IKEA will open a new store in a major city centre next year as it continues its focus on high street locations.

The shop in Churchill Square, Brighton, will replace the former Debenhams store which has been empty since 2021, when the high street giant fell into administration.

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Ikea has moved away from big warehouse stores in recent years and is now eyeing up smaller sites.

It already has a smaller store in Hammersmith, London, and has unveiled plans for a shop on Oxford Street, which will replace Topshop’s flagship store.

The Swedish giant has not yet confirmed the exact date when the Brighton store will open but has said it will be in 2025.

But it revealed to the Sun that it will be after the Oxford Street location has opened its doors next spring.

The launch of the Oxford Street store has been pushed back several times during the renovation of the seven-floor building.

The Churchill Square Ikea will be the homeware retailer’s 23rd store in the UK.

Plans for the site were revealed last year, to the excitement of shoppers.

It will stock a wide array of the brand’s most popular products, including 6,000 items on display and 3,000 available for immediate purchase.

Staff will be on hand to help customers plan a new kitchen, bedroom or bathroom installation.

The full Ikea range will be available for delivery.

There will also be a Swedish Deli where customers will be able to tuck into the retailer’s iconic meatballs.

The store will also have on-site parking and electric vehicle charging points.

It will be accessible by bus or using a cycle lane.

Ikea’s first city centre shop opened in Tottenham Court Road, London, in October 2018.

Although it closed in July 2021, the homeware brand has continued to focus on the high street.

In its company report Peter Jelkeby, chief executive and chief sustainability officer at Ikea UK, said: “We continue to dedicate our energy to our UK expansion plans.

“We are laser-focused on continuing to innovate to reach more customers, with a network of new, smaller stores that offer different experiences.” 

He added that the stores will also include “new services that meet all of our customers’ needs, no matter where they live”.

The report also revealed that Ikea sales slumped by 2.4% last year, which the retailer said was due to its decision to prioritise affordability by lowering prices.

The cost of almost 3,000 products were slashed last year, offering customers an average price reduction of around 19%.

Among the items to see their prices cut were the Malm chest of three drawers and Ikea 365+ frying pan.

Where is my closest Ikea?

A quick way of figuring out if you have an Ikea store near you is by using the retailer’s locator tool on its website.

You just have to enter the town or city where you live, or your postcode and it will pull up the nearest site.

The same page has a helpful map showing where all of the 21 current stores are located.

Below we reveal the full list of Ikea stores in the UK:

• Croydon
• Hammersmith
• Greenwich
• Lakeside
• Wembley
• Birmingham (Wednesbury)
• Nottingham
• Bristol
• Cardiff
• Exeter
• Belfast
• Manchester
• Warrington
• Edinburgh
• Gateshead
• Glasgow
• Leeds
• Sheffield
• Milton Keynes
• Reading
• Southampton

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.

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MILLIONS of pensioners can get £150 to cover the cost of energy bills over the winter – but there are some key dates you need to know about.

The Warm Home Discount (WHD) is a reduction on your electricity, and sometimes gas, applied by energy firms once a year.

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Between now and December, the Government will issue letters to households that are eligible for the scheme.

The discount will be applied to energy bills over the winter by your energy firm.

The eligibility requirements for the Warm Home Discount are the same as last year, which we explain below.

You can get the help regardless of who supplies your energy, as long as you are eligible for the scheme and your firm is signed up.

If you think you might qualify for the WHD this year, there are a few dates to keep track of.

It’s important to make a note of these dates so you can plan out your finances and report any issues to your supplier.

Below, we’ve rounded up all the dates so you know what’s what.

Qualifying date – August 11

To qualify for the help, you need to have been in receipt of the guaranteed credit element of Pension Credit or a different qualifying benefit from the list below on August 11:

If you weren’t claiming any of the above benefits on August 11, 2024, you won’t be eligible for the rebate.

But, if your benefits claim is backdated to this date or earlier, you may become eligible for a discount.

Helpline opens – October 14

The WHD helpline opens for Core Group 1 and Core Group 2 customers in England and Wales.

The WHD helpline can be reached at 0800 030 9322.

The type of personal information that might be required from you includes an energy bill in your name or a tax credit certificate for the current tax year, which shows your income and the number of adults and children included in your assessment.

