Regulatory Expert Warns Shoppers to be Wary of Christmas Toy Dangers

As part of this year’s festive shopping, a global product information consultancy is issuing strong warnings of the potential risks and dangers of some children’s toys and products that are often sold online and what buyers should be looking out for. 

Following several serious product recalls concerning toys and products which were sold on some major online retailers, regulatory experts at the product information people, Ashbury, share their tips for what consumers should look out for on the label when buying Christmas presents for children this year.   

One recall was made for a paint set, sold on AliExpress, because there were serious risks of toxicity, with the paints in the set containing the prohibited ingredient lead, plus  illegal levels of N-Nitrosamines and N-Nitrosatable substances which are considered hazardous due to their carcinogenic and mutagenic nature. 

Bharti Gorania-Wood, Regulatory Team Lead at Ashbury, explained: “Learning of recalls like the paint set and other similar instances is of great concern and it clearly highlights what can happen when regulatory services aren't implemented correctly, or at all, during product development, labelling, and compliance reviews.

“The UK’s legal framework for children’s toys was re-established after Brexit, by the Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011 which is currently identical to the EU Toy Safety Directive. It imposes obligations on manufacturers, importers, distributors and authorised representatives, and details what must be complied with before a product can even enter the UK.

“UK enforcement bodies can intercept this supply chain at any point to test a product for safety and that it meets all relevant legislation. In cases of non-compliance or where there’s reason to believe the product poses a risk to the health and safety of a user, action may be taken. Typically, notices are issued or the item may be recalled from the UK market. Offences can result in fines, or even imprisonment, in some cases.”

And it’s not just online shops that are susceptible to safety recalls, says Bharti. “There are hundreds of shocking and severely dangerous examples of insufficient products making it onto the marketplace both online and at major high street stores through a lack of testing, compliance, and regulatory checks.” 

Many reports of toxicity have been reported from items imported from China, including a “Barbie” style doll with levels of phthalates that exceeded the maximum level allowed in the UK, levels of which could cause possible damage to the reproductive system. 

The product also failed to meet requirements of the Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011 or REACH Regulations, and have since been intercepted at border controls, either being rejected or destroyed.  

“Parents and other adults buy items expecting them to have been tested and meet safety standards and, while most do, there are certain things we can look out for to ensure they are fit for purpose and have been through the relevant legislative checks.  

“The onus is on retailers and manufacturers to ensure these are carried out effectively, but as seen from product recalls in the UK market, they can, and do, fall short on occasion. And when it comes to product safety, there is absolutely no room to risk bypassing these vital compliance processes – doing so could have potentially fatal repercussions, as well as cause serious reputational and financial damage.”  

Bharti’s advice to consumers include:

    • Research | Consider the brand selling or suppliers stocking the product to ensure they are reputable and can demonstrate that the products are genuine (and that they have been through the proper checks) 

    • Be Wary | If it is much cheaper than it is found on other trusted supplier sites, it may be a duplicate of the genuine version you’re seeking. And, if it looks or sounds too good to be true, it probably is 

    • Read the Label | Always read the label warnings and check for a UK or EU address to ensure it’s been approved for sale in these markets. Also look out for accredited marks such as UKCA, UKNI, or CE certifications 

    • Check the Status | Consumers can also visit https://www.gov.uk/product-safety-alerts-reports-recalls to check if and why a product has been recalled. 

Launched in 2011, Ashbury is a UK leading consultancy service provider, helping businesses navigate the complex world of product information regulations for food and non-food products. Its expert regulatory team guides clients from a place of uncertainty to complete reassurance, helping them to understand, apply and comply with domestic and international regulations, and empowering them to help their customers make safe and informed choices. For more information, please call 0845 459 5019, email hello@ashbury.global, or visit www.ashbury.global. 

www.gov.uk/product-safety-alerts-reports-recalls/product-recall-primark-character-wooden-plates-2210-0007

Need something special for Christmas? Then You Need Ones Leisure Trainers. An exciting Midlands start up trainer business with a Soul

Ones Leisure Trainers launched last year, December 2021. Simon Caulton (Ones Founder) designed and created lightweight, super comfortable and eco-friendly trainers for anyone who needs to stay on their feet all day.

