Here’s a handy guide to all the food and drink hampers you can buy and support independents this Christmas…
Food & Cheese
La Bandera’s Spanish Paella Kit
There’s no better authority on anything Spanish or wine related than La Bandera just off Deansgate, so you can be sure of only the best quality produce in their online Deli, with a range of cheeses, wines, meats and even dedicated ‘kits’ so you can try to make their delicious dishes yourelf at home. This Paella Kit makes for a fantastic present and includes everything you need to make a great paella – including one of those pans.
Turkey Christmas Box from Zouk
Take all the trouble out of preparing your Christmas Dinner as Zouk are offering up a Christmas Box that includes everything you need to make the perfect turkey dinner – but with an Indian twist. There’s a pre-marinated turkey in there, plus Indian stuffing, potatoes, veggies and their signature ‘Spicy’ Gravy. Oh, and there’s also the choice of a huge Leg of Lamb too – each feeding up to 8 hungry people.
Sicilian Hamper Basket at Sicilian NQ
The brand new Sicilian Christmas hampers feature all sorts of delights for the perfect Christmas Sicilia style. You’ll get a bottle of Grappa dell’ Etna or Limoncello, a signature cocktail, two homemade pasta sauces, homemade Sicilian pesto, one antipasti, capers or marinated Sicilian olives, and 6 cannolicchio. You can build your own hamper too with all their delights from their recently launched deli!
This & That ‘Curry Hampers’
There’s nothing more Christmassy than a massive big curry, well, that’s what happens in our house! Every year my mam will order a big juicy curry for her Christmas dinner, not only does she not have to worry about her turkey being too dry but she can also just throw all the containers into a big bin bag at the end of the day – no washing up needed! Manchester institution This & That are offering up ‘Curry Hampers’ and you can get them delivered to your house this December. There LOADS on offer and they’re MASSIVE!
The Lowry Hotel x Harvey Nichols – Winter Warmers Hamper
Created exclusively in collaboration with Harvey Nichols, The Lowry Hotel’s limited edition hamper includes: Naughty nibbles, festive mulled wine, traditional Christmas pudding, firey ginger amaretti,a large glass of Malbec, spice infused hot chocolate with cinnamon, nutmeg and chilli, two pairs of fluffy slippers, The Lowry Hotel Bear, and a bottle of 20th anniversary Lowry Gin.
Abeja’s Christmas Board-in-a-Box
Get into the Christmas spirit with a hamper filled with Spanish goodies – and if you squint hard enough you could really be sat on a balcony in the Costa del Sol. Like – really, really hard. The Board-in-a-Box comes with a bottle of independent Spanish wine, aromatic Vermouth from Cordoba, a Sharing Board, artisan chutney, olives from Malaga, extra-virgin olive oil from Granada, flatbreads and a stocking filled with Spanish Christmas sweets!
The Crafty Cheese Man Hamper from Mews
Mews on Deansgate have partnered with the city’s foremost authority on cheese – The Crafty Cheese Man – to bring us a hamper of outstanding pedigree and quality. It features a selection of their favourite red, white and sparkling wines, paired with cheeses from the Crafty Cheese Man himself, with crackers and chutneys. The last day for delivery is the 16th December. Perfect for after your Christmas Dinner.
The Christmas Breakfast Hamper from Bread Flower
Currently popping-up at KAMPUS with their very own café and series of events and markets this December, Bread Flower are also offering a range of hampers on their online shop – with a brilliant Christmas Breakfast Hamper really catching our attention. It includes 6 mixed sourdough bagels, 2 schmears, Manchester Smoke House salmon, 6 eggs, a bag of Blossom Coffee, a bottle of fizz from Le Social, orange juice and a festive floral arrangement. There’s a bigger one with more bagels, more schmears, and sticky buns.
Christmas Gift Box at Pollen
New Islington bakers Pollen have now opened up their Christmas shop and there’s a tonne of baked goods to order and get send out to your loved ones. There’s this Christmas Gift Box (£55) which comes with Croissant Butter, Sea Salt Caramel, Choc Chip Caramel Peanut Butter, Croissant Butter Truffles, Chocolate Orange Shortbread and Pollen Stem Gingerbread. There’s also some pretty special ‘Party Foods’ including a Bûche de Noël that looks amazing!
Salvi’s Deli Hampers
Salvi’s Deli is packed full of Italian delights including the likes of cured meats, cheese, cannoli, panettone, wine, prosecco, olive oil and of course pasta. You can choose from a range of pre-prepared hampers or create your own bespoke one. There’s also a limited edition D&G Panettone, plus chocolates, gluten free and kids hampers.
Dishoom’s Masala Dabba
If you and your pals are a huge fan of Dishoom or perhaps have their cookbook, this year Dishoom have created the perfect product to go alongside the book to help you master the recipes. Features a collection of nine of Chef Naved’s favourite spices and masala served in a reusable silver metal storage tin, a dabba. They also have some excellent at home Meal Kits, plus a Cookery Book Hamper, Chai Gift Set and a host of gifts.
The Cheese Hamper at General Stores
Available their online Convenience Store, there’s a selection of hampers, turkeys, Christmas trees, gifts and booze this December – with most of it perfect for presents for your loved ones. There’s a couple of Hampers on offer, such as their ‘Craft & Snacks’ with beers and crisps, the Vegan Hamper and Cheese Hampers for either 2 or 4 people. The 4 person one (£40) comes with: Garstang Blue, Garstang white, Lancashire Bomb, 3x Crackers, Mixed British Charcuterie from Deli Farm, Jar of Chutney and a bottle of Barahonda wine.
