Are Fortnum and Mason hampers worth it?

[KateLumley]

Just that, thinking about ordering one for friends.

[SquirmOfEels]

I think so. They're not that different in price to hampers from other stores and definitely have a 'wow' factor, especially if you can afford to go for one in wicker

[CranberryandVodka]

First Christmas gift from now dh was a F&M hamper. Definitely influenced my decision to marry him!!

[Theyweretheworstoftimes]

Absolutely. Pricey but so worth it.

[RomainingCalm]

You could probably argue that no hamper is really worth it compared to buying similar food/drink from Tesco!

However F&M certainly have the 'wow' factor, the wicker baskets are lovely and their service is excellent. Agree with SquirmOfEels that they are probably not much more expensive than others.

[Mrsfussypants1]

Yes, I'd love one for the basket alone. I spent ages looking at them this year and choosing one to order, I didn't in the end, I went with the Fenwicks Northern delights hamper after seeing it in store, its for MIL & FIl and it contained quite a few of their favourite bits and we've found a few other bits like candles, cheese and pie by local sellers to add to it (if it'll fit as its quite packed). I'd like to get my mum an F&M one next year, just not one of the ones that contains loose leaf tea or red wine, she's not a fan.

[IAmHereForTheFood]

I ordered the fortmason one and the recipient was very pleased.

www.fortnumandmason.com/the-fortmason-hamper?gclid=Cj0KCQiAqbyNBhC2ARIsALDwAsBsEdGGXjoyussX4UbTHq_wS5sRFCLUV2UDtUez4PGXtysqW8AjxscaAkJMEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

It’s gone up since the summer when I bought it though!

[sofato5miles]

I buy them every year for UK relatives. Love them and they are always appreciated

[TheDogsMother]

I'd love it for the wicker basket alone.

I bought one for (now ex) PILs. They asked why we were sending them food parcels. Did we think they couldn't afford food

[KateLumley]

Ok, you've all convinced me

Now I need to decide which one.

[Bert2e]

I'm going to completely buck the trend and say no they aren't worth it at all. We get one every year from DHs work and I like the look of some of the M&S ones better. Or even better look for a local supplier - a local farm shop does brilliant ones.

[HaveringWavering]

I wouldn’t thank someone for sending me a massive wicker basket. I wouldn’t have anywhere to put it. I also find that with hampers there is inevitably about 20% stuff that you would not pick to eat anyway and it ends up going mouldy and being thrown out after you’ve tried a few spoonfuls. I tend to think that much of what you are paying for this the brand, which is fine if the recipient likes that sort of thing, but for some people they just think you over-paid for a bit of posh jam.

I was brought up by a mother who firmly believed that own brand groceries were the smart option and anyone who bought brands was a fool being taken for a ride. So I’m slightly biased!

[HerbErtlinger]

We got one for my mum's stepmum for her birthday and she loved it so much she has requested one as her Christmas present this year

[livingthegoodlife]

I dream of receiving a f&m hamper. The wicker is so lovely. And the foods. I think it would be really fun to try weird / different stuff (I always think hampers have a couple of odd things in "Christmas tea" etc).

Definitely has the wow factor.

[KateLumley]

I can't choose, the M&S seems more generous, but hasn't got the wow factor.

F&M

M&S

[Theyweretheworstoftimes]

The baskets are great for storage .........

Christmas decorations and other things.

Once you go Fortnums you can't go back.

If you really don't want the basket you can flog them on EBay.

[FrownedUpon]

Go for F&M. As a gift they’re much more special. A hamper is supposed to be a treat, not full of things you’d buy every week in M&S or the supermarket.

[Mrsfussypants1]

I'd look at the individual items, would the recipients use loose leaf tea, or the coffee. I like the look of F&M but it when it was down to the individual items I knew they'd only like a couple of bits in it, that's why I went with another, I knew they'd like 99% of the items in it and it was easy to add a couple of other bits to it. I'd love to get my mum one next year, in reality I probably wouldn't as I'd pick fault with the content. I'd go M&S, but you know the recipients best.

[KateLumley]

I can't decide

Thinking I might up the budget, £130 would get a medium basket.

I thought that too about loose leaf tea.

The gift is for very lovely friends, I just want it to be wonderful.

[Heronatemygoldfish]

I was sent an F&M hamper earlier this year and it was unexpected and utterly wonderful. I think the sender managed to thoughtfully pick lots of things I like, and some stuff had long enough use-by dates that I have still got some lovely biscuits for Christmas! I second the chocolossus biscuits - or cherrilossus in my case...

We put the wicker hamper itself under the coffee table and now use it to keep all the stuff that used to be dumped on top - so for storage as said previously.

[CeeceeBloomingdale]

I love them. During the non-Christmas period you can create your own hamper and just buy the bits you want and the wicker which they pack up beautifully for you. This makes it cheaper, more personal and a great birthday gift (to myself )

[NiceViper]

Just to make it even harder to choose, have a browse of these:

www.hampers.co.uk

[KateLumley]

I am now choosing between this or this

[KateLumley]

@NiceViper they look lovely

[Caspianberg]

Annoyingly you can make you own hamper this year, they stopped during covid and won’t resume until January. They were far better as really could personalise ie I used to get for grandmother, but she’s gluten free so the pre done ones limit

Definitely worth it though. Nice luxury and the hampers get used as storage

Might order myself a later Xmas treat in January