Mother’s Day 2021: gifts to make it special
How to make Mother’s Day at home feel special
Mother’s Day will be spent at home this year, but the good news is that most traditional gifts – from afternoon tea to gorgeous bouquets of spring flowers – can be delivered to her door. We’ve scanned the offerings from boutique hotels, luxe emporiums, our favourite florists and revered restaurants to bring you some of the loveliest gifts to order for Mothering Sunday.
If you’d rather wait to treat your mum in person, it’s worth noting that vouchers for afternoon teas, restaurants and hotel stays can all be purchased in advance – check the website of your preferred venue for their offers. Meanwhile, theatre tickets for West End shows including Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Six: The Musical and Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cinderella can also now be booked for later in the year. Galleries, too, are announcing their reopening dates, with the Royal Academy’s powerful Tracey Emin / Edvard Munch exhibition among the first shows reopening in May.
Afternoon teas galore
Claridge's Mother's Day afternoon tea
Londoners are thoroughly spoiled for choice when it comes to the tradition of afternoon tea, with several top hotels and restaurants employing dedicated patissiers to elevate their offering. While afternoon tea can’t be enjoyed in person this Mother’s Day, many of the city’s chief proprietors are boxing up their delights to be enjoyed as a home delivery.
The Claridge’s Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea (£50pp) features freshly baked scones with Cornish clotted cream and Marco Polo gelée; a selection of gourmet finger sandwiches (we’re eyeing up the Norfolk chicken with truffle parmesan), and an indulgent range of cakes (hello pistachio choux) – all of which comes boxed and ribbonened, and is available for delivery within an eight-mile radius of Claridges.
Skye Gyngell’s Spring To Go’s Afternoon Tea Box (£60, serves two), keeps things simple with six house-made scones, Jersey cream, a selection of jams and a duo of Postcard tea tins. Spruce up your order with a Kitten Grayson seasonal flower bunch, a bottle of Champagne or one of Skye’s delectable cakes (chocolate or lemon) for an additional cost.
Fortnum & Mason’s Mother’s Day Tea Basket (£75) comes packed with the sorts of tasty treats needed to lay on a DIY spread at home. Delicate loose leaf black tea, buttery shortbread, Pink Marc de Champagne Truffles and Victoria Plum Preserve all feature, with a bottle of Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Champagne topping off the offering.
Bonding through bouquets and biscuits
Unsplash
If Mother’s Day would ordinarily see the two of you bond over the course of an art session, cooking class or similar, why not get creative in an online workshop? It’s a great way to spend the day together despite being apart, while making matching keepsakes from your separate homes.
North London-based ethical florist Helena, aka The Allotment Florist, is hosting two virtual spring wreath-making workshops over Zoom (£55). Classes are taking place on Friday 12 and Saturday 13 March, from 7:30pm – 8:30pm, so your wreath will be ready for Mothering Sunday. Friday’s class also includes a cocktail-making demonstration led by Wendy from The Yorkshire Homestead and Joanne from Hardcastle Towers. All materials are sent out in advance (so booking is essential) and on the night, Helena will take you through weaving your wreath using moss, bulbs, twigs and spring blooms.
Biscuiteers x Emma Bridgewater
Meanwhile, artisanal online biscuit company Biscuiteers has partnered with ceramicist and homeware designer Emma Bridgewater to release a Mother’s Day Time for Tea collection (£30 – £75): a selection of lemon flavoured biscuits iced with delicate sweet pea and butterfly designs, which can be packaged in three sizes and with the option to add on an Emma Bridgewater Mother’s Day mug. More exciting still, Biscuiteers is hosting a live Zoom icing tutorial with Bridgewater herself on Saturday 13 March, 11am – 1pm (£85 for one or £150 for two) – a chance to ice your own biscuits guided by an expert hand.
Flower Power
McQueen's Flowers' Forza bouquet
Brighten up her home and bring a smile to her face with a stunning bouquet. After all, flowers are a perennially popular gift for good reason. Flowerbx’s Victorian Pink RoseLily (£55+) with its bold swirls of pink and white is a particularly pretty offering, and is pollen-free – making it a brilliant choice for those with allergies.