The brand creation was inspired by Simon’s own personal heart breaking journey when his daughter, Mia was diagnosed with infantile acute lymphoblastic leukaemia at just seven months old in July 2017 and given a 50:50 survival rate of reaching the age of five. The experience was life changing. 

Simon and his partner Anjna Mahey, left their day jobs to become round the clock carers for Mia, living at Birmingham Children's Hospital. They watched their daughter endure a gruelling treatment plan which included, lumber punches, bone marrow operations, blood transfusions, x-rays and chemotherapy drugs.

Mia was discharged after nine months, but she still had almost two years of continued chemo treatment at home. With Simon's work being predominately based within the Far East and Anjna’s work 15 minutes away from home, they made a family decision that Simon would become a stay at home dad and look after Mia, whilst Anjna would return to work.

“This was a very difficult time for me, stepping away from a career I'd worked so hard for, that I loved, I never imagined becoming a stay at home dad, I love my daughter so much and yes, this was the right logical step as a family, but I struggled with this adjustment. The loss of my independence, loss of control, the trauma, the isolation, I felt myself losing my purpose, my mental health spiralled downwards quickly, so I needed to find a focus.” says Simon.

Simon’s first step was to seek help for his own mental health, he got help identifying the PTSD he was suffering from. He has since become a passionate advocate of men’s mental health, sharing his one step journey with various organisations. Speaking candidly and open about his own personal struggles and the importance of seeking help.

Simon became an ambassador for the official charity of Wolverhampton Wanderers, Wolves Foundation, for over 2 years and their Head4Health cohort groups. He was even invited by the football team to talk about mental health, at a premiership football match highlighting the power of talking in 2019.

Designing the trainers was an incredible chapter in their lives. Simon channelled all his pain and experiences into the brand. Whilst Mia was in hospital, they were occupants at the Ronald McDonald House, Birmingham. This is a charity that offer rooms to parents/families caring for a critically ill child in hospital. The house was a life line for them, a veritable home away from home. 

Simon went on to say: "Every morning I'd get ready and sit at the edge of the bed, put my trainers on and stare at my feet, not knowing what the day would hold, I'd take a deep breath and then take that One Step towards the door to take on my day.

"I spent so much time on my feet all day in hospital, I noticed, my feet would become quite sweaty and swollen, my legs would often become tired and achy by the end of the day. I recall the need for something comfortable, lightweight and breathable on my feet as it would be a very long day in hospital.

"When I started to do my market research, I identified that many regular trainers could be quite heavy and the insole flat design would cause aching on the base of feet when worn for prolonged periods of time. So when I designed Ones, my brief became very clear to me, I wanted to create lightweight, breathable, super comfortable and eco-friendly trainers for anyone who needs to stay on their feet all day."

Simon drew on all his contacts from the Far East and built a partnership with professional shoe designer Katie Ridges who was able to help bring his vision to life. “In this launch collection we have three styles available in black and white colours. The styles offer customers either a slip on (with no laces), a smooth and soft or mesh style finish.” 

The three styles are named the Broughton, Cantlow and Cooksley, which are poignantly named and dedicated to the three rooms they occupied at the Ronald McDonald House Birmingham. Since they have spoken at a number of their charity fundraising events and Anjna has become a Board of Governors for Birmingham House.

From the very beginning, Simon was committed to Ones Trainers being eco-friendly and sustainable so partnered with Bloom Materials, who launched the world’s first algae-blended EVA to the footwear industry. 

Bloom Materials have worked with numerous well known, popular brands in order to help them design eco-conscious products that have a positive impact on the environment. “Sustainability is high on Ones agenda, so working with Bloom Materials is incredibly important," Simon explained. 

