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EDITOR’S LETTER 3
Editor’s letter
Published by
Give your nearest and dearest the festivities they truly deserve this year ast Christmas, with our liberty still restricted and a second lockdown looming, many of us longed for the joys and freedoms of Christmases past. This year, with most of us fully vaxxed and social distancing rules relaxed, we hope to fi nally do as Band Aid advised and throw our arms around the world this Christmastime. With the return of a more ‘normal’ Christmas, comes the joys of festive shopping, tree dressing and feasting. This issue we advise what to buy your loved ones who have everything, and ask whether
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material gifts are the way forward in a post-pandemic world. Many of us have realised the value of time and experiences over material belongings, thanks to over a year spent cooped up inside away from our friends and wider family. Personally, I’m looking forward to taking my younger sisters to a performance of Heathers the Musical as their Christmas gift, and being taken to Samuel Barnett’s Medium as a festive treat to myself. We’re also talking about alternatives to traditional turkey this issue, and whether you could swap out the gobbling bird for something
Contents 4 Why do we eat turkey
at Christmas, and what are the alternatives?
6 Ladies of luxury: how to shop
for the women in your life
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Managing Director James Hurst Finance Director Rowan Willing
a little tastier this year. As I’m from a family of hoteliers, serving turkey for Christmas dinner has rather lost its appeal for them by the time the 25th has come around. We also talk about tree dressing this issue, and how to incorporate family heirlooms and establish new traditions centred around your Christmas centrepiece. Festive German markets are back this year and stacked to the stall’s rafters with delicious foods and gifts, so we give you tips on the best places to appreciate German Christmas markets at home and abroad. Time to scoff stollen and
11 Live a little: what to buy the loved ones who have everything
14 Christmas Markets, from Potsdamer Platz to Princes Street Gardens
12 Deck the halls: tips for a
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perfect Christmas tree
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glug gluhwein to your heart’s content! Compared to last, this Christmas is sparklier, cosier and bursting at the stocking seams with presents, promise and hope for the year ahead. Whatever you get up to, whomever you spend it with, regardless of what you eat or buy or whose mask you slip down to kiss under the mistletoe, I hope you have a very Merry Christmas and a happy new year. Rachael Fulton, editor
Checklist Competition Win a Conway Stewart luxury pen, worth £500!* Discover British-made pens from Conway Stewart including fountain pens, ballpoints, rollerballs and propelling pencils. Enter online at: checklists.co.uk/win/conwaystewart *Competition closes 1 January, 2022.
Head of Marketing Miguel Chalabardo Editor Rachael Fulton Editorial Team Laura Forsyth, Shannon Maher, Adam Broderick Production and Marketing Team Sarah Somerton-Jones, Katherina Bradshaw, Nicola Charalambous, Nadeem Vadva Business Development Team Hannah Morgan, Daisy Heyes, Maddie Black, Anthony Wynne, Rob Williams, Gary Bryant, Neal Rockman, Joseph McLaven, Jack Periccos, John Fox, Jesse Green Accounts and Administration Team Onitha Antoine, Michael Yabbey, Eric van Langenberg, Curtish Haree Christmas Checklist is published and wholly owned by Hurst Media Company Ltd. Every care is taken in compiling the contents of the publications but the publishers assume no responsibility in the effect arising therefrom. Readers are advised to seek professional advice before acting on any information which is contained in the publication. Hurst Media Company do not accept any liability for views expressed, pictures used or claims made by advertisers.
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4 FOOD & DRINK
SECTION 1
Why do we eat turkey at Christmas, and what are the alternatives? • We Brits love our traditions, but how did the turkey nest itself in our Christmas culture, and is it the best option for a Christmas feast? • • urkey is synonymous with British Christmas dinner, though the • tradition itself, and the bird’s presence on our island nation, is only a few centuries old. In pre-turkey medieval times, wealthy families or celebrating groups would hollow out a loaf and fi ll it with meaty stew, much like the South African farmer dish bunny chow. Stuffed boar’s heads were favoured on Christmas dining tables in medieval England, and monks would often spend their pennies adorning their Christmas dishes of pies and fish with extravagant, rare spices to mark the birth of their saviour. Turkeys were brought to our shores in the early 16th century by British merchants, after generations of Mexicans domesticated the birds
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for human care and consumption. English monarch Henry VIII’s love of turkey meat is assumed to be responsible for the bird’s widespread popularity later on. Yet the difference between Henry VIII and your average modern-day Briton, aside from his exorbitant
wealth and penchant for severing his wives’ heads, is the availability of servants to prepare and cook his Christmas turkey.•Generations of Britons have toiled over this tricky-to-roast feast, risking food poisoning if they undercook, and an inedible, dried-up dinner if they overcook. Even the best family chefs run into problems mastering the Christmas turkey, as the meat often comes out dry and becomes the tasteless base of gravy, cranberry and red cabbage. It’s unsurprising then that families often opt for the more expensive turkey crown, or indeed a pre-roasted bird, to circumvent these issues. There are, however, a wealth of other Christmas feast options for those who want to break with tradition or experiment with other, often overlooked
alternatives. For smaller Christmas dinners, partridges and pheasant make outstanding meals with distinct gamey flavours, which can be complemented with wine and cinnamon jus or a Christmassy chestnut stuffi ng. If cooking for vegetarian relatives, a nut roast is a fantastic option that will have even the hardcore carnivores sticking their forks into it. There are great options for nut roasts using cranberry and pistachio, butternut squash and pecans, and mushrooms and chestnuts. These can be labourintensive dishes if you’re only cooking for one or two veggies or vegans, so buying a pre-prepared supermarket version is advised, unless you fancy yourself as a Nigella or Heston as soon as the apron’s out.
