Spotlight on: Gourmet gifts and tempting treats
Christmas shopping is never a chore at the market thanks to the huge array of speciality stalls offering unique present ideas. And with Christmas Gift markets on Friday 18th, Monday 21st, Tuesday 22nd, and Wednesday 23rd December, there’s even more opportunity to shop for that perfect present. Here are some ideas…
Edible Gifts
A hamper of carefully chosen food items is a thoughtful gift for the gourmand – for example, a hessian bag filled with a jar of David’s Chilli Oil, fig chutney from Lishkins Preserves, a beautifully packaged Christmas Pudding or Brandy Butter flavoured fudge from Katie Crunch Fudge, a selection platter of mixed salamis from Trealy Farm Charcuterie, sticky toffee caramel sauce from Selsley Foods, a mini brie from Simon Weaver Organic brie and a Christmas pudding from Faithfulls Quality Baking perhaps?
Many of the stallholders also offer special selection gift packs – at Lishkins Preserves you can find festive hampers and two, three, or four-jar gift packs while Selsley Foods offers a gourmet syrup gift pack as well as gift bags containing three preserves or chutneys. Katie Crunch Fudge has gift boxes containing three festive flavoured fudges, Severn Spots Charcuterie has salami gift bags while a lovely treat is one of Gemma Faithfull’s gorgeous Christmas cakes or mince pies, all prettily wrapped and presented at Faithfull’s Quality Baking.
Liquid gifts
Traditional ales come over all festive at Stroud Brewery who are producing gift packs of various sizes with or without a Stroud Brewery pint glass – they also have a rather wonderful 12 Days of Christmas Advent pack, containing a case of 12 bottles. Corinium Ales have the Roman Collection gift pack, containing classic beers as well as their festive ale, Saturnalia with its festive and spicy overtones. Also check out Gloucester Brewery’s Christmas selections.
For something a bit different, VQ Country Wines are offering a special Christmas port and cheeseboard gift set – a handmade cheese board that comes with a bottle of Druid’s Fluid, a hedgerow alternative to port. They also have The Legless Legumes gift pack – three festive wines made with carrot, parsnip and beetroot which go down rather well as an aperitif. You can also choose three of their wines to go into a rather lovely festive gift bag. Or head over to Three Counties Liqueurs whose delightful square sided bottles full of the flavours of local hedgerows make gorgeous gifts. A bottle of English bubbly is always a treat at this time of year so visit Bow in the Cloud for their locally made sparkling wines, or for the ultimate English G&T, try the smooth and flavoursome Triple Distilled Gin from Sibling Distillery – its incredible flavours and striking bottle design make it the perfect choice this Christmas.
Wearable gifts
Handmade leather goods make great gifts and NG Leather has a selection to suit all pockets – keyrings and notebook covers, dog collars and belts, evening bags and hand stitched satchels and shoulder bags, all crafted in sumptuous Italian or fine English leather. Spoil little ones in Nimpy Clothing’s cute individually crafted clothes, all ethically sourced and made from upcycled materials. Don’t forget to visit Threadneedle Flea Market for more fabulous gifts – vintage clothing, jewellery, knick knacks and lots more, every Saturday from 9am-2pm.