Cheese Hampers from The Cheese Hamlet
Didsbury Village’s excellent Cheese Hamlet are offering some pretty special hampers this Christmas – filled with some of the finest cheeses and chutneys known to man. There’s plenty of variations to choose from – such as ‘The Didsbury’ (£49.50), ‘The Tipsy’ (£63.50) which comes with a bottle of Didsbury Gin and ‘The Hot One’ (£45) which is loaded with fiery, spicy cheeses and chutneys.
Beers, Wines & Spirits
Le Social Festive Hamper
Le Social Wine have got just about everything you could need for the wine lovers in your life this Christmas, with a festive hamper that features not just top-quality wines, but also some snacks to enjoy while you sip ’em. This one at £55 includes a bottle of Le Social Sparkling Wine, Cidrerie du Léguer Cider, Tuna Fillets in Olive Oil, Paté de Campagne, posh crisps and Hechizos Green Olives.
Manchester Union Lager’s Lager & Snack Hamper
Going on sale this week is Manchester Union’s Lager & Snack Hamper which does exactly what you want it to do. It features tins of their original lager, plus many of the new flavours they introduced in 2021, such as their DELTIC Baltic Porter, BOCK, Alt Beer and their Fiereabendbier collaboration with The Modernist. Alongside the beers you get a Lebkuchen pretzel from Pretzel and Spelt in Bolton and a Schooner glass.
Gift Packs @ Beermoth
With a massive selection of ales, beers, ciders and random brews made in someone’s shed, Beermoth is one of the best places in the city to pick up a few cans for the beer lover in your life. They’re offering up special gift packs of cans, or you can just buy a load of them, pop them in a carrier bag and offer up the best present under the tree.
Manchester Craft Beer Box at Hip Flask
Hip Flask have created a ‘Best of Manchester’ box of craft beer featuring a range of 12 lagers, pale ales and IPAs created in breweries across Manchester. So you’ll find ShinDigger, Alphabet, Beatnikz, First Chop and more – all in one handy box.
Manchester Gin x Mana – Oyster Gin
For the lover of Gin in your life, Manchester Gin are selling this exclusive collaboration with Michelin-starred restaurant Mana – made using discarded oysters. Mother of Pearl is an exquisite, sophisticated gin, with the addition of pine, lemon and oysters, giving it a distinct seaside aroma. It’s perfect as an unusual but brilliant base for a martini – or with some really high quality tonic.
Espresso Martini Kit @ The Public Spirit
Everything you need to make the perfect Espresso Martini. And to make sure it’s as easy as possible, we’ve given you all the things needed to whip one up straight away – without the need for an espresso machine. Seriously, we’ve got you covered. This kit alone will be able to make you 8 incredible cocktails but there will be plenty of Original Spiced Rum left for other creations (about 20 single measures). And as always, while you’re drinking the good stuff you’ll be doing good too – because every drink gives meals to those who need it.
Moonshine Giftbox from O’Donnell
The perfect present for that person in your life who loves a tipple, the O’Donnell Moonshine Giftbox comes with two Moonshine jars, two shot glasses and a pouring lid – meaning you’ll probably be doing shots dangerously early on Christmas Day and then forgetting pretty much everything about your dinner and the Queen’s Speech. Ah well, they’re not usually very good anyway.
Christmas Party Case at Reserve Wines
If you’re looking for a truly indulgent wine case then look no further than Reserve Wines’ ‘Christmas Party Case’ for £150. It contains 12 bottles, with sparkling, whites, reds, dessert wine and port to see you through the festive period.
Christmas Gift Pack @ ShinDigger
ShinDigger are offering up a Christmas Gift Pack this Christmas which is loaded with 10 of their very best and tastiest beers, which is then gift wrapped and then finished with a “lovely” ribbon. You’ll also get some glas swear and beer mats too.
Salut Wines
There’s a massive selection of wine cases and boxes from Salut this Christmas – so you can’t really go wrong. There’s their traditional Christmas Hamper (£49) with two bottles of wine, cheese, crackers, chutney and snacks, or their Christmas ‘Treat’ Hamper with additional food, cocktails and a bottle of Bernard Robert Brut Reserve Champagne.
Mini 5L Kegs @ Marble Brewery
Wrapping one of these 5L kegs and putting it under the Christmas Tree will make you feel like a proper BOSS this year – and there’s a decent selection of fresh ales available to choose from. Personally I’d be chugging their RUFUS Red Ale all Christmas morning – ready to embarrass myself in front of my Nan and the Queen a couple of hours later.
Alphabet Brewing Company Christmas Selection Box
A selection of delicious Alphabet beers to enjoy at your leisure this Christmas time, with 6 cans of their most favourite beers including: Libussa Bohemian Dark Lager, Flat White Breakfast Stout, Is This Vibes? IPA, This Bad Boy IPA and experimental beers – HBC431 and HBC472.
Witch Kings Rum Gift Box
Try all three flavours of the tasty Witch Kings Rum in this Christmas gift box. The rum liqueurs comes alongside a bottle of tonic from The London Essence Co. plus hand-made candied lime garnishes.
