[Disclosure: Some of the products included in this guide may be from businesses that are PR clients of mine or I may have received samples from them. However, it is not a condition of inclusion in this guide that people send me things]
It’s that time of year again, when the C word starts to be dropped everywhere. I won’t go on, but we all know times are difficult for everyone, especially small businesses. So when you’re planning your Christmas gift shopping, if you can even just buy a few things from local businesses then it could well help them.
This guide isn’t exhaustive – it never is – but hopefully it might give you a bit of inspiration for food and drink gifts you could buy from local Coventry & Warwickshire food and drink businesses. I’ll add to it whenever I can, but here’s a few ideas.
Coventry and Warwickshire Christmas food gifts
Libertine Burger Hamper
If you’ve got a burger-loving friend or family member, they probably already know about Libertine. But how about getting them everything they need to produce the perfect burger? The Libertine hamper includes:-
Cookie boxes from Love That Dough
Pretty much everything from Manor Farm Shop
Sweet treats from Sweet Retreat Sweet Shop
Christmas box selections from Emma’s Pantry
Emma is incredibly talented and produces everything from amazing cakes to selection boxes and festive treats. She’s launching her menus too, so visit her Facebook page here to see them first.
Chilli chutneys, rubs and charcuterie from Prices Spices/Cureight
Prices Spices has been producing great chilli sauces, rubs and chocolate for some time, and Mike has now launched a new charcuterie brand, Cureight, that is already making waves and winning awards in the food world.
Both are great gift ideas and he offers loads of options through his website, whether it’s ‘build your own’ triple jar gift boxes or triple sauce boxes, or assemble your own hamper. Find the website here.
Cookie selections and edible gifts from Baked By Binky
Another one for the sweet-toothed loved on in your life. Rugby-based Baked by Binky is heading at you with plenty of Christmas gift ideas. Once they’re announced I’ll add them here but find her on Instagram here.
Coventry and Warwickshire Christmas drinks gifts
Wine gifts from Gallachers of Rugby
Gallachers of Rugby is one of my fave local businesses (because wine) and as well as their online shop packed with every single bottle you could possibly need for the festive season, they’re doing some lovely gift sets and hampers. They also do gins, spirits, decanters, and all sorts. Check out their website here, or take a look at their social media.
Gin from Rugby Distillery
I’ve told you about Rugby Distillery before and as well as their full size bottles, you can treat the gin-lover in your life to some smaller sizes. They’ve recently launched a brand new lemon gin too, so check their website out for all the gin, plus some cool merch, for your Christmas gift ideas.
Beer hampers from Dhillons Brewery
Coventry-based Dhillons isn’t just a brewery – they’re also the people behind the Sky Blue Tavern, Dhillons Spire Bar and the catering at Drapers Hall in Coventry. If you’re looking for a beer-based gift for someone in youyr life, you could do worse than their Coventry City beer hamper which includes a selection of their unique creations. Check out their online shop here.
Wine from Welcombe Hills Vineyard
Want to gift someone wine from right here in Warwickshire? Welcombe Hills vineyard has it all – from gift experiences including ‘adopt a vine’ to their monthly wine club as well as their ‘Read Between the Wines’ subscription which includes a bi-monthly delivery of a Welcombe Hills English still or sparkling wine plus a hand selected book to enjoy alongside it. Of course, you can buy gift packs, bottles and vouchers too. Visit their website here.
Gift boxes from The Little Cocktail Bar
I discovered The Little Cocktail Bar in lockdown and can confirm their gift boxes are rather lovely. They’re back this year with a Christmas box, available for local or nationwide delivery in the week leading up to Christmas. They include spirits, mixers and garnishes for two servings of each cocktail, step-by-step instructions, candy canes, chocolates, a stainless steel shaker and a free personalised gift note. Find them here.
Elderflower Liqueur from St Maur
St Maur is the creation of William and Kelsey Seymour, Earl and Countess of Yarmouth, and is a hand-crafted premium elderflower liqueur using ingredients from the family’s woodlands. The award-winning drink is apparently perfect for sipping or mixing and can be served as a beautiful aperitif on its own, or in cocktails. You can get a 70cl bottle for £37.50 or a 20cl bottle for £16.75.
Gin gift sets and cocktail sets from That Gin Company
That Gin Company, which has a bar in Warwick is offering bottled bespoke gin flavours by post, so you can get them to anywhere in the UK. Their flavours range from traditional juniper and floral gins to fruity offerings such as pineapple, Sicilian orange, lemon and passionfruit as well as pink pepper, black pepper, cardamom or Jalapeno, plus a desserts range including Cherry Bakewell, Black Forest Gateau and Biscoffi.
