Start a Christmas Tradition

As Christmas Day rapidly approaches how many of you are already dreading the Christmas food shop? We have spent days, weeks and (maybe for some organised) months of meticulously planning out each Christmas gift. We have spent the last 3 or 4 weeks celebrating with friends and work colleagues on our festive nights out which have been so welcome after the Covid years when they were non existent. We have had conversations, phone calls and many a what's app organising who will be where for Christmas, pick up dates and times, family gatherings and those Secret Santa draws!

Then the few days before Christmas you're so looking forward to some downtime but first you need to face the crowds in their masses, as we all flock to the big supermarket chains to buy more food than we could possibly consume.

How about this year you do it all differently?

How about this year you head to your local village or town, take Royal Hillsborough for example where Bluebell & Willow is located.

Start out with a coffee mid morning from one of the many lovely coffee shops, deli's and bakeries. Then take your time picking up what you need in the local co op and spar, lifting your turkey from the butchers or local farmer, picking up a bunch of flowers for the house or the host and pop into Bluebell & Willow for some back up gifts for any unexpected visitors or invites.

We stay open until 2pm on Christmas Eve so that we can help any last minute shoppers (normally men sorry!) and we appreciate every single last customer through the door until 2pm. Why make the Christmas food shop stressful and pump even more money into the ever growing supermarkets when you can shop local and help a small family behind a small business. This year I encourage you to change your Christmas Eve schedule, take the stress out of Christmas, enjoy the food shop and start a new Christmas tradition this year!