An Advent For All The Family - The Pick Of 2018

Counting down to Christmas has never been so much fun, and fun for the whole family, not just the small people! Forget cheap chocolate or naff notes, advent calendars have come on a lot in the past few years. There’s an array of inviting ideas out there, from tequila behind every door to a nugget of pork crackling, if that’s what floats your boat. Belle isn’t so keen on the crackling idea personally, but it just goes to show there really is something out there for everyone this festive season. Here’s our pick of the best advent calendars out there, so you’re sure to find one to suit every member of the family.

An advent calendar for all the family why not try the Snaffling Pig Co pork crackling calendar — Snaffling Pig Co’s countdown to Christmas

Dior – To celebrate the holidays, the Dior House has created a limited edition advent calendar. French artist Broll & Prascida, illustrates and reinterpretes the mythical 30 Avenue Montaigne especially for Christmas. The snowy facade is transformed into a fairytale, with the iconic codes of style decked in gold and lights for the occasion. Discover 24 delightful Dior surprises to plunge into the magical world of a Dior Christmas. £280 from Dior.com.

Snaffling Pig Co’s Merry Pigging Christmas – The holiday season is the perfect excuse to pig out, so why not offer the meat-lover in the family the opportunity to indulge in those crackling cravings with Snaffling Pig Co’s annual advent calendar? The company began as a passion project with a mission to help foodies embrace their carnivorous side, but it has quickly grown into a booming, award-winning business. Behind each window is a mini bag of flavoured pork, with a mix of six flavours, including Pigs in Blankets, Low & Slow BBQ, Maple and Salt and Vinegar. The pork crackling is gently double-cooked at high temperatures, to ensure a softer snack that maintains its bite. £17.50 from Snaffling Pork Co.

Drinks By The Dram – Premium drinks merchant Drinks By The Dram offers a whole host of alcoholic advents for connoisseurs, from aged whisky to artisan gins. Our favourite is the delightful

An advent for all the family, the Drinks by the Dram Tequila Advent is perfect for a spirits connoisseur by Belle About Town — Drinks by the Dram Tequila Advent

Tequila Advent. This colourful calendar depicts some of Mexico’s famed symbols — the Chichen Itza temple, the Calavera skull used in the Day of the Dead celebrations and the agave plant, which of course is used to make delicious tequila. From complex barrel-aged anejos to small-batch blancos, this calendar contains some of Mexico’s finest tequilas and is a must-have for any Tequila-lover worth their salt (and lemon). With 24 different, handmade 30ml wax-sealed drams you can explore tequilas from across Mexico from boutique producers to world-renowned brands. Priced at £149.95, you can buy it by clicking here.

Greene and Blacks luxury choclate advent calendar is a treat for anyone in the family who adores great chocolate — Greene & Black’s luxury chocolate advent

Greene & Black’s Luxury Chocolate Advent – If the only way is cocoa then this is the ultimate chocolate advent. An elegantly presented, sumptuous smooth collection of Dark 70%, Sea Salt, Salted Caramel and Milk Chocolate. Open a door each day to find tempting treats that have been expertly crafted to make the perfect present for chocolate connoisseurs. Green & Black’s individually wrapped dark and milk chocolates contain only the finest, ethically sourced, ingredients. And they taste a-ma-zing. £10 from the Greene & Black’s website.

Personalised Advent Letters from Elf For Christmas – A resident Elf has become as much a symbol of advent in recent years as chocolate calendars and baubles. But go a step further for your little ones with a personalised letter each day written directly from their very own Elf, letters that mention their hometown and the important people in their lives throughout. These personalised Elf letters follow storylines to keep kids hooked right up to the big day. They’re printed on quality paper, presented beautifully, and most importantly parents don’t have to come up with another exciting surprise every night after the kids are in bed! Each day, the Christmas Elf pen pal sends a new Advent Letter, revealing their exciting adventures straight from Santa’s workshop. Children can discover the mischief, mishaps and funny stories happening in at the North Pole as the Elves prepare for Christmas. Fill in your details and away you go! £19.95 from the Elf For Christmas website, and worth every penny!

Paw Patrol pups can’t fail to please preschoolers

Paw Patrol – Love ’em or hate ’em, parents can’t escape Marshall and his mates woofing all over the shop every waking minute of the day. While incomprehensible to anyone over the age of six, there’s something about that pups that draws kids in. So imagine their delight when they get to open up a cute canine surprise every day leading up to Christmas. £25 from Argos.

Match Attax – The perfect advent for every football-loving child, and not a chocolate in sight. The Football Trading Card Game advent edition features stunning new cards, brand new foil sets, addictive gameplay and all of the stars of the Premier League! The 2017/18 Match Attax advent contains 24 Packs including 1 Gold Limited Edition Card. £22.50 from Argos and most high street news stores.

Emily Cleary

After almost a decade chasing ambulances, and celebrities, for Fleet Street's finest, Emily has taken it down a gear and settled for a (slightly!) slower pace of life in the suburbs. With a love of cheese and fine wine, Emily is more likely to be found chasing her toddlers round Kew Gardens than sipping champagne at a showbiz launch nowadays, or grabbing an hour out of her hectic freelancer's life to chill out in a spa while hubby holds the babies. If only!

View all posts