In the Spotlight Halo Coffee Conscious Christmas gifting made easy. Halo was created to deal with the estimated 60 billion coffee pods ending up in landfill each year. Made from all natural ingredients, these are the world’s best coffees, in the best way for the world. Visit halo.coffee to find out more.
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Give the gift of a Pinter this Christmas
Enjoy the ultimate Christmas day lunch Discover an exquisite three bird roast, consisting of turkey, chicken and duck with James Alexander Fine Foods
Explore awardwinning Fresh Beer this festive season with Pinter
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ou couldn’t get a taproom wrapped up under the tree – until this Christmas. This year the only way of wrapping up a taproom in a single gift, is with the Pinter. Unwrap a lifetime of Fresh Beer, made at home, tapped straight from the fridge. Listed in Time Magazine’s 100 Best Inventions of 2020, the Pinter enables anyone to brew and experience 10
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pints of award-winning Fresh Beer or Cider at home with each use. A reusable product, tapped directly from the fridge, time and time again. With its worldfi rst technology, you’re free to enjoy up to 20 flavours of Fresh Beer and Cider when the flavour’s at its peak. How does it work? The Pinter uses world-
fi rst, precision-engineered technology to allow fermentation, conditioning and carbonation within a single device. Add water, yeast, your Fresh Press and let the Pinter do the heavy lifting before tapping 10 pints of Fresh Beer. Sleek and available in six colours, innovation never looked or tasted so good.
Find out more For £20 off the Pinter, use the code FRESHLIST at checkout before 20 December. Order now at pinter.co.uk
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resh from Cumbria, direct to your dining table this Christmas Day. The James Alexander three bird roasts are sure to delight friends, family and loved ones. James Alexander offer four different bird roasts. The Three Bird Roast consists of turkey, chicken and duck. From £65 including free delivery. The Four Bird Roast consists of turkey, chicken, duck and pheasant. From £78 including free delivery. The Five Bird Roast consists of turkey, chicken, duck, pheasant, and wild wood pigeon. It costs from £91 including free delivery. All come with with luxury gluten-free pork sausage stuffi ng, layered with Cumbrian pancetta and a couple of sprigs of thyme. Or, the Three Bird Roast with a 30g jar of White Truffle Honey from the
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Truffle Hunter layered with a couple sprigs of Thyme. From £35 including free delivery. The Bird Roast weights start at 700g for the Three Bird Roast with White Truffle Honey, to 4.5kg across the Three, Four, and Five Bird Roast ranges. Each roast comes with its own cooking instructions. Last
date to order to guarantee delivery for Christmas is Wednesday 15 December and their latest guaranteed delivery date is 22 December. All Bird Roasts are dispatched fresh with 10 days shelf life on the product, but can be frozen upon arrival, and consumed within six months.
Find out more Call 020 7788 6602, email sales@jamesalexanderfoods.co.uk, or visit jamesalexanderfoods.co.uk to find out more. Get your bird roast delivered fresh to your door, use code SAVE15 for 15% off until 15 December.
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FOOD & DRINK 5 ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE
Award-winning Indian condiments to spice up your Christmas Pico Sauces made a splash earlier this year after their UK launch at Ocado and Booths Supermarkets ith a brand mission to rethink the way Indian flavours are enjoyed – taking them beyond the conventional curry meal and into everything else you’re eating – these mouth-watering sauces are fast appearing on shopping lists this Christmas as the ideal stocking
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fi ller, or simply a fun way to add a burst of Indian flavour to your Christmas cheer. India today is not about reddybrown curries and heavily spiced dishes. There is a youthful, dynamic energy that is palpable. Charged up with excitement and anticipation, the Indian food
scene of today is bursting with experimentation and creativity, deeply rooted in a rich culinary past, but taking strides towards new ideas. Pico’s fun Indian hot sauces, spiced ketchups and chutneys showcase the best ingredients and recipes from across India, beautifully packaged for British customers. The delicious range includes a fruity-yet-spicy Mango Chilli Sauce, a notorious and fiery Naga Ghost Pepper Sauce and a Punjabi Ketchup – the UK best-seller that tastes just like butter chicken! The Varanasi Tamarind Chutney, a 2021 Great Taste Award Winner, has been made the traditional way, as a quick-flowing pouring sauce rather than a thickset chutney, letting you drizzle this fruity goodness into stir-fries or cocktails, or as a dipping sauce
alongside fi sh and chips! Arjun Gadkari, founder of Pico Sauces says: “If you love Indian fl avours, you should be able to enjoy them with whatever you’re eating, not just a traditional curry meal. You can now enjoy the authentic taste of modern India in a sandwich, with your sausages at breakfast or with some cheese and crackers. Use our sauces like any other ketchup or condiment, and most importantly, just have fun!” The Pico Sauces website has an ever-growing database of exciting recipes to try out this Christmas, from a Tamarind Chutney glaze for
your cocktail sausages to a Mango Chilli dressing to pour over roast duck. Look no further than Pico’s best-selling Punjabi Ketchup to give those leftover turkey sandwiches some delicious north Indian flare. At £2.50 a bottle, Pico Sauces are perfect as stocking fi llers for anyone who loves Indian food.