You may also have to provide proof of receipt of benefits.

Letters go out – between October and December

If you qualify for the WHD, you’ll receive a letter from your energy firm soon.

They’ll be dished out between October and December so keep your eyes peeled.

The letter will confirm if you are eligible for an automatic rebate or advise you to call a helpline to check if you are eligible.

Deadline to backdate Pension Credit – November 10

The August 11 qualifying date does not apply if you are receiving the guarantee credit element of Pension Credit.

This is because you can backdate Pension Credit claims by up to three months.

But, that does mean you will have to launch your Pension Credit claim by the end of Sunday, November 10.

Then, you’ll need to successfully backdate it to cover the August 11 date. If you fail to do this, you’ll miss out on the £150 discount this year.

When you need to act – January 2025

You should have received a letter to let you know if you can get the help by January.

If you still haven’t been notified and think you should be eligible then make sure you check the Government website gov.uk for more information.

Failing that, contact the above helpline for support.

Helpline shuts – February 28

February 28 is the deadline to contact the WHD helpline if you’re advised to get in touch in your letter.

Please contact the helpline included in your letter before this date if you’re eligible to make sure you don’t miss out on the payment.

All discounts must be applied – March 31

Energy firms have until the end of March next year to dish out the discounts to their eligible customers.

The £150 will be taken off your bill or given to you in voucher form between October and that date.

EDF Energy, which has around 5.22million customers, has said that it will aim to pay the discount by the end of February 28, 2025 at the latest.

And British Gas, the UK’s biggest supplier with 7million billpayers, has also confirmed that it will making the payments.

If you pay by direct debit or on receipt of your bill, the £150 Warm Home Discount will be added to your electricity account as a credit.

If you have a traditional prepayment meter, your firm will send you a voucher you can use to top up your meter at your nearest Paypoint kiosk.

You can find your closest one by visiting consumer.paypoint.com/cashout.

MARTIN Lewis has revealed a “key weapon” for households struggling to keep up with credit card debt.

The consumer champion has outlined a new balance transfer card which allows you to pay no interest on the amount you owe for more than two years.

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The Virgin Money 0% balance transfer card gives you 29 months interest-free, which is the longest period of any card on the market.

Everyone who gets accepted receives the full deal, which can give them breathing room to begin paying off their credit card debt.

In the MoneySavingExpert newsletter Martin Lewis said: “As we always say, a top 0% balance transfer is the core weapon for cutting credit card interest.

“If you can’t afford to clear your credit card, you can’t afford not to check this out.”

The card works by allowing you to move your credit card balance from another credit or store card to the Virgin Money credit card.

There is a 3.45% fee to move your money.

It means you can begin paying off your debt without accruing more interest on your balance, helping you to pay off what you owe faster.

A balance transfer credit card could be a useful option if you have debt spread across a few different cards or the rate on them has soared.

However, you can’t transfer a balance between cards from the same bank.

What other cards are available?

You can also get 29 months to pay off your balance with the HSBC Balance Transfer Credit Card Visa.

Some people will get the full 29 months to pay their balance back but others will get a shorter period depending on their credit score.

This card has a 3.49% fee to transfer your balance and will charge you 24.9% once your interest-free period is over.

Meanwhile, the Barclaycard Platinum Balance Transfer Visa gives you 28 months to pay back your balance and has a transfer fee of 3.45%.

Once the interest free period ends you will pay 24.9% interest on your balance.

How to shift your credit card debt quickly

By James Flanders, Consumer Reporter

UK Finance reports that we spend a whopping £2 billion a month using our credit cards.

While that little strip of plastic makes everyday spending easy peasy, it comes at a huge cost.

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According to The Money Charity, the average credit card debt sits at £2,485 per household or £1,312 per adult.

And if you’re stuck on a credit card with a high APR and only making the minimum repayments, you could be forking out hundreds of pounds extra in interest charges.

For example, if you owe £1,312 on your credit card and are charged 24.8% APR.

If you don’t make any more transactions and pay £100 a month in repayments, you will pay off the card by September 2025 but at £207 in interest.

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However, by hunting around for a better deal elsewhere and switching to a balance transfer credit card with a lengthy interest-free period, you can save yourself £162.

