Give the Gift of Colour This Christmas With ROKA London

Unwrap smiles this Christmas with sustainable styles!     

Impeccable craftmanship and innovative designs, there's genuinely something for everyone, whatever your budget. With ROKA LONDON, form meets function so you can stay stylish on your travels. Made with the highest quality, weather-resistant fabric you can be totally confident that your possessions will be kept safe and dry.

ROKA LONDON has been awarded with the prestigious accolade of a B Corp business so you can also shop consciously this Christmas. Choose from the vast array of sustainable styles to suit every individual need. Whether you're a lilac lover or want to be on trend with burnt orange to reflect the new Pantone colour for 2024, give the gift of colour. Which ROKA LONDON bag reflects you?

The Canfield (RRP from £64.95) is a best-selling backpack with its instantly recognisable, versatile roll-top design. Complete with hidden compartments to protect your tech, it's the perfect travel accessory for any adventure seeker!

Link to buy: https://rokalondon.com/collections/canfield-b

The Chelsea (RRP £24.95) is a best-selling cross body and makes a great gift for those who love to go hands-free! With its affordable price point, it's a great stocking filler or stylish statement for those on a budget.

Link to buy: https://rokalondon.com/collections/chelsea    

The Farringdon (£39.95) looks effortlessly cool with its slouchy design which any fashion-conscious recipient will love. With multiple interior pockets, you can keep your keys, wallet, water bottle and phone safe without compromising on style!   

Link to buy: https://rokalondon.com/collections/farringdon

The Bantry (from £64.95) was the original ROKA LONDON backpack, named after the founders' honeymoon destination in South Africa. As part of the Creative Waste collection, this eco-friendly design is made from the offcuts of production materials in a vivid, contrasting colourway to turn heads!  

Link to buy: https://rokalondon.com/collections/bantry-b

The Trafalgar (RRP from £59.95) is a functional, yet stylish tote bag, featuring ROKA's signature laptop pocket and internal bottle pocket. A bag that can either be carried by its handles or slung over the shoulder, this multi-functional tote is perfect for those with a busy life. 

Link to buy: https://rokalondon.com/collections/trafalgar-tote

ROKA LONDON: The Bags Born from British Weather 

For everyone, every day, everywhere. Live life in colour with bags that make you smile   

Made from the very highest quality, weather-resistant fabric you can be confident your possessions will be kept safe and dry with ROKA LONDON. Born from a need to withstand typical British weather, our Founder, Brett Edwards, wanted to create bags where function genuinely meets fashion. Heading to the office, setting off on a hike, packing snacks for the kids, jetting off on holiday, or simply worn as a colourful fashion statement, ROKA LONDON is for everyone, every day, everywhere. With 15 different bags, and over 30 different designs and colours, you'll be really spoilt for choice! 

ROKA LONDON produces bags and backpacks that are sleek, stylish and simplistic. Offering bags from across the rainbow, their bright, playful design and colour scheme ensures there is a bag to make everyone smile. Highlights from the rainbow include Canary Yellow, Burnt Orange, Spearmint Blue, Green Apple and Candy Pink. With compartments for those everyday essentials and handles to carry it in a multitude of ways, the bags are comfortable to wear and their weight is distributed evenly.  

Recently awarded B Corp Certification, ROKA LONDON believes in using business as a force for good, benefiting not only people but our beautiful planet too. With an entirely vegan range, made from predominantly recycled materials and plastic, ROKA LONDON are trying hard to reduce their impact on the planet.  

The new and very innovative Creative Waste line of ROKA LONDON bags are made from their leftover recycled materials and offcuts. Seamlessly combining a juxtaposition of different colours, these limited edition, colour block bags feel unique, whilst helping to reduce material waste through creative solutions.     

ROKA LONDON is the home of fantastic Christmas presents that are both stylish and functional.

