We all love a hamper, don't we? The mix of tasty goodies is always a treat and makes a great gift, so when Virginia Hayward, the hamper company invited me to try one of their hampers, I could hardly say no.

The Love Chocolate box retails at £19.99 and contains a tempting selection of chocolate goodies.




Presented in a useful wicker basket the small but perfectly formed selection includes:-

A bag of Radfords chocolate & caramel fudge, 
Vital soft chocolate nougat, 
Atkins and Potts decadent milk chocolate dipper pot, 
Reids crunchy chocolate chunky shortbread,
A yummy looking mini chocolate cake by the Original Cake Company hand-topped with chocolate buttons and chocolate pieces,
A delectable hot drinking chocolate spoon with pieces of mini marshmallows.

My son Jake and I tried the products. I hadn't heard of these brands before so I wasn't sure what to expect but I felt they were good quality and really tasty. 

The chocolate nougat was similar to fudge. It had a really good chocolate flavour and was studded with almonds which added some nice crunch. 




My favourite was the shortbread, it was buttery and rich and the inclusion of chocolate chips was a nice touch, although there could have been more of them.



They were also great dunked in tea!



Yum!



My son was eyeing up the Belgian chocolate sauce from the company Scarlett and Mustard and was quite happy eating it out of the jar. I think it would be great warm with ice cream personally, but I didn't get a look in here to try it as he polished it off.

Again I didn't get a look in with the chocolate and caramel fudge. Jake really enjoyed it, and the piece of fudge I managed to steal from him was excellent. The caramel fudge had a good sweet caramel flavour and the chocolate fudge was decadent and rich.

Next item to try was the mini chocolate cake. What we all liked about the cake was the chocolate chips and chocolate pieces on top, a mix of white and milk chocolate, that had some crunchy pieces as well as smooth. The cake was light as well.




The last item in the Love Chocolate hamper from Virginia Hayward was the hot chocolate spoon with marshmallows. Although we haven't tried it yet, it looks like a lovely treat. You stir it into hot milk and watch as the chocolate melts and makes a hot chocolate drink.

All of these items were presented in a wicker basket which I thought was a nice touch, and perfect as a gift for a loved one. The hamper was also packed in environmental packaging, the basket was made of willow, the paper is recycled, the outer box recycled too and the loose fill is 100% biodegradable. Well done, this is so important in this day and age. 

For £19.99 I think this is a welcome gift that doesn't break the bank and most chocolate lovers will really enjoy tucking in to this hamper too. Check out the other chocolate hampers available from Virginia Hayward too. 

Today on my blog I am giving my lovely readers the chance to win a scrummy 'Love Chocolate' hamper. Entry is easy via the Gleam app below. Why don't you bookmark the page and come back for a daily entry? Whilst you are here check out my other competitions too. Good luck!

Win A Love Chocolate hamper

There is nothing nicer at Christmas than to receive the gift of a hamper and no one does Christmas hampers as well as Harvey Nichols. The iconic London store which has other branches around the UK including Bristol, Manchester and Edinburgh, is the byword in luxury fashion, beauty, food and lifestyle. 

Here are some of my favourite hampers to spoil your loved ones, or to treat yourself this holiday season.

The Ultimate Christmas Indulgence


For those that really want to splash the cash, and throw a big party, the ultimate Bring Your Own Bar hamper is that perfect way to indulge. With a selection of wines and spirits including Champagne, Chablis, Pinot Noir, Cognac, Whiskey and Vermouth there is something for everyone who likes a tipple. To top it all off, a cocktail shaker and martini glasses are included and a cocktail making masterclass in your nearest Harvey Nichols store.

Get This Party Started



The Harvey Nichols Party Starter set is described as the failsafe way to start a party. Basically keep your friends happy with a selection of tasty snacks from mixed olives with peppers and chilli to goats cheese savouries and then indulge them with a selection of welcome drinks. Once everyone has relaxed then bring out the party games - the Little Book Of Drinking Games is also included. All presented in a wicker hamper.

Cocktails For Two

If you want a little soiree with your partner, maybe you've managed to drop your little ones off at a babysitter and you are having a romantic night in, why not order this Champagne and Chambord hamper for yourself. Chambord has a rich raspberry flavour and combined with the delectable Brut Champagne it makes a fantastic Kir Imperial. 

Get Your Beauty Sleep

Now if you have a relative that has problems getting off to sleep, they may be a new mum or an older relative, for example, then this beauty sleep hamper will have them in the 'land of nod' in no time. Including chamomile flower tea, a Silkskin pillowcase, and Sleep Plus Hair Elixir as well as other goodies, this makes a great gift presented in a picnic hamper.

Now Harvey Nichols can spot a blogger that likes a little indulgence, so they contacted me and kindly offered me the opportunity to try their Champagne and Chambord hamper box above.



The Champagne and Chambord arrived quickly presented in a box with a lovely card. It's those little touches that make Harvey Nichols truly special.



Champagne needs little introduction and most people know that sparkling wine has to come from the Champagne region of France for it to be called Champagne, but do you know about Chambord? 

Chambord is a luxurious French raspberry liqueur, black in colour, with intense raspberry and vanilla flavours. Delicious added to Champagne, it makes a fabulous Kir Imperial, the sister drink to the Kir Royal which is made with Creme De Cassis, a blackcurrant liqueur.



To make a Kir Imperial is super simple, just pour 1 part Chambord into a Champagne flute, then top with 9 parts Champagne and enjoy. The Chambord sweetness and raspberry notes mixed with the Champagne is delicious. Chin Chin!


Tell me do you like giving or receiving hampers? What do you think of these hampers from Harvey Nichols? Have you tried a Kir Imperial?

I love supporting local and small businesses and I adore Not On The High Street. It has all your small family run businesses online, it's like your local independent and artisan marketplace and you can order all at a touch of a button.




If you want the most exquisite gifts and unique products then this is the place. They are passionate about hand-picking the best creative small businesses to sell on their marketplace, making it simple for you to find inspired, personalised, stylish or unique things.

The website is easy to navigate in various categories. Want a present under £15? No problem! Want to find a personalised art print?  They have plenty. What about a vintage style rag doll or a wooden train set? This is the place.

The difficult thing was picking items to review, as I really couldn't choose. 

Firstly I picked the cookie cutters. Recently I have been cooking more than ever and I thought these looked cute and would be great to give my biscuits that professional look. I wasn't disappointed, a beautiful looking cookie cutter which made great cookies. I just loved the gingham packaging too.