As the countdown to Christmas begins in earnest, we’re putting away childish things and turning instead to the greats: hampers that will keep everyone eating, drinking and making merry all through the twelve days of Christmas. Here is our pick of the ones truly worth sending, sharing or – quite sensibly – keeping all for yourself.
Daylesford
Night Before Christmas Gift Box, £100
Daylesford naturally has a mouth-watering plethora of hampers at a variety of price points. We especially like this one – and its jaunty striped box – which would make the perfect present if you’re descending upon friends and family on Christmas Eve. Contains Daylesford Prosecco and mulled wine, sweet and savoury treats and a festive scented candle. Yum.
The Newt In Somerset
The Twelve Days Of Christmas Hamper, £370
Part hamper, part advent calendar for bon viveurs, you can trust The Newt to do things stylishly. This hamper which, in fact, comes in a wooden box, contains a delicious mixture of edibles (think brandy butter, apple and cinnamon panettone, damson, fig and prune Christmas pudding, and salted caramel baubles), quaffables (The Winston, Apple Gin, Babylonstoren Cabernet Sauvignon) and luxuries (mulled spice candle, sage body butter, White Yarlington Stoneware Mug). It is a triumph, and anyone on the receiving end of this exceptionally generous present would be in for a very merry Christmas indeed.
River Café
2025 Gift Box – Large, £475
Not strictly a Christmas hamper, it would be a grinch indeed, who did not receive this exceptionally beautiful box of delights with anything other than pure delight.
Simon Rogan
The Simon Rogan Christmas Weekend Mulling Hamper, £72.25 (Was £85)
’Tis the season to mull with abandon, and you can trust the great Simon Rogan to have come up with the goods to send delicious spiced scents wafting through the house. We love that this one has been designed with the notion of a cosy Christmassy family weekend in mind – mulled cider, mulled wine, hot chocolate, and British cheeses. In other words, all you need for feasting in front of the fire.
House of Bruar
House of Bruar Christmas Hamper, £125
House of Bruar – Scotland’s country luxe destination come department store housed in a former Perthshire pub – does a very fine line in hampers, from the banqueting selection to the classic. We love its Christmas edition which, of course, comes beautifully presented in the classic wicker hamper. Inside you’ll find treats aplenty, from champagne to Christmas pudding and mince pies to an exemplary ‘tartan’ whisky panettone. An abundant and brilliant treat.
Fortnum & Mason
The Christmas at Piccadilly Gift Box, £90
Fortnum’s is, of course, legendary for its iconic hampers – some of which are so lavish that they’ll set you back a princely sum of £1,000. But no fear if you, like most of the rest of us, would baulk at such exuberant prices – you can still take home a sliver of F&M magic in the form of this delightful The Christmas at Piccadilly Gift Box, which contains Christmassy blends of tea and coffee, biscuits in a musical tin, figgy preserve and even a selection of ‘reindeer treats’.
Snowdonia Cheese
Christmas Cheese Selection & Wine Wicker Hamper, £95
Wine, cheese, chocolate and chutney: what quartet of goodies could be more perfect for Christmas? We also love its particularly smart wicker hamper with leather straps. Any guest who brought us this ahead of the big day would be in for seconds and thirds of Christmas lunch.
Selfridges
The Christmas Eve Hamper, £150
An exquisite delight of a hamper, this selection of treats has everyone covered: red wine and prosecco for the quaffers; panettone and pigs-in-blankets nuts for the scoffers; and tea for the more restrained (or, simply, to wash down the aforementioned). Stylishly presented and perfect.
