How to Celebrate Christmas Late – With Luxury Hampers at Knockdown Prices

There’s something rather wonderful about celebrating Christmas after everyone else has packed the decorations away. 

The pressure has gone, the supermarkets are quieter, and the best part? The food and drink bargains can be exceptional.

If you’re willing to wait until late January or even February, you can recreate all the magic of Christmas, but at a fraction of the cost, by seeking out reduced hampers and festive food collections from department stores and specialist hamper companies.

Why Celebrate Christmas Late?

A delayed celebration works brilliantly if:

Illness disrupted December plans

You work in retail or hospitality and missed out

Family schedules didn’t align

You simply enjoy stretching the festive season

Without the December rush, you can focus on good food, good drink, and good company.

The Joy of Reduced Christmas Hampers

Luxury hampers are often heavily discounted once 25 December has passed. Retailers need to clear seasonal stock quickly, and that’s where the savvy late celebrator wins.

Department stores such as John Lewis and Marks & Spencer frequently reduce their festive collections, including:

Champagne and prosecco gift sets

Stilton, cheddar and artisan crackers

Special festive ale collections

Chocolate assortments and biscuit tins

Chutneys, preserves and pâtés

Premium shortbread and panettone

Christmas cakes and mince pies

Meanwhile, hamper specialists like Virginia Hayward and Fortnum & Mason often offer post-Christmas reductions on selected lines.

The contents are usually long-life pantry staples, so they’re perfect for a celebration weeks later.

How to Plan a Late Christmas Feast

The beauty of bargain hamper shopping is that much of your menu is chosen for you. Build your evening around what you’ve picked up.

1. Start with a Festive Grazing Board

Use:

Reduced cheeses

Charcuterie

Crackers and chutneys

Nuts and festive nibbles

Add a discounted bottle of fizz, red wine and some festive winter ales and you’re instantly back in December, but without the December bill.

2. Create a Simple Centrepiece

You don’t need a full roast turkey. Consider:

A glazed gammon joint (often reduced in early January)

A slow-cooked beef brisket

A quality ready-prepared pie from the chilled section

Pair with roast potatoes, buttered greens and gravy, and you have a feast worthy of Christmas Day.

3. Lean into the Dessert Trolley

This is where late Christmas truly shines.

Leftover or discounted:

Christmas pudding

Brandy butter

Mince pies

Luxury chocolate boxes

Warm the pudding, drizzle custard, and it feels every bit as festive, just without the stress.

Make It Feel Special Again

Celebrating late isn’t about “making do”. It’s about reclaiming the atmosphere.

Put the tree back up (or at least some fairy lights)

Use the good crockery

Light candles

Play your favourite Christmas playlist

When the pressure is gone, the enjoyment often increases.

The Financial Upside

A premium hamper that cost £150 in December might drop to £90 – or even less – in January or February clearance sales.

That saving can mean:

Upgrading your wine (We found the best Merlot be have have tried) 

Adding extra treats

Hosting friends for a second festive gathering

Or simply enjoying luxury for less

In a time when household budgets are under strain, celebrating Christmas late can feel like a quiet act of financial common sense.

A New Tradition Worth Keeping

There’s no rule that says Christmas must only happen on one specific date. A late festive weekend, fuelled by discounted hampers, department store reductions and good cheer, can become a cherished annual ritual.

Sometimes the best celebrations happen when the world has moved on, the shops are calm, and the luxury food aisle has a red clearance sticker waiting for you.