Festive Food and Gift Guide 2025

Posted on November 5, 2025 by Georgina Cockett

We’re delighted to be sharing this year’s Festive Food and Gift Guide nice and early for all the keen beans who can’t wait to start planning their Christmas shopping! As the air turns crisp and kitchens fill with the scent of cinnamon, spice, and freshly baked mince pies, it’s the perfect time to start planning your foodie gifts. Whether it’s learning a new recipe, sharing a meal, or supporting your local community, this season is all about connection, and what better way to connect than through food? From hands-on cookery classes to the opportunity to support community initiatives that warm the heart, here are our favourite ways to share the spirit of the season.

Stirring up the festive spirit

4 people wearing aprons at a kitchen worksurface. one holding the lid to a bamboo stemaer. bamboo steamers on worksurface — Classes at the Community Kitchen

This Christmas, why not trade the usual wrapped gifts for something truly delicious. The Community Kitchen, have just released its 2026 class listings offering the perfect opportunity to gift a flavour filled experience. From mastering handmade pasta and fragrant curries to perfecting the art of cake decoration, each class is led by expert chefs and bakers from some of the most inspiring restaurants and bakeries in Brighton and beyond.

If you’re unsure which class will suit them best, a gift card lets your recipient choose the course (or courses!) that tempt their taste buds most.

An outdoor fire with an orange flame, a pot of hanging above the flamer. A person is stirring the pot with a wooden spoon — Cooking over fire

Restaurants Brighton have also curated a fantastic selection of food experiences across Sussex, including Woodfire Camping, a unique opportunity to cook over open flames, surrounded by the sights and smells of the Sussex countryside. Set within Stanmer Park, awaken your inner forager with a Forage & Feast Experience. Learn to identify and harvest fungi, fruits and wild plants that will be prepared by a chef for lunch to enjoy at the end of the experience.

For their final share of the year, Sussex Grazed are offering a special Dexter beef box, perfect for the festive season. This 100% grass-fed beef from the Sussex Downs is known for its rich, full-bodied flavour, fine texture and beautiful natural marbling that makes every cut tender and delicious. Available in small and large boxes, it’s ideal for Christmas meals, cosy winter dinners or to gift yourself and your family something truly special. You can pre-order now for collection on Friday 12 December, 4–6pm.

Gifts that give back

Large pile of ambient food Amid all the festive feasting, it’s worth remembering that not everyone has a full plate this year. This year the Food Partnership is continuing its annual winter appeal campaign with Community Base. They are inviting local business and offices to sign up to the campaign where you will be linked to a local food project. This will help food banks to support people struggling this winter.

If you own a restaurant, pub or cafe, you can participate in Love Food Share Food’s fundraising initiative. It is free to participate, and they offer diners the opportunity to add a £1 donation to their bill to go to local emergency food projects. Participating venues will receive table cards so diners can learn more about the initiative and how their contribution helps. And if you are dining out yourself this Christmas, do consider donating, every pound will make a difference.

Many local food projects run special Christmas donation appeals, and others welcome volunteers to lend a helping hand. However you choose to get involved, there are plenty of meaningful ways to share some festive spirit and help make the season brighter for those in need. There are always opportunities to make a monetary donation, see our ‘where to donate’ page to support food access work.

For the love of food

Piles of hardback books on a table — A cookbook; a gift that keeps on giving

When it comes to foodie presents, there is something extra special about giving the flavours of Brighton and Sussex. Wrap up a jar of golden honey, a handmade chutney or a locally made preserve, perfect for pairing with Christmas cheese or adding a touch of sweetness to festive feasts. These gift ideas celebrate seasonal cooking, local produce and the joy of good food all year round.

Some of our favourites include:

What to Cook and When to Cook It – a seasonal favourite by Valentine Warner, celebrating simple, flavour-packed dishes made with the best of what each month brings.

