A Christmas hamper full of sweet treats and alcohol seems like the perfect gift to buy a loved one – especially if you want to spoil them.
With treats including gold wrapped Christmas puddings, Italian nougats, chutneys, cheeses and of course lots of booze – hampers are always difficult to resist.
But are we paying over the odds for something we could arrange ourselves in a wicker basket after buying the products individually?
FEMAIL priced up the contents of eight popular hampers and found that they can cost up to £60 more than the individual items, which means you’re effectively forking out a hefty amount for a basket and some straw – with Waitrose being the worst offender.
However, some offer genuinely good value, such as the lavish Liberty London hamper which costs just £2 more than buying all the items separately.
Meanwhile, the Pure Indulgence Christmas hamper from the Hamper Lounge is the best value, containing £330 worth of products for £266.95.
Liberty London’s Looden hamper, which comes in a big reusable hamper, with leather buckles and a carry handle is great value for money, with three bottles of wine and also a bottle of gin
Liberty London’s Looden hamper
RRP £250, Worth £248.35
The department store is known for its exclusive and fine produce, including food and wine. This year its hamper offerings range from £95 to £350 and cater for those who have a sweet tooth, to others who may care for tea and jams more.
The Looden hamper, which comes in a big reusable hamper, with leather buckles and a carry handle is great value for money, with three bottles of wine and also a bottle of gin.
Meanwhile, the food in the hamper includes treats like their fudge, truffles and chutneys.
However, the best news is that the hamper comes in at just under £250, meaning you get the basket as a bargain for under £2.
Aldi – The Exquisite hamper
RRP £89.99, Worth £66.43
The German bargain brand, which have surpassed all our exceptions over the last few years with their award winning wine and food, have created this Specially Selected Exquisite Hamper this Christmas.
Presented in a large wicker basket and hand-tied with a ribbon, the hamper includes four bottles of wine and cakes made especially for the hamper – including a vintage Christmas pudding.
However for a bargain brand we were hoping to get more than our moneys worth – but the hamper contents come in at just over £66.
We’re sure an Aldi wicker basket wouldn’t cost over £20 – so it would have been nice to see a few more sweet treats in the hamper.
Presented in a large wicker basket and hand-tied with a ribbon, this hamper includes four bottles of wine and cakes made especially for the hamper including a vintage Christmas pudding
Fortnum and Mason’s Grosvenor hamper
RRP £125, Worth £96.35
Fortnum and Mason’s is one of the most luxury department stores in the UK so of course they’ll only have the finest products in their hampers.
The Grosvenor hamper has decadent wine and two exclusive jars of preserves, made especially for the hampers, and they’re paired with Sandringham blended coffee and even some champagne truffles.
Some Fortnum and Mason fans simply buy the hampers for the department stores branded picnic baskets – so they’ll be delighted to know that they’ll be paying under £30 for it with this hamper – as the contents are priced at just under £100.
With decadent wine and two exclusive jars of preserves, made especially for the hampers, they’re paired with Sandringham blended coffee and even some champagne truffles.
Waitrose & Partners No.1 Decadence Hamper
RRP £160 (originally £200) worth £100.23
Waitrose is another high-end supermarket which has a selection of Christmas hampers to choose from this year.
Their No.1 Decadence Hamper looks full to the brim of delights including everything you could want at Christmas, such as olives, a Panettone and Fig & Balsamic Chutney.
However the cost, which was originally £200 – currently £160 – is a little steep, as once priced up, the contents actually only come to £100.
This means you’re paying £60 for the wicker basket – so you’re probably better off packing your own hamper.
Their No.1 Decadence Hamper looks full to the brim of delights including everything you could want at Christmas, such as olives, a Panettone and Fig & Balsamic Chutney
The Hampstead Hamper by Jeroboams.co.uk
RRP £150, worth £122
Its always nice to support local shops instead of big supermarkets and Jeroboams is just that – a local London wine merchant, with shops in Kensington and Hampstead, hence the name of the hamper.
It includes three bottles of their wine, as well as cheese, crackers and grapes, finished off with sweets such as Macaroons and Sally Clarke’s Mince Pies.
The contents add up to £122 so you’re still paying a premium for the packaging.
The hamper includes three bottles of their wine, as well as cheese, crackers and grapes, finished off with sweets such as Macaroons and Sally Clarke’s Mince Pies
Morrisons, The Best Christmas Hamper
RRP £20, worth £15.90
Morrisons is a great go-to supermarket if you want to pick up a bargain when you do your weekly shop. Now they’ve added some of their Best range into a hamper, including a non-alcoholic cocktail drink, biscuits and the most more-ish cheese Palmiers.
However, the supermarket have skimped on their basket and instead of delivering your treats in a nicer wicker one, like all the other brands do, its just in a box. While most hampers leave some leeway, on price for the costly hamper that you’ve brought with the food, this one was a bit of a disappointment.
Morrison’s hamper has coffee, chocolate, biscuits and chutney, from the supermarkets The best range
Pure Indulgence Christmas hamper from the Hamper Lounge
RRP £266.95, Worth £330
Most of us go to department stores or supermarkets to pick up a hamper, but online and local stores are also a good way to get your moneys worth – as shown with this hamper by the Hamper Lounge.
It has everything you need for Christmas, including wine, gin and jams, plus a selection of cheeses and chocolates. Better still it comes in a pretty wicker basket, worth nearly £40.
This is also the only hamper that’s worth more than if you bought the individual items on their own – giving you a saving of over £60.
The Pure Indulgence Christmas hamper from the Hamper lounge gives you a saving of £60, and includes cheeses, chocolates and wines
The Misteltoe hamper from Virginia Hayward
RRP £50, Worth £47
Packed with a Christmas pudding, wrapped in gold, a bottle of prosecco and fancy sweets bits, including a chocolate tree lolly – it looks like it costs more than it actually does
This small but tightly packed hamper is for anyone wanting to gift friends and family, but can’t afford one of the the more lavish hampers (or prices).
Packed with a Christmas pudding, wrapped in gold, a bottle of prosecco and fancy sweets bits, including a chocolate tree lolly – it looks like it costs more than it actually does.
Better still you’re also getting your moneys worth, with the contents priced at just under £50, meaning you get a bonus wicker basket included.