FEMAIL puts 35 high street festive sandwiches to the ultimate test
The great Christmas sandwich taste test! FEMAIL tries more than 35 of the high street’s festive feasts (and a newcomer has come out on top!)
- FEMAIL tried over 30 Christmas sandwiches from supermarkets and cafes
- Patisserie Valerie, Aldi, M&S and Ole & Steen offerings came up top
- Meanwhile, Morrisons and Waitrose failed to impress with their
Forget saving a decadent turkey meal for Christmas Day – thanks to this year’s high street offerings, you can now get your festive lunch fix from a different retailer everyday.
From vegan-friendly sarnies to indulgent turkey feasts, supermarkets and cafes have gone all out with their varieties this year, but with so many on offer – how do you know which is worth splashing out on and which should remain on the shelf this year?
FEMAIL’s Lydia Hawken, with help of some very hungry colleagues, tried out 35 of the UK’s high street offerings, to discover which offerings will get you into the Christmas spirit, and the ones that are more of a festive flop.
And this year, a £10 turkey toastie from up-and-coming café chain Ole & Steen came out top along with Aldi’s £1.99 wrap, Co-Op sandwich and a Paul baguette.
The best festive sandwiches on the high street for 2022
Ole & Steen, Turkey Roastie Toastie
£10.90. Kcals: 635
Ole & Steen’s turkey toastie came up top in our festive review – as the cheddar takes it to the ‘next level’
Before trying out this toastie, I was firmly on the fence about Christmas sandwiches – after all, they’ve never going to be as good as the actual meal so why bother?
Well, I’m eating my words now. This hearty focaccia sandwich is full to the brim with perfectly roasted turkey, traditional stuffing and cranberry sauce. But the tarragon mayo and melted cheddar takes it to the next level.
If only this new chain of cafes served it all year round. Lydia Hawken.
Rating: 
Patisserie Valerie, Christmas Baguette
£5.95. Kcals: 686
FEMAIL Writer Claire Tourielle can’t stop dreaming of Patisserie Valerie’s brie sandwich
Every mouthful of this cheesy masterpiece brought joy to my lunch break like no other. While it is meat-heavy, the sandwich was not dry one bit, thanks to the delicious slices of brie and cranberry sauce.
And the pigs and blanket and turkey had a nutty flavour to this festive treat. The sandwich is of gigantic size, which means that big eaters will get their money’s worth.
It’s everything you want for a decadent pre-Christmas meal. Claire Tourielle
Rating:
M&S Christmas Chicken Club Sandwich
£4.25. Kcals: 613
M&S Christmas chicken club has 12 layers – including succulent turkey, bacon, onion stuffing, gravy mayo and pickled red onion
A chicken club sandwich is my go-to all-year round – so it’ll probably come as no surprise that I was a big fan of M&S’ epic 12 LAYER offering.
So what makes it stand out from the crowd? The toasted oatmeal bread paired with succulent turkey, bacon, onion stuffing, gravy mayo and pickled red onion makes for an unforgettable combo.
Don’t miss it. Lydia Hawken
Rating:
ALDI Turkey Feast
£1.99. Kcals: 489
Aldi’s turkey feast was a hit with Libby Jarvis, who said it’s the perfect thing for when you’re craving Christmas dinner
This sandwich is perfect if you’re craving a Christmas dinner but can’t be bothered to cook one.
Turkey is lovely, sweetness comes from cranberry sauce and the stuffing gives it that ‘Christmassy’ feel.
It’s not overdone with extra meat like pigs in blankets. It’s very filling and I think it’s best really cold, it’s almost like a leftover of Christmas dinner. Libby Jarvis.
Rating:
Alicia Watts loved Co-Op’s smokey ham flavour
CO-OP Boxing Day Feast
£3.25 Kcal: 420
I love the combination of flavours and textures in this sandwich.
You can really taste the smoky flavour from the ham.
And it goes really well with the succulent turkey and creamy coleslaw.