"We want to increase the percentage of Bloom rise in the EVA outsole, improving the litres of water cleaned and restored to the environment and the M³ air cleaned of carbon dioxide.” adds Simon. Ones has even committed towards three of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The Ones brand is about each individual’s #myonestepjourney. They have become a family ambassador for Blood Cancer UK, continuously raising awareness and being involved in fundraising events. They have committed 10% of all profits to Blood Cancer UK, for continued research in kinder, effective treatments and improving survival rates. The family raised an incredible £11,928 from their fundraising efforts in 2017/18. 

"This was awarded to a research project at the University of Edinburgh, where Professor Katrin Ottersbach and her team are looking at genetic changes which occur before birth which can lead to the development of the disease and are also trying to understand why some leukaemia’s escape treatment, causing some babies cancers to return.

"Improving our understanding of these changes and the driving factors will help lay the groundwork for better and kinder treatments in the future."

They were also involved in Blood Cancer UK 2021 Christmas Appeal which raised an incredible £90,000. This year they are hosted Walk of Light Event in March 2022. Mia took her first steps in hospital, so this walk was incredibly poignant.

Simon is incredibly humbled by the immense support offered by the Birmingham City University’s STEAMhouse Incubator, a unique centre dedicated to providing a space for collaboration, innovation and the development of new ideas, start-ups, and ventures. 

The pandemic, as with many businesses, set Ones development back, having lost their original manufacturer, Richard Scutt, the Incubator manager and Julian Beer, Deputy Vice Chancellor of Birmingham City University provided sound advice and support to get back on track.

Ones has gone onto winning ‘Rising Star of the Year 2022 Award’ at StartUp Awards National Series Simon said “Life has taught me the importance of taking One Step at a time. Whether you are on an uphill battle or striving towards something beautiful, we all have our own One Step Journey. Ones Trainers are designed for anyone that needs something comfortable, no nonsense and breathable so they can stay on their feet all day.”

Ones is well and truly a brand with a Soul. They are now investing in advertising and marketing so looking for brand ambassadors and influencers, if you are interested you can you can find more about Ones Trainers at www.ones.co.uk.

Looks to us at That's Christmas that these will be ideal Christmas gifts for people who need  new trainers!

MEATER Smart Kitchen Gadgets Get Sweet, Limited-Edition Makeovers

Cherry_MEATER Plus

Introducing the new limited-edition smart meat thermometer range from MEATER. Cooking 2.0 is now even sweeter, and MEATER has added a cherry on top.

Cherry MEATER Plus: The infamous no wires, no fuss meat thermometer with a smart-guided cook system, is now available in a cherry-coloured design.

For tasty, succulent and satisfying results, whenever meat or fish is on the menu, simply connect MEATER Plus to any smartphone or tablet and enjoy estimated cooking times, meat being monitored whilst it is cooking, and alerts and notifications being sent when meat is cooked to perfection and ready to eat. 

Whether roasting the turkey or goose on Christmas day, wowing guests with a heart-warming joint in chilly February, or for those BBQs in the sunny summer months, MEATER is a must-have smart kitchen tool.

RRP: £129.00

Brown Sugar MEATER Block: Four probes for four proteins. MEATER Block is an exciting, smart and easy way to cook multiple meats at the same time and exactly to how each person prefers. So, whether your guests enjoy their steak rare, medium or well done, or if one prefers chicken over pork, you will be able to wow them by giving them tasty, cooked to perfection meat and without any guess work. Now, this culinary gadget for professional home cooking comes in a slick, darker storing and charging Block style to compliment even more kitchen decor.

RRP: £319

Christmas season is now well and truly upon us. If you’re shopping for an at-home chef, foodie, BBQ fanatic or dinner party extraordinaire, then look no more. The MEATER thermometers are perfect gifts for anyone who takes pride in their culinary skills and wants to achieve perfectly cooked meat, each and every time. And these limited-edition styles from MEATER make the gift all the more sweet, but hurry, they are only available while stocks last.

Follow MEATER on Instagram @meatermade, like them on Facebook at @MEATER, or learn more at http://www.meater.com.

This looks to be an ideal Christmas gift for the cooks in your life!

Seven ways to pet-proof your Christmas tree

Careful pet owners are being offered seven top tips to keep inquisitive pets away from their Christmas trees.

