For reasons that escape us that we neither need nor care about, Lush has launched a limited-edition Shrek collection and the marketing has worked already: we want it.
Yes, the British-based cosmetics brand has just dropped a new collaboration straight from the swamp and perhaps because it’s totally random and counter-intuitive to the whole ethos of the character, we suddenly have an intense urge to bathe ourselves like the famously filthy character.
Lush‘s new Shrek set includes everything from a body spray, ‘Fiona’ scented shower gel, a ‘Shrek Swamp’ bath bomb and many more.
There’s even a cute little Gingerbread Man bubble bar and fittingly-titled ‘Get Outta My Swamp’ shower slime (whatever that is) and we’re curious enough to try all of them.
Lush has launched a new special edition Shrek range.
Teasing the new items as an early exclusive for those who shop directly through the Lush app, the Dorset-born company have enticed customers by urging them to “embrace [their] inner ogre”, quipping, “There’s no need to look Far, Far Away”.
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The officially licensed collab with DreamWorks Animations has products starting from £6 — the donkey bath bomb, specifically — and is already available here in the UK.
Our assumption is that the idea for this probably came from nothing other than the viral success of their well-timed Saltburn line earlier this year, which we’re still laughing about, to be honest.
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As kitsch and gimmicky as it might sound on the surface, we have to admit it looks quite good if you’re into that kind of stuff, which we suspect a fair Shrek-thusiasts now are too.
So, if you fancy kitting your bathroom out with a load of green goodies or are just a massive Shrek fan yourself and will snap up almost every bit of merch you see (we know there’s plenty of you out there), you know where to look.
We’re sure that their bath bombs and scented sprays are just like onions: lots of layers and depth behind them — but we’ll leave that for you lot to find out.
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Better still, no you have the perfect stuff to pack in your toiletry bag when you take your trip to the enchanted forest to stay in the Shrek’s Swamp. Again, we don’t have an explanation for you, but we don’t need one.
Major retailer Monki to close store in Manchester Arndale
Daisy Jackson
Monki, a popular fashion brand that’s owned by H&M, had announced it’s closing its Manchester store – and soon.
The high street brand is famed for selling bold, playful clothing at affordable prices.
It opened its glittering disco-inspired shop in the heart of the Manchester Arndale in 2018.
Shoppers will recognise the holographic arches at the entrance and the Monki brand name spelled out in lightbulbs overhead.
But this week, H&M confirmed that all seven Monki stores across the UK will close, either shutting them completely or merging them with Weekday, another of the retail giant’s brands.
Manchester is among the first casualties of this move, with signs in the window of the store confirming that a closing down sale will be live until 12 January.
At that point, the Manchester Monki store will close for good.
Also shutting will be Newcastle, with the fate of the five remaining shops – including one in Sheffield – not yet confirmed.
The statement from H&M read: “A limited number of Monki stores are intended to be transformed into multi-brand Weekday destinations, while the others are intended to be closed.
“The newly formed Weekday multi-brand destination will cater to customers’ high aesthetic standards while embracing their multitude of unique expressions.”
In a statement shared earlier this month, they added: “Being mindful about the changes this might entail for our colleagues; we look forward to this exciting new chapter on the way to something great.”
Monki will close in Manchester Arndale on 12 January.
The best picky bits and Christmas party food in M&S this year
Daisy Jackson
Can some scientist please explain why us Brits have such a compulsion to roll out the picky bits and party food (ESPECIALLY if it comes from M&S) as soon as there’s a vague sense of occasion?
Birthday party? Picky bits. BBQ season? Picky bits. Had a long day at work and can’t decide what to have for tea but definitely don’t want a Pot Noodle? Picky bits.
And when Christmas or New Year’s Eve rolls around, the urge to consume random little morsels of food intensifies.
Whether it’s British classics squashed down into tiny portions and jammed on a buffet table or fancy little appetisers you hand around a party, we just can’t get enough.
Which is why we’ve raided the shelves at M&S once again to bring you all the best picky bits and party food available for Christmas 2024.
As for prices, the more premium M&S Collection party food items are generally priced at £7.50, with the more standard range coming in at £5.50 each, and all available on a four-for-three offer.