There’s also is a slight sweet aftertaste of the chutney.
Just delightful! Alicia Watts.
Rating:
GAILS, Smoked Turkey Sandwich
£8.60. Kcals: 633
Gails’ wholegrain sourdough was labelled a ‘chewy delight’
If you’re going to try out anything from Gails’ new festive range, make it this smoked turkey sandwich.
The wholegrain sourdough is a chewy delight while the bacon jam packs a real punch.
The chipotle cuts through the smoked turkey perfectly cuts through the smoky bacon, finishing off with light rocket. It’s a winner. Jason Sinclair
Rating:
Sainsbury’s, Hot Smoked Salmon with Crème Fraîche
Sainsbury’s salmon sandwich was praised for its ‘plentiful smoked filling’
£4.25. Kcals: 493
This gorgeous firm rye bread was perfect for supporting the plentiful smoked salmon filling.
Flakes of salmon together with fresh zingy tastes of the lemon and dill crème fraîche.
My perfect sandwich. Alison Sinclair.
Rating:
CO-OP, No Turkey Feast
£3.25. Kcals: 315
The vegan mayo in this sandwich was a hit with Caroline Parr
As a relatively recent veggie, the plant-based Christmas sandwiches I’ve tried before now have been a bit dry and don’t compare to the real deal.
But the generous amount of cranberry chutney and vegan gravy mayo make this one for me.
You can really taste the sage and onion stuffing too. Caroline Parr.
Rating: ****
Rating: 
Pret-a-Manger Boxing Day Toastie
£5.45. Kcal: 641
The melted choose took this turkey toastie to the next level for Lydia Hawken
Turkey sandwiches aren’t my normal go-to at lunch – because let’s be honest, they’re almost always dry! I was pleasantly surprised by Pret’s festive offering. The combo of pulled turkey and ham was lovely and juicy and offset with a mild melted cheddar cheese.
If I had to criticise anything, it’d be that the sage stuffing and onion chutney were overpowered by the cheese – but it still made for a delightful afternoon pick-me-up. Lydia Hawken
Rating: ****
Sainsbury’s Plant Pioneers Vegan No Pigs Under Blankets Christmas Sandwich
Vegetarian Will Lees said these vegan pigs in blankets still had a meaty taste
£2.95. Kcals: 436
Going into my second festive period as a vegetarian, I had been worried about the quality of festive veggie sandwiches.
This offering from Sainsbury’s however ticks most boxes very well. The sausage and bacon gave the flavours of pigs in blankets, with added moisture from the cranberry sauce.
Only improvement could be the addition of a veggie stuffing, to really give satisfy the festive sandwich cravings of a former carnivore. Will Lees.
Rating:
ALDI Pigs Under a Cheesy Blanket Panini
£2.49. Kcals: 661
Justin Blundell was blown away by Aldi’s cheesy pigs in blankets offering
When picked up Aldi ‘Pigs under Cheesy blankets’, I knew I was going to be in for a treat – as it’s packed full of sausage, bacon and brie.
I decided to warm this up in the microwave using the directions on the back of the package my only criticism was that 1 min 50 seconds may have been slightly too long as the sandwich was a bit too hot to eat straight away.
But that is where my criticism ends – this sandwich was fantastic, very tasty and felt very fresh when heated up I would definitely have again. Justin Blundell.
Rating:
Sainsbury’s, Ultimate Christmas Dinner Feast Roll
£4.50. Kcals: 522
Paul Sinclair said this roll could only be improved if it were hot
A bread roll that was full of flavour! Although it’s unusual to have a roast dinner in a roll, it was packed with filling and I did like the different textures of the veg and turkey.
The flavours were lovely and they got more pronounced as I continued eating the roll. Would have been a five star rating if it had been a hot! Paul Sinclair.
Rating:
Elmira Tanatarova said this sandwich was nice and juicy
Boots, Turkey Feast
£3. Kcals: 416.
It would be unfair to ask a sandwich to carry with it all the flavours which are presented in a turkey ‘feast’ – but this one could have tried harder.