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Female Entrepreneur Targets Hospitality Industry with Healthier Choice Prosecco Brand

33-year-old Kath Jones, from Aigburth, Liverpool says she is targeting high-end foodservice and hospitality venues with her products thanks to a huge shift in behaviour towards veganism, ketogenic lifestyles and a growing number of people  who are cutting sugar from their diets. 

ThinK Wine is an award-winning brand of prosecco and sparkling rose offering consumers a healthier alternative to its full sugar competitors without losing the taste or the percentage volume. And it has been wowing judges in blind taste tests.  

ThinK Wine has just 75 calories and 0g carbs, 0g fat, with 0.58g of residual sugar per 125ml (this is legally classed as zero sugar under UK standards), while still retaining an ABV of 11%. The product contains no artificial sweeteners or ingredients. 

So far, Kath has been selling direct to customers via the ThinK Wine website https://www.thinkwinegroup.co.uk, with the product available in a small number of exclusive, independent hospitality venues. 

Kath now aims to grow the trade side of her business after her own research discovered a gap in many premium restaurant and bar drinks menus for a luxury brand like ThinK Wine. Customer feedback also highlighted strong demand for it. Consumers would dearly love to see healthier alternatives on menus and in restaurants and bars where sugary, calorie-packed alcoholic drinks are often the only option. 

Kath says she wants her sparkling wines to be available in as many premium restaurants and bars as possible and has put in place a dynamic business development strategy to target the sector. 

“My customers want the same healthier choices they have at home, when they are out for dinner or on a night out. It's a premium product so we're hoping to target fine dining establishments, premium restaurants, luxury hotels and cocktail bars, initially.” 

“I know this concept is a winner,” Kath explains. “It's a hugely popular product.  

“People are increasingly health conscious, they are more switched on to things like sugar addiction, additives and sulphites, but they also still want to be able to enjoy a drink now and again. With no palatable alternative available on the market, I felt moved to create something. That's how ThinK Wine was born, and we've been growing exponentially ever since.” 

Kath has been on a journey of discovery since she began her mission to bring ThinK Wine to fruition and as well as getting her products onto drinks menus is also keen to change people's perceptions of prosecco. She continues:  “Done right, prosecco is a premium product; it doesn't have to be filled with sugar, or worse, artificial sweeteners and sugar alternatives. The problem is much of the cheaper prosecco that's readily available uses lots of sugar to mask the quality of the grape. It's giving this fabulous drink a bad name; but it doesn't have to be that way.  

“We're not using sweeteners or artificial ingredients instead of sugar either, I want to be very clear on that. When you choose a premium quality grape, the natural flavour is all that you need. 

“Our customer feedback is that they love the product, and can't get enough of it, but they also want to keep their diet low carb, vegan or low calorie without having to forgo dinner dates and nights out, or having to switch to a drink that they don't like.  

“Unfortunately, at the moment, there just aren't enough viable healthier choice sparkling wines out there on menus and wine lists, that also deliver on taste. I want to change that.”   

ThinK Wine is available in a select number of independent restaurants including Pullman Hotel Liverpool, ACC arena Liverpool, Pendergast's Warrington, Castle Street Townhouse, Chester Townhouse and Hope and Smoke. 

The brand has continually outperformed its full sugar and non-vegan/organic competitors in blind taste tests and has won the following awards: People's Choice Wine Awards 2022 (silver), London Wine Competition 2022 (bronze), Glass of Bubbly 2022 (silver), The Drinks Business Global Pinot Grigio Masters 2020 (bronze) and Las Vegas Global Wine Awards (silver), as well as gaining a 4.96 rating on Judge Me. 

ThinK Wine – The Products 

Quality and taste is everything to the team at ThinK Wine, who believe being Prosecco drinkers has given them an edge over the competitors in creating the perfect blend of flavours for wines with a fresh and revitalising finish, despite the health-conscious benefits. 

The company is proud to say all of its wines are 100% vegan/organic and have low sulphites. As a business ThinK Wine operates as sustainably as possible and as of March 2023 ThinK Wine Group has been a certified B-Corporation. 