Pets and trees aren't always the safest of combination, which is why fitted furniture experts at Online-Bedrooms.co.uk are offering their hacks for keeping festive decoration safe over the festive period. 

Not only does keeping your cat or dog off your tree cause annoyance to owners, but the well loved Christmas centrepiece can also be dangerous for our four-legged friends. 

Needles and pines from real trees may puncture a pet’s digestive tract when swallowed, while decoration and lights on false trees can burn, electrocute, or puncture their paws. 

Tips include avoiding lights on the base of the tree, staying away from tinsel and using scented pinecones as deterrents.

Nic Shacklock from Online-Bedrooms.co.uk said: “The last thing families want to do is spend the whole month of December trying to get their cat off the tree or their dog away from the presents underneath it. This is why we wanted to share our top tips with animal lovers - so they can keep their trees intact and their pets happy at the same time.

“Things like avoiding stringling lights near the base of your tree and avoiding breakable baubles may seem obvious - but can quickly be forgotten when caught up in the festive spirit. However, it is super important with all decorations during Christmas to ensure you are not posing any danger to your four-legged friends.”

Here are Online-Bedrooms.co.uk’s seven top tips for a pet-friendly Christmas tree:

Lights

Christmas tree lights can add a bit of magic to your tree but can be dangerous for your pets. Some may get extremely hot and burn a small pet interested in getting a closer look or cause electric shocks to little ones nibbling on the wires. If you are keen on stringing lights on your tree, make sure to only string them from about halfway up, depending on the size of your pet. 

Any other Christmas lights around the house should be secured to the wall where possible to avoid dangling close to the ground. 

Gifts 

It is best to delay putting gifts under the tree until Christmas eve or Christmas morning if possible. This way, you are removing additional temptation for your pet and avoiding any heartbreak to find your perfectly wrapped present torn apart by your pet. 

Consider placing the tree above ground level

For those with smaller dogs, placing your tree on a small table may just be enough to keep their pup away from causing any damage to the decorations or themselves.

Scented pinecones

Add some deterrent decorations by spraying some apple cider vinegar on a few pinecones and placing them at the base of your tree. The smell will keep pets away without the need of any large or non-aesthetically pleasing barriers. 

Isolate your tree

One of the best things you can do to deter a pesky pet is to place your tree in a room which can be sectioned off from the rest of the house. Make this a room that your pet doesn't particularly spend lots of time in alone to make it an easier transition for you and your family. 

Secure all decorations

Pets love to play with toys, and cats especially enjoy making toys out of everything in their way - with hanging tree decorations included. Avoid the heartbreak of finding your favourite bauble broken on the floor by carefully securing all tree decorations with twine, strong string or wire. 

Smashed baubles can also cause a serious concern for your pet’s paws. If possible, skip any breakable decorations completely to prevent potential danger for your four-legged friend. 

Avoid tinsel 

Although widely known as a symbol for festive cheer, adding tinsel to your tree this year might just be the reason your pet spends the whole of December trying to climb and attack the tree you spent so much time putting together. The shiny material may attract pets and encourage them to climb, jump and attach themselves to their Christmas tree. 

(image courtesy of Iryna Bakurskaya and Pixabay)

Still Looking for a Unique Christmas Gift? Then give the gift of language

Lingoda, one of the top global online language schools, is the language learning platform designed to get one speaking a new language confidently.

With private and group language classes of up to five people per class, Lingoda offers lessons in Spanish, French, German, English and Business English. 

And for anyone still looking for a Christmas gift for loved ones, language lessons are sure to be a unique gift idea for anyone who is looking to spend some time abroad in 2023 or wants to brush up on their foreign language skills.

Lingoda has several pricing options and learning plans available, ranging from four classes per month for $79 ($20 per class) to up to 40 classes per month for $489 per month ($12 per class).

For anyone looking to crush their 2023 language learning goals in a more speedy kind of way, there is the Lingoda Language Sprint™. The unique Sprint option offers 30 classes within two months, while the Super Sprint entails 60 classes. And one can earn between 50-100% cashback.