While I really enjoyed the touch of cranberry, unless you’re already a fan, it’s difficult to find many other ‘feast’ like qualities about it.
However, I would argue it was by far one of the nicer Christmas sandwiches I sampled and made more of a festive offering than other brands.
The turkey meat was lovely and not dry at all. Elmira Tanatarova.
Rating: ****
Pret, Beet Wellington Baguette
£5.25. Kcals: 543
Although I don’t normally go for a vegan lunch, this Pret baguette has converted me.
The mushroom, beetroot and pesto filling certainly packs a punch and is offset by the chewy ciabatta bread.
I’d definitely recommend. Paul Sinclair.
Rating:
Paul Sinclair was converted by Pret’s Beet Wellington baguette and praised the mushroom, beetroot and pesto filling
Morrisons, Festive Cheeseboard Sandwich
£2.75. Kcals: 451
The combination of wensleydale and blue cheese blew Philip Josse away
This was excellent. A nice festive blend of cheeses and a good amount of pickle.
The piquancy of the blue cheese was particularly welcome and I’d definitely have again. Philip Josse
Rating:
Pret, Pigs in Blankets Roll
Jason Sinclair said the ‘the mustard mayo and the sweetness of the onions perfectly complement the salty sausages’ in this Pret roll
£5.70. Kcals: 563
This is a sandwich that really does what it says on the tin.
The mustard mayo and the sweetness of the onions perfectly complement the salty sausages.
Although pigs and blankets can sometimes be quite tough, these were juicy and sweet and sandwiched in a delicious chewy roll. Jason Sinalir.
Rating:
Boots, Pigs Under Blankets Sandwich
£3.15. Kcals: 419
This pigs in blankets sandwich is ideal for people who don’t like cranberry sauce, according to Lydia Hawken
Not a fan of cranberry sauce? Then this is the sandwich for you. Instead of the super sweet festive condiment, Boots have made their balsamic onion chutney the star of the show.
On top of this, they’ve layered crisp bacon and pork chipolatas with creamy sage and onion mayonnaise.
My only criticism? The sausages were a little bland – but I’d take that over lashings of cranberry sauce any day. Lydia Hawken.
Rating:
Starbucks Tis’ The Season Turkey Sandwich
£5.50. Kcals: 503
Lydia Hawken says Starbucks’ turkey sandwich is the real-life version of Ross Gellar’s ‘moist-maker’ from Friends
Remember Ross Gellar’s infamous ‘moist-maker’ sandwich in Friends? This is the closest I reckon I’ll ever come to it in real life.
Four layers of turkey, bacon, spinach and onion stuffing sandwiched in soft malted bread.
Although I wouldn’t get myself suspended from work if a colleague nicked it from the fridge, it’s a solid contenter in the turkey sandwich olympics. Lydia Hawken
Rating:
Pret, Festive Falafel and Squash Sandwich
£5.25. Kcals: 527
Alison Sinclair loved the different textures in the Pret squash sandwich
This sandwich was packed full of filling and flavour including plenty of Christmassy chestnuts, which were surprisingly pleasant.
I really enjoyed all the different texture. This was a winner for originality and the surprising ingredients. Alison Sinclair.
Rating:
Paul, Prawn and Marie Rose Sandwich
£4.75. Kcals: 587
Nichole Pearce loved the combination of prawn and apple but said it could have been improved by a less dense baguette
I really like the combination of prawn and apple, it’s one I would never have chosen in the past, but will be adding it to my top 10!
I would say though that prawns are quite delicate and the baguette that has been chosen is quite a dense one.
I would be more inclined to put the filling in an artisan rustic bread that isn’t so dense. Nicole Pearce.
Rating:
Tesco, Turkey Trimmings Wrap
£3.40. Kcals: 469
Tesco’s combination of cheese and turkey was a hit with FEMAIL reviewers
This was a solid entry. The bread was nice and soft and the turkey was delicious.