If the same person was accepted for a 28-month-long zero-interest credit card with a 3.4% balance transfer fee and made the same £100 repayments each month.

They would pay off the debt sooner, in July 2025, and only fork out £45 towards the 3.4% balance transfer fee.

Before taking out a new credit card or increasing the amount you borrow, it’s vital to consider the consequences.

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You should only borrow money if you can afford to pay it back.

It’s always vital to ask yourself if you need to borrow before committing to a new credit card, personal loan or overdraft.

If you use a credit card, I’d recommend that you always pay off your balance in full at the end of each statement period.

Lenders have a responsibility to help customers who are in debt.

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If you’re in a debt crisis, your first point of call should be your lender.

They might help you out by offering you a reduced interest rate or a temporary payment holiday – so check in with your lender if you’re struggling.

If you think that you can pay off your balance faster then you could apply for the Tesco Bank Clubcard Credit Card which has a lower fee.

The card gives you 27 months to pay your balance back but has a much lower fee of 2.95%.

How to find the best deal

Always use an eligibility calculator before you apply.

Every credit card application you make leaves a mark on your credit file, which can affect your credit score.

The Sun has put together a guide to help you find the best balance transfer cards to apply for to help you pay off debt.

To compare cards use a price comparison website such as MoneySavingExpert’s Cheap Credit Club or Compare the Market.

After you have put your details into an eligibility calculator and it suggests that you are likely to be accepted then you can make a formal application.

To do this you will need to give your email address, name, address and details of your income so the provider can assess whether you are eligible.

You will also need to give details of how much money you want to move to the new card but some providers let you do this after you have been accepted.

If your application is approved then you usually need to transfer your balance within a certain period, which is typically around 60 to 90 days.

Your old balance will be moved and you can start to make payments interest-free on your new card.

What other options are there?

You should look to see what options are available to you before you take out a credit card.

For example, new First Direct 1st Account customers can get £175 for switching to the bank and a £250 0% overdraft.

You will need to switch via the current account switch service to get the bonus and will be subject to a credit check.

If you have a very small credit card balance then this could be better than swapping cards.

You should also see if your local council can help.

Some offer interest-free loans to people on low income but the criteria will depend on your circumstances.

Contact your local council for more information.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.

Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories

NEIGHBOURS are at war over a “Grand Designs”-style home which is said to be an “eyesore” and has been compared to a pile of “shipping containers”.

The property – in a historic stockbroker town in the Home Counties – was constructed on a road where homes sell for more than £1million.

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Plans to build the home were initially approved in 2017 but the landowner made it two metres too high, located it in the wrong place on the plot of land and clad it in a plastic material rather than natural stone and oak.

After an outcry from residents, last year the local council imposed a demolition order on the house.

However, the Independent Planning Inspector, as part of the appeals process, instructed the landowner to make modifications to the building, but they were different to the originally approved planning permission.

Developer Peter Strange was given permission by Waverley Borough Council to build the home in Farnham, Surrey, seven years ago.

The original planning permission was for an “innovative cantilever design”, which would nestle into the woodland backdrop of the steep hillside plot.

The house is positioned just up the road from the Bourne Woods – a location used for the filming of blockbusters such as Napoleon, Gladiator and Harry Potter.

However, the finished building – which appears to be currently unoccupied – was out of line with the submitted plans.

The house was built six metres further to the south than planned, rotated approximately ten degrees from the consented dwelling, and was two metres higher than planned.

And, despite natural stone and oak cladding used in the plans – neighbours said a plastic material was used instead which “radically” changed the appearance.

After the landowner was threatened with enforcement action, Mr Strange – who bought the land in March 2018 for £450,000 – applied for retrospective planning permission for the new home.

This application received over 170 objections from locals who cited a variety of complaints.

One objector, Kevin Lester, wrote that it was an “ugly building” which is “far too big” and “imposing”.

“As it is, it looks like a number of Grey Shipping Containers have just been dumped on site, stacked and bolted together,” he said.

The application was not approved and an appeal was later dismissed with an enforcement order for demolition issued.

Last year, Mr Strange sought permission for the “erection of a dwelling with associated works following demolition of original dwelling”.

This application attracted further objection from residents who questioned why they were having to protest the plans again.