They’re also doing gin gift sets, which include three 250ml flavoured gins, and cocktail sets which are supplied with enough ingredients for five cocktails, plus a mini shaker.
Visit: http://thatgincompany.co.uk/
Gifts and experiences from Shakespeare Distillery
Shakespeare Distillery has Christmas all wrapped up with several exciting products and experiences to choose from. With the opening of their brand-new Rum School at ‘Judith’s’ in Stratford-upon-Avon town centre, there are now a range of experiences to choose from including how to distil your own spiced rum or a cocktail masterclass.
They’re also offering personalised labels on some of their bottles, and offer miniature gift sets, as well as Christmas Gin and Rum Crackers, a Home Rum Tasting Kit, a Home Gin Tasting Kit, Cocktail Making sets, Miniature, Mixer, & Tumbler sets and Deluxe Rum or Gin Hampers.
For more information and to visit their online shop visit http://www.shakespearedistillery.com/
Experiences & other gifts
Restaurant vouchers from Loxleys in Stratford
Everyone loves a free meal out, so treat someone to a voucher for Loxleys Restaurant & Wine Bar in Stratford so they can go and enjoy it in the new year. Visit their website for contact info on how to buy.
Andreas Antona’s cookbook Eureka
Michelin-starred chef restaurateur Andreas Antona – owner of The Cross at Kenilworth and Simpsons in Birmingham – has launched Eureka – a cookbook inspired by his own experience during lockdown and featuring recipes created for the home cook.
Eureka features 80 recipes from Antona at Home , Andreas’ meal service which proved the lifeline for Simpsons and The Cross during the pandemic. At its peak, Antona at Home was sending out up to 700 boxes per week nationwide to diners who were missing the experience of Simpsons and The Cross and new diners looking for something special for the weekend.
Named after Andreas’ ‘eureka moment’ and the state-of-the-art Eureka Cookery School at Simpsons, the book has been designed with the home cook in mind, with each recipe using accessible ingredients and easy-to-follow methods. They include Andreas’ favourite dish, Lamb Kleftiko, inspired by his Greek Cypriot heritage, whilst other dishes reflect meals popular with Antona at Home diners.
There is plenty of inspiration for seafood and meat lovers and dishes such as Aubergine, artichoke, red pepper, black olive, balsamic vinegar sauce are perfect for impressing vegan guests and anyone enjoying a meat-free day.
Eureka is priced at £38 and can be purchased online and from both Simpsons and The Cross at Kenilworth.
VIP cards and gift vouchers from Cafe Vin Cinq, Rugby
Rugby restaurant Cafe Vin Cinq is offering a VIP Card that offers 10% off everything (food, cocktails, wine etc…) for four guests for a whole year, which makes a great gift. You can also buy gift vouchers in various denominations with a personalised message. Visit their website here.
Cook with Michelin-starred chef Paul Foster
I’ve told you previously about Paul Foster’s newly-launched virtual masterclasses from his Salt Cookery School. The subscription service is super affordable and can all be done at your own pace and from your own home – so why not treat someone else to it.
You could also buy someone Paul Foster’s book ‘How to Cook Meat Properly’ which is definitely going on my list for a few people.
Vouchers with private chef Sophie Hyam
Sophie is a great local chef and you could give the gift of her great food with a range of options. Sophie’s offering gift vouchers for private dine experiences in your own home, or maybe cookery lessons.
You’ll get a bespoke pdf voucher sent ready for you to print for your recipient. Email her on sophieeliz69@googlemail.com or send her a message on social media.
Gift vouchers for Gourmet Food Kitchen at FarGo Village
If you read this blog you’ll know I rate Gourmet Food Kitchen, so if you want to treat someone to a great tasting menu in a unique setting, head to their website for gift vouchers.
Gift vouchers for Get Cooking UK!
If you want to spread the joy of cooking, you can get vouchers for Get Cooking UK! which can be used for face-to-face or live Zoom workshops, including a basic 12-week course aimed at teenagers and adults. Find out more at https://get-cooking.co.uk/events/
Gift vouchers for Earlsdon Supper Club
Earlsdon Supper Club do gift cards as well as e-vouchers, so you can treat your loved ones to an experience at this unique dining experience, or maybe one of their ESC At Home gift boxes. Check out their website here.