The brand currently has two main product lines, with more product development in the pipeline for 2024. 

ThinK Prosecco 

ThinK Prosecco is a vegan and organic sparkling wine with both reduced sugar and calories.  

It is made from the finest Glera grapes from the heart of Treviso, north-east Italy for a Prosecco that is fresh, satisfying and luxurious. Its appearance is fine and persistent perlage, straw yellow colour. On the nose its intense bouquet with light notes of green apple and citrus. The taste is fresh, aromatic and elegant, with light notes of bread crust and green apple. 

ThinK Prosecco is a delicious complement to fried fish, tempura vegetables, tofu and fine meat. 

ThinK Pink 

ThinK Pink is a Pinot Grigio Sparkling Rosé. It is a vegan and organic sparkling wine with both reduced sugar and calories. ThinK Pink is made from the finest Pinot Grigio grapes from the heart of Treviso, north-east Italy. Its appearance is fine and persistent perlage with a light pink colour.  

On the nose its refined bouquet is characterised by delicate hints of strawberry, gooseberries and pink grapefruit. The palate is fresh and delicate with a soft mousse. 

ThinK Prosecco pairs nicely with fish, vegetable and tofu dishes with light sauces 

After consulting with her client-base, some of the UK's biggest online influencers and celebrities, she confirmed that the idea was a winner.  

“I work with a lot of celebrities and influencers in my 'day job' and I honestly haven't found one of them that thinks having a healthier prosecco on menus is a bad idea. They have busy schedules and always out attending launches and events in the evenings; they all agree that a less calorific version of their favourite fizz should be an option. But we're not just reliant on word of mouth, as a brand we've conducted extensive market research, and the outcome is always the same. A resounding yes please!”  

“My job now is to raise the ThinK Wine brand's profile among the bigger players in the foodservice industry and hopefully bring some positive changes to wine lists across the country.” 

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Fill their stockings with magazines this Christmas: an affordable and inspirational gift for men... and all the family!

With the Christmas countdown upon us, it’s time to choose a gift that really does go the extra mile, that keeps on giving all year long and will be used well beyond the festive season.  

A subscription to Readly, the digital magazine and newspaper app, is the perfect choice this Christmas. It’s guaranteed to inspire and entertain loved ones, environmentally friendly and kind on purse strings too. It's the true definition of a win-win situation!

With a Readly subscription, you can browse and read an absolutely stunning 7,500 digital magazines and newspapers whenever or wherever you wish. Plus the subscription also includes regional newspapers, podcasts and a portfolio of Disney comics and magazines, besides!

There’s really something for entire family wrapped up in one handy app to read on your tablet or mobile wherever you may be. 

Whether you’re into interior design, travel, Pilates, tech, music, fashion, sport or some gardening or enjoy reading business features, news or researching recipes, DIY tricks or looking for something to entertain the kids this Christmas, there’s a title for every occasion - all the latest issues and back issues too!

If you want to curl up on the sofa or read in a snowy log cabin or whilst you are travelling, you can download up to 500 titles and read in the offline mode too. 

And as Readly gives five profiles per household, the whole family can be entertained and inspired with the subscription. It’s unlimited reading of all your favourite titles and many more in a climate-friendly way,  wherever you may be!

5 reasons why Readly should be on every list this Christmas:

Inspire a new hobby: Support family and friends to fulfill their dreams and support a hobby or read about a new travel destination with the huge range of titles available! Whether mainstream lifestyle or niche, there’s a title for you.

Easy reading at home or on the go: as Readly can be read anywhere, anytime, friends and family can use their gift when travelling, cooking, sitting on the sofa, working out, commuting or in the garden. It’s really perfect for every occasion!

With newspapers and podcasts plus magazines - Readly has so many of the leading national, international and regional newspapers as well as magazines for everyone in your family or the family of your gift's recipient read. Or tune in to listen to a podcast, it’s all there, waiting to be enjoyed. 

