There’s no denying that the countdown to December 25th has begun…
Christmas TV adverts are in full flow, all of them enticing us to buy the latest ‘must have’ gadgets and celebrity perfumes for our nearest and dearest.
But, if you’re struggling with gift ideas this festive season and fancy giving the obligatory socks and slippers options a miss, why not try creating a rather special and very bespoke present in the form of a goodie-filled hamper packed with local produce from The Suffolk Coast?!
We've picked a few of our favourite festive foodie establishments that will be sure to provide you with all you need to make a hamper that's bound to impress come Christmas morning!
1. Friday Street Farm Shop
Selling everything from meats and fish from the onsite butcher and fishmonger, to vegetables and fruit grown on the farm to cakes, bread, cheese and crackers,
Friday Street Farm Shop is a one stop shop for a festive food hamper.
The Farm Shop stocks a mouth watering range of locally made produce plus seasonal homegrown produce grown on the farm itself including soft fruits, asparagus, sweetcorn, potatoes and pumpkins.
Choose one of the premade hampers or select your favourite treats to be wrapped up for a special Christmas feast.
Order yours at https://fridaystfarm.co.uk/ or call 01728 602783.
2. Pinneys of Orford
The beautiful range of luxury hampers from Pinneys make the perfect gift for any occasion. The hampers are packed with a wonderful selection of their favourite smoked products as well as tasty treats from local artisan producers. If you are looking for a personal gift then you can create a bespoke hamper and fill it with your very own choice of luxury items.
The new 'Pinney’s Suffolk Hamper', is filled with a wonderful selection of delicious goodies from well-known Suffolk producers, including their own Pinney’s Smoked Salmon and Mackerel Fillets, Stokes sauces, Suffolk Salami Company Chorizo and the fabulous Pump Street Bakery Chocolate. A perfect present for anyone missing this gastronomic corner of East Anglia! Buy yours at https://www.pinneysoforford.co.uk/product/pinneys-suffolk-hamper/
3. Adnams
Put together a gift hamper of Adnams fine beers, wine and handcrafted spirits and we’ll guarantee that you’ll win over even the grumpiest of relatives! With stores located in Southwold, Aldeburgh and Woodbridge shopping is made easy.
Ale lovers will appreciate a few bottles of their famous 'Ghost Ship', or for those who prefer a stronger tipple, there's the Single Malt Whiskey or the Copper House Gin gift packs. If you can't choose which to pop in the basket, then the 'Little Box of Gin-Dulgence', or the 'Whiskey Trio' boxes are ideal.
Of course, you could always push the boat out a little and throw in a tour of the famous Suffolk brewery or distillery for an extra special gift.
3. Suffolk Food Hall
Take a trip over to The Suffolk Food Hall, just south of Ipswich. This place is sheer heaven for ‘foodies’ having not only a delicatessen but a grocer, bakery, fishmonger and a chocolatier... Which means the only problem you may have is what to choose! Alternatively, they offer an array of beautifully packaged ready-made hampers to make your decision just that bit easier! And if you're still to buy your tree, you can buy a locally grown, freshly cut tree here too!
Buy online at https://suffolkfoodhall.co.uk/hampers/
5. Flint Vineyard
Overlooking the Waveney Valley, Flint Vineyard produces a range of award-winning wines - the perfect accompaniment to your Christmas Lunch or Boxing Day buffet!
Over the festive period, enjoy a glass or two of the Bacchus 2021: Aromatic, crisp, Sauvignon-like and beautiful with seafood or lightly spiced food. Bacchus Fumé 2021: A fascinating comparison to the straight Bacchus above. More developed and smoky from the oak ageing. Textured on the palate and pairs with richer foods. And the Charmat Rosé 2021: Flint's ever popular pink fizz. Fun, fruity, sassy, strawberries & cream. The perfect aperitif!
Buy yours at https://flintvineyard.com/product/15-mile-hamper/
6. Fen Farm Dairy
Situated just outside Bungay, Fen Farm Dairy can produce a delicious range of raw milk products including milk, cream, buttermilk, cultured butter and their famous Baron Bigod Cheese (which was served at the wedding of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle!). Stop by the farm's vending machine to stock up for your Christmas or Boxing Day feasts but make sure you call ahead if you want to buy a whole round of cheese, as they don't fit in the machine!
Buy online at https://www.fenfarmdairy.co.uk/product-category/gifts/
7. Emmett's
On Boxing Day, tuck into a mouth-watering ham from Emmett's; the oldest artisan ham and bacon producer in the UK. Famous for its Suffolk black ham, which was a favourite with many including The Queen Mother, Delia Smith and Rick Stein, the store also produces many other flavours plus a range of deli items including Spanish and Italian meats, Spanish almonds, figs and turrons, cheeses, olives and tapenades.
Buy online at https://www.emmettsham.co.uk/collections/hampers
8. Food Hall & Fresh Pantry at Snape Maltings
Not only can you buy everything you need for a delicious hamper at Snape Maltings, but you could also pretty much get all of your Christmas shopping completed here with the range of shops dotted throughout the famous complex.
In the Food Hall & Fresh Pantry, you can buy delicious locally-produced, seasonal food - many of which are made and grown just a few miles away from the Maltings. Fill your basket with the best Suffolk sausages, the perfect Italian arborio rice, Panettone, Stollen, confectionary, jams, chutneys and crackers, plus a fine selection of wines and spirits.
Buy online at https://shop.snapemaltings.co.uk/collections/snape-maltings-food
9. St Peter's Brewery
Real-ale lovers will be delighted come Christmas morning, with a hamper from St Peter's Brewery; a craft brewery in St Peter South Elmham, near Bungay in the heart of Suffolk.
The multi-award winning range consists of over 30 beers including stouts, porters, ales, lagers, alcohol free, gluten free, organic beers and seasonal specials. The online shop sells a range of selection cases and gift packs, which can be filled with the Brewery's best sellers, light and dark beers and Christmas inspired brews.
Buy online at https://stpetersbrewery.myshopify.com/
10. Pump Street Chocolate
The ultimate gift for any chocoholic, Pump Street Chocolate makes small-batch, handmade chocolate from beans directly imported to them from family farms and co-operatives around the world.
Their mouth-watering bars make perfect stocking fillers, whilst 'The Works Christmas Bundle' is the perfect gift for chocolate lovers. Each bundle includes a Father Christmas figurine, Caramelised Hazelnuts in Ecuador Dark Milk, Candied Orange hand-dipped in rich Jamaica chocolate, and a collection of seasonal chocolate bars made specifically to celebrate the best bakes of the season; Panettone 70%, Gingerbread 62% and Maple Pecan 55%.
Buy online at https://pumpstreetchocolate.com/collections/winter-collection
11. Briarbank Brewery
Another one for craft beer lovers, Briarbank Brewing Company, situated just a stone's throw from Ipswich's historic waterfront, is an acclaimed independent microbrewery and bar founded in May 2013.
Savour one of the brewery's perennial favorites or opt for a seasonal brew from the online shop, where you can select the perfect additions to your mixed case, guaranteed to please the beer lovers come Christmas day!
Buy online at https://briarbank.org/cans/
For more information on The Suffolk Coast's fantastic food producers, visit our Food and Drink guide!