Hey guys, it’s that time of year, it’s somehow already December and you are panicking about Christmas shopping – while the big sites offering discounts and next-day delivery can be tempting but fear not I am here with all the best independents in Bristol offering amazing gifts. I try to shop local and independent where I can but particularly for gifts, so I have curated a range gifts from my favourite small businesses.
Bristol has a huge foodie scene and it stretches further than the restaurants. Food-based gifts are the most reliable gifts, whether it’s a hamper for your grandparents, stocking fillers or little extras I love gifting people food and drink goodies. For the chilli lover Easton Chilli*, Rikki makes 12 different recipes out of Easton, famously a range of chilli jams. The ultimate gift, is the favourites trio gift set, featuring Rikki’s most popular jams the original, pinapple and black garlic all in one box. If you want to upgrade your Christmas dishes swap the cranberry sauce for the Cranberry and Habanero Chilli Jam.
No hamper is complete without a luxurious preserve, Single Variety produces the best jams and preserves out there with classics like a blood orange marmalade and raspberry jam to seasonal specials like the gooseberry or apricot you can get extra gifts for everyone in one place. No Christmas would be complete without an indulgent hot chocolate, Harth Chocolate is a micro-bath ethical chocolate company born in the Somerset hills. Swiss style hot chocolate in a range of flavours such as cinamon, ginger, winter solstice or of course original. High end coffee roasted in Easton (by an all female team) Radical Roasters* have the stocking filler for the coffee connoisseur in your life, go classic or seasonal with a Mandarin Orange roast or the Jingle Beans roast.
Whether it’s a token gesture gift for someone you don’t know too well or getting your favourite person their go-to spirit, alcohol is always a wonderful gift to receive. Bristol is full of amazing breweries and producers so this is just 3 of many. Dunleavy produces amazing wines just outside of Bristol from their somerset vineyard, a small run of rose, white and a unique sparkling wine each year that you can find at a number of restaurant’s and shops in Bristol. The sparkling pale red is a special drink, perfect for Christmas a celebratory light red is just heaven. Now I have tried a lot of gin in my time but Shipshape and Bristol old fashioned gin* is the best gin I’ve ever tried. Its proper local distilled in Long Ashton with only 26 bottles produced per run. The local botanicals include rosemary and honey creating a wonderful gin. Would any celebration be complete in Bristol without CIder? I think not, but at Christmas you can’t have any old cider, so I am gifting the Wild West ciders, the drink is just as fab as the uber cool cowboy branding.
A selection of gifts perfect for your main gals, There’s only one Amy Laws is slow fashion pieces up-cycled with unique screen-printed designs. Amy’s range includes children’s wear, skirts and sweatshirts like the one picture. I chose the colour and design so you can create something truly unique for someone special. Bibbidiboop (scrunchie) and Hello Cleo* (bag) both also create handmade sustainable accessories. Handmade jewellery is such a wonderful thing to receive for fans of silver jewellery Erinna Jewellery* (necklace pictured) makes a range of jewellery to shop and made to order, the birthstone necklaces and lightning bolt rings are my favourite. I also recommend checking out Silver and Steel studios in Bedminister and Sister Luna. If you want some statement jewellery Throwing Shapes Bling create colourful earrings with leather, metallic lightning bolts (pictured) are such a vibe. Perfect for the Bowie lover in your life.
Beauty and toiletries are a go-to gift but no one wants a boots Christmas gift set. Amphora Aromatics have been offering a comprehensive range of essential oils and aromatherapy skincare products since 1984 so they know what they are doing. Their natural essential oil-based candles are a lovely gift, especially in seasonal scents like this marzipan and candied peel* one. Wylder Naturals, handmade natural skincare here in Bristol, known for their natural soaps – which are a lovely stocking filler. (The lemongrass & coconut with shea butter is pictured). Rebecca Botanicals, makes natural moisturisers from a range of botanicals, the Palo Santa, Frankincense and Rose hand and body cream* has the most wonderful scent. Faith & Betty comes from a background of Aromatherapy and Herbal Medicine now creating lip blams, face balms and oils, like the beard oil (pictured). For those with luscious locks HairyJayne, is zero waste hair care that works – from shampoo bars to heat protectors. There’s lots of gift sets to choose from too, such as the hair refresher kit* (pictured) or long hair care set.
Handmade pottery is one of those special items that I love but a real treat which makes it such a luxury to receive so here are a few of my favourites in Bristol. Nicholas Dover ceramics, a range of stoneware with nods to Japanese and Scandinavian pottery styles. Rosti Tooth makes light-hearted, colourful illustrations and ceramics including mugs like this tulip leaf mug. Plop pottery is full of colourful bold pottery like mugs and butter dishes for the cool gal. Jo Brimble hand makes fun, characterful pieces like vases and snowmen (pictured below). Rose Nesbit makes beautiful home-wear and tablewares from her Clifton Wood studio, how beautiful are these candle sticks.
If you are reading this on Christmas Eve panicking or simply still don’t know what to get here are a few ideas for those rather difficult people to buy for. The Love Bristol Gift Card is a gift card perfect for anyone living in Bristol with over 160 places to spend it from restaurants, pubs, shops and theatres. The gift of experience is a wonderful idea and Yuup is the place to look. Yuup offer experiences from pottery classes to a gin tasting master class – you can find a unique gift to inspire someones creativity. My final recommendation is a gift voucher for your favourite restaurant. I recommend the Bianchi’s group, not only because I had the best meal of my life at Cotto but the gift voucher is redeemable at any of their restaurants.
I hope this post has helped inspire your gift shopping, and remember shopping local isn’t just for Christmas. As always, thank you for reading!
*products marked with an astricx have been gifted or purchased with a press discount but I only featured brands I genuinely adore.