"All of us know how hard it can be to find the perfect Christmas present for all our nearest and dearest every year," says Philippa Wentzel, Lingoda's Curriculum Team Lead. "And for anyone interested in learning a new language for personal or professional reasons, our Lingoda language classes are designed to get you speaking your new language with confidence.

"In our group classes of up to five people at a time, people join from all over the world to learn a new language together and get their practice speaking time in. What could be better than a Christmas gift that boosts your confidence and makes you expand your horizons while meeting people around the globe?"

Currently, Lingoda also offers a risk-free trial for seven days at no cost. This way, one may even try out specific language classes before giving them away as Christmas gifts. Within the seven days, students can either take three group classes or one private class before the paid-for learning plan can begin. 

And if one is convinced that they have now found the perfect Christmas gift, just be aware that the person taking the Lingoda classes must register on the platform with their own email address and choose the language they want to learn. Once that is completed, they can start the new year with impeccable new language skills and a great sense of confidence and accomplishment. 

Lingoda is one of the top online language schools. Founded in Berlin, Germany, in 2013, we provide convenient and accessible online language courses in German, English, Business English, French and Spanish to over 100,000 students worldwide. 

With almost 550,000 classes available per year and accessible 24/7, our mission is to build bridges around the world through language learning. 

Visit Lingoda.com to learn more.

Worried about the cold weather this Christmas? Flapjackery has the answer

If the cold weather is gnawing at your bones, fuel up and keep your energy levels high with Flapjackery flapjacks.

Satisfying and extremely  delicious these gluten-free chunks of flapjacks come in an array of flavours and are handmade in Devon with the finest of British ingredients.

These mouth-watering chunks of sugary joy are laden with golden syrup and have just enough crunch, with the perfect amount of crumble, and absolutely no chewiness at all.

When cold winds bite, they're best served slightly warmed, with a dollop of clotted cream for an extra special treat, served with a warming cup of cocoa, in a limited edition Flapjackery mug of course!

Or even better, create your own tray of flapjacks. Flapjackery founders and flapjack aficionados Sally Jenkin and Carol Myott, who are still hands on in their flapjack-making empire on the edge of Dartmoor, have these brilliant tips to perfect your own bakes.

They say: “Weigh the golden syrup! Lots of recipes measure by tablespoon, but this is very inaccurate and too much syrup gives a hard flapjack. 

“Also, people's instinct is to add a bit more to make it soft and gooey but this has the opposite effect! 

“We recommend the same weight of sugar to golden syrup which together should equal the weight of butter, so if the recipe says 300gms of butter we would use 150gsm of sugar and 150gms of golden syrup butter.”

So there you have it! Flapjacks are the answer to keeping warm during this cold spell.

You can order yours from Flapjackery from just £12 and there are an array of wonderful Christmas gifts too from hampers to fudge, to Flapjackery's own exclusively designed jigsaw puzzles and aprons. 

All the flapjacks are delivered in a recyclable box, are individually wrapped, are suitable for freezing and have a shelf life of up to three months.

(That's Christmas points out that they are so utterly delicious that we would be surprised if you could keep them uneaten for three days, never mind three months!)

https://www.flapjackery.co.uk.

Martha Brook x Matilda: Personalised Stationery. A Christmas 'must have'

To celebrate the release of brand-new movie Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical, The Roald Dahl Story Company is collaborating with Martha Brook, the online home of uplifting, inspiring personalised stationery.

The Martha Brook x Matilda collaboration allows grown-ups to enjoy a range of splendid stationery inspired by the power and possibility of everyone’s favourite book-loving heroine.  And That's Christmas firmly believes they will make most excellent Christmas presents.

The Martha Brook x Matilda collection includes personalised book journals, diaries, notebooks, life planners, gift sets and desk pads, each featuring quotes from the iconic story.  

Martha says: “As an adult, and now mum to a little girl, Matilda still reminds me that we can all be brave, bold and brilliant. As Miss Honey says to Matilda ‘there is some kind of magic in you’. That’s exactly how I want people to feel when they use items from the Martha Brook x Matilda collection.”

