Bargain hunters are snapping up a cheap-to-run microwavable hottie that costs just 15p a week and less than 1p an hour to use, as temperatures plunged to -12C in parts of the UK. Online Home Shop (OHS) says its 'really cute' heat packs, priced from £5.50, are 'flying off the virtual shelves' amid the cold snap.
The UK recorded its coldest November night in 15 years on Friday, November 21, 2025, when Tomintoul in Scotland hit -12C. Other lows included -7.2C in Swyddffynnon, Wales, and -6.7C in Shap, Cumbria. The freezing conditions come as Ofgem’s October price cap hike keeps energy bills high, prompting households to seek ways to 'heat the human, not the home'.
OHS has expanded its Winter Warmers range, including a Gingerbread Man Microwaveable Hottie with a 'soft teddy texture' for £5.50, a croissant-shaped version for £8.50, and a coffee cup design also at £5.50. Thermal Blackout Curtains have been reduced from £15 to £6, with shoppers praising their quality. One customer noted they were 'better black out curtains than my last ones (which cost 4 times the price)'.
The brand has also seen a 25% uplift in fleece bedding sales. A £8 Teddy Fleece Reversible Duvet Cover Set was described by one shopper as 'like having central heated bedding'. The Supersoft Hoodie Blanket, reduced to £9.50 from £19, was hailed as a 'game changer when it’s cold'.
Ashley Furness, trend expert at OHS, said: 'We’ve expanded our Winter Warmers range because we know how important it is to give families the option to heat themselves, not their whole home. With heating bills on the rise, we’re slashing our prices to make our Winter Warmers accessible to as many people as possible.'