And yes, you might end up spending an obscene amount of money on miniature food items that won’t do a single thing to quell an appetite, but my gosh, won’t you feel like a prim and proper princess when you slide those teeny weeny fish and chips in front of your guests.
Let’s begin.
Brits abroad
M&S party food 2024 – chicken shawarma and Middle Eastern flatbreadsM&S party food 2024 – patatas bravas stacks
M&S might be the most staunchly British institution of modern times, but us Brits also love nothing more than to lift the culinary expertise of other countries onto our own plates.
And this year is no exception – M&S has whipped up a whole host of party food inspired by international favourites.
From little potato stacks that pay homage to everyone’s favourite tapas dish, patatas bravas, to tiny chicken shawarma kebabs to Middle Eastern Flatbreads, if you want a little spice on your Christmas buffet, they’ve got it.
Well aren’t you a fancy pants?!
‘Ooooh, someone’s doing well’ comes the chorus of praise as you hand around your mini prawn thermidor (these tiny gold trays even have a cheddar cheese crumb on top).
‘Wow, that must’ve been a good Christmas bonus’ they say as they accept a mini coquille St Jacques, complete with extra-small shell.
If upper middle class was a nibble, it would probably look like these guys.
Little Britain
Mini scampi and chips, and miniature pies at M&SMini Yorkshire puddings and cheese and ham scones from M&S party food range
Imagine all your classic British dishes, pub food, Sunday dinners, comfort meals cooked by your mum – you picturing them? Okay, now imagine them again but really, really small.
Now you’ve got a good idea of the items in our next M&S party food category.
There are mini Yorkshire puddings filled with slow-cooked beef, red wine and mushroom jus, and a garlic and herb crumb.
There are neat little cheddar and ham scones, miniature pies filled with beef and ale or chicken and leek, and even picky bit-sized scampi and chips portions, complete with newspaper wrapping. Cute!
The classics
M&S prawn selectionM&S pigs in blankets and halloumi in blanketsM&S Smoked salmon appetisers
These are not just buffet food items, these are M&S buffet food items, and that means they come with a bit of pizzazz.
Yes, there are pigs in blankets, but there are also halloumi pigs in blankets (which they weirdly haven’t made vegetarian) served with a hot honey drizzle.
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We love a battered prawn on a party food selection and M&S has done a selection of tiger prawn nibbles – prawn baguette toasts, prawn and coconut bites, and prawn and potato lattice balls. The word prawn is starting to look weird.
There are also smoked salmon appetisers, where smoked salmon strips are rolled around a honey roast salmon mousse. Hope ya like very small fish!
I’d love to be a fly on the wall when the M&S party food is discussed, because I’m pretty sure no one around that boardroom table is telling them ‘No, Arabella, that’s a silly idea’. Arabella does what she wants.
This year, she’s heard all the ‘girl dinner’ trends and gone ‘WE SHOULD MAKE A CHRISTMAS DIP’ – the result is a turkey feast dip topped with shredded turkey and bacon, cranberry sauce, cranberries and a stuffing crumb. WHY, ARABELLA?!
They’ve also brought back the novelty-shaped bao, this year in two festive shapes – penguins and polar bears.
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And of course you can still get miniature steak sandwiches and I don’t know why that makes me so uncomfortable, but it does.
A very yeehaw Christmas
M&S Mini beef burgersBuffalo chicken croquettes and New York deli spring rolls at M&S
Giddy up, cowboy, it’s time for the rootin’-tootin’ M&S party food show!
Everyone’s favourite fancy supermarket has gone stateside this year, drawing inspiration from the healthiest of nations… America.
There are Buffalo chicken croquettes, served with an extra Buffalo sauce dip, mini beef burgers (always the hardest thing to eat), and, weirdly, spring rolls inspired by a New York deli?
They’ve shoved salt beef and sauerkraut into a spring roll and then served it with a mustard and gherkin dip. You do you, M&S.
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Now you’re just showing off
M&S party food 2024 – the charcuter-tree. Credit: The Manc Group
You’re presenting your charcuterie on a flat board? Peasant.
Real fancy people present their cured meat and cheese selection in the shape of a Christmas tree (obviously) and M&S have got a build-you-own kit available for £25.
An extra shout-out to the security-locked Serrano ham joint, which came with its own block and knife, for another statuesque meat buffet option.
Danny Jones -
22nd March 2024 
