Father’s Day is a date often overlooked in the gifting calendar in favour of Mums, Valentines and the significant birthdays. Thankfully, Ollie Pickup is dropping hints galore that Dads need some love to unwrap, too, and has sourced some gifts to help make the day truly memorable for the old man…
Create a miniature world with IV Lifestyle’s Escape S terrarium
Sometimes fathers need a moment of zen, and this beautiful, handmade English terrarium delivers tranquillity in glass and cork. At 20 x 28cm, the £120 Escape S is a complete ecosystem featuring ficus ginseng, fittonia and cushion moss, artfully arranged with stones and soil. Each piece varies slightly – nature’s fingerprint on luxury glassware. Currently hand-delivered to London addresses only, it’s a living sculpture that requires minimal maintenance but delivers maximum serenity. Bottle up nature at www.fourstore.co.uk.
Boost Dad’s workouts with JLab’s Epic Sport ANC 3 earbuds
Active fathers need kit that matches their pace, and these £99.99 wireless wonders deliver. With hybrid dual drivers, hi-res audio and proper noise cancelling, they’ll block out gym grunts while delivering crystal-clear podcasts. The IP66 sweat resistance means they’ll survive everything from parkruns to power showers, while 52 hours of battery life outlasts even the most ambitious training schedules. Finally, earbuds that won’t quit before Dad does. Tune into fitness at www.jlab.com.
Power Dad’s endurance races with trufeuels performance gels
Alastair Brownlee MBE is a two-time gold-medal-winning Olympian, and now the Yorkshire-based triathlete, who retired last November, has poured his significant energy into a new nutrition brand, truefuels. The company’s first product, a coconut-flavoured dilated gel, is perfect for endurance-sport-obsessed dads. Tip some truefuels into your water bottle, and you’ll be powered until the finish line with the right balance of carbs and sodium.
Unlike other gels on the market, this one tastes delicious and is not sticky or gloopy. It’s also “optimised” from a scientific point of view, and only uses “pure” ingredients, so your guts will thank you. You can buy 20 sachets for £59.94, but you can’t put a price on keeping energy levels up when it matters. Keep on track by visiting www.truefuels.com.
Challenge Dad to hit double tops on the Mission Samurai Infinity Dartboard
Continuing on the sporting theme – well, perhaps it’s debatable – what about a neat dartboard for dad? The popularity of the sport is on the rise thanks to teen sensation Luke “the Nuke” Littler, who in January became the youngest world champion in darts history, at 17 years and 347 days old.
The Mission Samurai Infinity is a competition-standard, top-quality dartboard featuring a soft sisal compaction (tighter fibres, making it more responsive) and an ultra-thin wire construction. It is available from Darts Corner, the oldest darts equipment retailer in the UK, for £49.95. Time to step up to the oche? Arrow in on www.dartscorner.co.uk.
Stay cool and comfortable with Helly Hansen’s LIFA® Tech Lite Joggers 2.0
Back in 1877, Norwegian Helly Juell Hansen, assisted by his wife Maren Margarethe, produced the retailer’s first products, including oilskin jackets, sou’westers, and tarpaulins made from linen and linseed oil. Selling fishing gear for extreme weather at sea may have been the original plan, but almost 150 years later, Helly Hansen – now owned by Canadian Tire – has made landfall in other adjacent markets, such as outleisure.
These LIFA® Tech Lite Joggers 2.0, £65, are great for moisture management, meaning they can keep your dad warm and comfortable in warm or humid conditions. The jogger style offers a super-fitted and practical look. Helly would approve, I’m sure. Fish out the perfect present at www.hellyhansen.com.
Make a splash with the Slater Men’s 2mm Shorty Wetsuit
For fathers who refuse to let British waters dampen their spirits, this £69.99 wetsuit (currently 42% off at Mountain Warehouse) offers the perfect compromise. Designed for temperatures between 15-20°c, the 2mm neoprene keeps cores warm while maintaining freedom of movement. The back zip ensures dignified entry and exit (no undignified beachside wrestling), and flat seams prevent chafing during extended sessions. Suitable for everything from bodyboarding to casual surfing, it’s the gift that extends Dad’s swimming season well beyond sensible months. Dive in at www.mountainwarehouse.com.