Find out more Buy Pico Sauces now at Ocado and across Booths Supermarkets. Visit picosauces.com for details.
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SECTION 1
6 LUXURY GIFTS ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE
Ladies of luxury: how to shop for the women in your life Avoid lacklustre gifts and disappointment with these fantastic, • think-outside-the-box luxury present ideas• hristmas gifting pressure is a real, often unavoidable festive • phenomenon. Our busy lives hit full-throttle when we reach December, the month often crammed full of work deadlines, Christmas reunions, parties, and the infuriating conundrum of what to buy Janice in accounts for the £10 office Secret Santa. Add to that conveying the depth of your love for your family with material gifts, and it can be a recipe for stressed-out panic buying with unfortunate results. You don’t want to be dashing around department stores on Christmas Eve, sweating over gift sets, questioning whether you really know your partner or children at all. Even worse, you don’t want them to be wondering the same
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when they unwrap their gifts on Christmas Day. Everyone is unique, which is why it’s important not to snatch the nearest present in your chosen price range and hope for the best. You also don’t want to seem like you’re offering hints or lifestyle advice – an industrial sized tub of anti-wrinkle cream or a new hoover screams ‘I read this is what women want’ and ‘you’ve been moaning about these things all year’ rather than ‘I love and value you.’ That being said, there are some luxury gifts that can improve lifestyle and
be a great addition to the family home. Why not join the cult of Peloton, by purchasing the exercise bike and its subscription? Ideal for the active lady in your life, this exercise bike brings spin class into the comfort of your house, so there’s no need to waste time travelling back and forth from the gym, and no need for public sweating. The array of classes, exercises and even meditation coaching available on Peloton means that the recipient is spoiled for choice, and will receive overall cardiovascular and muscular health
In the Spotlight Victoria London Victoria London are a premium, yet affordable, jewellery brand perfect for stocking fillers. The jewel in their crown is the ByVictoria™ Sterling Silver personalised range. They have also recently launched their Victoria VIP jewellery subscription boxes, perfect for gifting or a little something to change up your look each month. Use code CHECKLISTX20 for 20% off at victorialdn.uk
when they use it. Pitch it as a lifeextending gift to maintain health, rather than a weight-loss device, for extra gifting points. If your loved one is more into literature than exercise, a hardback book subscription where she can choose her personal book preferences will keep her in reading material for the whole of 2022.
For the wine connoisseur, why not gift a bottle from a year of great significance to your relationship, or one of a particularly excellent vintage? Couple that with a bluetooth wine preservation kit from Coravin and you will be able to enjoy the wine on multiple occasions, not just Christmas Day. The kit makes a tiny hole in the cork rather than opening the bottle, allowing you to appreciate the wine later, should you have enough self-restraint not to consume the whole thing. The year of the wine and a heartfelt card will ensure they know it’s a gift from the heart. For women who spend a lot of time and money at the hairdresser, Dyson’s blow dryer and straighteners might be the perfect gifts to bring salon-quality results into the home. At approximately £500 each, they are ideal for someone who wouldn’t dream of spending that money to upgrade their hairdryer, unless someone else was paying for it. To show you’ve done your homework, reference reviews you’ve read about it, or couple it with some fantastic hair products that suit her hair type. Check you’re not buying curl serum for her sleek glossy locks, or vice versa.
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Searching for a thoughtful gift that will enchant and spark a conversation? Objet d’Emotion is a curated shopping concept, presenting jewels and objects from the best contemporary designers, each with a beautiful story to tell magined by industry expert Valery Demure, Objet d’Emotion is aimed at people who are intrigued by provenance and process, who appreciate culture, food, travel and one-of-akind experiences.
