Kokova Magazine

This was my first visit to Spirit of Christmas.

Being advertised as having Christmas all wrapped up at the UK's biggest high-end Christmas shopping event - and returning to Olympia for its 16th year - it certainly was impressive.

I spent the morning upstairs amongst all the food and drink stalls, enjoying meeting new sellers and chatting to some faces I now recognise. There were lots of delicious, festive products on sale - from ordering your all important turkey from Copas, making your homemade gingerbread kit and to sipping Christmas wines which were being sold in a tube.

With food for the perfect host or hostess and brilliant ideas for gifts and stocking fillers, I was in foodie heaven.

One of my favourite products was Toffle Chocolates - I have seen these beautiful chocolates before and I am going to mention them again. These make an ideal Christmas present for the ultimate foodie. Handmade chocolates which include home-grown ingredients, inspired by the spice markets of the Eastern Mediterranean. I loved the cucumber and juniper.

While we are on the subject of Chocolates - I found a new company and I am very excited. OCTOchocolate Ltd based in North Harrow have not only a very nice eye-catching logo and luxury packaging but the most amazing chocolate.

"We are a proud manufacturer of organic, RAW, vegan chocolate, which is made of high quality cocoa beansand only coconut blossom sugar as a sweetener’. I love it when we find ‘good chocolate"

… and even better when they have figs, almonds, Brazil nuts and the cashews (my favourite) coated in chocolate and coffee. All so good! These are most definitely on my Christmas list.

I chatted to Judith at Dorchester based Bowjars. These were award winning preserves, hand-made in Dorset. Why did I like them so much? I found them to be beautifully packaged and all the jams I tried were packed with flavour and fruit. Highly recommend.

Spice Kitchen were looking very festive with luxurious silk covers for their spice tins, what a lovely Christmas present for the friend who likes to make curry from scratch or generally likes to add a little spice to their meals.

Tipple Tails is a new company I had not come across before. Jane is based in Sheffield and she makes the most tasty Christmas cake I have had beyond my own Mums. Moist, rich with lovely ingredients I was tempted to hover for some time and enjoyed hugely with my cup of coffee. I will be in touch with Jane for a few gift ideas for friends in Europe and family who really haven’t got the time to make their own but would really very much appreciate this as its as good.

CRU8 produce delicious, raw, gluten-free, vegan, superfood treats and snacks. These were very tasty, especially the kale crackers. Again a company I will be keeping my eye on and would recommend to check out.

Downstairs there were rows and rows of stalls featuring beautiful scarves, cosy blankets and throws, pictures, art, lamps, make-up, china, hats and fantastic Christmas decorations. You really could get all your Christmas presents under one roof.

My problem was time, or lack thereof. I think if you can take two days or certainly one long one, with the opening late on Thursday, it would help. As always I was doing a whistle stop tour - however, I did find some really good gifts for men, who can always be a challenge, well it is in my house. I now have a couple done and dusted.

Foodie Men - I loved the Ross & Ross Food, the XL Man Box at £38 - billed as "BIG, Spicy and totally separates the men from the boys". Give the man in your life everything he needs with this tasty food and drinks package. It includes every man's favourite things, from a couple of craft beers, some meat (salami and chorizo), chutneys and some triple cooked pork crackling. I also loved the look of their home curing kits for bacon and salmon - looking forward to trying these over the next weeks.

I think more and more men are taking more time and effort in their appearance. With the huge increase in products available its difficult to know where to start as a woman, in buying the right thing. I discovered a company called Norse London. They were selling luxury creams, balms, and shaving products. I bought a few bits as I loved the look of the products; classical yet sophisticated, excellent quality and stylish, suitable for the young or older man in your life. I think my husband will be thrilled.

Christmas is not Christmas without the house looking suitably festive. There were the most stunning wreaths and garlands for hanging on stairs and doorways. I made a few purchases of cute Christmas mice and little old St. Nicholas which are cleverly designed to hang from their feet or sit with weighted bottoms on ledges or shelves. The company is CoCo & Ned and they made a great range of traditional and contemporary Christmas decorations.

Now, I cannot promise everyone would be as lucky but, as I was due to leave, I unexpectedly happened across Mary Berry doing her Christmas Shopping. She was thoroughly enjoying the fair and getting in to the Spirit of Christmas - and I have to tell you, it absolutely made my day!

Discover Spirit Fairs at www.spiritofsummerfair.co.uk