A Year in the Kitchen – a celebration of local ingredients and slow, thoughtful meals that celebrate seasonal eating.

How to Drink Wine – by Tom Surgey, the Sussex wine expert guiding readers through every swirl and sip.

The Allotment Cookbook – perfect for green-fingered cooks who love to eat what they grow.

A 2026 Calendar from The Sussex Peasant, celebrating our county’s farmers and the food they nurture through the seasons.

One Cheese to Rule Them All – learn how cheese is made, what to drink with each cheese, its World Cheese Awards status, and lots more to help you choose your cheese more wisely and enjoy it even more. By our friend, local resident & international cheese expert, Patrick McGuigan

In Brighton, we are fortunate to have such easy access to delicious, local food right on our doorstep. This festive season, why not bring a little extra flavour to your celebrations by sourcing ingredients from local producers? At the Food Partnership, we have compiled a selection of our favourite local, organic and ethical food stockists to help make your Christmas both tasty and mindful.

For a truly festive treat, Sussex Peasant are open for pre-orders for Christmas to order some of the best food Sussex has to offer. Book your free tickets for their upcoming Christmas markets, and enjoy a taste of seasonal, locally produced delights while supporting our county’s farmers.

Sustainably wrapped

The hustle and bustle of Christmas shopping can feel overwhelming, with consumerism often taking centre stage. Yet the most meaningful gifts are usually those that reflect care and thoughtfulness. Read this guide about how to celebrate sustainably this year, with great tips on how to reduce waste this season.

This year, consider supporting local businesses that champion sustainability and ethics. Shops such as Harriet’s of Hove, Infinity Foods and Kindly of Brighton offer a wonderful selection of items that would make for perfect, that are plastic-free, practical presents.

Brighton is full of charming charity shops, vintage stores and markets where you can uncover unique, pre-loved gifts. From retro kitchenware from Brighton Flea Market to quirky collectibles at Snooper’s Paradise these gifts have character and history, making them extra special. Shopping second-hand is a sustainable choice that helps reduce waste, supports local charities, and allows you to give something truly one-of-a-kind.

Jar of red coloured chutney without lid in forefront. Jar with red chutney in background with label reading 'chutney' — Homemade chutney

If you would rather gift an experience, Lovebrook is hosting winter weekend sauna sessions, perfect for unwinding after the festive rush. After your session make sure to pick up some local goodies at the farm shop and have drink and cake at the cafe while you’re there.

Or why not gift a ticket to one of the fascinating talks at Seedy Sunday 2026 – a perfect opportunity for the keen or would-be gardener in your life.

By choosing gifts that are kinder to the planet and closer to home, you can make this Christmas both joyful and sustainable.

Brighton’s festive markets

There’s nothing quite like a Christmas market to get you into the festive spirit. Brighton comes alive in November and December with twinkling lights, artisan stalls and the scent of hot chocolate and roasted chestnuts in the air. From handmade crafts to locally made food and drink, these markets are the perfect places to shop small and support local makers this season.

Brighton Open Market – various Saturdays in November and December

Brighton Christmas Festival – 16th November to 24th December

Rainbow Craft Events Craft Fair – 22nd November

The Maker’s Fair Winter Weekender – 29th November and 30th November

Beau Events Artisan Makers Market – 29th November

Community Base Christmas Market – 11th December

Brighton’s Festive Makers Fair – 13th December

Our friends at Butler’s Wine Cellar are hosting a Christmas Wine Festival on the evening on Friday 21st November. Held in St Mary’s Church, this annual festival, this is an opportunity to try around 50 plus different wines for the festive period. Book your tickets here.

Sussex festive markets

Venture beyond the city to discover Sussex’s countryside charm at its winter best. From cosy barn markets to historic fairgrounds, the county is bursting with festive events where you can find handcrafted gifts, local delicacies and unique stocking fillers. Wrap up warm, grab a mulled cider and make a day of it at one of these seasonal favourites.