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Objet d’Emotion founder, Valery Demure, says: “We want to celebrate the beauty, craftsmanship and timelessness that epitomise true design. A slower, more considered approach, where creativity can be relished, and pieces learned about in a genuinely passionate and immersive way.” Jewellery designers chosen for their inimitable signatures are Objet d’Emotion’s focus. FINE JEWELLERY Discover fi ne jewellery by Alice Cicolini, Ioanna Soufl ia, Fernando Jorge, Francesca Villa, Kloto, Nada Ghazal, Rachel Quinn, Yael Sonia, Stella Flame, Natasha Collis, Atelier Molinari, Lia di Gregorio, and Melanie Georgacopoulos. ARTISAN JEWELLERY Explore artisan jewellery by Alyssa Norton, Ambroise Degenève, Catherine Le Gal, Delphine Nardin, Julie Cohn, Stephanie Schneider, Marion Vidal, Mariko Tsuchiyama,
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Annie Costella Brown, and Gala Colivet Dennison. BRIDAL A wedding day is an extraordinary moment. The Objet d’Emotion, team think you deserve jewels to match. The process of choosing gems to last a lifetime can seem intimidating and they would like to help. IN CONFIDENCE You may wish to experience the poetry of Objet d’Emotion presentations from the comfort of your own home. Their private space showcasing their designers’ more elevated pieces, enables you to browse their superlative jewels. BESPOKE Their expertise is unique. Do you have a piece in mind? They aim to bring it to life – whether it’s fully bespoke or the customisation of an existing jewel. With unparalleled access to a wide
network of jewellery designers and ethical gem dealers, the Objet d’Emotion team will guide you every step of the way throughout the creative process. In addition to discovering the
stories behind one-of-a-kind jewels, you will fall under the spell of their cherished objects and learn a little more about the métier of their designers – from ceramics through to millinery and clutches.
Find out more Explore their curation of wondrous jewels and dreamy objects at objetdemotion.com and find them on @objet_d_emotion
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LUXURY GIFTS 7 ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE
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Award-winning William Wood Watches
WOLF – protect your legacy
Discover British luxury watches made from upcycled firefighting materials he awardwinning British luxury watch brand, William Wood Watches, produce unique watches made from genuine upcycled fi refighting materials, in dedication to the founder’s late grandfather, William Wood, a decorated British fi refighter. They donate a percentage of all sales to international fi refighting charities totalling over £40,000 in 2021. William Wood Watches offer four beautiful collections ranging from £395 to £2,495. They each have an original 1920s British brass fi refighters’ helmet, melted-down and placed inside the watch case. You can choose from a range of stunning upcycled straps made from genuine fi re hose
WOLF are a five-generation family-owned company that have been protecting legacies for over 187 years ince 1834, the WOLF mark has been a symbol of decades of innovation and the pursuit of the perfect design. WOLF know that for a legacy to endure it must be nourished and upheld. The WOLF team are dedicated to honouring people’s stories and the priceless jewellery and timepieces entrusted to them. Choose from WOLF’s collections of watch winders, jewellery boxes and watch
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in red, yellow, blue and green that has protected the UK Fire & Rescue Service. A William Wood Watch is the perfect gift this Christmas for that special loved one. Payments can be spread over three instalments using Klarna Buy Now Pay Later, shipping is free, and they have over 800 4.9 star Trustpilot customer service reviews.
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Find out more William Wood Watches are offering a 10% discount on watches with code CHECKLIST10 at williamwoodwatches.com – whilst you are there, check out their Fire Station Vision.
boxes, each handmade by artisans and engineers, who utilise special patented technology and premium fi nishes to make them just as desirable as the priceless possessions they protect. All WOLF jewellery boxes and travel cases are lined with WOLF’s patented LusterLoc™ suede interior to protect your precious jewels
from tarnishing for up to 35 years. For the horology fan on your list, choose from WOLF’s watch winder collections. Set apart by WOLF’s patented winders – which count the precise number of rotations per day, an industry fi rst – WOLF watch winders are available in many colours and options to suit your special someone.
Find out more Visit wolf1834.com to find the perfect gift.
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SECTION 11 SECTION
8 LUXURY GIFTS ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE
Luxury Gifts Searching for the perfect present? Spoil your loved ones this holiday season with our selection of luxury gifts to show you care, from custom built guitars and award-winning caviar, to unique wine glasses and elegant occasion wear *Competitions: Checklist’s prize draws are open to anyone aged 18 or over and have opt in marketing. This is a free draw and the winner will be drawn randomly by computer. The competition ends on the date stated on the ‘Win’ section Checklist website. There is strictly one entry per person and duplicate entries will be cancelled. All competitions end 1 January, 2022.
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Win the ultimate luxury Christmas hamper, worth £175!* Enter online at checklists.co.uk/win/sloane loane Home have been awarded best in luxury hampers, gifts and exquisite treats. They offer Lone Stag Spirits, as well as body, bath and home fragrance products.
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Find out more Visit sloanehome.co.uk for a feast of decadent delights, festive recipes and cocktail ideas for your Christmas table.
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Natural fibres show the way A game-changing gift t Misty Cashmere they use cashmere, merino and yak yarn for all their jumpers, which are knitted in a thicker 7-gauge. The yarn used in their yak zip neck jumpers comes from Tibet. It is beautifully soft and its insulating properties have been relied upon for centuries. And you can enjoy a dash of colour from Misty Cashmere’s cosy roll
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nhance and enjoy your daily routine with the revolutionary Beautifect Box and never be tied down to one place again. It incorporates expertly engineered advanced lighting that simulates daylight and evening light, allowing you to see true-to-life colours and shades. Effortlessly create a flawless fi nish, avoiding makeup mishaps,
neck jumper in cashmere and merino. Whichever you choose, all Misty Cashmere’s knitwear will last for years and keep you warm, wherever you are.
