Best Christmas hamper you've ever received??

[bootswiththefur]

I don't have the time or creative skills to make my own, but my neighbours are absolute legends, so I'd love to get them something special. Flexible on budget!

I've have never received a hamper myself, but I have gifted a few in the past. The Cornish Company have been well received,, I've ordered from them a few times now. They have lovely cornish pasties and ale ones as well as cornish cream tea ones. All about £30 ish mark. I also ordered a Fenwicks hamper full of Northern produce for MIL/FIL which was a bit spendy but they loved all the local produce. Perhaps a small hamper with a few bits of local produce, doesn't have to cost much.

I am also hugely uncreative when it comes to making things, but last year I went to a lovely (and very up-market) local farm shop and bought things that I thought looked interesting and unusual (exotic flavoured crisps, chocolate almonds, things like that, things that people would never buy themselves), put them in a little wicker basket and gave to my DS and DIL for Christmas. They said it was perfect for those days after Christmas and before going back to work, to lie on the sofa and eat unusual nibbly things!

They all have stuff in them that we don't want.
My father got a fairly large hamper from work each year, and even with 4 or 5 households there, bits were still unwanted.

The only one I've ever appreciated was when I left work, and my reports bought all the stuff they had seen me snacking on over the years and put it all in one big box. It was truly personalized.

So, I'd avoid the fancy looking ones with unusual bits in, and keep it simple.

We were given a cheese one once, we all love fancy cheese, the stronger the better. I make my own preserves, don't drink much alcohol and usually have enough sweet stuff at Christmas. Do you have any idea of their likes and dislikes?

My parents once gave us vouchers for a very expensive online farmshop, we weren't sure what to spend them on because mostly it seemed to be gigantic hams and catering sized homemade pork pies etc and there's only 4 of us but we saved them for a few weeks then bought bacon, some chutneys we liked the sound of and a few other treats to cheer up the Feb gloominess and that was nice. I still get the catalogues in the post and like drooling over them.

It's nicer if you can build it yourself rather than getting a pre-made one, with all the weird stuff that entails.
I had a nice one from Lakeland once, can't remember what was in it and can't search it up now (too soon, I guess!).
Cornish company as pp mentioned is also lovely. I ordered myself a cream tea hamper for Mothers' Day one year as I just fancied it!

We go to a local posh deli where you can make your own hamper, selecting the stuff the recipient would actually like. They liked it so much they visited the shop when they visited to get more!

How about something from this company? I got one for my neighbour for looking after our cat, and being a listed contact for my husband's medical alert. Fruit Baskets | Fresh Fruit Hampers | Free UK Delivery

Betty's is the best! And the best value because it's Yorkshire.

I think it’s better to make a hamper for someone you know well but if you don’t know their particular tastes, I think it’s more than fine to buy something pre done.

I usually make my own for my DF but thinking about what I would love to see in a hamper apart from champagne/wine that I like I'm thinking a cheese hamper or a gardening one

I appreciate you said you don't have time but you could order a few bits online & then add to a box (I usually pick a box up from Aldi) with a card and a bow (if you want to make it look more finished could cover in cellophane)

Do they like gardening ? You could buy a selection of spring flowering bulbs like narcissus or tulips, an amaryllis for Christmas, some seeds - you could pick up from Tescos/M&as/Waitrose etc & add a seasonal magazine like Country Living

If they like seafood then try one from here. Oh my god! I got one last year and it was sublime! Absolutely delicious. There was a delivery issue with my brothers and we had such good customer service- they sent another hamper!
https://www.tobermoryfish.co.uk/

I once got the yummiest (excuse the word but it was!) Prosecco in a hamper. We all agreed it tasted streets ahead of anything we’d ever had. It also had Pringles, malteasers and some cheeses in there. Kind of randomly put together from a local supermarket but perfect!