The onion and bacon trimmings made for a welcome addition and I warmed it up in the microwave too. Oksana Salivanova.
Rating:
Paul, Christmas Turkey Sandwich
£4.75. Kcals: 655
Daisy Hobbs enjoyed the ratio of filling in this Paul sandwich
Baguette may have been a bit dry but ultimately, there were good quantities of each filling so the ratios were spot-on.
There weren’t cranberries in every bite which provided a nice mix of slightly sweeter and sometimes more savoury bites. I’d certainly have again! Daisy Hobbs.
Rating:
Pret, Brie and Cranberry Baguette
The only way this sandwich could be improved is by adding more pistachios, according to Paul Sinclair
£5.99. Kcals: 596
This is a great baguette. You can’t beat a brie in my opinion!
There was plenty of smooth and creamy cheese topped with cranberry sauce and some zingy port.
My only complaint is that I would have liked more pistachios. Paul Sinclair.
Rating:
M&S, Naughty and Spice Turkey Feast
£4.25. Kcals: 466
Tom Scotson failed to be blown away by this M&S brioche bap
For me, this was a decent stab at a Christmas sandwich by M&S. No gimmicks, no sickly sauces which manufactures seem to think the public are in love for (they are not).
Plus, in difficult times they don’t skimp out on the turkey, either. And what’s more, replacing your standard slab of brown bread with a brioche seemed to work. Tom Scotson.
Rating: 
Aldi, Vegan Festive Feast
£1.79. Kcals: 457
Amie-Beth Steadman loved the juicy parsnips in Aldi’s festive sandwich
As a vegan, I was super impressed with Aldi’s offer of a plant based, vegan festive sandwich. It didn’t mimic meat but instead offered a tasty parsnip fritter which oozed Christmas as I chewed.
The only thing I would say negatively about the sandwich was that there was a little too much cranberry in it, a flavour which is super overpowering.
But I would give this a solid thre for the taste of Christmas and catering to us plant-based folk! Amie-Beth Steadman
Rating:
… and the sandwiches that are a bit of a festive flop
Waitrose, Brie and Cranberry Sandwich
£3. Kcals: 426
Isabella McCrone says cheese fans should avoid this Waitrose offering
If you’re a fan of strong cheese, this sandwich isn’t for you. Perhaps in an effort to appeal to the masses, the Brie is on the bland side.
The famed flavour duo of Brie and cranberry is a Christmas delight but is a bit lacklustre in this sandwich too. Strangely, though, the spinach brings a welcome textural addition, improving the overall experience.
It didn’t evoke festive feelings as hoped, but was a nicer munch than a bog-standard ham and cheese. Isabella McCrone.
Rating:
Pret, Christmas Lunch Sandwich
£5.95. Kcals: 549.
This Pret sandwich would have been better off in a baguette, according to Paul Sinclair
Moist turkey and the malted bread was good and tasty, plenty of turkey filling and I did really enjoy the cranberry and port flavours.
However, I would have preferred this to the baguette. I didn’t get any crispiness of onions although there was definitely onion flavour. The spinach was a bit stalky too. Paul Sinclair.
Rating:
Waitrose Pigs in Blankets
£3. Kcals: 509
Robbie Hawken deemed Waitrose’s take on a pigs in blanket sandwich ‘underwhelming’
The pigs under blanket is a Christmassy take on a traditional breakfast sandwich.
The cranberry and redcurrant chutney adds a surprising tang and keeps the bread from getting dry – but overall, it was underwhelming. Robbie Hawken.
Rating:
CO-OP Turkey Feast
£3.25. Kcals: 500
Rory Tingle said this CO-OP sandwich failed to live up to its name
This festive offering from the Co-op was a touch on the dry and bland side, with smoked bacon and a thin drizzle of cranberry sauce the only notable flavours.
A reasonable supermarket riff on a Christmas sarnie staple, but a ‘feast’ it isn’t…. Rory Tingle.