Natalie Hopkins, Senior Partnerships Manager, The Roald Dahl Story Company, says: “We’re delighted to be working with Martha Brook on this beautiful range of personalised stationery. Their company ethos to empower and uplift is the perfect fit for our extraordinary and inspirational hero, Matilda."

Standout items from the collection include:

Martha Brook x Matilda Personalised Book Journal, £25.95

Book lovers of all ages will love capturing their favourite novels in this beautiful book journal, with a cover featuring famous quote from the iconic story: ‘The books transported her into new worlds’. The Book Journal is packed with useful contents to inspire readers of all ages and can also be embossed with the name of your choice in gold foil. 

Martha Brook x Matilda Personalised Magic in You Life Planner, £37.95

Anyone can move through the year feeling bold, brave and brilliant thanks to this refillable planner and personal organiser, inspired by Matilda’s magical mind. The cover features the words ‘There is a kind of magic in you’ proudly displayed and will be embossed with the name of your choice in gold foil. Available in a variety of colours.

Martha Brook x Matilda Personalised Fireworks Softback Notebook, £13.95

This wonderful softback A5 notebook is sure to be a hit with readers and writers alike, with the goosebump inducing quote from Roald Dahl’s Matilda, ‘Words went off like fireworks’. It can also be embossed with the name of your choice in gold foil. Available in a variety of colours

To explore the full Martha Brook range, which includes diaries, notebooks, memory books, photo albums, notecard and writing sets, desk accessories, vegan leather collection, wedding planners, life planners and much more, visit www.marthabrook.com. You can also follow the brand on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter. 

Fantastic Festive Fun at the Bucket & Spade Café This Christmas

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas at the Bucket & Spade Café in Shaldon, with a host of festive live music events to delight and entertain. A delicious Christmas Afternoon Tea will also be available throughout December, a perfect option to share with a friend or a loved one, to celebrate this wonderful time of year.

Eat, drink and be merry at one of the many Christmas celebration live music events scheduled with some of the best musicians in the South West. 

Join the Bucket & Spade for a festive 3-course feast with incredible folk singer 'Matt Sellers' on Friday 16th December, and for uplifting, melodic and soulful music join 'Go Tell Alice' on Saturday 17th December. 

The final event of the month is on Friday 23rd December with the 'The Waves Collection', an international, modular band who play an eclectic mix of songs from the 1950's to current popular hits, guaranteed to get you on the dance floor!  At £30 per person, these events are great value with gluten and vegan options available. Make sure you book tickets in advance by calling 01626 818450 or visit www.bucketandspade.com for further information.

Get into the festive spirit with a Christmas Afternoon Tea at the Bucket & Spade. Available Monday to Saturday 12-3pm throughout December, arrive with an empty tummy to indulge in a selection of tasty finger sandwiches, savoury or sweet fluffy scones and a trio of festive sweet treats served with a range of tea or freshly brewed coffee (£15.95 per person). Upgrade to a glass of prosecco for some added Christmas sparkle! (£19.95 per person) Gluten and vegan options are available.

Recently winning Gold in the Best Café category, and two Silvers in the Best Bar and Best Restaurant categories at the Food Drink Devon Awards, The Bucket & Spade is is a popular choice for locals and visitors to the area. With spectacular views across the Jurassic coastline, it's renowned for its friendly service and locally sourced food.

Based at Coast View Holiday Park in Shaldon, The Bucket & Spade Cafe is open to on-site lodge owners and members of the public.  Open seven days a week, Coast View Holiday Park leisure members can enjoy the beautifully warm indoor swimming pool or if feeling a little more active use the state-of-the-art gymnasium to work up a sweat before dining in The Bucket & Spade Café.  New for this year is the 'Be Well' beauty treatment rooms for those who are in need of some well-deserved pampering.

For more information about the Bucket & Spade cafe visit: www.thebucketandspade.com  Follow 'The Bucket & Spade Shaldon' on Facebook and 'bucketandspadeshaldon' on Instagram.

For more information about South West Holiday Parks visit: www.southwestholidayparks.co.uk

Follow 'South West Holiday Parks' on Facebook and 'southwestholidayparks' on Instagram.

