Christmas Café Culture

Whether it’s coffee, cake, lunch, afternoon tea or supper, make sure you drop in to one of our region’s great cafés when you’re out and about doing your Christmas shopping.

Luckily, there are plenty of Live Love Local pit stops, perfect for you to drop in and relax with a winter warmer with friends or just to check out what still needs to be done on your Christmas list.

If you have a café that deserves a feature in our café culture blog, just drop us an email and tell us why.

Make Christmas shopping even more special with a pit stop at one of our amazing cafés or tea rooms.

Cackleberrys

In Fareham, hop into Cackleberrys for one of their famous rabbit pies or a hearty brunch, or just to catch up with family and friends over coffee. This family-run business gets rave reviews for its home-cooked food and friendly service.

They even do gift vouchers and Christmas Crates packed with goodies for gifting, so you sit in comfort with a hot chocolate while you sort your shopping!

What a find!

Check them out:

Vintage Tea Room

The Vintage Tea Room in Fareham is another family-run gem. From High Tea to Cream Tea with speciality teas in between, all appetites are catered for. There are Vegan options as well and a pavement café when the weather is warm. Special treats include a bottomless brunch or afternoon tea. Gift vouchers for High Tea, Cream Tea or Sparkling Afternoon Teas are also available – or why not order an afternoon tea for delivery as a Christmas gift?

Check them out:

Westbury Manor Museum

Blend the past with Christmas presents at the elegant Westbury Manor Museum in Fareham, perfect for a family outing and fully accessible with lifts to all floors.

Here you can delve into Fareham’s heritage, people, the impact of the Black Death and discover more about some of the people who lived in the town and the Manor House itself, from high-ranking naval officers to prisoners in the hulks moored in Fareham Creek.  Did you know that the bricks for the Royal Albert Hall were made in Fareham – called Fareham Reds?

After your step back in time, you can shop for unusual Christmas gifts inspired by the museum’s collections and exhibitions, and then call in to the café for a well-earned treat from their locally sourced menu and take a look at the weird and wonderful collection of curiosities adorning the café’s wall.

Check them out:

The Garden Shed Cafe

Vegans will love the delicious hearty breakfast at the family-run Fareham-based café, The Garden Shed, where you’ll also find delicious home-cooked main meals and freshly baked cakes brought to you by a friendly team led by Marco and Amanda.

The Garden Shed is pet-friendly, complete with snacks and a water bowl for your best friend. It easily gets a 5-star rating on Tripadvisor.

Check them out:

Breezes Cafe

Just a stone’s throw from the stunning Titchfield Haven is Breezes Cafe, perfect for brunch after feeding the ducks. Offering a cosy environment, with Covid screen between tables and delicious home-made food, Breezes is even dog-friendly with its own special dog menu! A definite must for this winter!

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The Cork and Cheese

In Park Gate, The Cork & Cheese offers the chance to shop and indulge yourself all at the same time. Their deli and wine merchants, is stocked with wonderful wines, local gins and sensational produce.

To top that off there’s a great café in the heart of the shop which means you can choose some gifts, put together a festive hamper or two for foodie friends and stock up with your own Christmas cheeses while tucking into a sandwiches, platters or pastry with a coffee or glass of wine.

You can try before you buy, take some advice from their knowledgeable team and then enjoy a coffee or meal while they gift wrap your purchases.

The First Friday of the month is a special gin tasting evening so if gin is your thinking, book your table now and get some Christmas presents sorted in the bag things get too hectic.

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The Wine Garden

The mediaeval village of Titchfield is so lovely at Christmas time with its narrow streets lined with quaint historic cottages each showcasing their own lit Christmas tree.

Hallmark Jewellers, in a 12th century building with high ceilings and original exposed wooden beams, is a perfect destination for Christmas gift shopping. It has all kinds of jewellery, from a bespoke design service, beautiful luxury brands and affordable Christmas gifts.

At the back of the shop is a hidden gem called the Wine Garden at Hallmark. All the food is freshly prepared in their Titchfield kitchen. Choose a Parma ham and Parmesan salad or a spiced chicken and rice wrap from their Artisan menu, or see what specials are on the board, including some Vegan options.

They offer local wines such as Pinot Noir and Bacchus from the nearby Titchfield Vineyard, or Hambledon Vineyard’s, Classic Cuvée.

What a way to shop – some time spent browsing in the jewellers followed by a festive wine sharing board – choose from cheese or charcuterie and you’ll be given wines to match. The beauty of live love local.

Check them out: