Value4Money

The best and the worst about . . .corkscrews.

Screwpull LM300 €149

Highs: This is the Rolls Royce of corkscrews. It comes in a wooden presentation box which screams "wedding present". It is lightweight, easy to use, has a 10-year guarantee - if you remember to send off the form - and opens a bottle of wine in less than three seconds.

Lows: But what's the hurry? This costs nearly €150 in Brown Thomas, ridiculous when you consider there's a similar product which does the same job for a third of the price. You could buy a bottle of €140 wine and a corkscrew for a fiver instead.

Verdict: Looks great, crazy price.

Star rating: **

Power Octopus €49.95

Highs: If the Screwpull is the Rolls Royce then this might be considered the mid-priced family saloon. Its mechanics are similar and it works at the same speed, but it costs a lot less. You might feel more inclined to use it every day. This was on sale in Roches Stores last week for €29.95.

Lows: Still, its full price is €50. Not only is it not cheap, it has the added disadvantage of not being hugely expensive either, which may slightly devalue its value as a gift.

Verdict: Comparatively good value and easy to use.

Star rating: ***

Waiter's Friend, Berry Bros €6.95

Highs: It's hard to beat a double- hinged waiter's friend. This model is so much cheaper than its lever- hinged rivals, it's comical. Once you get the knack, opening bottles is simple and, if done with panache, the act of removing a cork is quite satisfying. It is nicely designed and the knife for foil cutting is functional.

Lows: You do have to manually screw it into the cork and then remove the cork from the corkscrew. If that's all you can find to complain about, you're onto a good thing.

Verdict: Excellent engineering, excellent value.

Star rating: *****

Handy Helper Corkscrew €1.99

Highs: At just €1.99 this is the cheapest corkscrew tried. Almost everyone will know how to use it without having to read the manual. It also - and this may well be the most important thing - opens bottles.

Lows: But for how long? It looks and feels incredibly flimsy and you have to wonder about its shelf life, particularly if it comes across a stubborn cork. It also seems to have a penchant for chewing the cork in an unseemly fashion rather than cleanly boring through it.

Verdict: Cheap but perhaps not for the long haul.

Star rating: **