburg
October 2022
Read More
Annabel Jack
Contributing Editor
Annabel is a regular contributor to The GWG, with a taste for finest in food, fashion and interiors.
FIND OUT MORE
