The Trencherman’s Christmas gift guide
Got a loved one who relishes living the high life? Gift them one of these uber-luxe pressies from some of the South West’s most exceptional restaurants, hotels and producers
The Discovery Voucher, Thirteen, Poole, Dorset
Delight friends or family with the gift of a voucher to discover a hidden culinary treasure in Parkstone, Poole. The experience promises a flavour sensation, a warm welcome and top-notch service for those who appreciate exquisite dining.
From £50
Gaia Total Holistic Ritual at Boringdon Hall Hotel, near Plymouth, Devon
This deeply therapeutic ritual releases tension and stress, bringing the mind and body into harmonious balance using advanced Balinese and Lomi Lomi techniques originating from Hawaii. The body is exfoliated followed by an application of nourishing mud. Once showered, a warm Gaia blend of choice is poured onto the body for a muscle-easing massage. A rejuvenating face treatment completes the ritual, leaving a natural feeling of wellbeing, whilst skin is left smooth and replenished. The ultimate gift for someone seriously deserving of self-care.
£225, 120 minutes
An extremely special bottle of gin, Trevethan Distillery, Cornwall
Even the very best gins usually only offer drinkers two or three flavour notes. Aureus Vita delivers an extraordinary flavour journey that dances ten distinct notes across the tastebuds in a finish where each botanical shines. And, as with the Fibonacci sequence (on which the creation of the gin is based), the longer the flavour goes on, the more balanced and elegant it becomes. This is a very different gin experience.
£175 (700ml)
Afternoon tea at the Emberwood, Bath
Afternoon tea has always been about the luxury of time, stolen hours when the world can wait. It marked the transition from formality to pleasure: cards on the table, good conversation, better company, and tea poured with intent. So treat someone special to the Francis Hotel’s take on the English tradition at its smart Emberwood restaurant. Pick from a traditional afternoon tea or add a glass of English sparkling wine.
Traditional afternoon tea – £40 per person
Sparkling afternoon tea – £50 per person
Dinner for two at the Water’s Edge restaurant, Falmouth, Cornwall
Enjoy a decadent evening with a three course dinner for two. Dive fork-first into award-winning food, and feast your eyes on uninterrupted estuary views at the Water’s Edge, where honest food and top-quality ingredients are the order of the day – served with charm and a slice of friendly Cornish hospitality.
£90
Lunch experience at Catch at the Old Fish Market, Weymouth, Dorset
Gift a piscatorially-inclined pal a lunch experience at this elegant, harbourside restaurant, where ingredient-led dishes celebrate the freshest sustainable seafood and are matched with local and seasonal produce and a carefully selected drinks list – including outstanding regional craft ales, ciders and wines.
Even better, post-lunch they can peruse traditional fishmonger Weyfish, located just downstairs from the restaurant.
£45 per person
Wine tasting at The Scarlet, Mawgan Porth, Cornwall
For the oenophile in your life, The Scarlet’s wine tasting sessions are perfect. Enjoy a selection of locally sourced, organic and bio-dynamic wines, each carefully selected by Nick Bryant, Scarlet’s Head Sommelier, for their subtle notes and interesting back story.
£30 per person
Food workshops at Iford Manor, near Bath
In the surrounds of the spectacular Iford Manor Estate, these small workshops with award-winning chef Matthew Briddon will show attendees how to reduce food waste at home and make their own delicious food – from sourdough and sauces to ferments and fresh pasta.
From £112.50
Exceptional wines from The Beckford Bottle Shop, Bath
The Beckford Bottle Shop’s online wine store reflects just some of the bottles that the team are excited about. This is no faceless online merchant but the reflection of a team that champions wines and producers that they are proud to work with – be they classics, new finds or seasonal favourites. Let the knowledgeable and friendly experts help you curate a selection that will delight a wine-savvy friend.
Taste of the Estuary tasting menu with matching wine flight at Lympstone Manor, Exmouth, Devon
Delight in the taste of the Estuary menu at Michael Caines’ luxurious manor house. This seafood tasting menu showcases the best of the South West coastline with seven local and seasonal dishes superbly matched by a handpicked wine flight. With views over the estuary and the Bay, the seafood is caught fresh daily from the very same waters.
From £390
Escape Together Experience at St Michaels Resort, Falmouth, Cornwall
Invite a special someone to share the very best of the St Michaels Spa Experience. Indulgences include a glass of Prosecco, two-course lunch, two-hour hydrothermal experience, a couples massage and a Cornish mud experience.
£362
Food gifts from Brassica Mercantile, Beaminster, Dorset
Browse premium food gifts online or at Brassica Mercantile’s bricks-and-mortar lifestyle store in Beaminster. The family-run business in West Dorset deals in deliciously gorgeous homewares and foodie gifts.
Sweet-toothed friends will love the likes of the blood orange drinking chocololate, Fratelli Sicilia filled panettone and Verena’s Kitchen chocolate brownie nut butter. The aperitivi gift basket and dark chocolate lover’s gift basket make for lovely hamper-style pressies, while cheffy types will swoon over the limited-edition extra virgin olive oils, Daphnis & Chloe dried Greek seasonings and White Mausu smoky chilli oil.
A golf break at The Headland Hotel, Newquay, Cornwall
Tee by the sea by gifting a one- or two-round stay with The Headland as a base, and give your loved one the chance to sample some of Cornwall’s finest golf courses right on the doorstep. There’s the option to include additional luxuries, such as credits for spa and dining, to elevate to a spa, stay and play break.