Indulge chocoholic fathers with Melt’s chocolate slab gift box
After all that exercise, maybe it’s time for a chocolate treat. And, oh boy, the Melt’s chocolate slab gift box doesn’t disappoint. The £54.99 box serves up a half-dozen flavours of chocolate slabs, including pistachio and raspberry, roasted hazelnut, and – my favourite – salted caramelised almonds and caramelised chocolate. The slabs can be personalised, too, but let’s be honest, it won’t be long before those warm words are gobbled up. Salivating for chocolate slabs? Take a nibble at www.meltchocolates.com.
Elevate Dad’s snack game with Haute Hampers’ Golden Delight basket
Fathers deserve more than hastily assembled supermarket fare, and Haute Hampers’ £55 Golden Delight basket delivers proper British indulgence. The wicker treasure chest houses a carefully curated selection, including New English Tea’s Tea Rations – a nostalgic nod to wartime resilience with thoroughly modern flavour. Pair these with the buttery Lemon Crisp Shortbread Biscuits, and Dad can enjoy a proper teatime moment of tranquillity.
For savoury cravings, the Yorkshire Crisps with Natural Sea Salt offer satisfying crunch without artificial nasties, perfectly complemented by the mature Cheddar Cheese Flavoured Savoury Biscuits. The whole ensemble comes alive with a chilled glass of Belvoir Fruit Farm’s Elderflower Pressé, capturing English summer in a bottle. For personalised perfection, add his favourite tipple – although the chocolate-dusted truffles provide a heady finish all by themselves. Basket brilliance at www.hautehampers.co.uk.
Savour Tuscan authenticity with Seggiano’s Premium Oil & Vinegar Set
Having given you a taste for foodie things, for fathers who know their way around a kitchen, Seggiano’s beautifully boxed duo (£38.50) offers liquid gold from Italy’s heartland. The cold-pressed Lunaio extra virgin olive oil, made from the rare Olivastra Seggianese olive, delivers creamy, peppery notes that’ll transform Tuesday night salads into Tuscan feasts. It’s paired with Seggiano’s Four Leaf-certified aged balsamic from Modena, which is dense, aromatic, and perfectly balanced. Both vegan and wheat-free, these artisan essentials represent three decades of Italian craft without the airfare. Drizzle perfection at www.seggiano.com.
Master dumpling-making at Xi Home’s Father’s Day classes
Forget ties and socks. Give Dad an experience worth remembering. Xi Home Dumplings Bay in Spitalfields, London, runs Sunday masterclasses throughout June, each including a complimentary beer for participating fathers. Head chef Minnie Wang and owner Wenjun Xiang guide participants through Northern Chinese dumpling traditions, from perfect dough to bespoke fillings.
The two-hour sessions (3pm-5pm), which cost £49.46 per person, include hands-on instruction, an apron to take home, and a certificate proving Dad’s newfound expertise. Book the whole family for the ultimate bonding experience over boiling water and bamboo steamers. Roll with it via www.eventbrite.co.uk.
Mix mocktails with meaning using The Pathfinder Hemp and Root
Teetotal fathers deserve sophisticated sips too, and this cult non-alcoholic spirit delivers complexity without compromise. Inspired by Old West apothecaries and crafted through traditional copper pot distillation, this blend combines hemp seed fermentation with botanicals including angelica root, wormwood, and Douglas fir. The result? Sweet citrus and pine on the nose, herbs and bitter extracts on the palate. Whether served neat, on rocks, or mixed into virgin cocktails, it transforms alcohol-free drinking from afterthought to main event. Spirit away at www.drinkthepathfinder.co.uk.
Header image by Hoi An, courtesy of Unsplash