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Find out more Visit mistycashmere.co.uk to see the range.
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Gordon Smith Guitars have been building British guitars since 1974 orn to punk parents, used and abused by British rock, thrashed by grunge, soothing the blues and the cornerstone of indie – discover Gordon Smith Guitars, one of the UK’s longest-running electric guitar manufacturers. From the Buzzcocks, The Stone Roses, and The Manic Street Preachers to Creeper and Eliza Shaddad, Gordon Smith guitars have been a powerhouse of the British music scene since 1974. From their workshop in Higham Ferrers, Northants, Gordon Smith offer a bespoke, custom-build service for every type of electric guitar, giving customers the opportunity to choose from a hand selected stock of bespoke
tone-woods, unique and more traditional body styles, colours and fi nishes and the electronic set up. To add a personal touch, a bespoke inlay service allows names, significant dates, or meaningful symbols to be added into a guitar’s design. The skilled team of UK luthiers are on hand to guide customers through every stage of the guitar specification process, and everything is hand-built in their Northamptonshire workshop. In addition to the option of ordering online, customers are welcome to visit the workshop, to meet the team and benefit from a guitar build consultation to ensure that all aspects of the instrument’s design and
Find out more Visit beautifect.com and add a complimentary blender using code XMASBLEND. Find them in Harrods and follow @Beautifect
The Mason Cash autumnal collection features a range of kitchen ceramics originally carved by master craftsmen stablished in 1800, Mason Cash has a rich heritage in producing beautiful and quality kitchen ceramics. Their iconic mixing bowls are found at the heart of the Great British home and are a timeless classic for generations of bakers. Inspired by folk tales of the mid-19th century, the Mason Cash In The Forest
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range features woodland embossments originally carved by master craftsmen. This autumnal collection is the perfect accompaniment for those cosy winter nights in and Christmas bakes with the family.
Find out more Visit masoncash.co.uk to discover more of their collections.
Award winning smoked salmon and caviar manufacture are considered. Gift vouchers are also available from the website.
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In The Forest collection
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If you have questions or want more information about Gordon Smith Guitars, just give them a call on 01933 391234. Book a virtual or in-person visit to the GS workshop at gordonsmithguitars.com
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all whilst keeping your makeup superbly organised. Get ready anywhere, home or away, in less time with less effort and achieve a better result. You’ll wonder how you ever lived without it.
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Handcrafted guitars custom built in the UK B
Discover the ideal beauty gift this Christmas
The perfect gifts for the foodies in your life
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ambton & Jackson is the boutique smokehouse famous for its divine range of artisan smoked salmon. A winner of multiple awards, Lambton & Jackson’s lavish goodies include sumptuous Baerii caviar from Exmoor Caviar. Rated as Excellent
on Trustpilot, Lambton & Jackson is the ideal online destination to fi nd Christmas presents for the real foodies in your life. Baerii Caviar comes with Lambton & Jackson’s Maldon Cure or Maldon Deep smoked salmon. So spoil yourself or someone you love with a gift of pure deliciousness this yuletide.
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Find out more Visit the website lambtonandjackson.com or phone 01621 853710.
*Competitions: Checklist’s prize draws are open to anyone aged 18 or over and have opt in marketing. This is a free draw and the winner will be drawn randomly by computer. The competition ends on the date stated on the ‘Win’ section Checklist website. There is strictly one entry per person and duplicate entries will be cancelled. All competitions end 1 January, 2022.
• Discover Misty Cashmere’s range of knitwear this winter
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SECTION LUXURY GIFTS 11 9 SECTION 1 SECTION
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Discover the Owen Drew Christmas collection
Unique presents aren’t just for Christmas
From the kitchen table to Dragon’s Den, the multi-awardwinning fragrance house, Owen Drew, have the perfect festive fragrance collection
Inkerman’s unique wine glasses make the perfect gift
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HOME FOR CHRISTMAS Home for Christmas begins its olfactory journey with uplifting top notes of zesty lemons and juicy oranges before notes of fragrant jasmine and citrus pine oil gently unfold. Warming cinnamon, cloves and ginger,
complimented by notes of rich woods and musk, give this enchanting fragrance a deeply nostalgic feel. EIGHTEEN FORTY-THREE The perfumers at Owen Drew take inspiration from Charles Dickens’ classic tale,
A Christmas Carol (published in 1843) for their Eighteen Forty-Three fragrance. Notes of roasted chestnuts and coal fi res blend with dark rum and exotic spices from Britain’s Empire to create a bold and daring scent evocative of a Victorian Christmas.