Nearby resident Paul Webb branded the situation a “carbuncle” and said the house was “completely out of character” when compared to the neighbouring properties.

As it is, it looks like a number of Grey Shipping Containers have just been dumped on site, stacked and bolted together

Kevin Lester

“The dreadful abuse then carried out by the developers, flouting the Council’s permission and attempting to foist the ‘shipping container’ house in our beautiful area of Farnham was rightly reversed with the demolition order, and it is impossible to believe that the miscreants even have a right of appeal?”

Mr Webb stated the planning process “risks falling into farce” unless the council sends a “clear signal” to developers that “they must abide by the law”.

Despite further push back from neighbours, the council have upheld part of the landowner’s appeal, meaning the property can stay up as long as changes are made in the next 12 months.

Noel Moss chairs the Bourne Conservation group and has lived in Farnham for 10 years.

‘BLOT ON THE LANDSCAPE’

The 88-year-old said the property is a “blot on the landscape”, adding: “What was built there, as an architectural design, is completely out of keeping with other buildings in the area – for example, the nice cottage opposite.

“With my conservation hat on, it is also taking up character of the very nice green space which faces you as you drive into Farnham from the South – that was always a very nice view.”

Mr Moss, who served in the Army for 30 years, said the site was also a ‘very important foraging area for bats”.

“What I think none of us can understand, is how the planning authority – who would also be aware of the character of the area – allowed such a design to go through, and secondly, didn’t check what was being built,” he continued.

“I don’t think the planning authority at Waverley are exempt from criticism on this matter.”

On the update to the plans, he said: “No one, including the planning committee, understands the present situation.

“My view, and the view of other neighbours I talk to, is that they can’t understand if it needs to be demolished.”

Everyone has to stick to the planning law

Louisa Bristow

Jewellery designer Louisa Bristow also lives near the house and admitted she didn’t “mind” what it looked like as it was “a little bit different”, which she welcomed.

But, the 46-year-old said “everyone has to stick to the planning law”, adding: “The rules are they for a reason and we need to follow them.

“Most people live and left live, some people are very vocal – we just don’t want people to take the mick.”

Jamie Dobse, 52, also lives near the property – and admitted he quite liked the “modern” appearance of it.

“I think it’s a shame it’s not occupied now,” he said of the property, “It wasn’t built as it was designed. I think as it was being built, it seemed quite obvious that it wasn’t how it was agreed.

“It seemed quite obviously different to the proposal.”

Mr Dobse, who works as a designer, said it would be “incredibly wasteful” to demolish the “contemporary” house.

“We need more housing,” he added.

Upholding part of the appeal, the planning inspector said: “As revised, the dwelling would nestle comfortably in the woodland setting in local views, retaining the informal rural character and well-wooded appearance of the locality.

“Owing to its greater overall height the permitted dwelling would have been a more visible built feature, even though set back further into the wooded hillside at a slightly different angle.

“Consequently, the revised dwelling would not appear as a prominent built feature in the surroundings, the immediate setting being largely dominated by maturing trees consistent with the visual qualities of the Arcadian Area.”

A Waverley Borough Council spokesperson told The Sun Online: “We need planning laws to protect our local environment and it is vitally important that they are followed.

“The landowner of 17 Frensham Road did not stick to the agreed plans for their development, and the council issued them with an enforcement notice requiring the demolition of the building.

“The landowner appealed the council’s ruling, and an independent planning inspector has given them until 16 August 2025 to modify the building.

“Various changes are required, including the removal of an external staircase, lowering the roofline and the use of timber cladding, otherwise the building will need to be demolished.”

The Sun Online has attempted to track down Mr Strange for comment.

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HOUSEHOLDS across England can get up to a whopping £2,665 worth of cost of living payments this month.

The money comes via the Household Support Fund (HSF) which is worth £421million in total.

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The fund has been split up between councils in England who are in charge of distributing their allocation before the end of September.

What you can get depends on where you live, as each local authority has been given its own unique amount.

Now households across England are being offered a collective of £2,665 cost of living payments – with up to £500 per household depending on your location.

The government recently encouraged state pensioners who have just missed out on a Winter Fuel Payment to claim money from the Household Support Fund where they live instead.

