Grandparents are famously hard to buy for. Ask what they would like and the answer is usually that they have everything they need. The best gifts tend to be the ones that bring back a happy memory, fill a quiet afternoon or simply make everyday life a little easier.
Chums has been selling clothing, footwear and lifestyle products to older customers for more than 40 years, and its gifts range is built around exactly those ideas. This guide compares seven gifts across music, puzzles and treats, with prices from 12 to 75 pounds.
In this guide
- Seven Gift Ideas at a Glance
- For Music Lovers: Record Player and Cassette Recorder
- For Daily Listening: Roberts Portable Radio
- For Puzzle Lovers: Gibsons Jigsaws and the Portapuzzle
- For Playing Together: Memory Master
- For a Sweet Treat: Whitakers Dark Brazils
- Delivery, Returns and VAT Relief
- Conclusion
- Frequently Asked Questions
Seven Gift Ideas at a Glance
Prices below are those shown on the Chums website at the time of writing.
| Gift | Price | Why they will like it | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Groove Record Player Music Centre | 75 pounds | Plays 33 and 45 rpm records, with Bluetooth | Vinyl collectors |
| Portable Cassette Recorder | 50 pounds | Plays and records tapes, with Bluetooth and MP3 | Old tapes and recordings |
| Roberts Portable FM Radio | 40 pounds | FM, MW and LW with a clear LCD display | Daily radio listeners |
| Gibsons A Christmas to Remember jigsaws | 27 pounds | Four 500-piece festive jigsaws | Puzzle lovers |
| Portapuzzle | 35 pounds | Folds up a part-finished jigsaw | Small homes |
| Memory Master | 12 pounds | Four quick games in one handheld | Playing with grandchildren |
| Whitakers Dark Brazils | 19 pounds | Brazil nuts in dark chocolate | A classic Christmas treat |
You can browse the full Chums gift range here, including categories for him, for her, jigsaws and food and drink.
For Music Lovers: Record Player and Cassette Recorder
Many older people still have boxes of records and tapes they have not played for years. The Groove Record Player Music Centre is designed to bring them back to life. It plays 33 and 45 rpm records through built-in stereo speakers, has a ceramic cartridge and a smoked glass cover, and now includes Bluetooth to send or receive audio. It measures about 7 inches high and 12.5 inches wide, so it fits on a sideboard, and it comes with a one-year guarantee.
For tapes, the Portable Cassette Recorder is a reporter-style player and recorder with one-touch recording, an auto stop function, a built-in microphone, Bluetooth, MP3, a handle and a headphone socket. It runs on mains power or four C batteries. One reviewer on the Chums site wrote that it let them enjoy tapes they had not heard for years. It is also a lovely way to record family stories over Christmas. See music gifts at Chums.
For Daily Listening: Roberts Portable Radio
A good radio is still one of the most used gifts in many homes. The Roberts Portable FM Radio covers FM, MW and LW, has a fabric-covered loudspeaker, a headphone socket and an LCD display, and can run on four AA batteries or mains power. Note that the USB-C cable is not included. It is compact enough to move from the kitchen to the bedside, which makes it practical for someone who likes the radio on all day.
For Puzzle Lovers: Gibsons Jigsaws and the Portapuzzle
Jigsaws are a perfect screen-free Christmas activity, and Chums stocks boxed sets from Gibsons, House of Puzzles and Ravensburger. The Gibsons A Christmas to Remember set contains four 500-piece jigsaws, each around 19 by 13.5 inches when finished, so they are big enough to be satisfying without taking over the dining table for weeks. Reviewers on the site praise the quality of Gibsons puzzles. Explore jigsaw sets at Chums.
If space is the problem, pair the jigsaw with a Portapuzzle. It has a felt-feel surface that stops pieces sliding, two side panels for sorting, and it folds up so a part-finished puzzle can be stored under a sofa and picked up later. It fits puzzles up to 32 by 22.75 inches, which covers a standard 1,000-piece jigsaw. At the time of writing, the site showed a 5 pound saving on the Portapuzzle when bought with another item.
For Playing Together: Memory Master
Christmas is often the one time grandparents and grandchildren spend a whole day together. The Memory Master is a small handheld game with lights and sounds that combines four games: Whack-a-mole, Piano player, Rhythm master and a Memory game. It runs on two AAA batteries and is suitable from age five, so it is easy for everyone to take a turn.
For a Sweet Treat: Whitakers Dark Brazils
Food gifts are always welcome, especially for people who prefer not to add more things to the house. Whitakers Dark Brazils are whole Brazil nuts covered in dark chocolate in a 150g box, a traditional favourite at Christmas. Chums also sells biscuit selections, sweet jars and selection boxes if you want to build a small hamper. See food and drink gifts.
Delivery, Returns and VAT Relief
- At the time of writing, Chums offers free standard UK delivery when you spend over 50 pounds, using the code shown on its website.
- Product pages list free returns, which helps if a gift is not quite right.
- Customers who are chronically sick or disabled may be able to claim VAT relief on products shown with prices without VAT, during checkout.
Check the delivery page before ordering so gifts arrive in good time for Christmas. See delivery details at Chums.
Conclusion
The best gifts for grandparents are the ones they will actually use. A record player or cassette recorder brings old favourites back, a Roberts radio keeps them company, and a Gibsons jigsaw with a Portapuzzle fills the long winter afternoons. Add a box of Whitakers chocolates and you have a thoughtful Christmas sorted. When you are ready, shop Christmas gifts at Chums.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Groove record player have Bluetooth?
Yes. It now includes Bluetooth to transmit or receive audio, alongside 33 and 45 rpm playback.
What size jigsaw fits on the Portapuzzle?
It fits puzzles up to 32 by 22.75 inches, including a standard 1,000-piece jigsaw.
Does Chums offer free delivery?
At the time of writing, standard UK delivery is free on orders over 50 pounds with the code on its site.
Can I claim VAT relief at Chums?
Customers who are chronically sick or disabled may be able to claim VAT relief on eligible products at checkout.