Find out more Avaliable for £35 at owendrew.com
The British pen
Visit inkerman.co.uk to shop the range. Contact angela@inkerman.co.uk or call 01892 752211 to discuss any enquiries. Use code DECEMBER17 for free UK mainland delivery on orders over £100 or sign up to their mailing list for a 10% discount on first orders.
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Treat yourself for Christmas oyce Young OBE established her company, By Storm, in 1993 and is well-known for elegant, made-tomeasure special occasion wear and couture wedding dresses, which are designed and made in her production unit in Glasgow. Her latest Casual Chic and Signature ‘madeto-order collections’, exclusively made in-house, include accessories of faux fur collars and cuffs and fi ne art silk scarves, which coordinate with
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Conway Stewart have been making ‘real’ pens in Britain since 1905
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Find out more
Joyce Young designs elegant occasion wear, perfect for the holiday season
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sing a fountain pen to write Christmas cards is one of the delights of seasonal festivities. Keeping in touch with friends and family, hand-writing special notes, all seem to flow better using a ‘real’ pen. Conway Stewart have been making luxury pens in Great Britain since 1905 – famously, Winston Churchill used them. With
nkerman’s handblown limitededition Windsor wine glasses are made in England and make a completely unique present. Perfect for red or white wine these glasses are available in pink, green or blue, as pairs or a set. They are ideal to give with Inkerman’s stunning Eridge Champagne Cooler. All items come beautifully wrapped and ribboned in an Inkerman red box with a handwritten gift card. Shop with Inkerman all year round for Christmas, weddings, anniversaries and birthday presents.
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his festive season, Owen Drew have created a range of candles to bring the Christmas spirit to any household. CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT Immerse your home in the unmistakably festive fragrance of ‘Carols by Candlelight’, which brims with notes of oriental frankincense, precious myrrh and rich dark amber and evoke those special memories of midnight mass from years gone by.
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over 100 different pens on the company’s website, there is something for everyone. See the Churchill Heritage range; the Seamus Heaney Pen, the Shakespeare – and there’s the Doctor’s Pen, the Accountant’s Pen and the Lawyer’s Pen.
Find out more Visit conwaystewart.com or call 0333 006 4646.
the dresses and make ideal presents. Made in sizes 8 to 24 in a choice of 15 colours, these easy-fit dresses are perfect for Christmas Day or any time you want to look relaxed, comfortable and elegant.
Find out more Visit joyceyoungcollections.co.uk and use code JY11 for free shipping, or call London 020 7224 7888 or Glasgow 0141 942 8900.
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Win a luxurious ANTA Fern wool scarf, worth £125!* Enter online at checklists.co.uk/win/anta ade in Scotland, from a luxurious blend of silk and wool, ANTA wool silk scarves make a beautiful Christmas gift for yourself or your loved ones this holiday season. Introduce natural materials
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to your wardrobe to keep warm and cosy. ANTA scarves are available in a variety of colours to match every outfit. The silk creates an intensity of colour as well as providing a strong, lighter-weight fabric while the wool retains warmth.
ANTA scarves suit everyone, and as with all ANTA pieces, you’ll notice their timeless style and enduring quality. Save 15% across all ANTA scarves until 20 December using CHECKLIST21, including merino, wool silk and wool cotton scarves.
Find out more Visit anta.co.uk to find out more.
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10 GIFTS
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GIFTS 11 1 SECTION
Live a little: what to buy the loved ones who have everything Despite the pre-Christmas rush to spend, spend, spend on material gifts, it’s the memories of shared experiences that make a lifelong impression ast your memory•back to Christmas, 1984. You’ll remember •where you lived, the corner of your home the tree twinkled in, the faces of your loved ones in their youth, but do you • remember the gifts you unwrapped that year? What about your presents at the turn of the millenium? Your stockings five Christmases ago, two Christmases ago? Last Christmas? If you’re struggling to remember the jewellery, the socks, or gadgets from
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decades of festive gifting, you’re not alone. Though affluent families can afford the best toys, jewels, furniture and clothing for the people they care about, our greatest gift – and most precious commodity – is our time. If you’re shopping for a loved one that wants for nothing in life and ‘has it all’, an experience gift is a good way forward. In the postpandemic world people are crying out to be entertained, desperate to relish the freedoms they once took
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If you’re shopping for a loved one that wants for nothing in life and ‘has • it all’, an experience gift is a good way forward
for granted. For the food lovers in your life, a cookery experience with a top chef is a brilliant way to boost skills and expertise while spending quality time together. You may also benefit later down the line from the new recipes in their repertoire. For the grandkids, why not an off-kilter adventure like alpaca trekking? These fuzzy, adorable animals don’t spit or bite like their llama cousins, and trekking them
In the Spotlight Bespoke British Pens •
As Winston Churchill said: “I have always earned my living by my pen”, and his pen during WWII was a Conway Stewart. Today, all Conway Stewart pens are still made in Great Britain, and there are nearly 100 different designs to choose from. Visit conwaystewart.com to find out more.
through the British countryside makes for hilariously fun family memories. The expressive, shaggy faces of the alpacas make them great additions to the family photo album, too. Build the experience into an Airbnb trip and make a full weekend of it for extra memorymaking. There are alpaca trekking sites dotted in all UK nations.