Discussing the fund, the government said: “Over a million pensioners will still receive the Winter Fuel Payments, and our drive to boost Pension Credit take up has already seen a 152per cent increase in claims.

“Many others will also benefit from the £150 Warm Home Discount to help with energy bills overwinter while our extension of the Household Support Fund will help with the cost of food, heating and bills.”

Below is a list of councils known to be offering support and how much:

• Brent: £500
• Blackpool: £300
• Rutland: £200
• Herefordshire: £500
• Sunderland: £220
• Bracknell Forest: £315
• Rotherham: £250
• Wiltshire: £200
• Cambridgeshire: £110

You will only receive the payment if you were found to have been eligible after applying.

Anyone who qualifies for help will have received an email telling them.

A maximum of one payment will be made per household and any payments are being made direct into bank accounts.

Some councils started distributing help in April and have already depleted their share, so you might have missed out for now.

The Household Support Fund has been extended multiple times since its inception in October 2021, so it may be extended again though.

There are currently a number of councils offering help via the HSF.

Leicestershire Council is handing out payments worth £300 to thousands of households.

Households in Stockport can claim up to £315 worth of free supermarket vouchers to help with the cost of living.

Meanwhile, Wokingham Council is handing out grants worth up to £140.

If you want to check if you are eligible for help, contact your local council.

You can find what council area you fall under by using the Government’s council locator tool.

How else to get help with the cost of living

If you’re not eligible for the Household Support Fund in your local area, it’s worth checking if you qualify for benefits.

Recent figures from Policy in Practice reveal millions of people aren’t claiming the extra help when they could be.

In total, £23billion went unclaimed over the last financial year, with £8.3billion worth of Universal Credit not claimed for.

You can apply for benefits on the Government’s website.

It’s not just extra money you get from benefits either, with a number opening up additional perks.

Those on Universal Credit can get help covering the cost of childcare, for example, while those on Pension Credit can get a free TV licence.

Those on the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit also qualify for the Warm Home Discount – a £150 discount off energy bills once a year.

You may also be able to get grants to cover your energy bills if you’ve fallen into arrears.

A number of energy firms offer grants to struggling customers, including Scottish Power, Octopus Energy and British Gas.

If you’re struggling to pay your bills, speak to your supplier to see if they can give you any help.

A BARGAIN supermarket has been crowned better than M&S, Waitrose and Tesco for Christmas dinner.

Aldi is known for its low-cost grocery goods – but it has now been crowned one of the best-tasting supermarket for Christmas too.

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The German discounter knocked out M&S, which is notorious for its festive treats out of the park.

Upmarket Waitrose and ever-reliable Tesco were also trumped by the bargain store in Good Housekeeping’s annual taste test.

Lucky tasters put over 730 products from over 97 brands through their paces.

The grub is assessed on appearance, aroma, flavour and texture, and then rated out of 100.

Aldi topped the charts with 15 of the brand’s products appearing in first or second place across all categories.

For example, its mince pies, which cost just 38p each were crowned the star of the show.

Elsewhere, its Specially Selected Orange and Maple Pudding scored 88/100 and was a fan favourite amongst panellists.

The citrus take on the classic cost just £9.99.

Coming in second was the Meg Rivers Christmas Pudding which will set you back £18.50.

Aldi’s Veuve Monsigny Premier Cru Champagne also claimed the title of “Best Champagne’” and cost £22.

Panelists rated the tipple 85/100.

The budget bubbly outperformed pricier competitors such as Selfridge’s and M&S’s which cost £34.99 and £28, respectively.

But Aldi was not the star of the show in every instance.

For example, Waitrose’s came out on top in the Christmas Turkey category for its £60 bird.

Plus ,Sainsbury’s took the crown in the Pigs and Blankets category for its premium £4.50 ‘Taste the Difference’ pork snack.

