In the culinary limbo between Halloween and Christmas, the festive sandwich reigns supreme. For 2025, the team at MyLondon embarked on a deliciously difficult mission: to find the capital's ultimate Christmas sandwich, sampling offerings from major chains to independent eateries.
The Festive Contenders: From Triumph to Turkey Disaster
The quest, led by What's On editor Lea Dzifa Seeberg, involved tasting a wide array of seasonal sarnies, most of which were provided as complimentary samples. The reviews, however, remained fiercely impartial, judging each creation purely on flavour and festive spirit.
High Street Hits and Misses
Starting with the chains, Leon's Twisted Trimmings sandwich (£8.99) offered a Middle Eastern twist on tradition. Featuring spiced pulled turkey, halloumi, and pomegranate molasses in ciabatta, it earned a solid 4/5. Its vegetarian sibling, the Veggie Twistmas (£7.99) with roasted butternut squash, matched its score.
Joe and the Juice's Joe Ho Ho (£9.95) proved less successful. The combination of turkey ham and rye flatbread was deemed "slightly bland" and not authentically festive, scoring just 3/5.
The review took a sour turn at PAUL. The Christmas club baguette was overwhelmed by a horseradish mayo and raw Brussels sprout slaw, described as "nothing but coleslaw." It received a dismal 1/5. The brie and cranberry version fared only slightly better with a 2/5.
At Ole and Steen, the Festive Mushroom Melt (£7.95) was criticised for its inconsistent flavour, leaving an unpleasant aftertaste and scoring 1/5.
The Standout Champions
The search for perfection ended at Black Sheep Coffee. Their Pigs in Blanket Ciabatta (£5.99) was hailed as a masterpiece of simplicity with fluffy bread, well-seasoned meat, and a hint of sage, earning a perfect 5/5. The Brie and Cranberry Toastie also scored top marks for its gooey, moreish combination enhanced by an external cheddar layer.
Costa also impressed. The Turkey Feast (£4.65) offered a classic, well-balanced filling for a 4/5, while the Pigs and Blankets Toastie (£6.20) was declared life-changing with its perfect sweet-salty-cheesy harmony, securing another 5/5.
For a premium option, TOZI Counter's Festive Sandwich (£12) from Battersea delivered generous turkey slices with a creamy slaw and tart cranberry ketchup, justifying its price tag with a 4/5 rating.
The Verdict: Where to Find Festive Joy
The 2025 hunt proves that a perfect festive sandwich doesn't require complexity. The top-rated options from Black Sheep Coffee and Costa succeeded by executing classic flavours with high-quality ingredients. Meanwhile, over-complication and overpowering slaws led to the lowest scores. For Londoners seeking the best Christmas sandwich this season, the path to festive flavour is now clear.