If your husband or sons have always fancied themselves as outdoorsy, Bear Grylls types, you can test their survivalist skills with a bushcraft course. Finding and building shelter, cooking over open fi res, and general wilderness survival are included in these courses, which will equip your loved one with the skills to keep you alive in the wilds should you ever run into trouble. If you’d rather have your food hunted and gathered for you, and your shelter built, you can stay at a nearby spa and be pampered while they face the elements. It’s a trip they won’t forget for Christmases to come.
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You don’t need many, only Preservers of time a few Rapport London use many of the same traditions and techniques as they have since launching over 120 years ago
A high-quality cashmere garment deserves your embrace, year by year, and the exceptional feeling makes you enjoy every season leanoren are a London-born brand that specialise in cashmere garment design and production using the fi nest Mongolian raw fibres. Over the decades, they have established a respectful bond with their farmers who, in turn, honour the goats and the land by limiting production. Grade A raw cashmere is the softest to touch, but the hardest to come by, and so they care for these precious fibres at every stage of their process. Cashmere is a gift for your senses and an offering to yourselves, with pieces
t Rapport London, they understand the importance of the holiday season as a time of togetherness and festivity. As such, they want to help inspire as impactful a celebration as possible. Not only will these selected items make Christmas a success this year, but they will continue to bring watch connoisseurs ample joy for many more to come. They have designed every watch winder model, such as the Perpetua above, to preserve and protect, with adjustable cushioned interiors and suede lining, cradling your most prized possessions. Whilst their robust functionality is clear to see, they have applied expert detail to their fi nishes. Their Vantage Three Watch
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you can cherish for years to come. It is the Eleanoren team’s wish that these garments continue to give their customers sweet moments of luxury and an experience of beauty, every time they are worn.
Find out more Discover more at eleanoren.com
Roll is one such product that makes the perfect Christmas gift for your loved ones this year. Expertly crafted in a unique hexagonal shape, the Vantage Watch Roll is an excellent addition for any seasoned watch collector or someone just starting their timepiece collection. The unique shape of the watch roll is complemented by the beautiful range of colours – available in Ebony, Serpentine or Earth smooth genuine leather. Pair your Vantage Three Watch Roll with the matching Vantage
Eight Watch Box – the perfect gift to ensure your collection remains as pristine as possible. Preservers of time – luxury gifts for him and her.
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Find out more Visit rapportlondon.com to shop the full range.
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12 LIFESTYLE
SECTION 1
Deck the halls: tips for a perfect Christmas tree Tired of the same tinsel and tree decorations? Retain classical festive style while celebrating your family’s own heirlooms and individuality this Christmas perfectly dressed Christmas tree is the towering centrepiece of all festive decorations, so it’s important the tree reflects the personality and space of your family home. Setting up your own tree can be a festive minefield of decision making. Douglas fi r or Scotch pine? A striking, classic tree dressing blended with some personal, uniqueto-you touches is the perfect way to have a beautiful tree that celebrates your family quirks and history. Your fi rst crucial decision is the tree itself. Renting a living tree is the latest trend, not only because it’s a sustainable, low-waste option, but because you can establish new family traditions by replanting and reusing the same tree year on year. Companies like Cotswald Fir allow families to see their trees grow over time, and the trees themselves are allowed to flourish between January and November, providing
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homes for wildlife and oxygen for the air we breathe. This wonderful familiarity creates new affection and attachment towards the family tree, and prevents you dragging a dead pine out to the bins in early January. To personalise the tree, collect hand-painted or glass-blown baubles from your foreign travels throughout the year, so that at Christmas you can reflect on past holidays. If you’re artistic and
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Capturing great lighting is imperative in setting the right tone for your Christmas festivities
In the Spotlight Making A Difference Cards Discover unique personalised charity cards and 3D digital e-cards with Making A Difference. Their cards can double as a gift and charitable donation all in one. Imagine your recipients joy when they open up their post or inbox to find a personalised card supporting their favourite charity. Visit makingadifference.cards to find out more.
skilled at crafts, you can also buy plain glass or plastic baubles and hand-paint them with acrylics – a fun, festive activity for the grandkids, too, if you can handle the mess. Capturing great lighting is imperative in setting the right tone for your Christmas festivities. Frenetic, flashing multi-coloured lights do not create a soothing ambience for family meals, games or relaxation. A soft, calming, nurturing glow in copper or warm white will eliminate the coloured glare and give your
home a ‘peace on earth’ vibe over ‘disco dancefloor.’ Experiment with different shapes of bulb that add an extra decorative element to your tree, such as John Lewis’ fi recracker, or traditional candleshaped lights. Tinsel alternatives are becoming more fashionable, as the push toward sustainable living intensifies. If you’d like to switch up your usual glittery garlands for something a bit more eco-friendly, paper craft tinsels offer a recyclable alternative and don’t shed shiny shreds of plastic all over the house.