Full list of taste test winners

Baked Goods

• Winner: Co-op Ready to Bake Cinnamon Danish £3.00, 86/100
• Runner-up: Tesco Finest Cranberry & Orange Pane-toastie £5.50

Smoked Salmon

• Winner: Fortnum and Mason Farmed Scottish Smoked Salmon £15.00, 85/100
• Runner-up: Tesco Finest Strong and Robust Scottish Smoked Salmon £4.60, 81/100

Flavoured Smoked Salmon

• Winner: Asda Exceptional Fig, Whisky & Spiced Honey Smoked Salmon £4.60, 78/100
• Runner-up: Tesco Finest Smoked Salmon with Whisky £5.50, 76/100

Meat Canapés

• Joint Winner: COOK Chicken, Ginger & Lemon Grass Bites £8.50, 89/100
• Joint Winner: Morrisons The Best Pork Belly with Maple BBQ Sauce £6, 89/100
• Runner-up: Asda Red Thai Santa Hats £2.75, 87/100

Seafood Canapés

• Winner: Morrisons The Best Prawn Bao Bun £5.50, 91/100
• Runner-up: Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference 8 Crispy Prawn Toasties £5.25, 89/100

Veggie Canapés

• Joint Winner: Morrisons The Best Vegetable Tempura Nests with Sweet Chilli Dip £5, 85/100
• Joint Winner: Co-op Katsu Bites £3.50, 85/100
• Runner-up: Waitrose 8 Mexican Style Vegetable Tacos £8, 81/100

Starters and Sharers

• Winner: Waitrose No. 1 Lobster, Crab and Prawn Cocktail £5.95, 93/100
• Runner-up: Tesco Finest Chicken & Roasted Mushroom Quenelles £4, 91/100

Turkey Crowns (and Other Non-Whole Turkey)

• Winner: Waitrose Glorious Treacle Glazed Turkey Crown £60, £30 per kg, 89/100
• Runner-up: Lidl Deluxe Free Range Bronze Turkey Crown £27.90 – £41.85, £13.95 per kg, 87/100

Whole Turkey

• Winner: Aldi Specially Selected Roly Poly Whole Turkey £39.96 – £59.84, £9.99 per kg, 86/100
• Runner-up: Riverford Organic Farmers Turkey XL £155, 6.5kg, 83/100

Meat Mains

• Winner: Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Bone in Crackling Gammon with a Festive Spiced Glaze £30, 89/100
• Joint Runner-up: Aldi Specially Selected Crackling Gammon Joint Sugar Baked £18.99, 85/100
• Joint Runner-up: Asda Exceptional Fig, Whisky & Spiced Honey Gammon Joint £20, 85/100

Roast Potatoes

• Winner (Best Roast / Vegan Roast): COOK Roast Potatoes £3.50 – £4.95, 80/100
• Joint Runner-up (Best Goose Dripping): Morrisons The Best Goose Fat Roast Potatoes £4, 79/100
• Joint Runner-up: McCain Triple Cooked Roasts £3, 79/100

Pigs in Blankets

• Winner: Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Proper Pig in Blankets £4.25, 86/100
• Runner-up: Aldi Specially Selected Pigs in Blankets £2.49, 83/100

Pigs in Blankets (Flavoured)

• Winner: Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Caramelised Onion Chipolatas £4.25, 85/100
• Runner-up: Aldi Specially Selected Caramelised Onion Chipolatas Wrapped In Bacon £2.49, 82/100

Meat-Free Mains

• Winner: COOK Roasted Pepper and Goat’s Cheese Quiche £22, 83/100
• Runner-up + Most Impressive Looking Centrepiece: Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Mushroom, Cavolo Nero and Chestnut Filo Pie £12, 82/100

Vegetable Sides

• Winner: Taste the Difference Sprout, Leek and Cavolo Nero Gratin £5.50, 88/100
• Runner-up: Co-op Winter Roasting Tray with Sage and Sea Salt Melt (vegan) £2.80, 83/100

Christmas Pudding

• Winner: Meg Rivers Traditional Christmas Pudding £18.50, 85/100
• Runner-up: Bettys Classic Christmas Pudding (Large) £27, 84/100

Flavoured Christmas Pudding

• Winner: Aldi Specially Selected Orange and Maple Pudding £9.99, 88/100
• Runner-up: Meg Rivers Gin Infused Christmas Pudding £17.85, 84/100

Dessert Centrepieces

• Winner + Best Budget: Asda Crème Brûlée £5, 88/100
• Runner-up: Aldi Specially Selected Ultimate Gold Coin £6.99, 87/100

