London gift card help needed

[LisaR]

Greetings! I hope you don't mind me popping in on these boards but I was hoping someone familiar with London could help me out.

My DD is vacationing in London at the moment. She is staying with my nephew, his wife, and young son. I sent her with a thank you card and instructed her to pick up some gift cards to a couple restaurants or places they like to frequent. Unfortunately, DD isn't doing so well with her assignment! She has tried two restaurants she knows they like and neither sell gift cards. I asked my sister (nephew's mom) and she said they like to eat at some of Jamie Oliver's restaurants but my sis looked online and said they don't sell gift cards either. DD is leaving Friday so now we are scrambling to come up with ideas. If anyone has any suggestions, I'd love to hear them or are gift cards truly that hard to come by in London? Thanks!

 

[Plum85]

Gift cards aren't as readily available in restaurants in the uk like they are in other places. Chain restaurants are more likely to do them but it depends whether the recipient likes those restaurants. I can't think of any restaurants that sell gift cards.

If it has to be a gift card, what about a card for a shopping mall or department store?

 

[LisaR]

Gift cards aren't as readily available in restaurants in the uk like they are in other places. Chain restaurants are more likely to do them but it depends whether the recipient likes those restaurants. I can't think of any restaurants that sell gift cards.

If it has to be a gift card, what about a card for a shopping mall or department store?

Thanks for the info. I wasn't prepared for the lack of gift cards. Not sure what else DD could buy them. I guess she could find a mall. Ugh! I need to get them something for all their hospitality but I am drawing a blank.

 

[Plum85]

I always find a nice bunch of fresh flowers and some nice food is a nice way to thank people for hosting you. It depends the age of the couple as well! When my boyfriends parents hosted me I got them flowers, a bottle of wine and a cheese board. Waitrose/John Lewis/marks and spencer do some lovely gifts like that. Also a John Lewis/waitrose gift card might be a good way to go! It's a very well thought of and high quality department store and you can spend it in store or in waitrose their food section. Sorry I can't be of more help!

 

[Tinkerbell1989]

Pizza Express do gift cards and Zizzis... They are both Italian style restaurants! I bought some gift cards recently from Sainsburys (local supermarket)...
Hope that helps.
Xx

 

[queendisney]

so you obviously want more of a fine dining experience then the chains..you mentioned Jamie Olivers restuarant..they do gift vouchers, this one is for his Fifteen restaurant


https://fifteen.paythru.com/merchants/jamiedesktop/giftvouchers/

 

[LisaR]

Pizza Express do gift cards and Zizzis... They are both Italian style restaurants! I bought some gift cards recently from Sainsburys (local supermarket)...
Hope that helps.
Xx

My sister said they would like Zizzis and Sainsbury is just down the street from them.

so you obviously want more of a fine dining experience then the chains..you mentioned Jamie Olivers restuarant..they do gift vouchers, this one is for his Fifteen restaurant


https://fifteen.paythru.com/merchants/jamiedesktop/giftvouchers/

My sister said the one that was close to their house went out of business. I don't know the area so I am taking her word on it.

I always find a nice bunch of fresh flowers and some nice food is a nice way to thank people for hosting you. It depends the age of the couple as well! When my boyfriends parents hosted me I got them flowers, a bottle of wine and a cheese board. Waitrose/John Lewis/marks and spencer do some lovely gifts like that. Also a John Lewis/waitrose gift card might be a good way to go! It's a very well thought of and high quality department store and you can spend it in store or in waitrose their food section. Sorry I can't be of more help!

My DD said they don't do flowers because their cat eats them! She said they LOVE cheese but she said they seem to have every cheese in the world plus special cheese boards and knives just for the cheese.

I appreciate all the help and suggestions!!

 

[queendisney]

Fifteen in London is def still there..they are still taking reservations!

Also, if you go for Zizzies its nice but nothing special. You can get discount vouchers from the internet that gives you 'buy one meal get the second free' type of offer. It's normally just a walk in off the street no reservations needed place. Its just the next step up from Pizza Hut.
We have always had good food in there though and would def go again with the discount vouchers.

Talking of cheese..what about a subscription to a cheese store in London. They will send a selection of different cheese's that you won't find in the normal supermarkets etc on a monthly basis for a year. oop just googled it and its costs a fortune, not sure exacly how much you want to spend but it would need to be a lot...

 

[LisaR]

Fifteen in London is def still there..they are still taking reservations!

I don't know the area at all. Is this one in Greenwich? My sister said something about their favorite one went out of business. Would this be a better option than Zizzis? Nicer?

 

[queendisney]

No this one isn't in the Greenwich area but its easily accessible from there.
I think its definately a nicer experience then Zizzies, which are everywhere.
If I was to treat somebody I would go to Jamie Olivers instead.

 

[darthtatty]

Another idea is to send a Hamper.
somewhere like M&S do nice luxury ones

 

[LisaR]

No this one isn't in the Greenwich area but its easily accessible from there.
I think its definately a nicer experience then Zizzies, which are everywhere.
If I was to treat somebody I would go to Jamie Olivers instead.

Thanks! I think this looks like a nice place. Apparently there was one in Greenwich by Jamie Oliver and that closed down, at least that is what my sister said.

Another idea is to send a Hamper.
somewhere like M&S do nice luxury ones

I thought about this and looked at quite a few but I just didn't know what to pick. DD said they don't seem like they are big fruit people. They like wine but I am not sure if they are picky wine drinkers. Decisions, decisions!

I think I will go with the Jamie Oliver place but I sent an email to my sister to make sure she thinks they will like it (it is her son).

 

[LisaR]

My sister said Fifteen looks like a great place and she thinks they will definitely enjoy it! Thanks to everyone for all the suggestions.