Discounted near-dated jams, chutneys and marmalades
Because we cook in small batches, we sometimes end up with jars that are perfectly good but closer to their best-before date than we would stock on the main shelves. Rather than waste them, we offer them here. This is the place to find a preserves sale in the UK that involves the same handmade jars as the rest of the range, simply at a friendlier price.
Everything in this collection is made the way it always is, open-pan and by hand at The Old Rectory. A best-before date is about peak quality, not safety, so a near-dated jar of jam or chutney is a sensible buy if you will use it within a reasonable time. If you have been looking for discount jam in the UK or cheap artisan jam without dropping to supermarket standards, this is an honest middle ground.
Stock here changes constantly and sells quickly, so it is worth checking back. You might find a mini preserves trio offer, a single marmalade, or a chutney that simply over-ran its batch. Whatever appears, it is the same recipe you would pay full price for elsewhere on the site.
Make the most of a sale jar
A discounted jar is a low-risk way to try something new. If a sale chutney wins you over, you can reorder it at full strength from our savoury chutneys and pickles, and the same goes for any jam from our sweet preserves or marmalade from the zesty collection. Sale jars also pad out a hamper nicely alongside something from our gift sets.
If you would rather buy at full price but want the surest bets, our best-selling preserves and award-winning collection are the proven choices. The sale shelf is simply a way to enjoy the same kitchen for less while reducing waste, which suits us as well as it suits you.
There is a small philosophy behind this shelf. Cooking in genuine small batches means the occasional jar reaches its best-before date before it sells, and sending good food to landfill sits badly with us. Offering it here at a lower price means it ends up on someone’s toast instead, which is better for everyone. Stock is genuinely unpredictable, so what you see today may be gone tomorrow, but the quality is never the reason a jar lands in this collection. If you would like first refusal when fresh sale stock appears, it is worth signing up to our newsletter, as the best jars often go within a day or two of being listed.
Ordering from the sale is exactly the same as anywhere else on the site: add the jar to your basket while it is listed, and we pack and post it in the same glass-safe packaging. Because availability turns over so quickly, it pays to act when you spot something rather than leave it for next time.
Buying from the sale shelf is also a small act of good housekeeping that suits the way we cook. Because nothing here is made to a forecast, the occasional surplus is simply part of working in real batches rather than running a production line, and clearing it sensibly keeps good food out of the bin. A near-dated jar is an invitation to use it generously: stir a spare chutney into a casserole or a cheese toastie, fold a jam through a sponge or over porridge, or work a marmalade into a glaze rather than rationing it on toast.
None of these uses care in the slightest about a best-before date that is a week or two away. You might find single jars, odd flavours, or a mini trio that over-ran its batch, and the selection rarely looks the same twice. If a discounted jar wins you over, the full-strength version is only a click away on its home shelf, so the sale doubles as a low-cost way to discover your next regular.
Frequently asked questions
Are sale items still good to eat?
Yes, sale jars are near their best-before date rather than past it, which relates to peak quality, not safety.
Why are these preserves discounted?
They are usually batch over-runs or jars approaching their best-before date, not seconds or lower-quality products.
How often does the sale change?
Stock changes constantly and sells quickly, so it is worth checking back regularly for new discounted jars.
Can I include sale jars in a gift?
Yes, though for presents we would usually suggest our gift sets or full-price best sellers for guaranteed availability.