Rating: 
Starbucks, Brie and Cran-merry Focaccia
£6.35. Kcals: 445
Harriet Johnston said the cranberry sauce in this Starbucks focaccia was ‘sickly sweet’
This sandwich was a real disappointment – the foccacia bread was tasteless and dry, while there was very little additional flavour within the sandwich.
While it was advertised as a cranberry and brie bap, there was such a limited amount of cheese that it was hardly worth mentioning. Meanwhile the jam was a little sickly sweet to my taste.
All in all, there’s no way I’d think about picking this bap up for lunch for a second time. Harriet Johnston.
Rating:
Morrisons Plant Revolution: Very Merry Vegan Sandwich
£2.75. Kcals: 365.
Harriet Johnston said there was nothing merry about this vegan Morrisons sandwich
This was a distinctively average sandwich, with an overwhelming amount of spinach and very little other flavour.
It could have done with an injection of jam, or perhaps a little spice – instead, it tasted mainly of bread and spinach. Harriet Johnston.
Rating: **
M&S Pigs in Blankets Sandwich
£3.50. Kcals: 502
Elmira Tanatarova said this pigs in blanket sandwich verged on dry
This sandwich was perfectly fine and had all the elements it promised – there were pigs, and they were in blankets – but it fell flat on value-add.
It felt a little dry, and didn’t offer enough of a counter-pork flavour to balance out the heaviness of the meat.
This sandwich is great if you already enjoy a sausage-based sandwich (and complemented the soft brown bread well) but didn’t feel entirely festive. Elmira Tanatarova.
Rating:
Starbucks, Festive Feast Panini
£6.35. Kcals: 445
Daisy Hobbs said she was disappointed by the lack of gravy in her Starbucks panini
The ratio of filling to bread in this panini was all wrong. There was way too little filling – that said, the turkey was really nice for how little there was in there. The ciabatta itself was nice and soft.
But had I not read that there was supposed to be stuffing and gravy I would not have realised as no taste was coming through from them. Overall wouldn’t bother again. Daisy Hobbs.
Rating:
M&S, Turkey Feast
£4.50. Kcals: 490
Tom Scotson said this turkey sandwich was not worth the calories
Eurgh, what to say. For starters, ready made sandwiches are a difficult task to perfect. They are usually too soggy, with far too much going on in between the two slabs of bread. And what’s worse, they rarely fill me up – they just make me hungrier.
Unfortunately this one is no different. After eating it I felt was a sense of regret that I’d consumed almost a third of my daily salt intake in one sitting. It’s not the worst thing I’ve ever eaten.
And if I wanted a quick snack I could think of more disgusting foods. But I’d prioritise piling on the pounds by demolishing a box of mince pies than a Turkey Feast! Tom Scotson.
Rating:
Ole & Steen, Merry Squash-mas toastie
Although Lydia Hawken was a fan of Ole & Steen’s turkey toastie, the squash version failed to impress
£10.30. Kcals: 625
It pains me to say it – but as much as I love squash, it really doesn’t have any place in a Christmas toastie.
This warm focaccia is packed full of vegan stuffing, cranberry sauce, tarragon mayo, cheese and spinach.
Overall, the texture is all a bit soft and – dare I say it – slimy.
For the carnivores out there, the cafe’s turkey offering is too good to miss.
But I’ll be giving this focaccia a wide berth from now on. Lydia Hawken.
Rating: 
Paul, Camembert & Red Grape Sandwich
£4.75. Kcals: 627
Claire says she was disappointed by Paul’s ‘milder-than-mild brie’
Someone call Paul to gently let them know what camembert is, because it is NOT what they put in this festive sandwich.
As a lover and defender of the stinky, creamy, delicious French cheese, I was truly disappointed by the milder-than-mild brie they stuffed in this ‘festive’ offering.
It made for a very uninteresting taste, and the red grapes, salad and cranberry sauce propped in there barely did anything to bring some flavour to this bland fest. Not so merry after all, Paul! Claire Tourielle
Rating:
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