Christmas Shopping at Hockey’s: Save the Date, Bring Your List and Come Hungry

More than 20 local suppliers and makers, free mince pies, festive food and an evening of Christmas shopping in South Gorley. Thursday 10th December is a date for your diary.

We’re announcing our Christmas Shopping Evening at Hockey’s Farm Shop, taking place on Thursday 10th December, from 4pm to 8pm. Entry is free and everyone is welcome.

If you’ve ever found yourself scrolling through gift ideas and still feeling no closer to finding something you actually want to give, this is an evening for you. Come and meet local makers, discover the stories behind their products and find presents with a little more personality.

There will be plenty to eat, opportunities to taste local produce, and hampers, gifts and stocking fillers to help you work through your Christmas list. Bring a friend, bring the family and give yourselves time to browse.

December diaries fill quickly. Consider this your invitation to reserve one evening for Christmas shopping at Hockey’s.

Over 20 local suppliers and makers, all in one place

One of the pleasures of shopping locally is discovering something you might never have found otherwise. It could be a gift that reminds someone of a favourite place, a beautifully made piece for their home or something delicious that you know won’t last beyond Boxing Day.

Our Christmas Shopping Evening will bring together more than 20 local suppliers and makers, giving you the chance to explore a range of gifts and produce in one visit.

It’s also an opportunity to speak to the people behind what you’re buying. Ask how something is made, hear where an idea began and discover the work that goes into it. Those conversations can turn a good purchase into a much more thoughtful present.

For the person who seems to have everything, the friend who loves finding something different or the family member who always appreciates good food, there will be plenty of reasons to take a closer look.

Shopping with local businesses also keeps that support close to home. Every purchase matters to the makers, producers and independent businesses who spend the year creating, sourcing and selling their products. Christmas is a particularly good time to discover them.

We’ll share more about the suppliers joining us as the evening approaches. For now, save the date and start thinking about who’s on your list.

Come for the shopping. Make time for the food.

Christmas shopping is considerably more enjoyable with something good to eat.

There will be free mince pies, with mulled wine, our Great Taste award-winning sausage rolls and pulled turkey baps available from the Farmyard Cafe. Local producers will also be offering tastings, giving you the chance to discover a new favourite before deciding what to take home.

Make an evening of it. Meet someone after work, browse together and stop for food between purchases. With shopping running until 8pm, there’s time to come along without trying to squeeze everything into a daytime visit.

We’ll also have a butchery raffle and gifting tombola in aid of local charities, adding another reason to get involved while you’re here.

Good food, local shopping and a chance to catch up with friends: that’s an evening worth putting in the diary.

Hampers, stocking fillers and a look around The Vinery

You don’t have to wait until December to start finding gifts at Hockey’s.

The Vinery has welcomed some beautiful new stock, with pieces from local makers and producers that deserve a proper look. If you haven’t been in recently, allow a little extra time on your next visit.

There’s a particular satisfaction in finding a present when you aren’t rushing. You can think about who would love it, take a closer look and make a decision without the pressure of a last-minute deadline.

Food gifts are always worth considering, too. A hamper gives someone a selection to enjoy over the Christmas break, while a few carefully chosen treats can make a lovely thank-you for a host, neighbour or friend.

Our Christmas Shopping Evening will be a chance to explore hampers, gifts and stocking fillers together, but the browsing can begin now. Pop into The Vinery, see what’s arrived and start collecting ideas.

Christmas orders: get the food planning under way

While presents might take a little inspiration, Christmas food usually starts with a few practical questions.

How many people are coming? What do you want at the centre of the table? Are you cooking for one big gathering or feeding guests over several days?

Christmas orders are open at Hockey’s, so now is a good time to start making those decisions and speak to the butchery team about what you need.

Ordering ahead gives you time to plan quantities, consider the rest of the menu and ask for advice. Whether you already know exactly what you want or are still weighing up the options, a conversation with the team can help turn a vague Christmas food list into a manageable plan.

Our September early bird offer has now ended, but Christmas ordering continues. You can find the current options through the Hockey’s online shop, or speak to us when you visit.

There will also be an opportunity to place Christmas orders in store during the shopping evening on Thursday 10th December. If you’ve missed the usual order deadline, come and see the team on the night.

Getting the main food order organised leaves more time for everything else December brings and fewer things to remember when the calendar starts filling up.

This Friday: The Great Taste Sausage Supper

Before we get to mince pies and Christmas lists, there’s an October evening to look forward to.

This Friday, 9th October, our Harvest Nights series continues with The Great Taste Sausage Supper.

Our first Harvest Night was a huge success, with a wonderful atmosphere and guests coming together over food we were proud to serve. This week, Kerry and the team are giving our New Forest wild venison and crabapple sausages their turn at the centre of the table.

The menu is made for an October appetite: venison and crabapple sausage casserole with a cheese scone cobbler, followed by layered blackberry fool. Our venison and crabapple sausages received a Great Taste Award this year, and this supper is a chance to enjoy them as part of a full evening at Hockey’s.

Tickets are £24 per person for two courses, with a vegetarian main available. The evening takes place in our refurbished polytunnel, with arrival from 6pm for drinks and food served from 6.30pm. Numbers are limited to 50 seats.

If the photographs from the first evening left you wishing you’d joined us, this is your opportunity to do something about it. Get a few friends together, leave Friday’s cooking to Kerry and come hungry.

Two dates to put in your diary

This week, it’s about a seat at the Harvest supper table. In December, it’s an evening of local makers, festive food and finding gifts you’re excited to give.

Friday 9th October: The Great Taste Sausage Supper.

Thursday 10th December, 4pm–8pm: Hockey’s Christmas Shopping Evening, with over 20 local suppliers and makers. Free entry, all welcome.

We look forward to seeing you at Hockey’s Farm Shop, South Gorley and helping you get a little more enjoyment out of the Christmas preparations.