And what's more, it's a genuinely sustainable way to read. Because reading a digital magazine on Readly results in 86% lower greenhouse gas emissions than reading the printed equivalent. 

You can read too!- a Readly subscription gives users five profiles per household so if you’re lucky enough to live with the person you’re giving the gift to, you can read too!

A subscription is just £9.99 a month and there is a range of Christmas GiftCards available for 3, 6 and 12 months, starting at £28.47 . Visit www.readly.com for more information.

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The Weird Side of Christmas Revealed by Mug Shots

Santa could be in for a feast of Playdoh cakes and Cornettos this year whilst Rudolph nibbles on Twiglets and carrot cake, if the Mug Shot’s hilarious and heart-warming snapshot into Christmas traditions is anything to go by.

And rest assured children have all his travelling needs and present delivery welfare well catered for too according to the insights unearthed in instant hot snack brand’s Tree-riffic Christmas Survey.

One thing is certain, when Mug Shot decided to stoke up some early festival cheer among its thousands of social media followers to celebrate the launch of its new festival flavour Pigs in Blankets, it’s clear it’s the wonderfully British Christmas traditions, and a few quirky ones, which help to keep the magic alive, no matter what age you are.

Risotto and Spam butties await!

Depending on how you look at it, Santa is in for a treat of some kind this year largely due to children having both a creative and practical way of looking at what Santa would fancy for that warm and welcome midnight snack.

For many Mug Shot followers the traditional mince and sherry or cookies and milk are shunned for a whole host of bizarre snacks and ‘helpful items'.

When asked what their youngsters like to leave out on the most magical night of the year lettuce and sugar sandwiches, soup, Spam butties, risotto, Playdoh cakes, Kombucha and a Cornetto all made it on to the list.

Responses also included Jack Daniels and an After Eight, red wine and pizza and salt and vinegar crisps and a can of lager which tends to suggest parents might have been planning their own supper.

Rudolph has also been enjoying a feast.

Reindeer nibbles including cat biscuits, parsnips, Twiglets (‘because they look like tiny antlers’), sweet potatoes, carrot cake, sprouts (‘wind power for the sleigh’) boiled red cabbage and moss.

And the ingenuity of a child’s mind also ensures the health, safety and welfare of Santa and his reindeers are taken into full and careful consideration on their potentially hazardous rooftop journey around the world on a cold Christmas Eve night.

Alongside refreshments, little ones have insisted on leaving woolly tights in case he gets cold, hats ‘in case he loses his own’, gloves, a hair bobble so his beard doesn’t catch fire, flea treatment for the reindeers and dog poo bags to scoop up the reindeer droppings.

Families embrace generational traditions

For many, children are the focus of Christmas, helping us to reignite the magic and special memories of our own childhood Christmases – and that’s certainly the case for our Mug Shot followers.

When asked how they keep the Christmas magic alive as their kids get older, our Mug Shot followers all had their own special little ways to help their youngsters to keep believing.

And that magic seems to last until the little kids become big kids and have children of their own.

Keeping the same tried and tested traditions going year after year was voted as the way to stop the wonder from waning including hanging up stockings, baking, Christmas stories, crafts, listening to classic Christmas tunes, watching films and plenty of festive family outings such as markets and pantomimes.

Many of Mug Shot's social media followers said that more than anything, if grown-ups keep dreaming and believing it helps to keep the magic and Christmas spirit alive for all the whole family.

Pigs in blankets gets the thumbs up

With Christmas dinner being one of the main events, Mug Shot asked their followers to dish up their likes, dislikes and favourite trimmings – even how they’ll be cooking it.

With the air fryer now a kitchen gadget staple, followers were asked which elements of Christmas dinner they’ll be bunging in there this year.

36% said roast potatoes, a fifth said pigs in blankets and almost 10% said they were bravely attempting to cook to the whole thing in an air fryer.