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LIFESTYLE 13 ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE
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Men’s ultimate underwear Handmade by British craftsmen to last a lifetime Whatever you’re into, Comfyballs have you covered with their unique, comfort-focused boxers omfort is king and Comfyballs have this covered, having worked long and hard to fi nd the perfect cut and fabric for the highest level of comfort a man can get. All boxers feature a unique PackageFront design, which cups your equipment and takes it away from your inner thigh, reducing heat transfer and restricting movement without the squeeze, while also being breathable and wicking, making them a fastdrying, anti-chafi ng boxer. So, whether you’re into extreme sports or prefer to spend your leisure time simply chilling on the couch, Comfyballs have you covered.
Each piece in the Woodee collection is a collaboration in craftsmanship – supporting rural heritage crafts and sustainable materials
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ade in rural Herefordshire by eight different traditional and heritage craftspeople, the Woodee range is a unique and contemporary collection of products which revolve around fi re. Handmade using local sustainable materials, British steel, hand forged metal work and stainless steel, every piece is built to stand the test of time and the great British weather. Their traditional bellows, fi re irons and log baskets, made by a basket maker, blacksmith and leatherworker are stylish accessories for open fi res and log burners and make
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Comfyballs boxers are available in three luxurious, super-soft, high-end fabrics, all Oeko-Tex 100 certified: Performance (suitable for all kinds of sports and training); Wood TencelTM modal (for the softest and most casual experiences); and combed single jersey Cotton (to keep you going every day). So why not choose Comfyballs to breathe new life into your top drawer? Plus, you’ll feel particularly comfortable knowing that all Comfyballs products are ethically produced and climate neutral.
Find out more Try the Comfyballs double comfort twin pack, a great introduction to total comfort – was £52, now £31. Enjoy a 25% discount with code COMFY25* at comfyballs.co.uk. For more information, you can email info@comfyballs.co.uk
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a really thoughtful gift. For those who appreciate spending precious time outdoors with family and friends, a beautiful Woodee
Fire Pit means you can gather together warmly around the fi re, cook delicious food and make memories to treasure.
Find out more Visit thewoodee.com to find out more. Call 01981 550524 or 07553 361864 to speak to a member of the team. Order now for free UK delivery for Christmas.
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14 CULTURE & TRAVEL
SECTION 1
Christmas Markets, from Potsdamer Platz to Princes Street Gardens Whether a festive Berlin city break is calling your name, or you’d rather sip glühwein and guzzle bratwurst closer to home, we’ve got the best German markets for you to visit this Christmas
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listening bratwurst, sugar-dusted stollen, delicate crêpes doused in thick chocolate sauce and the heady spices of mulled wine: the striking flavours and scents of festive German markets have become familiar staples of British Christmastime. Arriving on UK shores in the winter months, the
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traditional markets bring with them stall upon stall of rich, delicious food and unique Christmas gifts, often handmade by the seller. Artisan clocks, nutcrackers, furry slippers and traditional gingerbread houses adorn the rustic wooden cabins of the market, enticing roaming shoppers into the festive glow of their fairy lights. If you’re looking for an excuse for a city break, why not explore the fi nest German markets at their home in Berlin? There are no greater German Christmas displays than these, from the Nordic Fairy Tale Market at the 18th century Britz Palace to Spandau’s glittering renaissance fair. Potsdamer Platz’s ice rink and The Berlin Winterzauber are all incredible sights to visit. The city is steeped in history and fascinating stories beyond the markets too, if you fancy exploring elsewhere. For those too nervous yet to travel to the markets’ homeland, some of Britain’s most beautiful cities host the markets year on year, and provide an authentic European experience. Birmingham hosts the
largest authentic German market in the UK, and in Europe itself outside of Germany and Austria. It entertained a whopping 5.5 million festive revellers in 2019, and this year the masses will return – just with a little more social distance and a few more Covid precautions. Festive, sparkling stalls line Victoria Square and wind down New Street, offering a veritable Smörgåsbord (or in German, bunte mischung) of Christmas delights and delicacies. This is a truly enormous Christmas market, one where you can get the full Frankfurt experience in the heart of England. Alternatively, Edinburgh, with its striking volcanic skyline, towering monuments and outdoor ice rink in the heart of Prince’s Gardens is a fantastic day or evening trip for the family. Explore the market, ride the sparkling Big Wheel if you’re brave enough, and glug glühwein overlooking some of Britain’s most impressive architecture as it sparkles with festooned festive lights. The Scottish weather is a little more temperamental than
In the Spotlight Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre Here at the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre they give you the opportunity to take a taxy ride on board Avro Lancaster NX611 ‘Just Jane’ and De Havilland Mosquito HJ711, two of the most famous aircraft of WW2. Take the ultimate aviation experience. Find out more at lincsaviation.co.uk
other hosting cities, but a warm mug of wine or a dram of the local whisky will quickly cure that icy cold nip in the air. Wrap up warm before you go, or treat yourself to some woollens and furry hats from a nearby stall.
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CULTURE & TRAVEL 15
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