Bloom and Wild’s limited edition ‘Our Florist’s Pick’ (£30) is a great option for those who'd like a bit of help choosing. The bouquet currently features soft-toned purples and pinks, including carnation, stocks, roses and eucalyptus.
Another Mother’s Day highlight from the horticultural world comes from female-founded McQueen’s Flowers, which is doubling down on happiness with its new vibrant yellow Forza bouquet (pictured, £60 – £170). Launched in time for International Women’s Day, the bouquet comprises mimosas, which the florist says has been a symbol of International Women’s Day since 1946. The florist is also offering vouchers for those who want to attend a half-day (£135) or whole day (£260) workshop at their studio in the future.
Hampers of happiness
Clockwise from top left: Ottolenghi's Mother’s Day Breakfast Hamper (£75 - buy here); Fortnum and Mason’s Fit For Your Queen hamper (£150 - buy here); Harvey Nichols' Mother's Day Hamper (£115 - buy here); Ladurée’s Mother’s Day Gift Set (£65 - buy here)
Compact, thoughtful and filled with edible pleasures, hampers make a popular gift for foodies whatever the occasion. Mother’s Day sees restaurants and department stores alike release limited edition hampers filled with seasonal goodies.
Among our favourites is Ottolenghi’s new Mother’s Day Breakfast Hamper (£75, available nationwide) which features lemon and vanilla marmalade, a pistachio spread, seeded lavosh and salted caramel chocolate brittle among its highlights.
At Harvey Nichols, the bespoke Mother's Day Hamper (£115) features Premier Cru Brut Champagne, a caramelised white chocolate bar, teas, ground coffee, an indulgent selection of spice-tossed nuts, mini preserves, and more.
Fortnum and Mason’s Fit For Your Queen hamper (£150) is another sure-fire winner: chocolate pearl biscuits, Marc de Champagne Truffles, creamy Spring Chocolate Flowers, Fortnum's Rosé Champagne, tea and more – all in a signature wicker basket.
Last but not least, Ladurée’s delicate, sugar-dusted Mother’s Day Gift Set (£65) will delight those with a discerning sweet tooth with its selection of 12 assorted macarons, Marie-Antoinette tea bags and vegan marble cake.
If you’d rather wait to treat your mum in person, it’s worth noting that vouchers for afternoon teas, restaurants and hotel stays can all be purchased in advance – check the website of your preferred venue for their offers. Meanwhile, theatre tickets for West End shows including Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Six: The Musical and Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cinderella can also now be booked for later in the year. Galleries, too, are announcing their reopening dates, with the Royal Academy’s powerful Tracey Emin / Edvard Munch exhibition among the first shows reopening in May.
Afternoon teas galore
Claridge's Mother's Day afternoon tea
Londoners are thoroughly spoiled for choice when it comes to the tradition of afternoon tea, with several top hotels and restaurants employing dedicated patissiers to elevate their offering. While afternoon tea can’t be enjoyed in person this Mother’s Day, many of the city’s chief proprietors are boxing up their delights to be enjoyed as a home delivery.
The Claridge’s Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea (£50pp) features freshly baked scones with Cornish clotted cream and Marco Polo gelée; a selection of gourmet finger sandwiches (we’re eyeing up the Norfolk chicken with truffle parmesan), and an indulgent range of cakes (hello pistachio choux) – all of which comes boxed and ribbonened, and is available for delivery within an eight-mile radius of Claridges.
Skye Gyngell’s Spring To Go’s Afternoon Tea Box (£60, serves two), keeps things simple with six house-made scones, Jersey cream, a selection of jams and a duo of Postcard tea tins. Spruce up your order with a Kitten Grayson seasonal flower bunch, a bottle of Champagne or one of Skye’s delectable cakes (chocolate or lemon) for an additional cost.
Fortnum & Mason’s Mother’s Day Tea Basket (£75) comes packed with the sorts of tasty treats needed to lay on a DIY spread at home. Delicate loose leaf black tea, buttery shortbread, Pink Marc de Champagne Truffles and Victoria Plum Preserve all feature, with a bottle of Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Champagne topping off the offering.