For those who don’t have an air fryer, many are hoping Santa will bring them one!

Overwhelmingly the most popular part of Christmas dinner was pigs in blankets, music to the Mug Shot ears!, followed by, no not the turkey, but roast potatoes (20%).

Other favourites included parsnips, gravy, Yorkshire puddings, bread sauce, stuffing and a rogue lobster.

They were also asked what accompaniment should never be part of Christmas dinner - tomato ketchup, mayonnaise, mushy peas or Yorkshire pudding.

Ketchup got the thumbs down from 40% of Christmas dinner devotees followed by mayonnaise at 27% and a quarter pushed mushy peas to one side.

One much maligned festive food which did surprisingly come out on top was the humble sprout.

When asked what the best thing was to do with them – eat them, bin them, don’t go within a mile of them or use them for an amusing game, a whopping 70% said eat them.

Trips to A&E and very awkward text messages

With the weeks of prep, stress and military precision planning that goes into Christmas you want it to run as smoothly as possible but that’s sometimes not the case.

From drunkenly falling into a Christmas tree and ending up in A&E looking like a pin cushion to being unable to turn down invitations and forcing down five Christmas dinners in one day, there was a whole raft of hilarious festive faux pas.

In the awkwardness stakes, a daughter messaged her boyfriend to tell him what a terrible Christmas day she was having at her mum’s, and accidentally sent the message to her mum.

Tales of exploding kitchen appliances, defrosting prawns with a hairdryer, forgetting the presents and having to buy substitutes from a service station on the M1 and forgetting to the turn oven on in a Prosecco haze were on the list.

There were also wonderful and heart-warmingly memorable Christmases for many respondents including a mum who rushed home from hospital with her new-born son because all her daughter wanted for Christmas was a baby brother.

And sticking with the baby theme a gran-to-be who was given a ‘Find the Peanut’ game for Christmas which turned out to be an early scan of her first grandchild which she described as “the best present ever and the gift that keeps on giving”.

Husbands rightly get the brush off for ‘housework’ gifts

When asked what was strangest present found under the tree top honours went to a deactivated First World War hand grenade.

And it seems many husbands have been in the dog house over the years thanks to their choice of more practical gifts for their wives including dusters, an extendable paint roller, a washing up bowl and cleaning products and two serving spoons.

Work place Secret Santas often result in a combination of hilarious and controversial gifts with participants ranging from thoughtful and mischievous to downright ambivalent.

Asked what the worst gift was that they’d received in a Secret Santa revealed an eye patch, a ‘Grow your own Boyfriend’ kit, a Cliff Richard calendar, a Busted poster, used body cream and a 39p bag of sweets.

Recycling and repurposing at its best

Mug Shot asked its followers to be completely upfront and honest and confess whether they’d ever re-wrapped a present they’d received and given it to someone else – which you could argue is recycling and repurposing at its best.

50% said they had and skincare product and toiletries were the most regifted items along with scarves and candles.

Emma Boyle, Senior Brand Manager at Mug Shot said: “We love hearing from our Mug Shot social media followers and this was a great way to find out more about how they like to spend this special time of year.

“We’ve had lots of laughs and really enjoyed reading the responses which show that despite these difficult times families everywhere cherish Christmas and spending time with their loved ones.

“It’s reassuring to know the wonderful traditions which have kept the magic going for many, many years – and the little traditions we invent as families and are personal to us - are still the things people turn to to make memories.”

“At Mug Shot as well as creating delicious, warm and comforting healthy lunch options, we like to have a bit of fun with our festive flavours.

“Pigs in blankets have been around since the mid 20th Century and are now an absolute Christmas Dinner favourite so it was an obvious choice for us.”

Festive Limited Edition Pigs in Blankets Mug Shot is available at B&M stores nationwide. Featuring pasta twists and the favours of bacon, sausage and sage, it’s good to go in five minutes as a tasty, healthy and low in fat lunch or snack.