Panettone

• Winner: Waitrose Limoncello Fizz Panettone £12, 94/100
• Runner-up: Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Classic Panettone £16.50, 90/100

Yule Logs

• Winner: Asda Clementine and White Chocolate Yule Log £10, 85/100
• Joint Runner-up: Aldi Specially Selected Belgian White Chocolate Yule Log £8.99, 81/100
• Joint Runner-up: Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Millionaire’s Yule Log £11, 81/100

Stollen

• Winner: Meg Rivers Christmas Tart £14, 89/100
• Runner-up: Aldi Specially Selected Luxury Topped Stollen £5.99, 83/100

Mince Pies

• Winner: Aldi Specially Selected Mince Pies £2.29, 88/100
• Runner-up: Fitzbillies Classic Mince Pies £18, 84/100

Mince Pies with a Twist

• Winner: Booths 4 Viennese Topped Mince Pies £4, 91/100
• Runner-up + Best Budget: Asda Whisky, Fig and Spiced Honey Florentine Mince Pies £2.50, 83/100

Gluten-Free Mince Pies

• Winner: Costa Vegan Gluten Free Mince Tart £2.30, 82/100
• Runner-up: Waitrose Free From Milk & Gluten Free Mince Pies £2.90, 81/100

Christmas Cake

• Joint Winner: Biscuiteers Christmas Cake £68, 85/100
• Joint Winner: Daylesford Iced Christmas Cake £45, 85/100
• Joint Runner-up: Iceland Luxury Christmas Cake £10, 81/100
• Joint Runner-up: Aldi Specially Selected All Over Iced Christmas Cake £8.99, 81/100

Biscuit Tins

• Winner: Bettys Biscuit Tin Selection £25, 96/100
• Joint Runner-up: Fitzbillies Cambridge Gingerbread £17, 82/100
• Joint Runner-up + Best Budget: Co-op Highland Shortbread Selection Box £4, 82/100

Christmas Crisps

• Joint Winner: Waitrose Turkey & Stuffing Flavour Tortilla Chips £2, 85/100
• Joint Winner: Asda Extra Special Beef & Red Wine Gravy Hand Cooked Crisps £1.35, 85/100
• Runner-up: Savoursmiths Christmas Ham with Umami Truffle Glaze £2.95, 81/100

Christmas Heroes

• Winner: Asda Exceptional Bone Marrow Beef Pie £10, 91/100
• Runner-up: Specially Selected Honey Roast Hot Smoked Salmon Side £9.99, 90/100

Gingerbread Houses

• Winner: Asda Gingerbread House Kit £5, 89/100
• Runner-up: Waitrose Build Your Own Gingerbread House £6, 88/100

How to save money on your food shop

Consumer reporter Sam Walker reveals how you can save hundreds of pounds a year:

Odd boxes – plenty of retailers offer slightly misshapen fruit and veg or surplus food at a discounted price.

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Lidl sells five kilos of fruit and veg for just £1.50 through its Waste Not scheme while Aldi shoppers can get Too Good to Go bags which contain £10 worth of all kinds of products for £3.30.

Sainsbury’s also sells £2 “Taste Me, Don’t Waste Me” fruit and veg boxes to help shoppers reduced food waste and save cash.

Food waste apps – food waste apps work by helping shops, cafes, restaurants and other businesses shift stock that is due to go out of date and passing it on to members of the public.

Some of the most notable ones include Too Good to Go and Olio.

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Too Good to Go’s app is free to sign up to and is used by millions of people across the UK, letting users buy food at a discount.

Olio works similarly, except users can collect both food and other household items for free from neighbours and businesses.

Yellow sticker bargains – yellow sticker bargains, sometimes orange and red in certain supermarkets, are a great way of getting food on the cheap.

But what time to head out to get the best deals varies depending on the retailer. You can see the best times for each supermarket here.

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Super cheap bargains – sign up to bargain hunter Facebook groups like Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK where shoppers regularly post hauls they’ve found on the cheap, including food finds.

“Downshift” – you will almost always save money going for a supermarket’s own-brand economy lines rather than premium brands.

The move to lower-tier ranges, also known as “downshifting” and hailed by consumer expert Martin Lewis, could save you hundreds of pounds a year on your food shop.