New Victuallers Special Edition 'Snapes Point' Sloe Gin for Christmas warming

A classic winter warmer, Salcombe Distilling Co.'s new Victuallers Special Edition 'Snapes Point' Sloe Gin is an exceptional, small batch cask aged sloe and damson gin crafted using locally foraged sloes.  

With its gorgeous, beautiful ruby hue, this unique seasonal release from multi-award winning Salcombe Distilling Co., is available in a 50cl bottle, RRP £40, ABV 38% from salcombegin.com and Salcombe Distilling Co.'s Victuallers flagship stores in Salcombe and Dartmouth.

No ordinary sloe gin, 'Snapes Point' Sloe Gin has been months in the making.  Produced at their stunning waterside home in South Devon, one of the world's only distilleries directly accessible by boat, this intense fruit liqueur takes its name from Snapes Point, near Salcombe -  where many of the sloes were hand picked from nearby coastal footpaths overlooking Kingsbridge Estuary.  

Distilled with unrivalled passion, care and with exacting attention to detail, head distiller, Jason Nickels, first crafted a unique gin which he cask aged for nine months, to bring through vanilla notes and a subtle warmth.  

Once picked, sloe berries and damsons were steeped separately for two months, before further distilling the damson spirit on 60 litre copper pot stills to amplify the flavours.  Finally, the spirits were carefully blended together with Dartmoor water and a touch of honey, from bees kept by a member of Salcombe Distilling Co.'s team, to provide a delicate additional sweetness.     

Serving suggestion - Perfect now the weather has turned nippier, Victuallers Special Edition 'Snapes Point' Sloe Gin injects some winter warmth when sipped neat.  As with all Salcombe Distilling Co.'s gins, it's also excellent served with plenty of ice, a premium Indian tonic water and garnished with a slice of orange. 

Victuallers Special Edition 'Snapes Point' Sloe Gin joins Salcombe Distilling Co.'s award-winning line-up of Salcombe Gin 'Start Point', Salcombe Gin 'Rosé Sainte Marie', the Voyager Series, Salcombe Rum 'Island Street' and New London Light non-alcoholic spirits and aperitifs. 

For further information about Salcombe Distilling Co. and Salcombe Gin, visit www.salcombedistilling.com, follow SalcombeGin on Instagram and Facebook and Salcombe Distilling Co on Twitter.

Iceland to give staff extended break with Boxing Day closure

To give their staff members an extended break over the busy Christmas period, Iceland stores and Food Warehouse outlets will not open on Boxing Day, Monday 26th December.

Iceland Foods have announced they will not be open for trading on Boxing Day this year.

Closing store doors on Christmas Eve and re-opening on December 27th, the retailer is prioritising their hard-working staff, giving them the welcome chance to enjoy an extended festive break and make the most of time with friends and family.

All of Iceland’s 1000+ stores will remain closed on Boxing Day across the UK, with it being officially assigned as a bank holiday for staff. The same applies to The Food Warehouse. In Scotland, Iceland will also be closed on New Year’s Day as usual. Opening hours for the wider festive period will vary based on location, with specific store timings announced locally.

Richard Walker, the MD of Iceland Foods, said: “This year has taken its toll on everyone, so officially closing our doors on Boxing Day is just a small token of appreciation to our employees. As we move into the winter months the cost-of-living burden will unfortunately only intensify, and as we work relentlessly to pass on savings and support to our customers, we must also look after our teams who are at the forefront of this crisis everyday across the UK.”

He added: "Iceland and The Food Warehouse shoppers will have plenty of time in the run up to Christmas to get their hands on festive bargains with the brand-new range of festive food available online and instore from 14th November. A dedicated Christmas page has also returned to the website, offering customers, a one stop shop for frozen Christmas products, enabling them to plan ahead with email notifications when their favourite products become available.

"Customers can also take advantage of our unique 3 for £10 deal across a range of lines, where they can save up to a fiver on everyday essentials."

To keep up to date with local store’s opening hours visit: https://www.iceland.co.uk/storefinder.