The best housewarming drinks gift pairs something to open on the first night, such as a bottle of champagne, with something that lasts, like glassware or a spirit for the new home bar. Drinks House 247 delivers gifts to new addresses across London, usually within 30 to 45 minutes, with a written gift note.
Flowers are a lovely gesture, but they arrive when the new owners are surrounded by boxes, have no idea which one holds the vase, and will be throwing them away in a week. A well-chosen bottle is more useful, lasts longer and marks the occasion properly.
The best ones do one of two jobs, and ideally both.
Pairing the two, say a bottle of champagne with a pair of flutes, covers both jobs and looks generous without being excessive.
| The household | Open now | Keep for later |
|---|---|---|
| First-time buyers | A non-vintage champagne or English sparkling wine | Two champagne flutes or a pair of good tumblers |
| A couple who entertain | A crowd-pleasing red and white for the first dinner | A magnum to open at the housewarming party |
| Cocktail lovers | A quality gin with its matching tonic | A bottle to start the home bar: a good bourbon, vermouth or aged rum |
| Whisky drinkers | A single malt they have not tried | A whisky and glass gift set |
| A family with young children | A bottle for the adults once the children are in bed | A rosé or sparkling for the first summer in the garden |
| Someone who has everything | A prestige or vintage champagne | A gift hamper with chocolates or caviar |
It is the traditional choice for a reason: the moment of opening a bottle in a new home is a small ceremony in itself. You do not need a prestige cuvée. A well-made non-vintage brut from a good house, served cold, does the job perfectly. If you want to spend more, a vintage champagne is a better housewarming gift than a pricier non-vintage, because it can be saved for a first anniversary in the home.
If the recipients do not drink much champagne, a good English sparkling wine or a bottle of a still wine they love is every bit as thoughtful.
Often it is the most useful part of the gift. Glasses are among the first things to break in a move and the last things anyone thinks to replace. A pair of champagne flutes, whisky tumblers or large wine glasses is used for years. Gift sets that combine a bottle with matching glasses are the simplest way to do this well.
A new home generates a stream of deliveries, and an unlabelled bottle can easily be mistaken for something the owners ordered themselves. A short written note, even two lines, makes sure the gift is credited to you and turns a bottle into a message. Mention the occasion, and if the bottle is for keeping, say so: "Save this for your first dinner party."
You do not need to carry a bottle across London on moving day. You can send a gift straight to the new address:
A bottle of champagne or a good spirit, ideally paired with glassware. It gives the new owners something to open on the first night and something useful to keep.
Yes. A well-made non-vintage brut is ideal for toasting the first evening, and a vintage champagne can be saved for a later occasion in the new home.
Yes. Give the full new address with flat number, postcode and any access notes, plus a mobile number. The recipient must be 18 or over and may be asked for ID.
Yes. New homes receive many deliveries, and a short written note makes sure the gift is credited to you and explains whether it is for now or for keeping.
See our housewarming gift guide, or browse champagne gifts, champagne and flute sets and alcohol gift sets and hampers. For sending anywhere in the country, see how to send a gift across the UK.
Deliveries are to over-18s only under our Challenge 21 policy. Please drink responsibly.
