Our Christmas break

Many of our customers come from local businesses in the North Laine area of Brighton - and many of them will be taking a break between Christmas and the New Year. So we've decided to do the same.

After all, Monday and Friday next week are bank holidays. We're adding Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday to the list and will be open again on Monday 4th January 2010.

A very merry Christmas and a happy New Year to all our customers!

Just a couple of days to Christmas!

We're getting very excited about Christmas - but we're not closing the shop to go shopping!

The Laine Deli will be open on Wednesday 23rd and Thursday 24th December as usual, although we'll probably finish a little earlier than usual on Christmas Eve. That means we'll be here as usual for your breakfast, for your mid-morning coffee and your lunch. We also still have a few Christmas gifts left, including tree decorations, pannetone and chocolates.

Brighton artists open their houses at Christmas

Earlier this year we mentioned the Brighton Artists Open Houses event, which took place as part of the Brighton Festival. There's also an AOH festival for Christmas - in fact, it's the seventh one this year - and there's one weekend left. Tomorrow and Sunday (12th and 13th December) you can see paintings, sculpture, ceramics, jewellery and loads of other locally-produced art... including cards and hand-made Christmas decorations. There are 75 venues in and around Brighton & Hove; the closest to us are Ourhouse, On Your Marks and Six; all just up the hill to the west of Queens Road and Brighton station.

We'll help you make time for breakfast

There's nothing like a good breakfast to start the day. Unfortunately, standing in the kitchen on a cold winter morning isn't always very inspiring.

That's why we offer a wide-ranging breakfast menu to take away. Whether you're after porridge, toast, muesli or crumpets, you can pick it up from The Laine Deli. And - of course - we'll cook you a 'full English' or a breakfast baguette if you fancy something a little more substantial.

Jacket potatoes

If ever there was a month made for baked potatoes, it would be December!

The tradition of the takeaway baked or 'jacket' potato can be traced back to the 19th century when they were sold by street traders. You'd see hundreds of men with 'potato cans' across London selling baked potatoes throughout the autumn and winter. "Many gentlefolks buy them in the street, and take them home for supper in their pockets; but the working classes are the greatest purchasers" wrote Henry Mayhew in the 1840s.

Our potatoes are oven-cooked... and, unlike the Victorians, you don't need to take them home in your pockets!

Christmas Chocolates

We all like a bit of chocolate at The Laine Deli. That's one of the reasons you'll find plenty of chocolate gifts in the shop this month. Some of our favourites come from The Chocolate Alchemist, which is an award-winning organic chocolate manufacturer based in West Sussex. So whether you're looking for a Christmas stocking filler for children, a foodie gift for a friend or something to cheer you up when you're Christmas shopping, pop in and take a look at our selection of plain chocolate, milk chocolate and white chocolate goodies!

Christmas Panettone

Panettone is a type of Italian bread that originated in Milan and has been associated with Christmas for around two hundred years. We've tracked down a variety of small panettone loaves in little boxes. They'll make a tasty gift, a novel Christmas tree decoration or even a pre-Christmas treat!

Christmas Robin

The robin has been a symbol of Christmas for many years. We have our own collection at The Laine Deli - and they're all for sale. Each robin is hand-made by a local artist and would make a lovely little gift (or an equally lovely Christmas tree decoration for yourself!)

Take home your own unique robin for just £4. Alternatively, you can pick a family of three for only £10.