14th December 2025 Christmas housekeeping, Hamblin gifts


Good afternoon everybody,

Ok, let's get the important bit out of the way. Our hours for the lead in to Christmas are as follows:

Thursday 18 - CLOSED

Friday 19 - CLOSED

Saturday 20 - OPEN

Sunday 21 - OPEN

Monday 22 - OPEN + LYDIA'S CHEESE STALL

Tuesday 23 - OPEN

Wednesday 24 - OPEN

We will then be closed until Thursday 8 January.

All that remains is to mention that our seasonal programme is in full swing. Vanilla fudge is back, there's a multitude of biscuits in bags, the Dundee cakes are flying out. There are tubs of piccalilli and bread and butter pickles and satisfyingly large jars of St John chutney. We've got some wonderful, new season, green peppery olive oils from Le Marche and Abruzzo. It's also worth mentioning that the clementines from La Sovrana seem to be peaking at just the right time, bright, sweet and invigorating. I think we mentioned wine last week but also note that if you or a loved one are eschewing alcohol then the Antidote and Antilope from Romain des Grottes in Beaujolais are wonderful fizzy, festive alternatives.

Finally a reminder that Lydia will be on the forecourt on Monday 22 with a full spread of British and Irish farmhouse cheeses, cutting and wrapping to order.

That's all for now, thank you, thank you, thank you,

Kate and Hugo