Bonding through bouquets and biscuits
Unsplash
If Mother’s Day would ordinarily see the two of you bond over the course of an art session, cooking class or similar, why not get creative in an online workshop? It’s a great way to spend the day together despite being apart, while making matching keepsakes from your separate homes.
North London-based ethical florist Helena, aka The Allotment Florist, is hosting two virtual spring wreath-making workshops over Zoom (£55). Classes are taking place on Friday 12 and Saturday 13 March, from 7:30pm – 8:30pm, so your wreath will be ready for Mothering Sunday. Friday’s class also includes a cocktail-making demonstration led by Wendy from The Yorkshire Homestead and Joanne from Hardcastle Towers. All materials are sent out in advance (so booking is essential) and on the night, Helena will take you through weaving your wreath using moss, bulbs, twigs and spring blooms.
Biscuiteers x Emma Bridgewater
Meanwhile, artisanal online biscuit company Biscuiteers has partnered with ceramicist and homeware designer Emma Bridgewater to release a Mother’s Day Time for Tea collection (£30 – £75): a selection of lemon flavoured biscuits iced with delicate sweet pea and butterfly designs, which can be packaged in three sizes and with the option to add on an Emma Bridgewater Mother’s Day mug. More exciting still, Biscuiteers is hosting a live Zoom icing tutorial with Bridgewater herself on Saturday 13 March, 11am – 1pm (£85 for one or £150 for two) – a chance to ice your own biscuits guided by an expert hand.
Flower Power
McQueen's Flowers' Forza bouquet
Brighten up her home and bring a smile to her face with a stunning bouquet. After all, flowers are a perennially popular gift for good reason. Flowerbx’s Victorian Pink RoseLily (£55+) with its bold swirls of pink and white is a particularly pretty offering, and is pollen-free – making it a brilliant choice for those with allergies.
Bloom and Wild’s limited edition ‘Our Florist’s Pick’ (£30) is a great option for those who'd like a bit of help choosing. The bouquet currently features soft-toned purples and pinks, including carnation, stocks, roses and eucalyptus.
Another Mother’s Day highlight from the horticultural world comes from female-founded McQueen’s Flowers, which is doubling down on happiness with its new vibrant yellow Forza bouquet (pictured, £60 – £170). Launched in time for International Women’s Day, the bouquet comprises mimosas, which the florist says has been a symbol of International Women’s Day since 1946. The florist is also offering vouchers for those who want to attend a half-day (£135) or whole day (£260) workshop at their studio in the future.
Hampers of happiness
Clockwise from top left: Ottolenghi's Mother’s Day Breakfast Hamper (£75 - buy here); Fortnum and Mason’s Fit For Your Queen hamper (£150 - buy here); Harvey Nichols' Mother's Day Hamper (£115 - buy here); Ladurée’s Mother’s Day Gift Set (£65 - buy here)
Compact, thoughtful and filled with edible pleasures, hampers make a popular gift for foodies whatever the occasion. Mother’s Day sees restaurants and department stores alike release limited edition hampers filled with seasonal goodies.
Among our favourites is Ottolenghi’s new Mother’s Day Breakfast Hamper (£75, available nationwide) which features lemon and vanilla marmalade, a pistachio spread, seeded lavosh and salted caramel chocolate brittle among its highlights.
At Harvey Nichols, the bespoke Mother's Day Hamper (£115) features Premier Cru Brut Champagne, a caramelised white chocolate bar, teas, ground coffee, an indulgent selection of spice-tossed nuts, mini preserves, and more.
Fortnum and Mason’s Fit For Your Queen hamper (£150) is another sure-fire winner: chocolate pearl biscuits, Marc de Champagne Truffles, creamy Spring Chocolate Flowers, Fortnum's Rosé Champagne, tea and more – all in a signature wicker basket.
Last but not least, Ladurée’s delicate, sugar-dusted Mother’s Day Gift Set (£65) will delight those with a discerning sweet tooth with its selection of 12 assorted macarons, Marie-Antoinette tea bags and vegan marble cake.
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