7 d. ago Shoppers buy less food and booze over festive period in Britain's first 'fat jab Christmas'

Although supermarket sales in December rose 3.8 per cent to a record £13.8billion, fuelled by food price inflation, the volume of physical items bought declined, according research firm Worldpanel.

Economics

3 w. ago My weirdest Christmas: it was our first year in Sweden – but I insisted on having a big British celebration

When my family emigrated to Malmö, I wanted to stick to our traditions, but my husband was keen to embrace the local customs. Why were we butting heads?It was 3pm on Christmas Eve and already getting dark. As I stripped off on a wooden pier over the Baltic Sea in Malmö, Sweden, my husband and five-year-old boy, bundled up against the harsh wind, chanted: “Go Mummy, go Mummy, go Mummy!” Just as I was about to heroically slither out of my final layer, a bearded, completely naked man, who can only be described as Viking-esque, ascended the wooden ladder from the sea, looked at me with horror and possibly hypothermia in his eyes and shook his head. I put my five layers of clothing back on and, feeling deflated, suggested we crack open the Thermos. I knew I had failed at Swedish Christmas.My family and I emigrated to Sweden from the UK last winter, and while the days seemed impossibly short and dark, we were buoyed up by optimism, glögg (Swedish mulled wine) studded with almonds and rais...

Politics

3 w. ago I tried all the mulled wine in the supermarkets – rose one at £6 is the best

ROSÉ may be a traditional summertime favourite, but now it’s a winter warmer, too. After M&S launched a £6 bottle of pink mulled wine, drinks expert Helena Nicklin suggests the best plonks to perk up any festive party. Rosé mulled wine, ABV 11%, £6, M&S THIS pretty pink number is new at M&S and was...

Economics

3 w. ago Baileys and mulled wine warning for everyone who drinks them at Christmas

A plumber has issued an urgent warning to anyone enjoying Baileys, mulled wine or coffee during the festive season

Events

3 w. ago Skincare dos & don’ts to protect yourself from ‘festive face’ when drinking this Christmas & the £3 buy that’s ‘ideal’

A SKINCARE whizz has shared how you can avoid 'festive face' this Christmas. While we all like to indulge in the odd glass of bubbly or mulled wine over Christmas, it can soon show up on your face. And Dr Ellie Jolly from The Ilkley Skin Clinic says it can leave you with dry skin,...

Economics

3 w. ago 'Like a Saturday market in Denton': M.E.N readers give their verdict on the Christmas markets

'The novelty of standing in the rain drinking overpriced mulled wine has worn off'

Politics

3 w. ago Warning issued to anyone drinking mulled wine this Christmas

Anyone planning on drinking the popular festive tipple should be cautious

Events

3 w. ago Warning to anyone buying popular festive drink from supermarkets this Christmas

Experts have warned Christmas mulled wine drinkers about potential damage to teeth and plumbing problems when disposing of the festive favourite

Events

3 w. ago Anyone buying supermarket mulled wine this Christmas issued urgent warning

Mulled wine is a popular festive drink, but households have been warned over the Christmas beverage's potential risks

Events

4 w. ago I tried M&S rosé mulled wine and one thing about first sip left me baffled

As a self-proclaimed Christmas enthusiast, I rushed to my nearest Marks & Spencer to pick up their rose mulled wine when I first learned about it, but it wasn't like I expected it to be

Politics

4 w. ago I tried M&S's rosé mulled wine and first sip really took me by surprise

While I'm not normally a big fan of wines, I was excited to learn Marks & Spencer has unveiled a new rosé mulled wine for its 2025 Christmas food release, and I couldn't wait to try it

Politics

4 w. ago I took my kids to Lapland on the Santa Claus Express – but would the big man deliver?

If meeting Santa is on your family wishlist, this trip on a festive sleeper train from Helsinki to Rovaniemi, with reindeer and huskies thrown in, is Christmas with jingle bells onChristmas was only a few days away and the Finnish capital of Helsinki was ringing with festive cheer as we explored the Tuomaan Markkinat in Senate Square, sipping from mugs of hot, spicy glögi (mulled wine), and biting into joulutorttu (jam-filled puff pastries shaped like catherine wheels). A cold front had brought abundant snow and inhaling was rather painful at -8C, but nothing could still the tremble of excitement.Along with my husband and two young daughters, I was here to take the Santa Claus Express to the northern city of Rovaniemi, the heart of Finnish Lapland – and the “official” home of Father Christmas. A regular commuter train for the rest of the year, come late November the Santa Claus Express is Finnish Railways’ flagship service, offering the ultimate sleeper-train adventure. As I checked...

Politics

4 w. ago Four ways to save on your favourite seasonal tipples this Christmas

GET the party started with some special festive drinks – without splashing the cash. Whether you’re serving a warming mulled wine, glass of fizz or Christmassy cocktail, there’s bargains to be had. So gather your glasses for these low-cost tipples. MULL IT OVER: Transform a cheap bottle of red wine or cider by adding spices....

Politics