Just in case anyone is interested. Sainsbury's have Whirley Popper's on sale as Christmas gifts for £10 (down from £15). The come with some popcorn and cardboard popcorn boxes.
They're aluminium - have paddle type agitators + plastic gears. They're not the most amazingly well constructed things in the world. But £10 quid is a pretty cheep introduction to roasting.
I've got one but no green beens to try it with (ordered them yesterday tho).
j.