On high streets across the country, it’s starting to be seen a lot. Christmas.
The shops are full. Giftschocolate, Decorationand champagne. But one festive favorite reigns supreme: the Christmas sandwich.
Every year, Brits eagerly await the return of this seasonal treat to cool down lunch breaks in the countdown to December 25.
With so many options on offer now, choosing where to go for your cranberry sauce fix can be overwhelming. thanks, free Reporter and high street sandwich enthusiast, Athena Stavro has done the legwork – sampling the top picks so you don’t have to.
Turkey feast in meal deal, shoes, £3.30 or £4.99
Being a longtime fan of Boots’ food deals, I had high hopes for this one, but it fell flat. The filling wasn’t well distributed – everything got in the middle, leaving one half noticeably fuller than the other. Cranberry sauce lovers will also be disappointed, as there was only the worst smear. On the plus side, the bacon was plentiful and tasty.
Classification: ⭐⭐☆☆☆
Turkey Feast, Sainsbury’s, £3.35 or £3.75 in a meal deal
It was the ultimate Christmas sandwich at a great price. No fancy extras, just the classic combination of turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce done right. The balance of ingredients was spot on, making it the standout traditional option on this list without breaking the bank.
Classification: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Christmas Lunch Sandwich, Pret, £5.99 (Food)
The priciest sandwich on the list turned out to be the most disappointing. While it had some nice touches — crispy onions and a rare addition of fresh spinach — it fell short where it mattered most. The turkey and stuffing were sparse, allowing the overpowering port and orange-cranberry sauce to dominate every bite. To make matters worse, the bread was thin and dry, making it difficult to justify the price increase.
Classification: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
Turkey Feast, Marks & Spencer, £4
The price point of this sandwich matches its quality very well. It was what I would call a classic Christmas sandwich – with all the necessary ingredients and nothing else – but all the elements were well executed. You can’t get this in a meal deal – but for £4, I think it was just worth it. Special mention to the excellent quality crispy bacon and really good gravy mayo – which certainly helped its case.
Classification: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
Turkey and trimmings, Tesco, £3.40 or £3.60 in a meal deal
It was, overall, a good Christmas sandwich at a great price. It uses a vegetarian sage and onion filling but includes sliced sausages – a nice touch in my opinion. There was plenty of turkey and just the right amount of cranberry sauce. That said, a bit more filling could have helped it feel a little less dry, but it was still a solid sandwich.
Classification: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
